Daily Fantasy Football: Keep riding Cowboys’ DeMarco Murray in Week 3

DeMarco Murray shredded the Titan defense in Week 2, racking up 173 total yards and a touchdown and paving the way for big daily fantasy wins.  We expect that train to keep rolling in Week 3.

The goal of the Daily Fantasy Football Guide is to give you a one-stop shop for high-value picks from each of the major DFS sites.  Each FakePigskin writer will tackle a site and offer three sections of DFS insight:

Top Choices – Simply put, these are our choices as the top players at each position with the best value, giving you multiple options to create the optimal lineup.

Expert Roster – Each writer provides one roster that will be in play for them that week.

Without further ado, here are our staff picks:

FANDUEL

Justin Howe, @JustinHoweFF

TOP CHOICES

Quarterbacks

Drew Brees, New Orleans v. MIN $9100

Geno Smith, N.Y. Jets v. CHI $7400

Ryan Tannehill, Miami v. KC $6500

Don’t overreact to Brees’ shaky Week 2.  The massive difference between his home and road performances is nothing new, and I expect a pretty studly rebound as he returns to the Superdome.  In fact, anytime he’s playing host, he should be close to the top of your QB rankings … Let’s dispose of the stigma: Smith is showing real quarterbacking chops.  His rookie year wasn’t as bad as you think; as RotoViz points out, he was actually a high-end QB2 when Jeremy Kerley (his only viable WR) was healthy.  And last week, he would have posted a QB1 line had his late 37-yard TD pass not been nullified by the timeout.  He’s running a lot (17-64-1 through two games) and has the makings of a streaming stud, especially against a leaky Bear defense … I don’t like Tannehill as an NFL QB, but he’s had success as a streamer, and this is definitely a plus matchup.  Kansas City is allowing the NFL’s worst passer rating, and Jake Locker’s big Week 1 suggests Tannehill could have real success at home with such a low price tag.

Running Backs

DeMarco Murray, Dallas @ STL $8700

Joique Bell, Detroit v. GBP $6800

Terrance West, Cleveland v. BAL $5800

Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati v. TEN $4900

I hope you heeded my advice to start Hill last week.  The Bengals are thoroughly committed to the run, and as gifted as Gio Bernard is, he’s much more receiver than rusher, as his career 3.9 YPC suggests.  He offers nothing between the tackles, where Hill shines (an impressive 4.9 YPC of his own).  Hill’s 17-touch Week 2 opened eyes, so I expect a near 50/50 rushing split between the two.  This is an awesome price tag for a legit weekly flex play … Murray is a high-scoring no-brainer against a soft Ram run defense that has given up 342 ground yards over two weeks.  He’s running like a man possessed, and until the inevitable injury comes, he’s the focal point of an offense that will be on the field a boatload … Bell seems to have seized the primary backfield load in Detroit, out-touching the aging Reggie Bush 32-23 and producing nine first downs to Bush’s three.  Against the Panthers, Bell’s playing time didn’t waver despite early fumble troubles, so his workload concerns are no more; he’s a RB2 going forward despite stunningly costing less than James Starks on FanDuel … West is firmly in control of the Cleveland run game with Ben Tate sidelined – and maybe beyond.  He’s a good fit for Kyle Shanahan’s zone running attack, and change-of-pace back Isaiah Crowell poses no real threat to West’s backfield dominance.  Few starting RBs are available this cheaply.

Wide Receivers

Jordy Nelson, Green Bay @ DET $8600

Mike Wallace, Miami v. KC $6500

Andrew Hawkins, Cleveland v. BAL $5300

Brian Quick, St. Louis v. DAL $5200

There’s not much more I could say about Nelson that you haven’t heard/read this week.  Awesome talent, has the eye of an elite QB, tons of opportunity, etc. – he’s an every-week target regardless of matchup.  When Aaron Rodgers is under center, you want Jordy if your strategy calls for you to target at least one top-level wideout … Wallace is firmly in the driver seat as Ryan Tannehill’s top target, and he’s producing on a solid WR2 level, averaging a 6-69-1 line on a team-high 19 targets.  That includes an impressive four red zone targets through two games.  He’s very affordable, so trot him out with confidence against a decimated Kansas City defense that’s been shredded through the air … Hawkins isn’t a target down the field or in the red zone, so he’s not much of a touchdown threat.  But FanDuel uses PPR scoring, which boosts his value tremendously.  A dynamic slot target, Hawkins has thus far seen 22 targets from Brian Hoyer’s pop-gun arm, so this is looking like an easy 80-catch season.  Snatch him up at this stunningly low cost … Quick seems to have finally emerged.  The size/speed freak has racked up 14 catches on a team-high 18 targets thus far, and the Rams lack quality receiving options behind him, so it looks like a true breakout season is in the works.  This price tag is very attractive for a talented, clear-cut #1 wideout regardless of his team.

