Our Week 3 featured game and player prop bets include several teams and players that are striving to bounce back from disappointing games or outings. In the NFL, you will see teams endeavor to change narratives and outlooks after a down week. We also cannot always assume that early-season trends are going to heavily illustrate what we may see going forward.
There are some compelling matchups on the Week 3 slate, and our job is to help you take advantage of them for positive returns. Buffalo-Miami and Detroit-Minnesota are two such matchups to highlight among a few interesting early-season clashes.
Week 3 NFL Prop Bets
Bills vs Dolphins: MIA Scores First (+125) at DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
This is actually shaping up to be a premier early-season showdown in the AFC East, with both teams coming in at 2-0. Buffalo looks like the best team in the NFL, but Miami wants to make a statement that they are for real after losing their last seven matchups with the Bills.
The Dolphins have to land the first punch and not let the Bills believe they can roll to another easy victory here. They have the weaponry to do so and will have the confidence to come out strong at home after coming off a big Week 2 win.
Maybe this time, Miami can utilize its sometimes underrated home-field weather advantage, as the early report from nflweather.com suggests 86-degree temperatures, feeling like 96 at kickoff. This year, the Dolphins have the offensive speed to blow past opponents who are not as accustomed to the South Florida conditions.
Texans vs Bears: CHI Scores First/Moneyline (+160) at DraftKings
WAGER: 1 Unit
After an awful performance at Green Bay, which Bears fans expected, Chicago has to come home and muster some respectability in the passing game against a beatable opponent. Justin Fields passed for just 70 yards last week, and there is much local concern about how bad the Chicago offense can be.
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David Montgomery rushed for 122 yards against Green Bay, but opponents are going to stack their fronts against him if Fields does not locate Darnell Mooney and Cole Kmet more often, starting this week.
So far, Houston has ranked 26th against the pass (270.5 yards allowed per game), and if the Bears can mount a decent passing attack this week, they should win at home.
Chiefs vs Colts: KC Wins 1H By 13+ Points (+320) at DraftKings
WAGER: 1.5 Units
Kansas City is going to roll to a 3-0 record in a big offensive mismatch. The Colts offense is predictable and mediocre at best in the passing game. The Chiefs simply have to contain Jonathan Taylor and then come after has-been former star Matt Ryan.
Against a better Arizona team on the road in Week 1, Kansas City jumped out to a 14-0 lead and had a 16-point advantage at halftime. The Colts have allowed an AFC-high seven sacks, Ryan has been intercepted four times, and those numbers have been recorded against the Texans and Jaguars.
Lions vs Vikings: 1H PARLAY, MIN -3.5 & Over 25.5 Points (+230) at DraftKings
WAGER: 2 Units
Minnesota wants to put a terrible Week 2 performance behind it, and the offense was largely responsible for the disaster at Philadelphia. The Lions’ defense will provide the needed remedy to get back on track, as they’ve allowed an NFC-high 425.5 yards per game.
The Vikings, however, have let up 412 yards per game, second-most in the conference behind the Lions. This can be a shootout, but we will give Minnesota the edge at home after it played so well on its turf against Green Bay in the season opener.
Detroit is improved, but the Vikings will rebound after moving down considerably in quality of opponent after facing the Eagles.
Falcons vs Seahawks: SEA Wins By 1-6 Points (+400) at DraftKings
WAGER: 1.5 Units
Seattle has not scored an offensive TD in its last six quarters, but will steer things back in the right direction at home against Atlanta. The Falcons have allowed 58 points in two games.
Geno Smith should perform respectably and open things up a bit more, while the Seahawks’ ground game starts to show signs of life after sputtering in the first two games.
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The Falcons will stick close, though, as they fought hard in the second half in a road loss to the Rams last week, and will come out hungry for a win after an 0-2 start.
Seattle will prevail, but Pete Carroll teams often keep their games tight. The Seahawks had an average margin of victory of 1.7 points last season, and that was with Russell Wilson engineering six of those wins.
