NFL

Week 3 NFL FanDuel Salary Movers

Things can change quickly in fantasy football. To quote Ferris Bueller -- "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

We're here to "look around" and make sure we don't miss any week-to-week salary changes that could pay dividends on FanDuel.

Maybe a player had an outlier performance and saw their salary rise too high, making them a sub-optimal play. Perhaps a player saw an increase in their role but played on Monday night after salaries for the following week's slate already came out, and therefore they haven't been priced accordingly.

This week's article will take a look at which players' salaries have changed the most from Week 2 to Week 3.

Now that you're ready, let's get to it!

Quarterback

Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Week 2 Salary: $7,500
Week 3 Salary: $8,400

When you follow trends in the NFL, a four-week sample is ideal before we make too many assumptions on players or teams. In the case of the 2019 Miami Dolphins, I think we're safe concluding the tank is on. If you played NBA DFS during the Sam Hinkie era in Philadelphia, opposing teams received a salary increase across the board. Apply the same principle to the Dolphins for NFL DFS and it's no wonder Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, and Amari Cooper are at or near the top of the salary scale for each position.

Dak's salary bump isn't just because of his opponent. With offensive coordinator Kellen Moore calling the shots, Prescott has completed a staggering 83 percent of his passes for 674 yards and 7 touchdowns. It's not a dink-and-dunk offense that has bolstered his completion percentage, as evident by a healthy average depth of target of nine yards. He's cleared 28 FanDuel points in both division games against the New York Giants and Washington Redskins and gets the 'Fins at home as 21.5 point (!) favorites. Will it be over by halftime? That's possible, but Prescott's projection of 22.7 FanDuel points trails only Patrick Mahomes. With plenty of value options to consider due to QB injuries, Dak makes an interesting tournament play and leverage off of Zeke.

Other Big Movers:

Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons: $8,200 | $7,800
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals: $6,500 | $7,200
Jacoby Brissett, Indianapolis Colts: $6,000 | $6,800

Running Back

Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals

Week 2 Salary: $7,500
Week 3 Salary: $6,500

Joe Mixon was a game-time decision in Week 2 due to an ankle injury suffered at Seattle in Week 1, but the Bengals' running back did give it a go despite only one limited practice during the week. The results, however, were much like his Week 1 performance, when he was healthy. The former Sooner could only muster 17 rushing yards on 11 attempts. That gives him a total of 27 yards on 17 carries through two weeks. If there's a positive to draw from his role in the offense it's that Mixon has eight targets across two games, which is fourth on the team.

A $1,000 swing from week-to-week in DFS is big and the Bengals offensive dud in Week 2 didn't help. Now the team must travel for a date with the Buffalo Bills, numberFire's eight-ranked defense, as six-point underdogs. At $6,500, Mixon falls into the same price range as Kerryon Johnson, Josh Jacobs, and Damien Williams. His projection of 13.7 FanDuel points ranks 14th on the slate, but it's hard to trust Mixon even at a reduced price.

Other Big Movers

Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints: $8,700 | $8,000
Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers: $6,400 | $6,900
Jeff Wilson, San Francisco 49ers: $4,600 | $5,300

Wide Receiver

Mecole Hardman, Kansas City Chiefs

Week 2 Salary: $4,700
Week 3 Salary: $6,300

With Tyreek Hill set to miss multiple weeks with a clavicle injury, the rookie from Georgia became a popular DFS option. A second-round pick with 4.3 speed, Mecole Hardman seemed like a natural fit to take over Hill's role in the offense. It seems that honor actually went to teammate Demarcus Robinson last week, who caught all 6 of his targets for 172 yards and 2 touchdowns for 32.2 FanDuel points. Sammy Watkins led the Chiefs in targets, but Hardman got in on the action with four receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown of his own, posting 14.1 FanDuel points.

Hardman is the biggest mover of the week at wide receiver, due to his expanded role but also his Week 2 salary of just $4,700. Fans will get a premiere matchup of young quarterbacks this week with reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes facing the hot-starting Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens with the slate's highest over/under at 55. You'll want pieces from this game in your lineups, and despite the salary adjustment, Hardman should be squarely in play.

Other Big Movers:

JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers: $8,100 | $7,500
Demarcus Robinson, Kansas City Chiefs: $5,200 | $6,700
Damiere Byrd, Arizona Cardinals: $4,500 | $5,000

Tight End

George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

Week 2 Salary: $7,100
Week 3 Salary: $6,600

The 49ers offense came to life Sunday against the Bengals, cruising to a 41-17 win. Despite the offensive fireworks, George Kittle saw only three targets. He did catch all three but totaled only 54 yards. Through two games Kittle has failed to break double-digit FanDuel points. At $6,600 he's the fourth-most expensive tight end on the main slate but did see his salary drop $500.

Kittle has failed to find the paint after two games, but had two touchdowns called back due to penalties in Week 1 against the Bucs. He still leads the team in targets (13), receptions (11), and receiving yards (108). Kittle has a home date against the Pittsburgh Steelers on tap after Seahawks tight end Will Dissly caught all five of his targets against them last week, scored two touchdowns, and had another long reception called back. If you're looking to stack in tournaments, it's easy to focus on the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens game, as well as the New York Giants on the road at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kittle's salary falls in the middle of those options, and with the loss of Ben Roethlisberger, I can see this as an avoid game for many. Kittle likely carries lower ownership than a usual week and that makes him a nice GPP (Guaranteed Prize Pool) target to differentiate your lineups.

Other Big Movers:

Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens: $6,100 | $6,800
O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $6,500 | $5,800
Will Dissly, Seattle Seahawks: $4,500 | $5,400