Week 3 is full of exciting contests, including our first London game of the 2017 season. This Pick’Em advice article will focus on the main slate, which features 13 games on Sunday. Below we’ll look at the top-rated players (based on ECR) that are available in each tier at DraftKings.
If you’re new to the DraftKings Pick ‘Em format, it’s a contest where there are eight tiers of players (ranging from 3 to 10 players per tier) and you fill out a lineup by picking one player from each tier. It’s ultra-fast to enter and represents another fun alternative to salary cap contests. Best of all, DraftKings is offering a FREE $100,000 contest that pays out to the top 138,445 finishing positions. There’s literally no risk to playing in this contest!
Check out the FREE DraftKings $100,000 Pick’Em contest 
Tier 1
Derek Carr (OAK @ WAS)
Expert Consensus: QB #4
One could worry a bit about the travel from one coast to the other, but it’s tough to not love Carr this week. The Redskins have been beatable through the air through two weeks, and this game is expected to feature plenty of scoring. The total currently sits at 54.5 points, with the Raiders carrying an implied total of 28.75 points. They are favored by just three points right now, which should translate to a competitive game. Carr has been very efficient through three games, as he’s completed 75% of his attempts while tossing five touchdowns against no interceptions.
Matt Ryan (ATL @ DET)
Expert Consensus: QB #3
I’m going to lean toward Matt Ryan over Aaron Rodgers in this tier, despite the Packers playing at home this week. The Lions present a much easier matchup in the passing game for Ryan and the Falcons, and I think this game will feature plenty of scoring. Ryan has been sharp to start the season, completing 69% of his passes, while tossing a touchdown in each game. I think this will be the week we see multiple scores from the reigning MVP, making him a fine target in this tier.
Other Options
- Aaron Rodgers (QB – GB)
Tier 2
Le’Veon Bell (PIT @ CHI)
Expert Consensus: RB #1
The decision in this tier essentially boils down on whether or not to use Le’Veon Bell or Antonio Brown, and I’m going to side with the running back this week. He’s the highest projected play at the position by far this week, as he should finally come through with a big game in a far easier matchup than he had last week.
Julio Jones (ATL@ DET)
Expert Consensus: WR #3
Jones eclipsed the 100-yard mark last week, as he hauled in five catches on nine targets. While he’s yet to find the end zone this season, I think he will register his first score of 2017 this week against the Lions, who I noted earlier have been vulnerable through the air.
Other Options
- Antonio Brown (WR – PIT)
Tier 3
Kareem Hunt (KC @ LAC)
Expert Consensus: RB #2
Hunt continues to shine for the Chiefs, and it looks as though he will receive as much of the workload as he can handle. The Chargers have allowed over 100 rushing yards in each of their first two games, which should translate to yet another strong outing from the rookie running back in Week 3.
Ty Montgomery (GB vs. CIN)
Expert Consensus: RB #6
Montgomery appears to be emerging as a true workhorse for the time being, as he was on the field for 85% of the offensive snaps in Week 2. He carried the ball 10 times, while he also caught six of seven targets in the passing game. Week 3 presents a juicy matchup, as the Bengals have been gashed on the ground for 157 and 168 yards respectively over the first two weeks. With Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb both banged up, Montgomery could continue to see increased work in the passing game, which gives him a nice boost.
Other Options
- Melvin Gordon (RB – LAC)
- Jay Ajayi (RB – MIA)
- LeSean McCoy (RB – BUF)
Tier 4
Keenan Allen (LAC vs. KC)
Expert Consensus: WR #6
Allen is coming off of a strong outing in Week 2, as he hauled in nine of 10 targets for 100 yards against the Dolphins. While he doesn’t possess big touchdown upside, he still brings great value in full-point PPR scoring formats due to the sheer volume he sees when healthy.
A.J. Green (CIN @ GB)
Expert Consensus: WR #2
I’m playing the narrative game with this pick, as I’m hoping a change in play-calling duties gets this offense kick-started. Green has received 18 targets through two weeks, but the output has obviously been disappointing as the Bengals have yet to score a touchdown. I will boldly predict that all changes this week, with Green leading the way.
Other Options
- Mike Evans (WR – TB)
- Michael Thomas (WR – NO)
- Brandin Cooks (WR – NE)
Check out the FREE DraftKings $100,000 Pick’Em contest
Tier 5
Golden Tate (DET vs. ATL)
Expert Consensus: WR #17
In a game that should feature plenty of scoring, I think Tate is poised for a big game at home, after struggling in Week 2. He’s the one constant in this offense, and I look for the veteran receiver to exploit an Atlanta secondary who just surrendered 343 passing yards and two touchdowns last week.
