NFL DFS Week 3 optimal lineup

The Lineup isn’t quite in mid-season form, but Week 2 was certainly a step in the right direction, and much better than its predecessor.

Last week’s lineup (144.38 DraftKings points) offered up some solid blocks to build around. Malik Nabers (31.70), Chris Godwin (27.70) and Jordan Mason (20.40) all produced four to five times the fantasy points per dollar invested.

I missed the opportunity of stacking Nabers with his much-maligned quarterback Daniel Jones, who nearly matched my QB-of-choice Lamar Jackson in scoring. The savings Jones could have provided would have enabled me to fit Alvin Kamara and his 47 slate-breaking points into my lineup.

When you’re utilizing a quarterback who can score points with his legs, such as Jones, single stacks typically outperform double stacks, and it doesn’t require a bring-back to complete the stack.

With the QB creating value on the ground, there’s usually not enough production to support multiple week-winning pass-catchers, while pocket passers need the other team to make a game high-scoring so they can juice their pass attempts.

This week I’m building around the Arizona Cardinals’ micro-machine Kyler Murray, which means it isn’t a necessity to include Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride, but I do offer a bring-back because the Lions-Cardinals matchup is the only one to exceed a 50-point game total on the main slate.

The Preamble

Devising the perfect Daily Fantasy Sports strategy for the NFL can be a challenge, which is why I’m here weekly to assist.

On DraftKings, it’s important to remember you’re playing full-point PPR with bonuses if a player surpasses 300 passing yards, 100 rushing yards or 100 receiving yards.

Here is my optimal lineup for Sunday’s NFL $3.5 million Fantasy Football Millionaire contest, but it can be utilized as a foundation in other games and platforms.

All prices listed are courtesy of DraftKings with a $50,000 budget.

My lineup netted $30 last week, so I’m in the black $5 with an average score of 117.27 points through two weeks.

Year-To-Date Results

— Week 1: 90.16

— Week 2: 144.38

Week 3 Lineup

— QB: Kyler Murray, Cardinals ($6,900)

The Lions have been quite good against the run so far, which should place even more emphasis than usual on Murray making plays with his arm and legs. He has a career-high 73.1 completion percentage and 122.9 QB rating through two weeks. In his first two games, Murray has averaged 214 passing yards, 58 rushing yards and two touchdowns, which means he likely has the highest floor on slate, but could be pushed toward his ceiling by an explosive Detroit offense.

— RB: De’Von Achane, Dolphins ($7,000)

With Tua Tagovailoa out and Raheem Mostert likely missing another game with a chest injury, the dynamic Achane should be the focal point of Miami’s offense. He set a career high with 29 touches (22 carries and seven receptions) against the Bills in Week 2. Only Kamara has scored more fantasy points than Achane in PPR formats this season

— RB: Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks ($6,000)

I’m running Charbonnet back after using him against the Patriots last week. He produced a solid 17.9 DraftKings points, and Kenneth Walker remains doubtful to play with an oblique injury. I’m still focused on volume and targets when it comes to running backs. Charbonnet averaged 19 touches for 78.5 yards and a TD in two starts last season, and he finished with 19 touches for 69 yards and a TD at New England. The Dolphins are allowing the sixth-highest yards before contact per attempt, have to travel cross-country and are reeling from a dramatic two weeks to open the season.

— WR: Chris Olave, Saints ($6,300)

An Olave blow-up game is coming. It’s only a matter of New Orleans facing an opponent who can keep the game competitive for four quarters, and I believe the Eagles will do just that after their disappointing loss on Monday night to the Falcons. Philadelphia is allowing the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers through two weeks, and the third-most DraftKings points per game to the position.

— WR: Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers ($6,200)

Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle are all out, and Aiyuk has had a slow start to the season after non-stop trade rumors and a prolonged holdout through training camp. He should go off this week. The Rams play single-high at the ninth-highest rate (59.6 percent), a coverage Aiyuk feasted on last season. We just watched Harrison toast this secondary for 130 yards and two TDs in a single half.

— WR: Jameson Williams, Lions ($5,800)

When considering a bring-back option for my Cardinals stack, the discount from Amon-Ra St. Brown ($8,200) to Williams was too significant to pass up. Getting the former first-rounder the ball has been a priority for Detroit to begin the season. Jameson is the overall WR7 in PPR formats. Among 92 qualifying wide receivers, he’s sixth in separation and ninth in route win rate, according to FantasyPros.

— TE: Trey McBride, Cardinals ($6,200)

A Murray, Harrison and McBride double-stack would cost a pretty penny so I’m prioritizing McBride at a position that routinely disappoints.

— FLEX: Roman Wilson, Steelers ($3,200)

Everybody expects Pittsburgh to ease its third-round pick into the offense after Wilson suffered an ankle injury in training camp and missed the first two weeks of his rookie campaign, but Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin III and Scotty Miller aren’t good enough to keep him off the field. Few teams uncover gems at the position in the draft with the frequency of the Steelers, and it’s poetic Wilson will make his NFL debut against his former college coach Jim Harbaugh.

— DST: Minnesota Vikings ($2,400)

The Vikings have the highest-scoring defense in fantasy football through two weeks, after finishing as a top-10 unit the last three months of last season. Most people will fade them against C.J. Stroud and the Texans, but their price tag is simply too enticing considering their ceiling. The game is in Minnesota, where the Vikings just held the 49ers to 17 points. San Francisco and Houston run a very similar offense.

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