Tight Ends

Greg Olsen v. PIT $6100

Niles Paul @ PHI $5000

Larry Donnell v. HOU $4900

Olsen squares off against a pathetic Steeler defense that has been worked over by TEs thus far. The LBs are iffy and the safeties are off to brutal starts in 2014, so Olsen should put up a solid line as Cam Newton’s security blanket … Donnell has been Eli Manning’s only reliable target in the young season, leading the team in targets and topping 55 yards in each game. The Giants are indeed a disgusting mess, but you can usually trust the safe, underneath targets on dumpster-fire offenses, and Donnell is embarrassingly cheap … I’m reluctantly climbing aboard the Paul bandwagon.  The former WR and KR has seen heavy targets from both of Washington’s QBs, so Kirk Cousins’ presence doesn’t hurt his outlook a bit.  If you’re looking for cheap targets, snag Paul and expect a baseline of around 5-65.

Kickers

Phil Dawson @ ARI $5300

Nate Freese v. GBP $4500

I’ll never stop recommending Dawson.  The 49er offense tends to bog down in the red zone, and their kickers have averaged a stunning 2.6 field goal attempts per game since 2011 … Freese is a very iffy choice, as the rookie missed two FGs last week and the team tried out veterans this week.  But unless they sign someone, roll with Freese and the potent Detroit offense in their dome this week, as FanDuel doesn’t penalize for missed kicks.

Defenses

Carolina v. PIT $5600

Cleveland v. BAL $4700

Carolina will cost you a pretty penny, but should be worth it.  Since halftime of 1, the Steeler offense has bogged down horribly, posting just nine points in six quarters of play.  Their shaky front line should be little match for a dominant Panther front seven … The underappreciated Browns draw Average Joe Flacco and the Ravens in Cleveland, where they just posted a commendable performance against Drew Brees & Co.  I can’t imagine this game scoring beyond the neighborhood of 20-16, so the Browns make for a cheap, sneaky play to help you load up elsewhere.

EXPERT ROSTER

 

As usual, I sought to load up where the money matters – RB, WR, and defense – so I snapped up two great wideouts in solid matchups.  Nelson should be the Packers’ focal point in a shootout, while Jones, always a great DFS play, wound up fitting squarely into my budget.  Quick was my favorite of several good, cheap PPR options this week.  At RB, I chose Murray as my weekly stud, while Hill came very cheaply despite greatly increased usage and a hot matchup: the Titans were eviscerated by Murray last week.  Adding Donnell as a cheap (though high-upside) TE and Freese as a bottom-salaried K allowed me to grab Brees, who returns home to face a porous defense.

Mitch Jahnke, @mitch_jj_3

TOP CHOICES

Quarterbacks

Jay Cutler, Chicago @ NYJ $8100

Geno Smith, N.Y. Jets v. CHI $7400

Kirk Cousins, Washington @ PHI $6800

Cutler seems to be in a groove to start the season and I think it continues on Monday night … Same goes for Geno, who gets to face the very banged-up Chicago secondary … Kirk Cousins is my value play this week, going against the Eagle defense.  He will have to put up points to stay in the game.

Running Backs

Arian Foster, Houston @ NYG $8800

Joique Bell, Detroit v. GB $6800

Darren Sproles, Philadelphia v. WAS $6000

Khiry Robinson, New Orleans v. MIN $4700

I think it’s safe to say that Bell is clearly the number-one back in the Lion offense, and that Green Bay’s defense is awful … No serious setbacks yet for Foster.  I am still going with him until something happens … Khiry Robinson should be in line for the majority of rushes with Mark Ingram on the shelf, and I think the Saints get up early and then pound the ball … Darren Sproles has been lighting up scoreboards and should continue to do so in that fast-paced offense, and he is still pretty cheap for the production you are getting.

Wide Receivers

Alshon Jeffrey, Chicago @ NYJ $7600

Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota @ NO $6900

Mike Wallace, Miami v. KC $6500

Davante Adams, Green Bay @ DET $4600

The Bears should have to pass against the Jets because New York is stout against the run game, and I think Jeffrey finally breaks into the endzone this year … The Vikings will find ways to get Patterson the ball this week in as many ways as possible … Wallace is quietly putting up good numbers and is the only weapon Tannehill throws to.  And, of course, he is always a threat to score on the deep ball … All reports have shown that Adams has surpassed Jarrett Boykin as the Packers’ third wide receiver.  Aaron Rodgers can support three fantasy wideouts, and I think Rodgers checks out what he has in his shiny new toy.

Tight Ends

Niles Paul, Washington @ PHI $5000

Larry Donnell, N.Y. Giants v. HOU $4900

Derek Carrier, San Francisco @ ARI $4500

If Vernon Davis misses the game, enjoy saving your money with Carrier, as he will be in line to receive Davis’ touches … Donnell is Eli Manning’s go-to target and Manning loves to check down to his tight end … Paul probably played his best game of the year last week, but Cousins will look to his security blanket and continue to throw to him.

Kickers

Blair Walsh, Minnesota @ NO $5000

Cody Parkey, Philadelphia v. WAS $4900

Not sure how often the Vikings get into the endzone, but they should still move the ball … Parkey will have multiple opportunities to score, being part of the Eagles offense.

Defenses

Indianapolis @ JAX $5100

Houston @ NYG $5200

The Colts are playing the worst offense in the league … Houston gets to go against Eli Manning, enough said.

EXPERT ROSTER