We’ve arrived at Week 3 of the 2015 NFL season, and once again it is time to put some serious thought into your Millionaire Maker lineup at DraftKings. To help you finalize your team we’ve put together a list of our Top 5 value plays at each position. Read on to find out who our sleeper picks are at running back for Week 3!
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DraftKings Week 3 Value RBs
1. Latavius Murray
Oakland @ Cleveland $5,800
He’s relatively expensive for a value play, but relatively cheap for a true workhorse back, especially when you consider Murray’s Week 3 matchup. The Browns are dead last in run defense once again, as they’ve coughed up 160 RuYPG through 2 games this season, and were the worst defense against the run in the NFL last season. The Raiders should execute a conservative game plan on the road, but regardless of game flow, Murray is going to get plenty of touches. Taiwan Jones logged just 2 touches as his backup last week, and played just 10 offensive snaps to Murray’s 56. With 15+ DK points in each of his first two appearances, he’s a superior cash game option to several of the more expensive RBs on the board this week.
2. Danny Woodhead
San Diego @ Minnesota $4,400
Melvin Gordon flashed some upside during the first half of the Chargers’ Week 2 loss at Cincy, but once the Chargers fell behind, it was all Woodhead. San Diego (+2.5) is an underdog once again in Minnesota this week, and wind up trailing in the second half if Adrian Peterson continues to run with renewed vigor. Minnesota was absolutely eviscerated by the 49ers running attack in Week 1, and allowed Lions receiving back Theo Riddick to catch 5 balls for 41 yards in Week 2. Woodhead will be able to leak out and catch passes all afternoon if game flow dictates it, so you can consider him in any format as one of Phillip Rivers’ favorite targets.
3. Devonta Freeman
Atlanta @ Dallas $4,600
I have little faith in Freeman’s ability, but put plenty of stock in the volume he’s likely to receive over the next few weeks with Tevin Coleman (ribs) out of action. He managed just 2.1 YPC in Week 2, but did punch in a TD from half a yard out after stud WR Julio Jones set him up to vulture the score. With the Cowboys defense selling out to stop the Ryan-Jones combination, Freeman could catch a number of short passes over the middle, and he was able to haul in 4 of 8 targets for 24 yards last week. With only an unheralded rookie (Terron Ward) behind him on the depth chart, he’s a decent cash game option in Week 3 contests.
4. Dion Lewis
New England vs. Jacksonville $4,200
The public may assume that Bill Belichick is going to shift his game plan, and pound the weak Jaguars with big back LeGarrette Blount in a blowout win, but that narrative may assume too much. First of all, the Jaguars run defense is not bad anymore. Jacksonville was solid over the final 3 games of the 2014-15 season, and has allowed just 73.5 rushing yards (5th fewest in NFL) through 2 games this season. If the Jags are able to muck things up on the defensive line, the Patriots will once again revert to a quick-hitting passing attack, which allowed Lewis to play 77 snaps to Blount’s 7 in Week 2. Even if they split time, Lewis is far more appealing in PPR formats, and remains a solid value option on DraftKings.
5. David Johnson
Arizona vs. San Francisco $4,000
While Johnson is allegedly going to become more involved in the Cardinals offense this week, it’s hard to trust him in anything but tournament formats. Most of his production last week came from returning the opening kickoff for a TD against an indifferent Bears team, but now he’ll face a relatively sold 49ers defense that will be charged up for a divisional tilt. The 49ers gave up a ton of FPs to DeAngelo Williams last week, but most of that was on three short rushing TDs, while they basically shut down Adrian Peterson the week before. Johnson is a talented back that could break a couple of big plays, but can’t be deployed in cash games just yet.