Titans-Jaguars on Thursday Night Football is becoming an annual tradition, in much the same way that paying taxes is an annual tradition. I'm not sure anyone actually watches that game. Of course, the outliers are fantasy football owners. Fantasy sports, especially NFL DFS, can turn an ugly game that no one wants to watch into a must-watch affair. So, if you're looking for a reason to watch any football you can get your hands on, playing in a Week 3 DraftKings Showdown contest might be for you.
Where else could you play Gardner Minshew II and not feel the least bit bad about it? Probably nowhere expect in your 2018 college fantasy league. And no one really likes Derrick Henry, but all of a sudden he looks very attractive in this game. Hopefully they wear those hideous Color Rush uniforms to really complete the picture of an ugly contest.
WEEK 3 NON-PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
We've taken a different approach to this week's Showdown lineup, playing a WR in the captain's spot for the first time. Odell Beckham Jr. proved on Monday Night Football how much of a contest-winner that can be if you get it right, so hello captain DJ Chark. Beyond that, we're betting on the Jaguars showing up and performing at home while figuring that if the Titans move the ball, it will be through their two most consistent performers.
Week 3 DFS Lineups:
FD cash | FD GPP | DK cash | DK GPP | Y! cash | Y! GPP
DraftKings Showdown Picks: Titans vs. Jaguars
CAPTAIN (1.5x points, 1.5x price): WR DJ Chark, Jaguars ($11,400)
A couple weeks of going quarterback or running back in the captain's slot has not paid huge dividends. Inevitably, a receiver has a huge day and blows up that plan. So, we're taking the shot on picking the correct receiver this week. Chark is the biggest play threat in this game, but I expect his "questionable" tag to scare ownership away. He practiced in full on Tuesday, so he should be good to go Thursday. Obviously check in to be sure, but all it will take is one lengthy touchdown from Chark to make this lineup nearly profitable on its own.
MORE WEEK 3 DFS: Values | Stacks | Lineup Builder
FLEX: QB Gardner Minshew II, Jaguars ($9,200)
Maybe I'm ignorant, but I didn't expect Minshew to rush for more than 50 yards in his first NFL start. I just didn't know he could do that. The nearly game-winning drive Minshew led late should carry over into this week, and with the solid floor his rushing brings, I'd expect him to have more passing success against the Titans. He's the QB to own in this game.
FLEX: RB Derrick Henry, Titans ($10,600)
Henry's price is fair, and I chose to avoid the slightly cheaper Leonard Fournette as I load up on the Jacksonville passing game. The hope would be that more players pick Fournette at his cheaper price, leaving Henry's ownership slightly depressed. Henry probably his the best touchdown odds in this game, so he's worth paying up for.
WEEK 3 PPR RANKINGS: Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end
FLEX: TE James O'Shaughnessy, Jaguars ($2,600)
There's not really a way to make these Showdown lineups without one super cheap, usually unexciting player. That will be O'Shaugnessy this week. At least every catch he makes will be with the QB in our lineup, too. He's received nine targets through the first two weeks, so there should be at least a bit of production out of this cheap price. The Titans have allowed a TE touchdown in both games this year, so there's that, too.
FLEX: TE Delanie Walker, Titans ($8,200)
Jalen Ramsey looks like he's playing, so while I considered Corey Davis, that feels like an even lower-upside move than playing Walker. Maybe his age and unexciting style of play help him go underowned, but regardless, if the Titans are clicking, we'll want someone in their passing attack. That someone is Walker. The Jaguars would've looked worse against tight ends if Patrick Mahomes hadn't no-looked Travis Kelce in Week 1 on an easy touchdown. A TE can beat this defense.
FLEX: WR Dede Westbrook, Jaguars ($7,400)
The pricing on this slate left this final choice without many real options. It basically came down to Westbrook or Chris Conley, and have more belief in Westbrook despite his slow start to the season. He's still getting the most snaps in the Jacksonville WR corps, suggesting he's still essentially the No. 1. Hopefully this is the week he starts to show it.