This article is part of our King for a Day series.
With three weeks of games in the books, we can start putting a bit more faith in results, and perhaps admit that some of those preseason expectations just won't work out. The real challenge is differentiating between the small-sample size flukes and the teams/players that really are better or worse than expected. Now would be the time to buy low on the offenses in Green Bay and New England, as both teams have far too much talent to not improve.
Without further adieu, here are my favorite players for Week 3 on DraftKings…
Quarterbacks
Aaron Rodgers, GB (at CHI), $8200 – Rodgers and Co. are off to a surprisingly slow start, but there's little reason to believe they won't improve. The Packers faced a tough trio of defenses to start the season, and this is largely the same team that thrived under Rodgers' direction last year. I'm buying low on all of the key pieces in Green Bay's offense as the Packers head into a tasty road matchup with the Bears. Rodgers has historically been excellent against his archrivals, who may not have either starting safety come Sunday.
Tony Romo, DAL (vs. NO), $6700 – After struggling in the opener, Romo played much better the last two games, but he didn't have the desired volume due to DeMarco Murray's dominance of the ball. While the Cowboys don't figure to abandon their strong running game, Romo will likely attempt at least 35 passes in what figures to be a shootout. I'm buying low on Romo for a second straight week, as he's only the 14th-most expensive option at this position, heading into an excellent matchup.
other options:Philip Rivers, SD (vs. JAX), $7700; Colin Kaepernick, SF (vs. PHI), $7600; Tom Brady, NE (at KC), $6300; Teddy Bridgewater, MIN (vs. ATL), $5700
Notes: A proven commodity off to a solid start, Rivers makes for an excellent option with his friendly Week 4 matchup. Kaepernick draws a questionable Philly defense that was torn apart last week, and he won't be hesitant to run with the 49ers badly in need of a victory. Brady, though off to an ugly start, is still worth a look at such a low price. Bridgewater gets the ideal fantasy matchup in his first start, as the Vikings will likely need to do quite a bit of throwing.
Running Backs
Le'Veon Bell, PIT (vs. TB), $7400 – A slimmed-down Bell has the look of a legitimate superstar, as he's one of the league's most elusive backs and still weighs in around 225 pounds. He also has a three-down role in the Pittsburgh offense, with 13 receptions to show for it through three weeks. The Tampa Bay defense will be healthier than it was in Thursday's embarrassment of a loss, yet stopping Bell will still prove difficult, if not impossible. The budding superstar had 147 rushing yards against the stingy Carolina defense last week, and he can pile up fantasy points in any game situation. Even if he had a more difficult matchup, Bell would be an intriguing option at this price.
Donald Brown, SD (vs. JAX), $5400 – With Ryan Mathews (knee) and Danny Woodhead (ankle) sidelined, Brown figures to operate as one of the league's few three-down workhorses over the next few weeks. The early returns weren't great, as he managed just 62 yards on 31 carries and 27 yards on five receptions in a Week 3 win over the Bills. Rather than be discouraged by the lack of yards per carry, I'm excited about the sheer quantity of touches. Brown figures to see plenty of the ball, which will almost certainly translate to a big fantasy day against the woeful Jacksonville defense.
other options:DeMarco Murray, DAL (vs. NO), $7800; Eddie Lacy, GB (at CHI), $5600; Pierre Thomas, NO (at DAL), $5400; Matt Asiata, MIN (vs. ATL), $4500; DeAngelo Williams, CAR (at BAL), $3900
Note: Murray is easily the league's leading rusher, despite facing tough defensive fronts in each of his first three games. Lacy's early struggles have led to a discount, after he faced a hellish schedule in the first three weeks of the season. Thomas should get plenty of touches, so long as the Saints don't jump out to a multi-score lead. Asiata is clearly ahead of Jerick McKinnon for carries, and the 27-year-old has also been active in the passing game. With the rest of his position-mates injured, Williams may get a rare opportunity to work in an every-down role, or at least something close to it.
Wide Receivers
Keenan Allen, SD (vs. JAX), $5300 – Allen makes for an ideal buy-low target, as he started the season with some tough matchups but is in no danger of losing his role. He's still the top wide receiver in an excellent passing offense, and he's still the same guy who put up a 68-1,016-8 receiving line over the final 13 games of last season. The Jacksonville defense has been disastrous thus far, somehow ranking last in both passing and rushing defense.
