NFL Week 3 DFS Cheat Sheet: Five recommended plays for all contests

• Low projected rostership rate for Tua: Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s projected rostership rate is just 4.2% this week, making him a smart GPP play against the Buffalo Bills. 

• Chargers TE Gerald Everett a potential difference-maker: Los Angeles Chargers tight end Gerald Everett has produced a 92.1 PFF receiving grade from an in-line alignment. Should quarterback Justin Herbert (rib cartilage fracture) play, Everett can be a difference-making late-swap option on DraftKings this weekend.

• A Week 3 rebound Falcons TE Kyle Pitts: Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts has a bounce-back opportunity against Seattle Seahawks linebacker Cody Barton and his 56.2 PFF coverage grade.

NFL Week 3 action is here. Here are five recommended plays to help you win big in DraftKings GPP and cash game competitions.

QB TUA TAGOVAILOA, MIAMI DOLPHINS ($6,100) VS. BUFFALO BILLS

PFF ownership projections put Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at a rostership rate of 4.2%, ranking just ninth-highest on the Sunday slate, which makes him an excellent play in GGP formats. DraftKings players are likely to be scared off from the white-hot Miami passing game with the vaunted Buffalo Bills’ defense on deck. Buffalo’s 78.6 PFF defense grade and 90.2 PFF pass-rush grade both rank No. 1 in the NFL, while their 80.9 PFF coverage grade ranks third.

As detailed in this week’s “5 WR/CB matchups to target and avoid in Week 3” article, Buffalo has suffered a series of devastating injuries on its defense. Cornerback Tre’Davious White, a first-team All-Pro in 2019 and second-team All-Pro in 2020, is on the Physically Unable to Perform list (ACL), safeties Micah Hyde and cornerback Dane Jackson both took trips to the hospital during Monday Night Football with a pair of neck injuries, safety Jordan Poyer was downgraded to “did not participate” on Thursday with a foot injury and interior defensive line pass rusher Jordan Phillips failed to practice on Wednesday and Thursday with a hamstring injury. 

Buffalo’s defensive line is still exceptionally deep and should be able to put pressure on Tagovailoa, but Miami head coach Mike McDaniel has built his offensive scheme on quick-hitting, run-after-the-catch principles. Among NFL wide receivers with at least 10 targets this year, Miami wide receivers Jaylen Waddle (7.8 yards after catch per reception) and Tyreek Hill (5.7 yards after catch per reception) rank fourth and 16th, respectively,  in yards after the catch on a per-reception basis. That the two men are both top three in the league in receiving yards, Hill with 284 and Waddle with 240, yet just 34th and 36th, respectively, in average depth of target is a testament to McDaniel’s scheme and the players’ after-the-catch ability. 

It is also worth noting that Miami’s 18th-ranked 60.8 PFF pass-blocking grade is notably better than that of Buffalo’s opponents from Weeks 1 and 2. The Los Angeles Rams’ 52.1 PFF pass-blocking sits 27th in the league, while the Tennessee Titans’ 46.8 PFF pass-blocking grade is dead last. Miami left tackle Terron Armstead is working through a toe injury but as of now is still expected to play.