Week 3 NFL DFS RB Projections: DraftKings Values & Sleepers
I was told that RBs don’t matter. I’ll leave that debate for Stephen A, Skip, and all the First Take clones but what does matter is daily fantasy sports and in DFS we live in the world of a salary cap. We can’t just plug in the top 3 RBs on a given week so we must find the best values and sleepers to help us find the salary to splurge on our favorite, pricy QBs and WRs.
In this article I will highlight the best value and sleeper running backs in a given week. Note that the “sleepers” are probably best unleashed in large field tournaments as they will have a higher fail rate while likely landing in significantly fewer lineups. That said let’s get to some of my favorite targets in Week 2 of the NFL DFS season.
Week 2 DraftKings Projections — Running Backs
Jerome Ford (4.8K) – 13.82 projected fantasy points
Zack Moss (5.5K) – 15.65 projected fantasy points
Kyren Williams (5.5K) – 15.97 projected fantasy points
Rachaad White (5.9K) – 17.23 projected fantasy points
Alexander Mattison (5.8K) – 14.24 projected fantasy points
Joshua Kelley (5.4K) – 2.92 projected fantasy points
Jerome Ford – After a brutal season-ending injury to Nick Chubb, there is a lot of usage available in the Cleveland backfield. The Browns played Monday night, meaning Week 3 prices were already set, so DK did not have a chance to adjust to the new situation. Rookie Jerome Ford is prime to be elevated to the new #1 as he outsnapped Pierre Strong 43 to 13 in Week 2. The Browns did sign veteran Kareem Hunt, but all indications are he is just an insurance piece and this is Ford’s job to lose. While the matchup this week against Tennessee isn’t ideal, volume and price should have Ford projected to be one of the top pt/$ play of the slate.
Zack Moss – In this very article last week I outlined the scenario where Moss could make his debut in Week 2 and jump right into a big role. By no means did I expect him to play on 98% of snaps and be the only RB to get a carry (18 carries – 88 yards) but here we are. Moss played well, the Colts won, and Jonathan Taylor isn’t walking through that door, so I have to assume he is well ahead of Dean Jackson going into Week 3 and the very clear #1 RB. The status on starting QB Anthony Richardson is currently unknown, but if he sits I think you could argue that would give s slight boost to Zack’s TD and reception projection. Either way, the role is too good, the price is too cheap, and the expected pace of this game make Moss an appealing option this week.
Top DFS Sleepers
Dameon Pierce (5.2K) – 12.40 projected fantasy points
Khalil Herbert (5.1K) – 12.52 projected fantasy points
Roschon Johnson (4.7K) – 6.89 projected fantasy points
Kendre Miller (4.3K) – 4.3 projected fantasy points
Kendre Miller – Let’s check in on the running back room in New Orleans – Alvin Kamara is still suspended, Jamaal Williams left last game with a hamstring, and promising rookie Kendre Miller has yet to make his season debut due to injury. Tony Jones, essentially the RB4 when everyone is available, ended up with 12 touches in Week 2 while “TE” Taysom Hill had 9 carries. There are reports suggesting Jamaal Williams is unlikely to play while Miller is expected to be a full-go in practice and should make his season debut. How much the Saints are willing to give the rookie in his presumed NFL debut is hard to say, but they can certainly use him the week before Kamara is back from suspension and he is super cheap. This is obviously a fluid situation and something that needs to be monitored as we close in on kickoff.
Feel free to follow me @DFS_Almanac and tell me what you agree/disagree with and who I left off the list. The RotoGrinders team (including myself) will be live on the Rotogrinders Youtube channel every Sunday at 9:30AM breaking down the main NFL DFS slate and all the late breaking news right up to kickoff.
Please note that as more information and news breaks the closer we get to kickoff, projections are subject to change. Make sure to sign up for RG Premium to get the most accurate information and projections.