Jordy Nelson, GB (at CHI), $7200 – Two weeks after his massive 209-yard performance, Nelson has come back to his typical price range, thanks to a disappointing five-catch, 59-yard outing against the Lions. He faces an inferior defense this week, and the Bears may be without both of their starting safeties. Further adding to the appeal, Nelson has 37 targets through three weeks, in what still figures to be one of the league's top offenses.
Jeremy Kerley, NYJ (vs. DET), $3500 – This pick is somewhat contingent on the health of Eric Decker, who was unable to play through a hamstring injury on Monday night. Kerley was thus left as the Jets' top receiving option, and he proceeded to drop an 8-81-1 receiving line on 11 targets. Even if Decker plays, you could do worse than the underrated Kerley for a low-price option in DraftKings' PPR format.
Julio Jones, ATL (at MIN), $8300 – Jones looks incredible through the first three weeks, with the results to show for it, and then some. He has a 23-365-3 receiving line on 33 targets, ranking near the top of the league in every significant category. The Minnesota defense looks solid thus far, but I like Jones in nearly any matchup right now, and I'm happy to pay the lofty price. With the top running backs looking shaky this season, and some nice cheap options at the position, it's tempting to go with a Jones-Nelson-Megatron receiving corps.
other options:Calvin Johnson, DET (at NYJ), $8500; Antonio Brown, PIT (vs. TB), $7800; Alshon Jeffery, CHI (vs. GB), $6600; Randall Cobb, GB (at CHI), $6400; Sammy Watkins, BUF (at HOU), $4700; Allen Robinson, JAX (at SD), $4400; Philly Brown, CAR (at BAL), $3000
Notes: Johnson will have a huge talent advantage – even by his own standards – over any cornerback the Jets throw at him. Brown, a PPR monster, is perhaps the most consistent option at the position, having caught at least five balls in 19 straight games. Jeffery still comes at a discount after bouncing back for eight catches and 105 yards in his second game since suffering the hamstring injury. Cobb's early-season dependence on touchdowns has been odd, but he figures to start piling up the receptions soon enough and should still be in for a big year. Watkins is the clear top dog in Buffalo's anemic passing game, and he should see plenty of targets for a third straight week. Robinson should benefit from the switch to Blake Bortles, as the rookie is at least willing to take shots downfield. One week after catching seven passes on nine targets, Corey "Philly" Brown could get another start in place of Jerricho Cotchery (hamstring), against a shaky Baltimore secondary.
Tight End
Jimmy Graham, NO (at DAL), $7500 – Looking better than ever through three games, Graham is miles ahead of all his position mates this week, with Denver's Julius Thomas out of action. Sure, you'll have to pay up, but Graham is close to a sure thing in perhaps his friendliest matchup of the season. While the Dallas defense is going to be in over its head, the offense should keep things close enough to prevent the Saints from running 30-plus times.
other options:Rob Gronkowski, NE (at KC), $5700; Vernon Davis, SF (vs. PHI), $4500; Charles Clay, MIA (at OAK), $3300
Notes: After playing 60 percent of the offensive snaps in Week 3, Gronk should be on the field for most of Monday's game. Davis (ankle) may not play, but that's a fantastic price if he does. While off to an ugly start, Clay comes quite cheap for a man who posted a 69-759-6 receiving line last season.
Team D/ST
San Diego Chargers, vs. JAX, $3100 – The San Diego defense looks surprisingly good thus far, and while I'm not totally buying in, I'm happy to take advantage of Bortles' first start. While much has been made of Bortles' supposedly strong preseason, the rookie didn't play nearly as well as his statistics indicate. Sure, he's more likely than Chad Henne to make a big play, but he's also a good bet to rack up a few turnovers. Prices being equal, the Chargers are arguably the top D/ST option for Week 4. That's how bad the Jaguars have looked.
other options:Miami Dolphins (at OAK), $3100; Detroit Lions (at NYJ), $3000; Oakland Raiders (vs. MIA), $2600
Notes: The Dolphins still have a talented defense, and the Oakland offense is just as bad as expected. The Lions tend to make opposing offenses one-dimensional, which doesn't bode well for the run-loving Jets. After holding the Patriots to 16 points in Week 3, the Raiders head back home to face a struggling Miami offense.
