Daily Fantasy Football Week 3: DraftKings DFS Rankings and Best Values

Week 3 is set to get underway, which means it's time to welcome Le'Veon Bell back into the action. While Bell hasn't played in 2015 due to his suspension, the question immediately becomes how he'll perform in his first game of the season. Better yet, will Bell rank among the top running backs in daily fantasy football for Week 3?

Bell is just one of many hot topics this week, and it's safe to say that you'll not only find some great options for expensive players, but that there are some great value plays as well.

In recent weeks, we've seen plenty of low-priced players step up and post impressive stat lines, making them more than worth their DraftKings cost. This week, who will the top value plays be, and will they allow you to get the superstars with the best matchups into your lineups?

That's our job to figure out, so let's get right into the Week 3 rankings and value plays.

Quarterback Rankings and Value Plays

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

1. Tom Brady, New England Patriots ($7,700)
2. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers ($8,000)
3. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks ($7,000)
4. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts ($7,900)
5. Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals ($6,600)

Do you know what's great about a guy like Carson Palmer lighting it up? It's almost like you're finding value with one of your top quarterback options. With that said, don't go too crazy jumping on Palmer just because of his price. The other four players on this list definitely deserve consideration.

To start off the quarterback action, let's look at an interesting report from Rob Demovsky of ESPN. Demovsky reported that Aaron Rodgers, who's the highest priced QB this week, actually doesn't remember the last time he threw an interception at Lambeau Field. For those wondering, it's been 18 games (including the postseason), which goes all the way back to Week 13 of the 2012 season.

That's unreal.

Rodgers is one of the best in the business, and I fully expect him to light it up again on Monday Night Football this week. So, with that said, why is Tom Brady ahead of Rodgers? Well, because Brady is playing like a man with a massive chip on his shoulder (obviously). 

Brady is averaging 29.9 fantasy points over the first two games on DraftKings and is facing a Jaguars defense that has allowed an average of 251 yards through the air per game. His numbers are just incredible, and I don't see them declining anytime soon.

Russell Wilson faces a Chicago Bears defense that has allowed an average of 39.5 points over the first two games. In terms of fantasy points, the Bears defense is looking at an average of minus-0.5 points heading into Week 3.

Andrew Luck is the interesting one left on the list. Although his team is 0-2, and he's struggled, the question remains when—not if—he'll have a explosive game. Could it be this week against the Tennessee Titans? Absolutely, and I'd be more than willing to give him the nod. Even taking that into consideration, his price is still incredibly high, so it may be worth taking a look elsewhere in Week 3.

Value Plays

Tyrod Taylor, Buffalo Bills ($5,800)

While Taylor's numbers may look a bit inflated from an attempted comeback against Brady and the New England Patriots last week, the game can't be overlooked. Yes, Taylor threw three interceptions, but he also scored four touchdowns and wound up with 28.98 fantasy points.

What's so great about Taylor is that his accuracy has been stellar this season. He's completed 37 of 49 passes this season, and while he has three picks on the year now, I expect him to cut down on those in Week 3. At a cost of just $5,800, it's hard to overlook his value, especially since he can run the ball, totaling 84 yards and a score through two games.

Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders ($5,300)

For $5,300, Carr looks like a steal on paper, and he may wind up being one. I would be a bit cautious, though, as he wound up with just 3.24 fantasy points in a rough Week 1 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, but he did get hurt during that game. When Carr wasn't hurt, though, he was like a different player.

He dominated the Baltimore Ravens, completing 30 of 46 passes for 351 yards and three scores. In total, he scored 30.34 fantasy points last week. The question is, why did his price go from $5,500 last week to $5,300 this week?

It's an interesting situation, but Carr still looks like a great value. While the Cleveland Browns rank No. 4 in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game at 199, Carr's low cost may outweigh the risk of playing a tough secondary.

Running Back Rankings and Value Plays

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

1. Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers ($7,500)
2. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings ($7,500)
3. Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks ($7,400) *
4. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs ($7,400)
5. Latavius Murray, Oakland Raiders ($5,800)

*Lynch is likely to play, but may be a game-time decision, so monitor this moving forward. If he's out, shift LeSean McCoy ($6,100) onto the bottom of the list.

Everything you just read was probably pretty standard up until you got to No. 5. A Murray not named DeMarco at No. 5? You bet. Latavius Murray has an excellent matchup against a Cleveland Browns team that has allowed an average of 160 yards per game on the ground. It's a great spot for some value.

As for the return of Le'Veon Bell paired with Adrian Peterson in the top spots, try not to overthink this too much. The Steelers are going to get Bell the ball, and they're going to get him the ball a lot. Peterson and the Vikings, on the other hand, face a Chargers defense that has allowed an average of 122 rushing yards per game. The costs won't break the bank, so jump on one, or even both.

Lynch is a real question mark due to his injury, but if he plays, he's going to shatter the Chicago Bears defense. Expect a run-first focus from the Seahawks, which will hugely benefit Lynch.

