While most daily fantasy players are more familiar with the usual salary-cap structure, DraftKings also has tournaments in a pick’em style: There are no player salaries, and you simply select one player across the eight tiers.
Here’s a breakdown of the pick’em slate for Week 3 of the NFL season.
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Tier 1: Elite Passers
Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Mahomes’ accomplishments in his first two starts:
- Has the most touchdowns thrown through the first two weeks of a season (10).
- Averaging 1.1 fantasy points per dropback, which is first in the league.
- Leading the Chiefs to 40 points per game.
The total for his matchup against San Francisco has risen to a staggering 55 points, and the Chiefs have an implied total of 30.75. Mahomes has accounted for every offensive touchdown for the Chiefs. If they’re to hit that lofty total, it will happen through Mahomes.
Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers
Jimmy GQ has been a disappointment so far this season, averaging 14.3 fantasy points per game. However, if he’s going to turn it around, the Chiefs defense will be the team to do it against: The Chiefs have allowed 430 passing yards and three touchdowns per game in their first two outings.
Garoppolo is also a way to attack the highest total of the slate (and possibly the worst defense) without playing Mahomes, who will be the unquestioned chalk play.
Tier 2: The Next Quarterbacks
Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
Newton is a high-floor pick (he has the second-highest floor projection in our Models) due to his rushing stats. In Week 1 he was able to turn a sub 200-yard and no-touchdown passing game into 18 fantasy points with 58 yards and a score on the ground.
Last season, Newton led the Panthers in rushing yards with 754. This season he leads the team in rushing yards (100) and attempts (18). Newton’s a floor-play built for cash lineups.
Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons are favored by a field goal at home against the Saints. In Week 2, Ryan was clinical in the red zone, converting four trips into four scores. The Saints are also in the bottom half of the league in red-zone defense, allowing teams to score 60% of the time.
In a game with a 52.5 over/under (read: many red zone trips), Ryan should be able to find pay dirt multiple times and be a solid tournament option.
Tier 3: Elite Flex Options
Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints
The cash options in this tier are plenty, but Kamara is the best. He operates as the Saints second receiver, has 18 targets so far this season and has a favorable matchup this week.
The Falcons gave up the most receptions to opposing backs last season and have already allowed 18 receptions to backs in 2018. If there ever was a matchup designed for Kamara, this would be it.
Odell Beckham Jr., WR, New York Giants
In two weeks, OBJ is the lowest scorer of Tier 3 players. However, this isn’t due to a lack of volume: He’s seeing 30% of the Giants’ targets and is on pace for a career-best 192 targets. Beckham will face Houston’s Aaron Colvin and Johnathan Joseph, who both rank outside the top 20 cornerbacks this year, according to Pro Football Focus. Beckham is a nice pivot from the popular plays this week.
Tier 4: All Julio
Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons
Jones has a higher Median Projection than anyone in Tier 4 and many players in Tier 3. The Saints have allowed the second-most points to opposing receivers, and Jones has accounted for 39% of the Falcons targets so far this season. Jones likely finds himself in this tier because he’s yet to score, but the Falcons have a 27.75 implied total, and Jones is their primary weapon.
Jones is set up to find the end zone for the first time and is the play in all formats.
David Johnson, RB, Arizona Cardinals
For the uber-contrarian, Johnson is an intriguing option. After Johnson saw two targets in Week 2, coach Steve Wilks said: “We’ve got to utilize David from the standpoint of getting him out of the backfield, putting him in the slot.” If fantasy MVP Johnson returns, buying in early is a sneaky, tournament-only play.
Tier 5: Target Receivers
A.J. Green, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Green gets a Panthers secondary that has allowed the seventh-fewest points to opposing receivers, but that number is deceiving. No Panthers corner has a PFF grade above 59.0, and the Bengals could be forced to throw more without lead back Joe Mixon. A pass-heavy attack makes Green, who has seen 24% of the Bengals’ targets, a viable cash play.
Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers
Using the Ownership Dashboard as a proxy for Tiers ownership, Adams was unpopular last week due to Aaron Rodgers’ injury. With Rodgers playing this week, Adams’ ownership will rise, but he’ll still be a lesser-owner player in the tier.
Seeing 25% of the targets in a Rodgers-led offense has made Adams a scoring threat every week: He’s scored the most receiving touchdowns since 2016. Adams is always a viable tournament play.
Tier 6: Running Back Stacks
Kareem Hunt, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Hunt is the perfect pivot off the Chiefs passing game. Hunt’s first red-zone carries of the season came last week, with all three in the first quarter. If a similar situation occurs this week, the Chiefs could take an early lead and have the positive game script to get Hunt even more carries. Hunt is a great tournament play if things break right.
Tevin Coleman, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Coleman is the final way to get a part of the Falcons-Saints matchup, and with Devonta Freeman sidelined, Coleman is a must-play. He had 20 touches in Week 2 and could have scored had Ryan not vultured two rushing touchdowns.
Coleman should continue to get the bulk of the Falcons’ carries in a game that is primed for him to score.
Tier 7: A Mess of Receivers
Kenny Golladay, WR, Detroit Lions
Golladay has had back-to-back breakout performances, averaging 21.2 fantasy points so far. What’s even more encouraging is his 20% target share compared to Marvin Jones’ 16%. Golladay has also put his playmaking ability on display with 92 yards after the catch, which is among the top 10 in the league. His emergence is worth buying in tournaments.
Nelson Agholor, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
With Alshon Jeffery out, Agholor has cemented himself as the Eagles’ lead receiver. And with Mike Wallace joining Jeffery on the sideline, Agholor could be asked to do even more, despite averaging 11 targets per game already. He’s the safest play of the tier against the Colts, who are the 24th-ranked defense in Football Outsiders’ DVOA.
Tier 8: More Pass-Catchers
Allen Robinson, WR, Chicago Bears
Robinson fared well in the Bears’ first win against the Seahawks last week, bringing in 10 of his 14 targets for 83 yards. Vegas has the Bears winning again vs. a struggling Cardinals team. The only thing keeping Robinson out of tournament consideration is his red-zone usage, where he’s seen only one target. His targets and lack of scoring potential make him a safe cash play.
Keelan Cole, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Cole leads all Jacksonville receivers with 170 yards and 33 fantasy points, but his role is less appealing. He’s seen only 15% of the target share through two weeks. This week he plays the Titans, who have given up the most points to receivers, making Cole a viable play in tournaments despite his questionable volume.
Pictured above: Julio Jones, Matt Ryan
Photo credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
