We’ve only got three games to work with on this Sunday slate, so the key is going to be finding those two or three low-owned differential plays that hit big and separate you from the field. We break down the best bets and throw out a few sneaky plays for your consumption.
Top daily fantasy football plays for Sunday’s Week 3 preseason games
With just three games on the Sunday schedule, we break down the best of the limited options for your daily fantasy lineups.
San Diego Chargers at Minnesota Vikings
QB
Must play: Philip Rivers
Might play: Shaun Hill
Stay away: Teddy Bridgewater
Notes: Bridgewater is nursing a sore shoulder and though he returned to practice this week, he did not attempt any deep balls. He might not play, and if he does, he’s going to be limited. Rivers faces a difficult defense and what should be a fired-up crowd in the first game ever at the Vikings’ new stadium. Still, there’s no reason to think Rivers won’t put up solid numbers.
RB
Must play: None
Might play: Melvin Gordon, Jerick McKinnon
Stay away: Adrian Peterson
Notes: Peterson simply does not play preseason games and if for some reason he does play here (first game in the new stadium?), it would be a cameo appearance. The Chargers got shredded by the Titans’ ground game in Week 1, so McKinnon is an option to consider. Gordon had six carries for 18 yards last week, but is expected to see more work in this one.
WR
Must play: Keenan Allen, Adam Thielen
Might play: Tyrell Williams
Notes: If you are playing a GPP contest, I’m going to recommend using Thielen, who had four catches for 61 yards last week and should fly under the DFS radar on this slate. If he repeats that performance, he’s going to be a difference maker in your lineup. Allen and Williams are the top options for the Chargers. Williams should be lower owned, so like Thielen, he makes the better tournament option.
TE
Must play: Kyle Rudolph
Maybe play: Hunter Henry
Notes: Tight end is really thin on this short slate, making Rudolph the top option. He should be highly owned, but take the points and differentiate elsewhere. Henry was solid in Week 1 and vanished in Week 2. He could bounce back this week.
Arizona Cardinals at Houston Texans
QB
Must play: None
Might play: Carson Palmer, Brock Osweiler, Matt Barkley
Notes: I want to call Carson Palmer a must play, but it’s not certain the Arizona starters are going to play the entire first half, and the Cardinals’ offense has not looked sharp in the first two games. I think Palmer is a fade in this one against a tough defense, as he will be highly owned. Barkley will probably get most of the second-half run, so the volume could be enough to make him a worthy play, but not a lot of confidence in that prediction. Osweiler might not see a full half of play, also facing a tough defense, but he looked sharp against the Saints last week and he’s at home. I think I’d go Osweiler over Palmer in a GPP, but more than likely, I will fade QB in this game.
RB
Must play: Lamar Miller, David Johnson
Might play: Akeem Hunt, Kenny Hilliard
Notes: With running backs not deep on this slate, I might go ahead and use both Miller and Johnson and hope they get enough done – maybe a touchdown? – in their comparatively limited amount of work. Hunt and Hilliard are in a roster battle and both are capable of putting up numbers in this one if you want to avoid the highly-owned starters.
WR
Must play: Will Fuller
Might play: DeAndre Hopkins, Jaxon Shipley
Stay away: Larry Fitzgerald, John Brown
Notes: Fitzgerald and Brown returned to practice this week, but are not locks to play in this game. This is a Twitter special for these two guys, so be sure to check their status. Shipley has taken advantage of the duo’s absence. He was targeted seven times last week, catching three. If Fitz and Brown are out again, take a look there. Hopkins is capable of an Antonio Brown style cameo, but Fuller interests me the most after his big game last week (4-73-1).
TE
Must play: None
Might play: None
Stay away: Everyone
Notes: Texans, Cardinals, tight end and production rarely appear in the same sentence. Look elsewhere.
Cincinnati Bengals at Jacksonville Jaguars
QB
Must play: Andy Dalton, Blake Bortles
Might play: AJ McCarron
Notes: Both Dalton and Bortles are expected to play long enough to justify starting them on your teams. Both will also be popular, perhaps No. 1 and 2 in ownership, so for a tournament option, McCarron might be the guy. He could see most, if not all, the second half work and he’s been productive when he’s played this preseason.
RB
Must play: None
Might play: T.J. Yeldon, Chris Ivory, Giovani Bernard, Jeremy Hill, Rex Burkhead
Notes: If I’m playing a Bengals runner, I’m probably rolling the dice with Burkhead, who was active as a runner and receiver last week. Ivory and Yeldon are toss-ups. Ivory tends to get more volume, but Yeldon is active in the passing game and scored on a pass play last week. Both are solid options.
WR
Must play: A.J. Green, Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns
Might play: Tyler Boyd, Brandon LaFell
Notes: Green is certainly capable of making a lot out of limited time, but LaFell is the intriguing target for the Bengals, the free-agent acquisition who will make his preseason debut. Boyd has been solid this preseason and is also worth a look. Pick your favorite Allen on the Jaguars, or maybe pick both. You can’t go wrong either way.
TE
Might play: C.J. Uzomah
Notes: Uzomah has been a fantasy preseason bust, but with Tyler Eifert out until at least Week 4 of the regular season, the Bengals need Uzomah to step up. Is this the game? Probably not worth the risk.
