DFS pricing is typically loosest in Week 1s, and this year is no exception. Of course, that presents its own challenges with so many bargains to choose from and the increased likelihood of higher scores to beat.
Quarterbacks
Lamar Jackson ($6.8K) @ Indianapolis Colts
Jackson will run more this season now healthy again, and he’s an obvious pivot from Josh Allen’s difficult matchup in Houston if wanting to pay up at quarterback this week. It’s possible Baltimore takes a few weeks to get acclimated to its new offensive scheme, but it also might immediately result in an explosion with Jackson suddenly benefitting from more play action.
Kyler Murray ($5.5K) vs. Green Bay Packers
Murray gets a home matchup indoors against a Packers’ defense that projects to struggle until Micah Parsons returns. THE BLITZ projects Murray to be the QB4 on the slate, yet he’s priced as the QB13. Kevin O’Connell routinely produced big stats from his quarterbacks before the J.J. McCarthy debacle, and Murray’s fantasy upside is higher than all previous versions given his rushing ability.
Malik Willis ($5.3K) @ Las Vegas Raiders
Willis will run like crazy this season, and he gets an inviting matchup indoors to open his Miami career. He owns a 14.5% scramble rate, has averaged 58 rushing yards during games started and is the all-time leader in fantasy points per drop back by a wide margin. Willis is a recommended DFS play this week priced as the QB15.
Others: Joe Burrow ($6.9K), Tyler Shough ($5.6K), Daniel Jones ($5.4K)
Running Backs
Jahmyr Gibbs ($8.0K) vs. New Orleans Saints
Gibbs has produced the most RB fantasy points over the last two seasons despite David Montgomery seeing the fourth most carries (31) inside the five. Gibbs has averaged a whopping 27.4 fantasy points during games without Montgomery in his career; he averaged 26.6 fpg at home last season. The Lions sport the league’s highest team total (28.5 points) this week, and there’s plenty of options for salary relief. Pay up for Gibbs.
Saquon Barkley ($6.9K) vs. Washington Commanders
Barkley should be in a favorable game script and could see increased usage as a receiver in Philadelphia’s new offense. The Commanders yielded the fourth most fantasy points to running backs last year, and Barkley is markedly cheaper than he was entering Week 1 in 2025 ($8.2K). Expect Barkley to rebound this year with a new OC, and it begins Sunday in DFS lineups.
Omarion Hampton ($6.8K) vs. Arizona Cardinals
Hampton will benefit from a healthier offensive line and Mike McDaniel now calling plays in Los Angeles. The Chargers are the biggest favorites (-9.5 points) and tied for the highest team total (28.5) this week. The Cardinals allowed the third most fantasy points to running backs last season, so expect Hampton to be popular in DFS.
Others: De’Von Achane ($7.0K), D’Andre Swift ($6.1K), Bucky Irving ($5.7K)
Wide Receivers
Ja’Marr Chase ($7.8K) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Chase is a bit of a risk coming off a hyperextended knee injury that could affect him more than he’s revealing, but his ownership could also be curtailed if the big red Q tag remains next to his name all week. Chase averaged a staggering 28.6 DK points at home last season (compared to 13.4 on the road), and he gets a healthy Joe Burrow (albeit with a history of shaky Week 1 performances). This matchup sports the highest total (50.5 points) of the week, and Tampa Bay was a full-blown pass-funnel defense last year; Buccaneers’ opponents owned the league’s fourth highest pass rate.
Garrett Wilson ($5.8K) @ Tennessee Titans
Wilson was fantasy’s WR6 over the first five games last year before suffering a knee injury that ultimately ended his 2025 season. He produced despite dealing with arguably the worst quarterback play in the league. Wilson remains in a bad situation in New York with Frank Reich as OC, but Geno Smith will be an upgrade; Smith’s 2025 should be thrown out thanks to coaching malpractice in Las Vegas, and the veteran QB reportedly targeted Wilson endlessly throughout camp. The Titans allowed the fourth most fantasy points to wide receivers last season, yet Wilson isn’t priced as a WR1 on the slate.
Jalen Coker ($4.6K) vs. Chicago Bears
Coker averaged nearly as many targets and more catches, receiving yards and fantasy points than Tetairoa McMillan after Carolina’s Week 14 bye last season. Coker also outperformed McMillan in yards per route run and first-read target percentage while seeing four times the number of red-zone targets. Coker owned a 22% target share over that final stretch if also including the playoff game, when he put up 12-9-134-1 against the Rams.
Chicago gave up the second most fantasy points to the slot last season, where Coker ran 60% of his routes. He’s a sneaky DFS play in Week 1.
Others: Chris Olave ($6.7K), Chris Godwin ($5.2K), Tre Tucker ($4.0K), Devaughn Vele ($3.5K)
Tight End
Michael Mayer ($2.9K) vs. Miami Dolphins
Brock Bowers is out after undergoing a surprise “meniscus trim,” making Mayer a fantasy TE1 in Week 1. Mayer was a strong prospect who produced during games Bowers missed last season and now gets an immeasurable upgrade in offensive systems. Mayer was going to be part of the Raiders’ offense even before Bowers’ injury thanks to a thin WR group in Las Vegas, and he gets a matchup against a Miami defense that allowed the second most receptions to tight ends last year. Mayer will be a chalk TE punt play in DFS this week.
Others: Colston Loveland ($5.3K), Dallas Goedert ($4.1K), Juwan Johnson ($3.7K)