Football is finally back, and with it comes the best fantasy experience of the DFS calendar year: The return of the DraftKings Fantasy Football Millionaire contest. For Week 1, DraftKings has made its signature contest a $5 dollar entry and pricing is unusually tight for an opening week of the NFL season. So, identifying sleepers and under-owned plays is paramount. Each week, we will look to provide the best plays on DraftKings at QB, RB, WR and TE.
QUARTERBACK
Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons vs. Seattle Seahawks ($6,700): If there’s a game that’s likely to turn into a shootout in Week 1, it’s the battle of the birds in Atlanta. All the pieces of this game are in play, but Ryan looks particularly enticing, considering the passive state of the Seattle pass rush and the quality of the Falcons’ offensive line. Ryan should have all day to let Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley outflank the Seahawks’ corners and a 300-yard bonus is well within reach.
Tyrod Taylor, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Cincinnati Bengals ($5,600): If you are looking for a pivot off of Lamar Jackson’s $8,100 price tag, the other mobile QBs are the place to look. Josh Allen, Cam Newton and Taylor are all under 6.5K, and Taylor should be able to rack up somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 yards on the ground against the lowly Bengals. Add in 150 yards passing and a TD and he’s paid off his salary nicely, opening up the slate for higher-priced plays elsewhere.
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T&C APPLY | NJ, PA, IN, CO, NJ, MI, IA, LA, MS, OH ONLY Join NowRUNNING BACK
Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers ($7,900): Cook got his big payday on Saturday, so that possible distraction is out of the way, and Cook should now be extra motivated to put up a big performance on Sunday. This is not nearly the passing offense it once was, with Stefon Diggs now in Buffalo, and Cook will likely see his target share increase as a result, raising both his floor and ceiling. His ownership is expected to be low this week, making him an ideal tournament play.
Boston Scott, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Football Team ($4,800): Unlike Cook, Scott figures to be the chalkiest play on the board, not just at running back, but on the entire slate, after Miles Sanders was ruled out Saturday. This is one time where eating the chalk is acceptable, as Scott should be used as a pass-catching back against an aggressive Washington front four. Scott smashed often down the stretch last season, and he’s going to be the main ball carrier here by a wide margin.
WIDE RECEIVER
D.J. Moore, Carolina Panthers vs. Oakland Raiders ($6,600): To take down a massive-field tournament like the Fantasy Football Millionaire, you need to find that low-owned leverage play that if it hits, puts you way ahead of the competition. That player this week is Moore. Christian McCaffrey will be one of the highest-owned plays on the slate, despite a whopping $10,000 price. But if Carolina finds success in the passing game, it will be through Moore at the expense of McCaffrey’s production.
Marquise Brown, Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns ($5,100): We’re going a bit on a leap of faith here that Brown is going to be more consistently targeted by Lamar Jackson this season, instead of merely being a home-run threat. If that happens, the Ravens will be an optimal stacking offense, along with Mark Andrews at tight end.
TIGHT END
George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals ($7,200): The Cardinals and 49ers are projected to play at a very high pace, especially so early in the season, before attrition slows the pace of all teams. Kittle commands as much target equity as any receiver in the league, and in a game where the 49ers run more plays than usual, his target share could be phenomenal on Sunday.
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T&C APPLY | NJ, PA, IN, CO, NJ, MI, IA, LA, MS, OH ONLY Join NowLogan Thomas, Washington vs. Philadelphia ($2,800): At the other end of the tight end pricing spectrum is Thomas, who could be a sleeper than pays off handsomely against a defense that figures to be deficient at linebacker and safety, the positions most often tasked with defending the tight end. This is a salary-based play, although a Washington stack has appeal on this slate.
