Welcome to Week 3 of Money Makers and Heart Breakers for the 2024 NFL season! Every week, I’ll break down key NFL DFS picks for the Sunday main slate, spotlighting players who can boost your lineups and those who might leave you disappointed.
By Week 3, we start seeing patterns emerge, but with only two games in the books, it’s still tricky. That’s where the fun begins! Let’s jump into this week’s top picks and potential heartbreakers and get ahead in your DFS lineup.
Here is a brief definition of each of my terms for anyone that might be new:
💰 Money Maker – This player will perform better than expectations
💔 Heart Breaker – This player will perform lower than expectations
Week 3 NFL DFS:💰 Money Makers
Quarterbacks
Kyler Murray
Kyler Murray has been on fire to start the 2023 season. He has rushed for over 50 yards in each of the first 2 games and has thrown 4 touchdowns so far this season. The Lions meanwhile have given up the 9th most fantasy points to opposing teams’ quarterbacks. The Cardinals are one of the most fun teams to watch right now.
$6,900 on DraftKings
$8,300 on FanDuel
Sam Darnold
Yes, you read that name right, Sam Darnold. Darnold has passed for over 200 yards and multiple touchdowns in each of the first 2 games this season. The Texans have given up 8th most fantasy points to quarterbacks through this time period. Its easy to pick up what I am putting down here, Darnold will produce this week in fantasy.
$5,500 on DraftKings
$7,100 on FanDuel
Derek Carr
Derek Carr is the second-highest-scoring quarterback in fantasy so far this season. Carr has passed for over 200 yards and multiple touchdowns in each game. He has a total of 5 touchdown passes this season. In Week 3 The Saints will play the Eagles and the Eagles give up the 11th most fantasy points to opposing teams’ quarterbacks. Carr may be doing more Michael Jackson dances in the end zone this week. Tee Hee!
$5,800 on DraftKings
$7,900 on FanDuel
Other Quarterback DFS Picks for Week 3
Brock Purdy
$6,000 on DraftKings
$7,400 on FanDuel
Jared Goff
$6,500 on DraftKings
$7,500 on FanDuel
Lamar Jackson
$7,500 on DraftKings
$8,800 on FanDuel
Running Backs
Derrick Henry
Henry has scored a touchdown in each game this season. He will continue that in Week 3 against the Cowboys. The Cowboys give up the most fantasy points to running backs in fantasy. Running backs average 104 yards and 2 touchdowns rushing against the Cowboys. Looks the a big game from the big running back is coming in Week 3.
$6,500 on DraftKings
$7,800 on FanDuel
Jordan Mason
Mason has run for over 100 yards and a touchdown in each of the first two games of the season. In Week 3 he gets to play against a Rams team that has been completely defenseless against the run. In the first two games, the Rams gave up double-digit fantasy scores to 3 running backs. Running backs average 154 yards and 1.5 touchdowns against the Rams. Mason is a must-start this week with Deebo Samuel out.
$6,200 on DraftKings
$8,300 on FanDuel
Zach Charbonnet
Charbs has scored a touchdown in each of the first two games this season. In Week 3 the Seahawks play the Dolphins. The Dolphins have given up 5 rushing touchdowns in the first two games of the season. Running backs also average 111 yards per week rushing against this team. If Kenny Walker is out and it looks like he will be Charbonnet is a must-start.
$6,000 on DraftKings
$6,700 on FanDuel
Other Running Back DFS Picks for Week 3
Alexander Mattison
$5,400 on DraftKings
$5,700 on FanDuel
Alvin Kamara
$6,000 on DraftKings
$8,400 on FanDuel
Tony Pollard
$6,000 on DraftKings
$6,800 on FanDuel
Wide Receivers
Demarcus Robinson
The San Francisco 49ers give up on average 11 receptions, 184 yards, and 2 touchdowns per game to wide receivers. The Rams have run 76 pass plays this season which is the fourth most in the league. With Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp looking like elves on shelves Robinson is the number one wide receiver for the Rams. He is in a great situation and is priced right for Week 3 in DFS.
$5,000 on DraftKings
$6,100 on FanDuel
CeeDee Lamb
The Cowboys play the Ravens in Week 3. The Ravens have given up over 100 yards to 2 wide receivers this season. Lambs will make 3. With 24% of the Cowboys target share Lamb should dominate the defense that gives up the 6th most fantasy points to wide receivers.
$8,800 on DraftKings
$9,300 on FanDuel
Rashid Shaheed
Shaheed has been super efficient this season. He has turned 9 targets in 7 receptions, 169 yards and 2 touchdowns. This is because the Saints’ offensive scheme has been run to perfection by their players. Now throw in an opponent that gives up 11.5 receptions, 192 yards and 2 touchdowns on average to wide receivers weekly in the Eagles and you get a great DFS play for Week 3.
