Here's a breakdown of the late Sunday and Monday slate of games (click here for Part I; all times ET):
San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 p.m.
Line: Cardinals -6 1/2 (opened at -6)
O/U: 45 (opened at 44)
Weather: Dome
You can do far worse than 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick most weeks - but he's a major risk facing the Cardinals' smothering defense in Arizona in Week 3. Vegas has San Francisco at fewer than 20 points Sunday, so stay away. ... RB Carlos Hyde was impacted most by last week's blowout loss, limited to 13 carries. That's an every-week possibility with this team, especially on the road; fade Hyde this week. ... WRs Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith actually benefit from one-sided losses, and make for decent GPP options. The only problem is figuring out which one is going to have the better week. ... TE Vernon Davis is an uninspiring pick; there are better options available in his price range. ... The industry is still unconvinced that Cardinals QB Carson Palmer is an elite option. He certainly is this week against a subpar San Francisco defense, and should be rostered in all formats at what remains a bargain price. ... RB Chris Johnson is a plodding shadow of his former self with zero role in the passing game. Steer clear. ... WR Larry Fitzgerald was super-human last week, and is clearly Palmer's top target. Fire them up as a combo play in both GPP and cash-game contests, and spend up elsewhere. ... John Brown was Arizona's third banana in Week 2, and can't be trusted in cash games.
Prediction: Cardinals 27, 49ers 17
DFS MVP: Carson Palmer
Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins, 4:25 p.m.
Line: Dolphins -1 1/2 (opened at -3)
O/U: 43 (opened at 44)
Weather: Chance of a thunderstorm, 86 F; SE wind @ 4 mph
Through two weeks, Bills QB Tyrod Taylor looks like the real deal - at least from a DFS perspective. Taylor has a difficult matchup this week against host Miami, but should at least return enough value in cash-game formats to allow users to spend elsewhere. ... RB LeSean McCoy has seen his price tag drop to the point where he's now a reasonable mid-range option in both formats. The Bills will lean on him heavily. ... WR Sammy Watkins' Week 1 zero looks like a major aberration; he should be a solid value pick as Taylor's No. 1 target. ... Percy Harvin's value is tied to touchdowns, which makes him nothing more than a GPP flier. ... Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill should be able to take advantage of a Bills defense that has allowed the second-most passing yards in the NFL. With a bevy of weapons at his disposal, Tannehill should return value - and then some. ... RB Lamar Miller may be a game-time decision, but isn't a great option regardless. ... WR Jarvis Landry may only be a week away from earning the nickname "Mr. Cash Game." Landry has soaked up the targets, and Week 3 should be no different. ... The rest of the receiving corps is too volatile to be trusted. ... TE Jordan Cameron is a nice cash-game option as another of Tannehill's trusted options.
Prediction: Dolphins 27, Bills 20
DFS MVP: Ryan Tannehill
Chicago Bears at Seattle Seahawks, 4:25 p.m.
Line: Seahawks -14 1/2 (opened at -14 1/2)
O/U: 43 1/2 (opened at 45)
Weather: Clear, 61 F; N wind @ 10 mph
Welcome back to NFL action, Jimmy Clausen. Enjoy your road date with an already-impressive Seattle defense buoyed by the return of Kam Chancellor. Clausen is DFS kryptonite this week. ... RB Matt Forte will be Clausen's most reliable safety valve, and as such is the only recommended Bears player for DFS purposes. ... Stay far, far away from any member of the receiving corps; if you want a tournament option, TE Martellus Bennett has the best shot at a garbage-time score and might be worth a shot. ... Seahawks QB Russell Wilson is a great fantasy pick this week despite the fact he may only play three quarters; he'll do enough with his arm and his legs to put together a solid performance worthy of his salary. ... RB Marshawn Lynch has averaged better than a touchdown per game at home since joining the Seahawks. Put him down for two in Week 3. ... Each of the Seahawks' wide receivers is a decent bet for a score; Doug Baldwin has been Wilson's target of choice, and is worth a tournament flier. ... If there was ever a week to pay up for TE Jimmy Graham, this may be it. He made his frustration known this week, and should see all the targets he can handle - even in limited action.
Prediction: Seahawks 38, Bears 17
DFS MVP: Marshawn Lynch
Denver Broncos at Detroit Lions, 8:30 p.m.
Line: Broncos -3 (opened at -3 1/2)
O/U: 44 1/2 (opened at 44 1/2)
Weather: Dome
Broncos QB Peyton Manning looked more like himself in Week 2 after a dreadful season opener; that said, his price is still too high. Trust him only in a GPP, and only if you're confident in some lower-priced options to supplement a Manning/Demaryius Thomas or Manning/Emmanuel Sanders stack. ... RB C.J. Anderson is struggling mightily, and already getting heat from backup Ronnie Hillman; neither is an attractive option this week. ... Thomas and Sanders are near-locks for seven-plus catches and a touchdown, making them good cash-game options individually and GPP options in a Manning pairing. ... Lions QB Matthew Stafford makes his share of mistakes, but will need to throw a ton against a high-octane Denver offense. If you can stomach the turnovers, he's a decent cash-game choice. ... No Lions running back can be trusted in anything but a GPP; to that end, Ameer Abdullah is a home-run shot waiting to happen, and will be a weekly tournament option at his price point. ... WR Calvin Johnson racked up 17 targets last week after seeing just four in Week 1. He'll see a huge workload this week and is worth a look in all formats. ... WR Golden Tate and TE Eric Ebron have decent floors but low ceilings, making them cash-game considerations only.
Prediction: Denver 24, Detroit 21
DFS MVP: Calvin Johnson
Monday
Kansas City Chiefs at Green Bay Packers, 8:30 p.m.
Line: Packers -6 1/2 (opened at 6 1/2)
O/U: 49 (opened at 48)
Weather: Rain showers, 66 F; N wind @ 5 mph
Chiefs QB Alex Smith has had one great outing and one clunker; this one will likely fall into the latter category as Smith will struggle to keep up with Packers counterpart Aaron Rodgers and could be pressured into making mistakes. Avoid him. ... RB Jamaal Charles is an every-week option in both formats; his role in the passing game makes him particularly valuable in PPR games. ... WR Jeremy Maclin probably won't score this week, which makes him virtually unplayable in DFS. ... TE Travis Kelce is Smith's safety blanket, and should see a boatload of targets in what is expected to be a high-scoring affair. ... Quirky stat of the week: Rodgers is 4-8 lifetime on Monday Night Football, with just 2,555 passing yards and an 18:9 TD-INT ratio. But don't be fooled: he's the top QB option of the week against a Chiefs defense that has yielded five passing TDs through two games. ... RB Eddie Lacy will likely be a game-time decision, making James Starks the bargain-basement flier of the week. He's worth a look in all formats regardless of whether Lacy plays, but makes for an absolute steal if Lacy sits. ... WR Randall Cobb is a great play in a Rodgers combo this week, with 100+ yards and multiple touchdowns a possibility. ... James Jones is a tournament play due to his TD potential, while Davante Adams is a cash-game option with a high floor at a reasonable price.
Prediction: Packers 30, Chiefs 24
DFS MVP: Randall Cobb
