When it comes to NFL DFS, few debates matter more in Week 3 than whether to eat the chalk or pivot to something contrarian. Ownership is going to concentrate heavily around one game, and while many players may choose to fade it entirely, smart lineup builders can still find unique ways to attack it. Below we’ll walk through three different lineup constructions, each designed to compete for tournament-winning upside while keeping an eye on stacking strategies, leverage plays and overall exposure. These are the Week 3 NFL DFS picks you’ll want to study as you hunt for the NFL DFS perfect lineup.
NFL DFS Week 3 Picks: Build the Perfect DraftKings Lineup with Sims
The Chalk Game, But With a Twist
The most popular spot on the slate involves Dallas, but instead of playing the field’s default version (Dak Prescott paired with CeeDee Lamb)—we’re going against the grain. A Dallas double stack of Prescott with Jake Ferguson and George Pickens creates differentiation without abandoning the upside of this game environment.
Why leave out Lamb? His salary is steep, his ownership will be massive, and while his target share is elite, there’s no guarantee he will be the one who breaks the slate. Pickens has quietly racked up deep opportunities, forced multiple pass interference calls and has been on the field for nearly every dropback. At sub-$6,000, he’s an affordable piece with big-play upside.
On the bring-back side, Rome Odunze emerges as Caleb Williams’ clear favorite target in Chicago, commanding nearly half of the Bears’ air yards. Pairing Odunze with the Dallas stack provides game correlation while allowing room to spend up at running back with Christian McCaffrey.
The Other Side of the Chalk: Caleb Williams and the Bears
For the second build, we flipped to the opposite side of the Cowboys game. Williams projects as one of the highest-owned quarterbacks on the slate, but by pairing him with Odunze and cheap tight end Cole Kmet, we gain leverage. Kmet has quietly been on the field nearly every snap, running routes on the vast majority of dropbacks. His low ownership makes him a sharp pivot that differentiates this otherwise popular stack.
This construction leaves room for premium additions like McCaffrey and even a Lamb bring-back, creating a unique mix of chalk and contrarian plays. The Sims validated the viability of this lineup, producing a strong cash rate and tournament equity.
Key Takeaways for NFL DFS Week 3
The most important lesson for NFL DFS Week 3 is that you don’t need to fade the popular games entirely. Instead, find different ways to stack within them, leaving out one obvious piece in favor of lower-owned alternatives. Balance those approaches with reliable value plays like Jordan Mason and high-floor studs like McCaffrey.
Lineup 1 – Cowboys Double-Stack
Lineup 2 – All In With Bears, 10% Randomness
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