$5,300 on DraftKings
$6,300 on FanDuel
Other Wide Receiver DFS Picks for Week 3
Greg Dortch
$4,500 on DraftKings
$5,100 on FanDuel
Amon-Ra St. Brown
$7,400 on DraftKings
$9,100 on FanDuel
DJ Moore
$6,700 on DraftKings
$6,500 on FanDuel
Tight Ends
George Kittle
Kittle showed up with a slight hammy issue on Thursday. We don’t like that. The Niners are playing the Rams in Week 3, we do like that for this passing offense. If Kittle suits up, it is a good week to pay up for him in DFS as the Rams give up the third most fantasy points to opposing teams tight ends.
$5,700 on DraftKings
$7,100 on FanDuel
Brock Bowers
Bowers has a 24% target share of the Raiders pass attack through 2 weeks. In Week 1 he saw 8 targets, which he turned into 6 receptions and 58 yards. Week 2 saw Bowers turn 9 targets into 9 receptions and 98 yards. He is for real. The Panthers are up in Week 3, lets just say the Panther team is not so good.
$5,400 on DraftKings
$6,300 on FanDuel
Other Tight End DFS Picks for Week 3
Jonnu Smith
$3,400 on DraftKings
$5,000 on FanDuel
Jake Ferguson
$4,500 on DraftKings
$5,400 on FanDuel
DEF
Packers
The Titans have allowed opposing teams’ defenses to score over 10 fantasy points in each of the first two games this season. The Packers get to play the Titans in Week 3. Defenses get to fill up their stat sheets against the Titans. Teams average 3.5 sacks, 1.5 interceptions, and a fumble recovery against the Titans. Remember the Titans…are bad.
$3,300 on DraftKings
$4,000 on FanDuel
Cardinals
Sometimes you want to find an inexpensive defense with potential. The Cardinals’ defense averages 10 fantasy points a week. They scored 9 fantasy points against the Bills in Week 1 and 11 against the Rams in Week 2. The Lions are not a pushover by any means but this is a defense that finds a way to score you some fantasy points with sacks and fumble recoveries. I am whispering this to the defense whisperer, he knows who he is.
$2,300 on DraftKings
$3,600 on FanDuel
Browns
The Browns play the Giants in Week 3. The Giants have given up the second most fantasy points to opposing teams’ defenses. The Browns are a good real life defense. They tend to hold a bad offense down and hit the quarterback. There will be sacks this week on Danny Jones.
$3,800 on DraftKings
$4,900 on FanDuel
Check out all of our Week 3 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Flex
💔Heart Breakers
Quarterbacks
Justin Fields
On paper, the Chargers are the toughest defense against the pass in the league. They really haven’t played anyone yet though as well that I might consider really good at passing the ball. The trend continues into Week 3. We always hear about the dual threat quarterback being so great for fantasy. Well, Justin Fields is supposed to be that guy but he only averages 11 fantasy points a game this season. His job is to not cough the ball up and he has been doing that well. He will remain a horrible fantasy play in Week 3.
Justin Herbert
If you want to watch a game where the teams will not score a lot of points in Week 3 I recommend the Chargers against the Steelers. The Steelers defense is very good at stopping the pass. They will make things difficult for the Chargers passing attack in Week 3.
Geno Smith
The Dolphins have been pretty good against the pass this season. But man of man they have not been good against the run. Expect which ever running back plays for Seattle to have a pretty good fantasy day. See Zach Charbonnet above, big day coming.
Running Backs
Saquon Barkley
The Saints have not allowed over 30 yards rushing to a running back yet this season. Do I think Barkley will do better than that, yes. I do think the Eagles will have to pass to stay in this game. If you are playing season long Barkley is on your lineup. In DFS don’t pay up for him this week.
James Conner
The Lions defense essentially funnels your offense to the pass. Mostly to the slot receiver. Conner is probably going to be OK this week as he seems to always rack up double-digit fantasy days. But like Barkley, I don’t want to pay for him this week where it could be more of a floor game.
Aaron Jones
The Texans give up the third least amount of fantasy points to running backs. The Vikings play the Texans in Week 3. This is another defense that appears to funnel your offense to the pass. Look for Darnold to throw more than Jones runs in Week 3.
Wide Receivers
Mike Evans
Patrick Surtain, whose last name is spelled like curtain, will essentially be a curtain on Mike Evans. He is shutting everyone down this season. This is a Chris Godwin game for the Buccaneers.
George Pickens
The Chargers have done very well against the pass so far this season. I don’t like the Steelers passing game in Week 3. There will be slim pickings for George in Week 3.
Jayden Reed
Is Jordan Love playing, I don’t know. What I do know is that you can beat the Titans by just running the ball. In Week 2 the Packers chose to run Joshua Jacobs all day. I expect more of that in Week 3. Wouldn’t you Love to see Jordan back in the lineup soon and make Jordan Reed relative again.
Tight Ends
Tucker Kraft
As stated above you run the ball easily on the Titans.
Dalton Kincaid
The disappointment continues into Week 3 for Dalton Kincaid. The Jaguars have allowed opposing teams tight ends to score 1.9 fantasy points per week. Yuck!
Thanks for checking out Money Maker and Heart Breakers. For more great content from Fantrax, follow us on X and @MikeReedyFF for more great content
Make sure to check out all of our Week 3 Fantasy Football Rankings and analysis!