With Week 3 NFL daily fantasy contests starting to fill up, our experts have scouted out the players they're locking into their DFS lineups first. From the star performers to the top values, here are our expert picks for this week in DFS football.
Star performers
Brandin Cooks, WR, New England Patriots
It's been -- statistically speaking -- a quiet start for the uber-talented Cooks, who has five catches through two games. Houston's strength is its defense, but I'm convinced that Cooks will be kept in check only for so long. The Patriots' offense is dealing with a number of injuries to pass-catchers, but Cooks is a full-go and due for a big play, a pocketful of catches or both. This feels like the week he gets rolling in a major way. -- Field Yates
Kareem Hunt, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
According to my good blocking rate (GBR) metric, the Chiefs have given their ball carriers quality run blocking on 47.6 percent of his carries. That pace is higher than Pittsburgh's league-leading 44.1 percent GBR in 2016. Combine that with the Chargers ranking 26th in rushing yards allowed, and it makes Hunt worth the salary premium. -- KC Joyner
Jay Ajayi, RB, Miami Dolphins
The Jets have already permitted 370 rushing yards in two games, as opponents can create early leads and then have their fun. Ajayi rushed for 122 yards last week, and while none of his three 200-yard performances last year came against the Jets, this sure feels like a possibility this week. -- Eric Karabell
There's no player I'd be more apt to build around this week than Ajayi, and it's all about volume, volume, volume. He played a whopping 94 percent of the Dolphins' snaps in Week 2, the highest single-game percentage by any running back in the first two weeks, and ran a tops-among-running-backs-this-year 28 times. Now he battles a New York Jets run defense that has surrendered 5.4 yards per carry, five 20-plus-yard runs and four scores. This is the kind of matchup with the potential to result in a record-setting point total. -- Tristan H. Cockcroft
Le'Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
After two weeks of below-average production from the NFL's most dynamic player at the position (37 carries, 119 yards, 7 receptions, 19 yards), Bell is in a position to produce a breakout game versus the Bears. This Chicago defense is down to its third-team middle linebacker due to injury, and Bell will be able to create matchups in the passing game versus a Bears back seven that lacks playmakers. -- Matt Bowen
Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The start of the Buccaneers' season was delayed until Week 2 because of Hurricane Irma, but that didn't slow Evans' production one bit. As Jameis Winston's top target, Evans racked up 93 yards on nine catches and scored the team's lone passing touchdown. The Vikings' pass defense is strong, but they've struggled out of the gate (sixth-most WR points allowed), and now they have to deal with the league leader in targets since the beginning of last season in Evans. Xavier Rhodes is among the best corners in the game, but with him at less than 100 percent healthy (hip), the Vikings have surrendered a receiving score to a player standing at least 6-foot-4 in both games this season (Martavis Bryant and Coby Fleener). -- Stephania Bell
Top values
Javorius Allen, RB, Baltimore Ravens
With Danny Woodhead on injured reserve, the Ravens have turned to Allen to help assume his role. Not only is Allen the better athlete and pass-catcher than Terrance West -- giving him a boost in PPR scoring -- he also outpaced West in a major way in Week 2 in terms of snaps played (43 to 16). Allen looks likely to stay prominently involved for Baltimore, and although the strength of Jacksonville's roster is its defense, Allen has a high floor, given his utilization in the running game and passing game, with adept vision and run-after-the-catch skills. -- Field Yates
Evan Engram, TE, New York Giants
Engram showed his place in the Giants' passing game by scoring an 18-yard touchdown against Detroit on Monday night. The Eagles' defense is a magnet for tight end targets, as Philadelphia is one of only three teams to have allowed 20 or more tight end targets this season. Engram could push for as many as 10 targets and will offer plenty of salary return on investment. -- KC Joyner
Devin Funchess, WR, Carolina Panthers
The loss of tight end Greg Olsen should create more opportunity for Funchess, a third-year guy with the size and speed to emerge as a valuable asset. Funchess comes off a game with 68 yards, but the best news is he's facing the Saints this week. -- Eric Karabell
Doug Baldwin, WR, Seattle Seahawks
Though he has failed to post big DFS numbers in his first two games, Baldwin saw nine targets in Week 2 and appears primed for a breakout. His price has dropped to the point he's an excellent value against a Tennessee Titans defense that has struggled to contain opposing slot receivers thus far, surrendering touchdowns to Seth Roberts and Allen Hurns during the past two weeks. -- Tristan H. Cockcroft
Jack Doyle, TE, Indianapolis Colts
Doyle caught all eight of his targets from quarterback Jacoby Brissett in Week 2 for 79 yards, and he gets a prime matchup this week versus the Browns. This Cleveland defense has given up an average of 23.7 points per game to opposing tight ends to start the year (31st in the NFL). Look for Brissett to target Doyle on middle-of-the-field throws versus two-deep coverage and to find his tight end when he reads pressure. Browns defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is going to come after Brissett, and that will create matchups for Doyle in the quick passing game. -- Matt Bowen
Carlos Hyde, RB, San Francisco 49ers
This pick goes against the grain of fading a player in a Thursday night game, but in this case, it may be warranted. Hyde just proved he could rack up more than 100 yards against Seattle's stingy defense, even on their home turf (one of just six running backs to do so in the Pete Carroll era). Hyde can also catch a few passes; in Week 2, he tied for the lead in targets among all 49er pass-catchers. He now faces a Rams defense that ranks 31st against the run and this contest will be on his home turf. Who's to say -- particularly early in the season -- that a player can't shake up the way we view Thursday night games? -- Stephania Bell