Adam Caplan’s Must Plays in Week 3 of NFL Daily Fantasy

It was a mixed bag for me last week, with four out of my six Daily Fantasy Football write-ups doing well. After two weeks, we can start to get a better idea of how offenses and defenses stack up, so some trends will start to emerge.

What I largely focus on are specific matchups featuring players who are off to a good start and with defenses that are not doing well against a particular position.

So with that DFS players, welcome to Week 3!

Week 3 Quarterback Best Bets

Patrick Mahomes = $8,900 at FanDuel

Matchup: Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers

The start that Mahomes has had so far is historic. How so? He's the first quarterback in NFL history to post at least 10 touchdowns passes in the first two games of a season (previous record was held by Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Charley Johnson).

Mahomes, who only has started three games in his two-year career, has played very under control and head coach Andy Reid has a good feel for the skill set of his young signal caller. He'll face a 49er defense that is giving up over 26 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks, so look for Mahomes to continue his dominance during his first home game this weekend.

Jared Goff = $7,600 at FanDuel

Matchup: Los Angeles Rams vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Because of two blowout victories, the third-year signal caller has not had to throw the ball a lot so far (just 65 pass attempts). But that could change against a very competitive Chargers team.

However, keep in mind that the Chargers are without two starters again on the defensive line -- DT Corey Liuget (suspended) and DE Joey Bosa (foot). And with the Charger pass rush lacking its usual punch, Goff should have very good success in this game.

Look for Goff to post over 20 fantasy points against a defense that's giving up over 26 points per game to opposing quarterbacks over its first two.

Week 3 Running Back Best bet

Todd Gurley = $9,300 at FanDuel

Matchup: Los Angeles Rams vs. Los Angeles Chargers

I've never liked to use the term "lock," as no one has the answers to the test before the games actually start. But Gurley is the closest to a sure thing in fantasy football that I can recall in years.

He's used in just about every facet of the Ram offense -- the first three downs, short-yardage, red zone, goal-line, which is a rarity in the NFL. He already has four touchdowns and has also posted a few two-point conversions over the first two weeks and keep in mind he didn't play in the fourth quarter of last week's blowout win.

And again, he'll face a Charger front-four which is going to be without two starters, and that bodes quite well for the fourth-year pro.

Week 3 Wide Receiver Best Bets

Nelson Agholor = $6,600 at FanDuel

Matchup: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts

The fourth-year wide receiver is off to the best start of his career by far with 16 receptions for 121 yards on a whopping 22 pass targets in just two games. He didn't post his 16th catch last season until his fifth game.

Why has he been so involved? The Eagles were without #1 WR Alshon Jeffery and #4 Mack Hollins, and lost #2 WR Mike Wallace early in last week's game.

And because they were so down in available targets, Agholor's role in the passing game obviously was going to grow. Now with those three wide receivers mentioned above being out again, Agholor will be expected to have another huge role this week against the less than average Colts secondary.

Cooper Kupp = $6,300 at FanDuel

Matchup: Los Angeles Rams vs. Los Angeles Chargers

I mentioned above that the Chargers defense will be without two starters on the defensive line and that will impact their secondary, which really was the case in Week 1 against the visiting Chiefs, who put up 38 points though they only possessed the ball under 26 minutes.

Kupp, already one of the league's best slot receivers in just his second season, has been very involved in the Rams passing game with 11 receptions on 15 targets. Look for him to have similar success against the Charger defense, which is not deep at the cornerback position.

Week 3 Tight End Best Bet

Jared Cook = $5,600 at FanDuel

Matchup: Oakland Raiders @ Miami Dolphins

Over the first two weeks of the regular season, the veteran tight end has gotten off to one of the best starts of his career with 9 receptions for 136 yards on 12 targets. Why has he been so involved?

The Raiders have a lack of depth at wide receiver, with no proven pass catches behind Amari Cooper and Jordy Nelson, so Cook has more or less been no worse than their third passing option in the first two games.

While the Dolphins defense has only given up 10 passes to opposing tight ends, they're giving up a very high 15.5 yards per catch to that position over the first two weeks. Cook, one of the most athletic tight ends in the league, is averaging over 17 yards per catch. So look for the 10th-year pro to have some big plays in this game.

Adam Caplan's NFL Week 3 FanDuel Lineup