Kelvin Benjamin (CAR vs. NO)
Expert Consensus: WR #15
The Saints’ secondary continues to be exploitable in a big way, as they are fresh off of another gashing at the hands of the Patriots in Week 2. That’s now six passing touchdowns allowed and a whopping 793 yards allowed through the air over two weeks. Benjamin is coming off of a promising Week 2 outing, and he should break through with a monster game this week.
Other Options
- Michael Crabtree (WR – OAK)
- Jarvis Landry (WR – MIA)
- Amari Cooper (WR – OAK)
Tier 6
DeVante Parker (MIA @ NYJ)
Expert Consensus: WR #26
Parker saw nine targets in the Dolphins’ first game of the season, and he hauled in four of those for 85 yards. He’s currently questionable with an ankle injury but provided he plays, I love his upside this week against the Jets, who have allowed five passing touchdowns through two games this season.
Christian McCaffrey (CAR vs. NO)
Expert Consensus: RB #13
The stars are aligned for McCaffrey to explode this week, as he will face a New Orleans defense that has allowed 19 catches and 185 receiving yards to running backs this season, including a score last week. NFL defenses have been able to neutralize him for the most part, but this should be the week McCaffrey finally posts a monster line.
Other Options
- Tyreek Hill (WR – KC)
- Devonta Freeman (RB – ATL)
- Doug Baldwin (WR – SEA)
Tier 7
DeAndre Hopkins (HOU @ NE)
Expert Consensus: WR #14
The Patriots have been destroyed through the air in their first two games, as they’ve allowed 724 passing yards and six touchdowns. Despite having a rookie at the helm, Hopkins continues to see an absurd amount of volume, as he’s tallied 29 targets through two games. Provided this trend carries over into Week 3, we could see a top five outing from Hopkins.
Terrelle Pryor (WAS vs. OAK)
Expert Consensus: WR #24
Pryor has yet to score a touchdown in this young season, but he’s seen an encouraging amount of work in the passing game thus far, as he’s logged 15 targets while he led the team in offensive snaps last week. With Jordan Reed banged up, Pryor could see extra looks in a decent matchup against the Raiders.
Other Options
- C.J. Anderson (RB – DEN)
- Travis Kelce (TE – KC)
- Davante Adams (WR – GB)
- Emmanuel Sanders (WR – DEN)
- Dalvin Cook (RB – MIN)
- Demaryius Thomas (WR – DEN)
- Martavis Bryant (WR – PIT)
- Marshawn Lynch (RB – OAK)
Tier 8
Tarik Cohen (CHI vs. PIT)
Expert Consensus: RB #16
It’s tough not to love Cohen’s prospects this week, as the Bears figure to be playing from behind early and often against the Steelers. This type of game script suits Cohen’s profile well, and I think he could easily wind up as a top 10 running back in PPR formats this week.
Zach Ertz (PHI vs. NYG)
Expert Consensus: TE #2
Ertz has received 18 targets through two games, and he’s certainly not disappointed thus far, as he’s caught 13 of those passes for 195 total yards. He’s yet to find the end zone, but with Carson Wentz clearly relying on his talented tight end, that should change in time. The Giants have allowed a passing touchdown to a tight end in each of their first two games, and I think Ertz will make it three in a row in Week 3.
Other Options
- Adam Thielen (WR – MIN)
- Mike Gillislee (RB – NE)
- Alson Jeffery (WR – PHI)
- James White (RB – NE)
- Theo Riddick (RB – DET)
- Chris Carson (RB – SEA)
- T.Y. Hilton (WR – IND)
- Isaiah Crowell (RB – CLE)
Enter DraftKings FREE $100,000 Pick’Em contest
- $100,000 in total prizes
- FREE to enter
- The fastest way to play
- Great for first time players, pick from the players you know
- $500 first place prize
- Over 135,000 entries win guaranteed
- Must enter by Sunday, September 24th at 1 PM EST
Free $100,000 Pick’em Contest Link: www.draftkings.com/gateway?s=532678387
Never deposited on DraftKings? Make your first deposit today and you can receive a FREE DraftKings season ticket* to play FREE every week of the season – $45 value.
* FREE DraftKings season ticket offer is valid for new customers only who make a first deposit of $5. If you qualify for the offer, we will credit you with a ticket for each week of the NFL regular season, starting week 3. Limit one (1) offer per person. If you have any questions, please contact support@draftkings.com
Adam Sutton is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Adam, follow him @DraftStars_Adam. You can find more of Adam’s work at DraftStars.net
