In this day and age is it still cool to have your thing? You know, your shtick, your calling card – the aspect that makes you different from the rest.
Well, regardless of if it is or not, we here at In-Between media have ours. In an industry over-saturated with your run-of-the-mill waiver-wire and buy/sell columns, we try to bring you a dose of real-life knowledge alongside our fantasy football advice.
This notion was translated to our logo, the very one at the top of this page. It incorporates two symbols, both meaningful to our founder and our mission.
The Water Tower: There’s a lot more than what meets the eye with water towers. Yes, they’re enormous and serve specific functions for their various locations. But more so, water towers are a place for reflection and critical thinking.
For us, as writers, always seeking the truth and stories to be told, a water tower represents that and righteousness that can be discovered through that truth-seeking journey.
The typewriter was invented in 1868 by Christopher Latham Sholes.
The Typewriter: The once steel masterpiece is now seen as out of style by many. However, here at In-Between Media, the typewriter means so much more than just giving recognition to the great wordsmiths before us.
It symbolizes the power of words and how one person’s writing can help save a whole lot more. It is our reminder that whoever you are, you can make a difference if you try hard enough.
Moving forward, our weekly, “Open-Ended DFS” columns will provide our daily fantasy sports (DFS) picks for the said week in two categories – Water Tower Picks and Typewriter Picks.
Water Tower Picks, similar to real-life, are big and expensive. These are the big-name players that we’re willing to pay for each week.
Typewriter Picks, on the other hand, like the writing tool, are efficient and can be powerful assets at a lower cost. Think of these as our value picks, the players many didn’t seem coming but are in for a big week.
As we transition into our Week 3 DFS advice and our Water Tower and Typewriter Picks, we encourage you to think about the symbols that carry meaning throughout your life. And when you discover them, don’t be afraid to own and embrace it.
Week 3 Water Tower DFS Picks
RB: Jonathan Taylor (New York Jets at Indianapolis) — $7,000
Jonathan Taylor has found himself thrust into the spotlight following an unfortunate injury to Marlon Mack. With his first full game as the lead back coming last week against the Vikings, Taylor saw 26 touches for 101 yards and a touchdown, while catching two of two passes thrown his way.
His 3.9 yards per carry (YPC) is a bit lackluster, but this week Taylor will be taking those rushing attempts against a depleted Jets team. He’s likely to see a similar workload and another positive game script providing him with ample opportunity to show off his skills and pile up the yards. – Thomas Cuda
RB: Kareem Hunt (Washington at Cleveland) — $6,100
Cleveland Browns’ Head Coach Kevin Stefanski seems to have shifted the offensive philosophy two games into his tenure. Cleveland is top-nine in the league in rushing attempts, averaging 31 carries per game over the first two. This has allotted both Kareem Hunt and starter, Nick Chubb, to be top-13 fantasy Points per Receptions (PPR) backs in the early going.
I expect more of the same Sunday against the Washington Football Team that has yet to see a running back core as talented as this duo and allowed over 4.9 YPC last week against Arizona. – Seth Woolcock
WR: DeAndre Hopkins ( Detroit at Arizona) — $7,900
DeAndre Hopkins leads the league in receptions (22) through two weeks.
There were so many questions around DeAndre Hopkins coming into this season: “Will he fit Kliff Kingsbury‘s offensive scheme? Is his time as an elite tier one receiver behind him? Will he fade away into the distance as a what-could-have-been story?”
The catch-all short answer to all those questions is pretty simple: DeAndre Hopkins is still very much an elite tier-one receiver.
And in that dynamic Arizona offense, he has become a major part of their 2-0 start. So far this season, Hopkins has 22 catches on 25 targets. This is more than doubled the next closest receiver in targets on the team (Larry Fitzgerald, who has 11 receptions). This week Arizona is up against a very weak Detroit squad, so look for Hopkins to make it worth your will to splurge on a top-dollar receiver. – Nate Polvogt
QB: Dak Prescott (Dallas at Seattle) — $7,200
During a normal NFL season, I might think twice about drafting Dak Prescott to play in Seattle. But, without the “12th Man” and facing a current Seattle defense that has allowed an average of 30.7 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks this season, I’m all-in on the Mississippi State Product and his weapons.
Prescott himself is QB5 on the season, top-three once again in yards and passing attempts, while coming at the right price this week of $7,200. – Woolcock
Week 3 Typewriter DFS Picks
WR: CeeDee Lamb (Dallas at Seattle) — $5,400
Rookie CeDee Lamb has had a solid start to his professional career with 11 receptions for 165 yards, good enough for WR25 through two weeks.
Now, he faces a Seattle secondary that has allowed at least 13 fantasy points to all three starting wide receivers on both the Patriots and the Falcons. This includes all three Falcons receivers (Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage) in Week 1 and Julian Edelman Week 2, finishing as WR1’s. – Woolcock
QB: Derek Carr (Las Vegas at New England) — $5,400
Three years into the “Great Gruden Do-Over,” and I think we can all agree Derek Carr is still what he was prior to Gruden’s arrival — consistent and boring.
But that’s not a bad thing here. The Las Vegas offense is about a 60/40 split run-to-pass, with the passing game more compact and efficient than it’s been in recent years. Carr is making high-percentage throws when he does toss the ball, and he’s throwing to Darren Waller and Josh Jacobs, possibly the best non-WR receiving duo in the NFL.
In a matchup with a weaker-than-usual New England defense this Sunday, I’m drooling over the DFS possibilities with Carr. Not to mention, at $5,400, he’s an absolute steal. – Polvogt
WR: Golden Tate (San Francisco at New York Giants) — $4,500
Golden Tate has been a masterful yards-after-catch receiver for most of his career and the Giants have seen some truly hard losses this week. Saquon Barkley is out for the season, Sterling Shepard just got placed on Injured Reserve (IR) and their backfield is now somewhat muddled.
This week, the Giants get to take on an equally-injured 49ers team at home and they’re going to need to rely on Tate to run those short routes and move the sticks. He is now fully healed from the hamstring injury that kept him out in Week 1 and I expect him to be a great value for such a low price. – Cuda
RB: Jerick McKinnon ( San Francisco at New York Giants) — $4,900
It’s no secret that the New York “Football” Giants defense is a mess. It’s also no secret that the San Francisco 49ers backfield is basically going to be Jerick McKinnon with some Jeff Wilson peppered in.
That, coupled with the absence of George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Jalen Hurd, or any other real threat in the passing game, and Jimmy Garappolo down, consider McKinnon a must-play this week at $4,900.
He’ll be tasked with inheriting most of, if not all, of the 22 carries vacated with the absence of Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman, in addition to helping carry the load in the air. If Sunday goes the way we all believe it will, he could win you some cash. – Polvogt
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