Jamaal Charles is the last name on this list, and he has averaged 4.9 yards per carry in 2015 while rushing for 182 yards and scoring two total touchdowns. Now, Charles faces a Green Bay team that is in the bottom 10 of the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game. Charles and an angry Chiefs team will look to bounce back this week, which bodes well for the star running back.

Value Plays

Dion Lewis, New England Patriots ($4,200)

If you aren't on the Dion Lewis train, it may be time to jump aboard. While Lewis' rushing attempts went from 15 in Week 1 to just seven in Week 2, he had an impressive jump in fantasy points. The reason? Lewis is a stellar receiver out of the backfield. He caught six balls for 98 yards and capitalized on his rushing attempts last week, totaling 40 yards and a score.

Lewis, whose price makes him more than worth placing in your lineup, has averaged 20.4 fantasy points per game on DraftKings. Don't sleep on him again, because if this keeps up, his cost may no longer be considered a value in the near future.

Devonta Freeman, Atlanta Falcons ($4,600)

Freeman may have averaged just 2.1 yards per carry in Week 2, while averaging 1.8 per carry in Week 1, but this pick is simply about volume. With Tevin Coleman expected to miss this game due to a rib injury, it'll be Freeman's show. Even though he was miserable running the ball last week, Freeman caught four balls for 34 yards and ran in a touchdown, finishing with 15.9 fantasy points.

The Dallas Cowboys run defense has been strong thus far in 2015, allowing just 53 yards per game, but expect Freeman to get all the touches he can handle, including receptions. It's a bit risky, but you're going to see a player whose workload alone should allow him to exceed his cost.

Wide Receiver Rankings and Value Plays

Don Wright/Associated Press

1. Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers ($8,900)
2. Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons ($9,000)
3. Julian Edelman, New England Patriots (7,000)
4. Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers ($7,300)
5. Brandon Marshall, New York Jets ($6,200)

Plugging in Antonio Brown, Julio Jones and Julian Edelman at the top here was pretty easy. These are three essentially matchup-proof players, but on top of that, they get a lot of targets. These three players have received 79 targets through two games. That's an average of over 13 targets per game for each of them. Don't stress putting these three in your lineups.

As for Randall Cobb, he looks like he's regaining his confidence after a preseason shoulder injury. Yes, the Kansas City Chiefs allow only 268 passing yards per game, but Peyton Manning just dropped three touchdowns and 256 yards against them on the road. Aaron Rodgers should put up big numbers, and Cobb, fresh off an eight-catch, 116-yard performance, will benefit most.

To round out the top receivers for Week 3, let's talk Brandon Marshall. The veteran receiver is obviously comfortable with Ryan Fitzpatrick and the New York Jets offense, as he's caught 13 balls for 163 yards with two scores heading into Week 3. Now he draws possibly the worst pass defense in the NFL in the Philadelphia Eagles.

Philadelphia allows 270 yards on average to opposing receivers, while Marshall has averaged 22.2 fantasy points on DraftKings through the first two weeks. You may very well be getting a value play in one of the top wide receivers this week.

Value Plays

Allen Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars ($5,200)

Welcome to the show, Allen Robinson. The second-year receiver disappointed in Week 1, catching one ball for 27 yards. Week 2? Well, that was a different story. Robinson and Blake Bortles showed an incredible rapport, as the receiver hauled in six passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns. Now, the Jaguars are set to take on the New England Patriots on the road.

You know what that means.

The Jaguars are going to need to air it out in order to keep up with Tom Brady and that high-flying offense. Expect Robinson to be a key to Jacksonville's game plan this week. He should have no problem putting up numbers that will far exceed his $5,200 cost.

Rishard Matthews, Miami Dolphins ($3,800)

Let's talk about a serious value play at the wide receiver position now. Rishard Matthews has the potential to be the best value on the board, and he has impressed through two weeks.

Matthews has 10 catches for 149 yards and a touchdown. He's averaged 17 fantasy points per game, and has quietly become one of Ryan Tannehill's favorite options in the passing game. His 13 targets are second only to Jarvis Landry for the Dolphins.

Matthews' value allows you to open things up with the rest of your lineup. While the Buffalo Bills defense may scare you off, they allowed 466 passing yards to the Patriots last week, allowing four players to top 87 receiving yards.

Tight End Rankings and Value Plays

Gary Wiepert/Associated Press

1. Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots ($7,400)
2. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs ($5,000)
3. Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers ($4,800)
4. Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals ($4,800)
5. Jimmy Graham, Seattle Seahawks ($5,800)

Rob Gronkowski's price may still not be high enough. He has been one of the best and most consistent fantasy players through the first two weeks, totaling 207 yards and four touchdowns, while averaging 29.9 fantasy points per game. You simply can't go wrong getting him in your lineup, especially against a Jacksonville Jaguars team that is in the bottom 13 of passing yards allowed per game.

