Draftkings Week 3 Cash Game Core

Sep 25

10 min read

Updated: Sep 27

Unlike GPPs, where the goal is to finish near the top of a large field, cash games generally reward roughly half of the field, making consistency and a strong floor more important than finding low-owned players. The goal is to build a lineup that maximizes reliable production by prioritizing players with strong workloads, favorable matchups and dependable opportunities to score fantasy points. In this article, we’ll break down the safest plays, key values and roster-building strategies to help construct a lineup designed to consistently reach the cash line.

Week 2 Cash Game Results

You can find my week 2 results on patreon, its free to read and you can get a deeper dive into my process before lock.

Please note that in this article I’m expanding the Cash Game Core to include my favorite players in my overall cash game pool. Rather than limiting the article to a handful of core plays, this will give you a broader group of players I’m comfortable building around, as thoughts and opinions change leading up to lock, while still highlighting the guys I have the most confidence in. This should give us more flexibility when building lineups and adjusting for late-breaking news & injuries.

Quarterback

Quarterback Value Could Be Extremely Important

With so many elite running backs sitting in favorable matchups this week, I think finding value at quarterback could be one of the biggest keys to building a strong cash-game lineup. We have several premium RBs capable of putting up 20+ fantasy points, and paying up for two of them can quickly eat into your salary. That makes the $5K-$6K quarterback range particularly appealing if we can find a player with a solid floor and enough upside to keep pace. Current Week 3 projections show multiple QBs in that range carrying strong value compared to their more expensive counterparts.

Jameis Winston - $4,000

At his current salary, Jameis Winston is one of the more interesting value quarterbacks on the Week 3 slate, especially with so much salary being pulled toward the elite RB options. The biggest positive for Winston is that this is a completely different situation from Monday night: after being thrown into the game unexpectedly following Jaxson Dart's injury, Winston has now had a full week of practice with the first-team offense and the Giants are building the game plan around his strengths. The matchup with Tennessee also gives him some appeal. Through two games, the Titans have allowed 479 passing yards on 61 attempts (7.8 yards per attempt), with opposing quarterbacks completing 73.8% of their passes, while Tennessee has only three sacks. Winston certainly carries more risk than the elite QB options, but at a discounted salary, he doesn't need to approach their ceiling to provide the value we need. If he can simply operate the offense efficiently and push toward the 200-250 passing-yard range with a touchdown or two, he can open up the salary necessary to pair him with some of the premium running backs on this slate.

Tyler Shough - $5,400

Another underpriced quarterback I’m strongly considering for cash games this week, particularly because his $5,400 DraftKings salary gives us access to a quarterback who has already demonstrated a strong fantasy floor through two games. Shough has thrown for 662 yards and four touchdowns on 90 attempts while completing 68.9% of his passes, and he has added 31 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. The volume is particularly encouraging, as Kellen Moore has already shown a willingness to let Shough throw, with 45 attempts in each of his first two games. Now he returns home to face Las Vegas, giving him another opportunity to operate in an offense that has produced 767 total yards and six touchdowns through two weeks. At $5,400, we don't need an elite performance to justify the salary, and the combination of passing volume, rushing ability and a growing role in the Saints offense gives Shough a strong path to paying off while allowing us to spend up at the premium RB position.

Running Backs

We have almost every alpha running back on the main slate this week, making this an excellent week to prioritize the position in cash games. I almost always prefer to spend up at running back and build with three backs, because volume and opportunity are the foundation of a strong cash-game lineup. When we can lock in touches, goal-line work, and receiving opportunities, we’re giving ourselves the floor we need to compete. For a deeper dive into these running backs check our WR & RB Analysis article.

Home Favored running backs with 20+ total touches per game

RB	Week 3 matchup	Spread	Avg. touches
Jahmyr Gibbs	vs. NYJ	DET -6.5	28.0
Jonathan Taylor	vs. HOU	IND -2.5	25.0
Christian McCaffrey	vs. ARI	SF -8.5	21.5
James Cook	vs. LAC	BUF -7.0	20.5

One of the strongest indicators I look for in cash games is a running back who combines high volume with a home favorite game environment. A player averaging 20+ touches gives us a strong floor, while being favored can lead to a positive game script, more rushing attempts, and additional touchdown opportunities. Put it all together, and we have the combination of volume, floor, game script, and touchdown equity that we want in cash. When building a cash lineup, I almost always play three running backs, so this is where I start my research each week, that does not necessarily mean I'll only play a combination of these running backs. My current player pool and ranks are in order on the table below:

