Prime time Slate Week 3
Washington Redskins vs Oakland Raiders (Raiders -3, O/U 53.5)
Arizona Cardinals vs Dallas Cowboys (Cowboys -3, O/U 46.5)
Quarterbacks
BEST: Kirk Cousins, Derek Carr
I agree with Vegas and think the Sunday night game will be high scoring. Neither defense impresses me and both quarterbacks should be able to move the ball. Cousins gets the edge for me over Carr because I like the Raiders run game more than the Skins. Rob Kelley is not going to play for Washington, so Cousins will lean heavily on the pass. I will have mostly Cousins with some Derek Carr mixed in. This should be a back and forth affair with both QBs scoring points.
WORST: Carson Palmer
Carson Palmer has been ok so far, this season but has only thrown two touchdown passes. With no David Johnson, this offense looks completely different. Palmer had the luxury of teams stacking the box and D.J. catching the ball out of the backfield. Not only did Johnson catch short passes, he caught long ones as well. Until this offense shows me something, I am off them.
HIGH RISK/HIGH REWARD: Dak Prescott
If you want a lower owned quarterback on this short slate, Prescott is the play. Most people will think like I am and play the QBs from tonight’s game.
Running Back
BEST: Marshawn Lynch, Ezekiel Elliott
I wrote up Marshawn Lynch in my main slate article so I obviously like him tonight. He has looked good in his return from a year absence in the NFL. If this game is close, like Vegas predicts, he should get the workload. I see him getting in the end zone this week as well. Zeke is coming off probably the worst game of his short career. I look for him and that Dallas offensive line to bounce back on Monday night. I like pairing these two as my two running backs on both DK and Fanduel.
WORST: Cardinals running backs
Chris Johnson should get more of a workload on Monday night versus the Cowboys. Actually, I could see playing him on DraftKings. But I am not touching him or Kerwynn Williams on Fanduel. I don’t see either one of them with enough upside for tournament plays.
HIGH RISK/HIGH REWARD: Washington running backs
Rob Kelley is out for the Redskins which leaves Chris Thompson and Samaje Perine left to take on the running back duties. Thompson is a good third down and passing down running back. However, last week he rushed for two touchdowns. I think people will see that and he will be heavily owned. He can’t handle a full workload though, so Perine will be involved.
Wide Receiver
BEST: Terelle Pryor, Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree
This is the week Pryor breaks out. If you like narratives, he is facing the team that drafted him in prime time. I am pairing him with Cousins in most of my lineups with a little Jamison Crowder sprinkled in. I prefer Cooper over Crabtree, just based on ownership percentages. I have to think more people will gravitate to Crabtree who scored three times last week.
WORST: Cole Beasley, Terrence Williams
The secondary receivers have never been good as long as Dez Bryant has been there. Sure, on occasion Beasley or Williams will have a good game, but I don’t think they do this week. If you want a wide out just for low ownership this is where I would go. But I am not taking that chance.
HIGH RISK/HIGH REWARD: Dez Bryant, J.J. Nelson
We know what kind of ceiling Dez has, so he is always in play. Nelson has big play ability and is really the only Cardinal I am looking at playing.
Tight End
BEST: Jared Cook, Vernon Davis
Vernon Davis will be replacing Jordan Reed in the starting lineup for the Skins. If you need a cheap option, he still can catch the ball. Look for Cousins to get him the ball in the red zone as well. Jared Cook is my favorite tight end play of the primetime slate. Washington doesn’t defend the tight end well so Cook should be able to beat them in the middle of the field and deep. Fire him up in cash and GPPs.
WORST: Jermaine Gresham
Jermaine Gresham is not going to win you a tournament. There is no need to go there on this slate.
HIGH RISK/HIGH REWARD: Jason Witten
Jason Witten never excites me to play. However, is off to a hot start this year scoring double digit fantasy points in each of the first two games. He had 10 catches on 13 targets last week after getting 7 on 9 targets week one. Maybe something has clicked with he and Prescott. Or maybe the rest of the wide receivers stink outside of Bryant, so they must throw to him. Either way, he is in play on this slate.
Defense
Considering I like tonight’s game for offense, I am picking one of the Monday night defenses. Most likely I am going with the Cowboys, but may sprinkle in some Cardinals.
