DraftKings MNF Plays: Week 3

Week 3 brings us quite the high-scoring matchup with two of the best offenses in the league facing off. And there will be no shortage of good DraftKings plays on this Monday night. Managing salary will be tricky with all of the high-salary plays on this slate. Players like Isaac TeSlaa, DeAndre Hopkins, Rashod Bateman, and even Mark Andrews could be great ways to save salary on this slate. One thing is for sure: you will want as much offense as you can get. The betting line for points is currently at 53.5, so there will be points aplenty. And even with many great options, one choice at captain for this high-scoring game.

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Week 3 DraftKings Monday Night Football

Captain Play: Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens (17.7K)

My preferred captain could not be anyone else besides Lamar Jackson. The quarterback is averaging the most fantasy points per game on the slate. Lamar has a safe floor, but also an elite ceiling. And in a game like this, where the implied total is over 50 points. I want as many elite offensive pieces in my lineup as I can fit. Rushing quarterbacks in DraftKings Showdowns are cheat codes. The Detroit Lions are 31st in fantasy points allowed to the quarterback position. That statistic does not sway me at all. Even at Lamar Jackson’s high salary, he is a must-play on Monday night. You could argue for any prominent player in the captain slot, but Lamar Jackson should be in every lineup in some capacity.

Other Players to Consider: Derrick Henry, Jahmyr Gibbs, Zay Flowers, Jameson Williams, Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown

Flex Play: Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions (10.6K)

Gibbs has had quite the wild first two weeks. He is averaging 17.2 DraftKings points per game. However, it does not feel like he is at all. Ten catches in Week 1 were how he posted a good fantasy score. In Week 2, it was more natural with 90 rushing yards and a touchdown. David Montgomery has cut into Gibbs’s snap share again, as expected, but has not cracked 40% in either game. The backfield is Gibbs primarily, and in this potential high-scoring game, the Lions will have to use him as a pass catcher more prominently than they did in Week 2. The decision between Gibbs and Henry will decide DraftKings’ slates. I lean towards Gibbs, but I won’t fault someone for leaning towards Henry.

Flex Play: Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens (10.2K)

Speaking of Henry. He had a tough week in Week 2. The Cleveland Browns have a spectacular run defense. And so do the Lions, who have allowed fewer fantasy points per game against the position. Detroit has given up the second fewest points to the position so far this year. Even with that fact, Henry can break any DraftKings slate. We have already seen it once this year against the Buffalo Bills, where he scored 33.2 DraftKings points. Although the matchup is unfavorable, it is still worth mentioning and playing Henry on DraftKings.

Flex Play: Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens (8.4K)

When I play a quarterback in the captain slot on DraftKings, I usually look to stack him with one or more of his pass catchers. Lamar Jackson is one of the players you don’t have to worry about doing that with. However, the obvious choice here is Zay Flowers. Flowers has dominated the target share in the first two weeks of the season. With 20 targets in the first two weeks, Flowers has a 39.6% target share. And he should see his fair share of targets tonight. Rome Odunze had a successful fantasy showing last week, and Flowers could do the same.

Flex Play: Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions (8K)

Williams is one of the best deep threats in the league. Baltimore is allowing the seventh most passes of 20+ yards. This matchup feels like a dream scenario for someone like Williams. He is seventh in average depth of target at 17.8 yards per target. With the Ravens allowing the most passing yards per game, Williams is a threat to break a long one at any point in this game. Players on DraftKings should consider including him in at least a few of their lineups.

Flex Play: Sam Laporta, Detroit Lions (5.4K)

The Ravens are allowing the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. With gamescript also likely favoring pass catchers from the Lions, this is an excellent spot for Laporta. He had a down Week 2, but this is a perfect bounce-back opportunity. As he was not needed in that blowout win against the Bears. The Ravens have allowed solid stat lines to the four tight ends they have played this season, and Laporta is next in line. All Laporta needs to do is score, and he is likely in the optimal lineup at his salary.

Kickers/Defenses

As far as these positions go. I will keep it very simple. Kickers are a great way to save salary on slates like these, where the point total is exceptionally high. And while I have little to no interest in the defense, they are a great pivot play. No one will be looking their way on a loaded slate. So, they are still on my radar, but I am not rushing to play either defense.

Conclusion

There are many great plays on this slate. However, no one has the salary to play them all. The plays I mentioned in the introduction could be the ones that determine tonight’s lineups. Showdown slates are never easy, but this is one of the hardest of the season. The Lions could go any which way on offense. And the Ravens are a little less tricky, but still a big game from any of Flowers, Henry, or Jackson that you do not have in your lineup likely means the end of your night. So, while this will be tougher to navigate, everyone will have those same difficult decisions on DraftKings. I wish everyone the best of luck on what should be an entertaining night with a ton of fantasy points.