RB	Salary	Matchup	Carry	Rush Yds	Rec	Targets	Rec Yds	RZ
Jahmyr Gibbs	$8,800	vs. NYJ	45	208	11	13	91	13
Kenneth Walker III	$7,400	@ MIA	47	290	9	16	79	11
Christian McCaffrey	$8,300	vs. ARI	20	91	9	12	63	8
Jonathan Taylor	$7,600	vs. HOU	43	190	7	8	63	10

Jahmyr Gibbs - $8,800 stands out as my favorite cash-game RB this week. The volume is exactly what we look for, and he’s coming off back-to-back games with 20+ touches. He is the clear workhouse running back with monty. He’s heavily involved in both the run and passing game (7.5 Targets per game), while his red-zone usage gives him plenty of touchdown upside. At $8,800, he’s expensive, but the combination of volume, receiving work, game script, and red-zone opportunity gives Gibbs the kind of floor I’m looking for in cash. Gibbs is locked in the lineup reguardless of his salary.

Kenneth Walker - $7,400 is one of my favorite values at RB this week. Through two games, Walker has 47 carries for 290 yards (6.2 YPC) while adding 9 catches on 13 targets for 79 yards, giving him 56 total opportunities. He’s also averaging 23.5 carries per game and has 11 red-zone opportunities, including 8 carries and 3 targets inside the 20. We’re targeting a back who is dominating his team's rushing workload while also being involved in the passing game. The matchup with Miami gives him a favorable game environment, and the combination of elite efficiency, massive volume, and receiving work gives Walker a very strong cash-game floor at a significant discount from the other alphas. He is my second running back, already locked in for sunday.

Jonathan Taylor - $7,600 is my third back for this week, Through two games, Taylor has 43 carries for 190 yards (4.4 YPC) while adding 7 catches on 8 targets for 63 yards, giving him 50 total touches. He’s also averaging 21.5 carries per game and has seen 10 red-zone opportunities, including 5 carries inside the 5-yard line. We’re getting a back who is handling a massive workload and has already shown strong touchdown equity. The matchup with Houston gives him a solid game environment, and the combination of volume, goal-line work, and receiving involvement gives Taylor a very strong cash-game floor at a reasonable price. Taking Taylor gives us slight salary relief from taking CMC.

James Cook - $6,900 is one of the premium RBs I’m comfortable paying up for in cash this week, especially with Buffalo carrying a massive 28.75-point implied team total against the Chargers. Cook has already shown the kind of workload we want to see, carrying the ball 34 times for 192 yards (5.6 YPC) with a touchdown through two games. That includes a monster 21-carry, 135-yard performance against Detroit last Thursday, where he averaged 6.4 yards per carry and ripped off a 35-yard run. The Chargers have actually been respectable against opposing running backs early in the season, allowing just 170 rushing yards on 44 RB carries (3.9 YPC) through two games, with one rushing touchdown allowed. However, there are some encouraging signs for Cook: Los Angeles has faced only 44 RB carries, while Buffalo has established Cook as its clear lead back, and the Bills are averaging 38.5 points per game entering Week 3. The Chargers have also struggled badly in the broader run-game environment, posting a league-worst -19.7 EPA on rushing plays despite allowing just 2.9 yards per play on early-down runs. For cash games, I’m willing to prioritize Cook because his combination of workload, explosive-run ability and access to a high-scoring Buffalo offense gives him multiple paths to a strong score. Even if the Chargers limit his efficiency somewhat, 18-22 carries in this game script puts Cook in position to pay off his salary, with touchdown equity providing the additional ceiling.

The Value

Chuba Hubbard $6,100 - is one of my favorite cash-game salary savers on the slate. He’s already handled 22 carries and 5 targets through two games, while playing 66% of Carolina’s offensive snaps. Now, with Jonathon Brooks headed to IR and expected to miss at least six weeks, there’s a good chance that workload climbs from here. Hubbard has already averaged 13.5 touches and 75.5 total yards per game without getting a massive workload, so if he pushes toward 17-20 touches, the floor becomes really appealing at $6,100. He doesn’t need a monster game to pay off his salary — the volume alone gives him a solid path to a useful cash-game score, with touchdown upside providing room for more.