49ers vs Broncos: First Score, DEN TD (+205) at DraftKings
WAGER: 2 Units
No one was happier to see Russell Wilson leave Seattle more than the 49ers, and they celebrated with a 20-point home win over his former team in Week 2. But now San Francisco will visit its old tormentor in his new home, where he needs to deliver a vintage performance after two underwhelming outings to open the season.
Wilson has a 16-4 record against the 49ers and will be ready to roll early in this matchup. The Broncos’ fans booed the offense as it did not register a TD in the first three quarters last week against Houston. Wilson and Nathaniel Hackett will want to emphasize getting off to a good start this week.
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Week 3 NFL Player Props
Kyle Pitts: Anytime Touchdown (+215) vs Seahawks at DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 2 Units
The Falcons are off to an 0-2 start and have not been getting the ball to their most exciting playmaker. Pitts has four catches for 38 yards after two games.
This is a get-right spot for Pitts against the Seahawks, who allowed a 38-yard TD to Ross Dwelley last week after surrendering seven receptions and nearly another score to the Denver tight ends in the season opener. Pete Carroll’s defenses have always been susceptible to TEs, and continue to be even after he has moved on to new schemes well after the Legion of Boom days.
Tua Tagovailoa: Over 24.5 Pass Attempts (+100) vs Bills at DraftKings
WAGER: 2 Units
The Dolphins have every right to believe that they can trade offensive punches with the Bills. Tagovailoa had 23 attempts in Week 1 and 36 in Week 2, so he can surely soar past this projected number as Miami must keep pace with a Buffalo offense that has scored 72 points in two games.
Miami also does not have much of a running game, ranking No. 28 in the league so far at 75.5 yards per game. This may be a busy week for Tagovailoa as he tries to stay as close as possible to Josh Allen’s output. Even if Miami moves out to a lead, they will do so by passing the ball.
Dalvin Cook: Over 78.5 Rushing Yards (+100) vs Lions at DraftKings
WAGER: 3 Units
This one is a slam dunk, as even though Cook has 107 rushing yards in two games, he rushed for 90 in the season opener against Green Bay. He had six rushing attempts in Week 2 as Minnesota fell behind in a blowout loss at Philadelphia and had to abandon the running game.
The Lions have allowed 152 rushing yards per game, and Cook has averaged 119.7 rushing yards per game at home in his career.
Ja’Marr Chase: First Touchdown Scorer (+650) vs Jets at DraftKings
WAGER: 1 Unit
Winless teams can be hungry and a big threat to the opposition, and Cincinnati will want to strike first on offense. The Bengals need to come out strong, and that means getting the ball to their best playmaker to set the tone in a winnable game. The Jets are showing signs of being more respectable overall this season, but they allowed three TD passes in their last home game and certainly look vulnerable in the secondary.
It is well documented how much Joe Burrow has been hit, sacked, and harassed in the first two weeks, but expect a better start this time. Chase also caught a TD pass against the Jets last season.
A.J. Brown: Over 5.5 Receptions (+115) vs Commanders at DraftKings
WAGER: 3 Units
Brown has 15 receptions in his first two games of the season, so he should easily smash this number against Washington. The Commanders have allowed 29 receptions to wide receivers in two games, third-most in the NFC.
Treylon Burks: Anytime Touchdown (+220) vs Raiders at DraftKings
WAGER: 1.5 Units
The Titans must attempt to keep defenses honest with their passing game somehow if they want to give Derrick Henry at least a bit more room to breathe.
Burks has provided some glimpses of promise with a 27-yard reception in Week 1 and a 16-yard catch and run last week. The Titans drafted Burks in the first round to replace A.J. Brown and need to get the ball into his hands more often.
DK Metcalf: To Score 2+ Touchdowns (+1200) vs Falcons at DraftKings
WAGER:1 Unit
The Seattle offense has not scored a TD in its last six quarters, but that was against Denver and San Francisco. Carroll wants to get the offense rolling and that means freeing up Metcalf and also letting Geno Smith take some chances downfield.
The Falcons are a definite upgrade in matchup, and they have allowed five TD passes to WRs, tied for the most in the league.