As for Travis Kelce and Greg Olsen, both are staring great opportunities in the face. Kelce and the Chiefs take on the Packers in a game that should be very high scoring. Expect Kelce to get plenty of looks and to lead the Chiefs in receptions this weekend. Olsen, who began Week 1 by receiving only three targets, saw a complete 180 in Week 2, as he drew 14 targets, resulting in 70 yards.

Both Kelce and Olsen should be go-to options for your daily fantasy lineups, especially with their player-friendly pricing.

Eifert is an interesting one. On paper, it seems as though you should avoid tight ends against the Baltimore Ravens. In 2015, the Ravens have given up seven receptions for 30 yards to opposing tight ends, but they have played the Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders, who don't have playmakers at tight end like Eifert. 

I'm not going to shy away from Eifert, as he's a different beast than what the Ravens have seen up to this point.

Jimmy Graham? Oh, Jimmy Graham. After word came out that Graham was unhappy with his role in Seattle, he immediately told the team's site that his frustration was with the losses, not with his role. The truth? Well, no one really knows. What we do know, is that Graham is the second-highest priced tight end, but he scored just 2.1 fantasy points last week. Cause for concern? You bet.

With that said, I believe the Seahawks will look to get Graham more involved this week and quiet the critics a bit. Graham will produce like a top-five tight end when all is said and done in Week 3.

Value Plays

Martellus Bennett, Chicago Bears ($4,600)

I'm giving Bennett the nod here. The Seahawks allow an average of 14 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends, making him an interesting play. Seattle should be ahead the bulk of this game, and Chicago is playing without Jay Cutler. With Jimmy Clausen starting, Bennett should get plenty of looks as his safety blanket.

Bennett hasn't been a DraftKings stud this season, averaging 12.7 points, but he's still in a great spot and should be worth $4,600 at the end of the day.

Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings ($3,300)

If I told you that you could get a player for $1,300 less than Bennett and that player has averaged just 0.5 points per game less than him, you'd take him, right? Well, that's Rudolph. He hasn't blown us away by any means, but the Vikings draw the San Diego Chargers, who have allowed an average of 10.5 fantasy points to opposing tight ends.

Rudolph isn't the "sexy pick" on paper, but he's caught 10 balls for 83 yards and a score this year, receiving 13 targets. If you need an inexpensive option, Rudolph is your man.

Defense/Special Teams Rankings and Value Plays

John Froschauer/Associated Press

1. Seattle Seahawks ($3,400)
2. Denver Broncos ($3,000)
3. New England Patriots ($3,100)
4. Carolina Panthers ($3,100)
5. Houston Texans ($3,200)

Every single one of these defenses has a great matchup or is facing a backup quarterback they should feast on. The Seahawks and Panthers both draw backups in Jimmy Clausen and Luke McCown, while the Texans face rookie Jameis Winston. Each of these teams should be able to create turnovers, tally plenty of sacks and keep their opponents' point totals down.

Oh, and let's not forget to welcome back safety Kam Chancellor to the Seahawks, who ended his holdout last week, according to Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.

As for the Broncos, this is a unit who has held opponents to a 45.1 passer rating over the first two weeks. Now, they draw Matthew Stafford, who's dealing with a rib injury, and the Detroit Lions. The Broncos defense has averaged 19 fantasy points on DraftKings through two games this season.

Last but not least, the Patriots. This defense started 2015 slow, but Week 2 was a big one for them. Even though they allowed 32 points during a furious comeback from the Buffalo Bills, they still racked up eight sacks and three interceptions. Now they face the Jacksonville Jaguars and turnover-prone Blake Bortles.

Value Plays

New York Jets ($3,000)

Not only has the Jets defense been great in 2015, averaging 15.5 fantasy points, but it faces a Philadelphia Eagles team that's struggling mightily. The Jets have allowed 17 total points through two games, while intercepting four passes. This team should make life miserable for Sam Bradford, who has thrown four interceptions this season.

Best of all, the Jets have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks at just 8.5. That's pretty scary to think about as they square off against the struggling Eagles.

Cleveland Browns ($2,900)

Yes, the Browns are playing against Derek Carr, who just threw for 351 yards and three scores last week. They're also one of the worst run defenses in the NFL. Neither of these things change the fact that the Browns just dropped 20 fantasy points against the Tennessee Titans last week. After a terrible start in Week 1, Cleveland sacked Marcus Mariota seven times, allowing just 14 points.

The Raiders look motivated coming off their comeback victory against the Ravens, but as one of the better values in Week 3, Cleveland at home could be a great play. We saw how different this unit is at home as opposed to on the road, as they scored just one fantasy point when playing away from Cleveland, but 20 at home.

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Pricing information and scoring data obtained from DraftKings.com. All statistics courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified.

DraftKings is paying out millions of dollars in prizes during Week 3 of the NFL season. Use this knowledge to help you win some of that cash. Play now for FREE at DraftKings.com. 

Follow Jeff Smith on Twitter.