Jaylen Warren - $5,700 has quickly emerged as one of the more interesting value options on the slate, particularly now that Rico Dowdle is unable to play. Warren has already shown a useful combination of rushing volume and receiving involvement, and a potential increase in workload would give him a much clearer path to 3x+ value at just $5,700. The matchup with Cincinnati isn't enough by itself to make Warren a priority, but the combination of price, projected workload and receiving upside makes him a serious consideration if Dowdle remains out. At this salary, Warren doesn't need a monster game to pay off — a workload in the neighborhood of 15-18 touches with a few targets could put him firmly into cash-game consideration while also opening up significant salary for upgrades elsewhere in the lineup. His own shoulder status is worth monitoring as well, but if he's active and Dowdle is ruled out, Warren becomes one of the first value backs I'll be looking toward.

Wide Receivers

Jaxon Smith-Njigba - $8,600 is expensive, but this is one of the spots where I might be willing to pay up because the volume, efficiency, and matchup all line up. Through two games, JSN has seen 22 targets, turning them into 17 receptions for 277 yards and four touchdowns, averaging an elite 11 targets per game. His 38.9% target rate against the blitz is particularly appealing against a Washington defense that blitzes at one of the highest rates in the NFL. The matchup is difficult to ignore as well, with Washington allowing 224 passing yards per game through two weeks and ranking near the bottom of PFF's coverage metrics; CeeDee Lamb just torched this secondary for 8 catches, 153 yards and 2 touchdowns. The price is certainly a concern, but you're paying for an established workload rather than hoping a cheaper receiver gets there on efficiency. With 11 targets per game, elite recent production and a favorable matchup against a vulnerable secondary, JSN has the type of volume-based floor that makes him worth paying up for in cash games.

Garrett Wilson - $6,000 is my favorite mid tier guy this week. Wilson has seen 14 targets through two games, turning them into 11 receptions for 136 yards and a touchdown, while averaging 12.4 yards per catch. He remains the Jets’ established No. 1 receiver and has already accounted for Geno Smith’s only passing touchdown this season. The matchup against Detroit is particularly appealing, as the Lions have allowed 658 passing yards, 55 completions and six passing touchdowns through two games while allowing 7.6 yards per attempt. Detroit has also surrendered 31+ points in both games, and their pass defense has been a clear weakness early in the season. With Wilson’s established target floor, $6K salary and a defense that has struggled to slow opposing passing attacks, he gives us a strong combination of volume, matchup and salary efficiency for cash games.

DeVaughn Vele - $4,400 is my salary-saving option on the slate given his role has quickly become too large to ignore. He has seen 15 targets through two games, turning them into 12 receptions for 133 yards and a touchdown, and he has been consistently involved rather than relying on one big play to produce. The matchup against Las Vegas isn't necessarily one I need to attack, but that's also not why I'm interested in Vele. At his salary, I'm primarily buying the target volume and offensive role. If New Orleans continues to lean on the pass and Vele maintains even 7–9 targets, he has a realistic path to providing the salary relief we need while still carrying enough receiving volume to give us a solid cash-game floor.

Tight End

T.J. Hockenson - $3,200 is a pure punt TE play for me at tight end, I'm looking to spend up for elite players, however there is enough underlying usage to make the punt viable. Hockenson has 8 targets through two games, turning them into 7 catches for 65 yards and a touchdown, while commanding a 20.5% target share and 16.7% first-read share. He has also seen two red-zone targets, giving him some touchdown equity despite his modest yardage ceiling. Usage metrics via FantasyPros. The matchup against Tampa Bay is also appealing, giving Hockenson a reasonable path to production without needing a huge game. I'm not expecting him to compete with the elite tight ends on raw scoring, but at a punt price, we simply need 8–12 points while freeing enough salary to fit the premium players we want elsewhere in the lineup.

Defense

Titans D/ST - $2,400 is another salary-saving piece I’m comfortable using in cash games this week, especially with the projection coming in strong against the Giants. The biggest factor here is Jameis Winston starting at quarterback, as his history of turnovers gives Tennessee legitimate upside through interceptions and fumbles. The Giants are also dealing with an injury to Malik Nabers, whose potential absence would be a significant loss for New York's passing attack and ability to create explosive plays. Tennessee can get there through sacks, turnovers and simply limiting New York's scoring, and at their price, we don't need a dominant defensive performance to make them a strong value. If Winston gives us a couple of opportunities and the Titans can pressure him consistently, this defense has a clear path to paying off while allowing us to spend more salary on the premium players elsewhere in the lineup.