Blink and you’ll miss it! Week 3 is already here, and we are starting to see some trends with NFL teams and their tendencies. Which team is showing they’re a run funnel defense? What teams allow the most receiving yards per game to the wide receiver or tight end positions? All of those questions and more are slowly being answered, so let’s take some of that information we’ve gotten so far and turn in a Week 3 winning DFS lineup!
Week 3 NFL “FastDraft Flex Six Frenzy” Lineup Advice (2025) | NFL DFS Picks
Bucky Irving (RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
We all love Bucky Irving, right? He continues to excel in the Tampa Bay offense and is a key cog to its success. Most of that success is coming from Irving in the passing game. In two games this season, Irving has gotten ten targets, ten receptions, 58 yards and a touchdown. But it’s not just Irving’s ten targets and receptions that are so enticing. Right now, the sophomore back has a 17% target share on the team, meaning 17% of the targets from quarterback Baker Mayfield go to Irving. To put that into context, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has a 20% target share, and receiver Mike Evans has a 29% target share. However, Evans has yet to find the endzone.
People were a little worried that fellow running back Rachaad White would eat into Irving’s workload. But that doesn’t seem to be the case with Irving playing 73% of snaps and getting 75% of the target share for backs on the team. This week, the Buccaneers face the New York Jets and, as of publication, the Buccs are 6.5-point favorites. Last week, the Jets got torched by Buffalo Bills running back James Cook on the ground for 132 yards and two touchdowns. So, even if Irving doesn’t get the passes he should, the odds of him running all over are good. The Jets currently rank 23rd against fantasy running backs, allowing nearly two fantasy points more than expected. If that holds true in Week 3, Bucky Irving should be a great DFS play.
Jonathan Taylor (RB, Indianapolis Colts)
Are the Colts… good? As of now, they’ve been playing really well with quarterback Daniel Jones under center. Of course, a lot of that comes from running back Jonathan Taylor taking pressure off of Jones. As of today, Taylor is the RB3 overall in half-point per reception (PPR) scoring with 39.8 points. Why, or how, you might ask? Well, a lot of that comes from volume, and volume is key. Taylor leads all running backs right now with 43 attempts on the ground. He’s also second to only Christian McCaffrey in total opportunities, with a total of 48 to CMC’s 52. If that keeps up, Taylor will continue to shine.
The matchup this week is also pretty favorable for Taylor as the Colts face the Tennessee Titans. The Colts are favored right now by 3.5 points, and if the game script holds, Taylor should be running a lot this game. The Titans are a bottom-ten defense against fantasy running backs so far this season, allowing nearly two points more than expected. Unless this game completely flips from how it could and should go, Jonathan Taylor is a must-start by any means necessary.
Rome Odunze (WR, Chicago Bears)
Mr. Odunze, come on down! Turns out the Bears are in the midst of unleashing a pretty dominant pass catcher in Chicago. Second-year receiver Rome Odunze has been “the guy” so far this season as the Bears’ top receiver. Honestly, it hasn’t been particularly close either. Last week, Odunze tallied a massive 11 targets that turned into seven catches for 128 yards and two touchdowns. He also happens to be the leading Bears receiver, with 20 targets through both games. The next closest is Olamide Zaccheaus with 12 targets. The sky right now is the limit for Odunze, and it seems like he’s quarterback Caleb Williams‘ favorite target so far.
With that being said, the Chicago Bears face the Dallas Cowboys in a game that, as of now, has an implied point total of 50. That’s the highest for Sunday’s main slate, and it seems as though the Vegas sportsbooks intend for this to be a shootout. All of that should bode very well for Odunze. The Cowboys’ defense is ranked dead last against fantasy wide receivers after two weeks. They gave up a monster game last week to New York Giants receiver Malik Nabers, who had 167 yards and two touchdowns. Now, I think Nabers is far more talented than Odunze, but the latter is facing the same defense that Nabers dominated just a week ago and he also can torch defenses. That puts Rome Odunze in must-start territory for Week 3.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR, Seattle Seahawks)
Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been a revelation in Seattle for fantasy football and DFS. The young star has been on a tear through the first two weeks of the 2025 NFL season, and I don’t think that will change, or at least not this week. Smith-Njigba faces a New Orleans Saints secondary that is currently ranked 21st against the wide receiver position. If quarterback Sam Darnold is given time this game, he’s going to be throwing it to JSN a lot. The only downside is that the Seahawks are heavily favored, so if that does come to fruition, you hope the receiver can get the damage done early against the Saints.
Nevertheless, the talent has always been there, and we all knew that. Smith-Njigba is a target monster and will be the first look for Darnold. In the first two weeks, JSN has eclipsed 100 receiving yards and eight catches in each game. Throw in the fact that he also has a whopping 44% of the target share so far with about 11.5 targets per game and you have the makings of a stud showing on Sunday. The big question is, can he finally get in the endzone in Week 3? I think he does. In fact, I’m calling a Jaxon Smith-Njigba touchdown on Sunday. Book it.
Juwan Johnson (TE, New Orleans Saints)
Let’s stick with this New Orleans Saints versus Seattle Seahawks game for a moment. The Saints will more than likely be behind in this game, I’d guess through the majority of it. The Seahawks defense will try to get into quarterback Spencer Rattler‘s face early and often. So that leaves it up to short passes for him to dial up. Who is the top guy Rattler will turn to other than running back Alvin Kamara? So far, it’s been Juwan Johnson.
Johnson has been great so far in fantasy football and DFS, and he has the numbers to show for it. Amongst tight ends, Johnson has gotten the most targets (20), second-most receptions (13), fifth-most receiving yards (125) and tied for third with a touchdown. Rattler seems to like the tight end and most likely sees him as some form of security blanket. But make no mistake, big man Juwan Johnson can make moves and turn on the jets if need be. Look for him to continue his impressive start to the 2025 season on Sunday.
Tucker Kraft (TE, Green Bay Packers)
Honestly, we should’ve seen this coming. Last year, Tucker Kraft showed some serious flashes throughout the season, and it didn’t matter if quarterback Jordan Love was hurt or not. What’s most impressive about Kraft is that he actually led the tight end position in yards after catch (YAC) last season. Somehow, some way, this guy can shake defenders like no other with the ball in his hands. Last week against the Washington Commanders, Kraft put up 124 yards like it was nothing. In the first two games of the season, Kraft had a solid 11 targets come his direction, and with wide receiver Jayden Reed recovering from surgery, that should continue.
The Packers take on the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland. I know, the Browns’ defensive line has been dominant and terrorizing for offenses to start the season. But what they really focus on is eliminating the run game. So, I’m much more worried about running back Josh Jacobs than Jordan Love and his pass catchers. If Love can move in the pocket (he can) and find his tight end down the field, then Tucker Kraft should have another good game.
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*Photo Credit: David Reginek – USA TODAY Sports*
