• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • In-Season Rankings
    • Standard
    • PPR
  • Waiver Wire
  • Members Only
    • DFS LU TOOL
    • Player Tracker
    • Forum
    • Cheat Sheets
    • Log In
  • Join
Fantasy Knuckleheads

Fantasy Knuckleheads

Fantasy sports news, rankings, sleepers, cheat sheets, stats and tools.

DraftKings Week One Value Picks

September 5, 2017 by Kirby Lupul

Week 1 is upon us and I am here to help you win cash games and GPP tournaments on Draftkings. Each week of the NFL season I'm going to publish value picks for the upcoming DraftKings slates. I'm looking for a solid value pick each week at each position. This will help you make room on your team for the more expensive players without sacrificing points with your value pick. Without further ado, here are my week 1 value picks for Draftkings.

Quarterback

Kirk Cousins (WSH)                vs. PHI                  21 FPPG (2016)                   $6,400 DK

The Eagles versus the Redskins is one of the juicy matchups in the opening week. Expect this game to go over the number (47.5). These two young quarterbacks should go toe-to-toe in this divisional contest. There is a strong possibility the Redskins will be trailing in a lot of football games this season, including this one.

Cousins is not afraid to air it out, and he'll likely have to with a sub-par running game. Cousins unleashed 34 pass attempts last season at home against the Philadelphia Eagles. I am expecting something in the mid 30s this time. The Redskins passing game will be flirting with a 300 yard passing game to earn +3 DK bonus.

A couple of interesting statistics stand out when Cousins is trailing in a game:

  • Nearly triples in passing yardage gained when trailing (3,030 yds) versus when leading (1,035 yds)
  • 69.2% completion rate when trailing versus 64.3% when ahead

I'm not buying into the narrative that Cousins will be turning the ball over left and right because of the aggressive air attack scheme. You should be able to grab whatever QB you prefer in week one, but save a few DK dollars and roll with Cousins.

Running Back

Bilal Powell (NYJ)                       @ BUF                12.8 FPPG (2016)            $4,900 DK

Powell is going to see a ton of touches in week 1.

Powell should be given every opportunity to be the entire New York Jets offense this season. He is priced just outside DK top-15 running backs with the likes of Tevin Coleman, Jonathan Stewart and Eddie Lacy priced higher. Do you honestly believe they are going to outperform him in a given week? He had an outstanding performance in week 17 versus Buffalo last year (22 att, 122 yds, 3 rec, 1 rec TD) and his price-tag will likely never be this low again in 2017. However, Powell should be highly owned in week 1. If you want to go the contrarian route look at cheaper options in:  Theo Riddick, Legarrette Blount, Duke Johnson Jr or Frank Gore. I still love the Powell value, highly owned or not.

Wide Receiver

Rishard Matthews (TEN)            vs. OAK      13.8 FPPG (2016)                 $4,200 DK

Matthews finished 2016 with two 100 yard receiving games (week 15 @KC where he was targeted 10 times and week 17 vs HOU with 13 targets). Like the PHI/WSH game, this game has the makings of going over the number (51). Oakland defense allowed 375.1 yds/g in 2016 (7th most). The Titans passing game should come out firing in their home opener. Matthews has a good rapport with Marcus Mariota, and is primed to grab hold of that WR1 spot as he's the most complete receiver on the roster. Most noteworthy, Eric Decker and Corey Davis have been banged up this preseason which will put both of them behind the eight ball. Matthews is the obvious play here.

Tight End

CJ Fiedorowicz (HOU)        vs. JAX       8.9 FPPG (2016)     $3,100 DK

DraftKings Advice
Look for value in week one, it's all over the board.

The Houston Texans finished bottom-five in passing yards per game last year (198.5 yds). Tom Savage will be the savior (ummm...not really). However, Savage should be looking Fiedorowicz's way early and often (say 7-9 targets). In Savage's three appearances last year, he averaged 8.7 yards per completion (Fiedorowicz averaged 10.4 yds per catch). Sounds like they could click. Rather than ponying up on a top five tight-end in the opening week, one should look for value at this position.

Defense/Special Teams

Los Angeles Rams               vs. IND       5.8 FPPG (2016)     $3,200 DK

Scott Tolzien will start week 1. #INDvsLAR pic.twitter.com/DdsCkglwlC

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) September 4, 2017

Sold yet? I am! Save a couple bucks, and ride with the Rams D/ST. Coming off a 31 sack season, front pressure should be on full display versus a weakened Colts offense. Even without Aaron Donald, the Rams defense will be more than a match for the Colts. Expect around a double-digit DK performance.

Check back each week for more Draft Kings value picks. Pair these with some of the higher priced players and prepare to rule your DFS contests. For more info and insight, follow us on Twitter: @_knuckleheads and @KJ_Lups.

Category - Daily Fantasy Football - DraftKings Week One Value Picks

Dominate Your League

About Kirby Lupul

Kirby is a graduate of Sait and Mount Royal University in journalism and broadcasting. He is a lifelong sports fan following the NFL, Fla Pants, Zags, Pacers, PGA and UFC.

Follow him on Twitter

Primary Sidebar

Recent Articles

  • Fantasy Football Draft Psychology: How To Outsmart Your League Mates

    Fantasy Football Draft Psychology: How To Outsmart Your League Mates

  • Which Quarterback Should You Draft in 2021?

    Which Quarterback Should You Draft in 2021?

  • Team Defense Committee vs Streaming Draft Strategy

    Team Defense Committee vs Streaming Draft Strategy

  • Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups

    Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups

  • Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups

    Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups

Need To Know

  • Fantasy Football Rankings
  • Average Draft Position (ADP) Report
  • Fantasy Football Draft Projections
  • The Best Waiver Wire Picks
  • Best Optimal Lineup Tool
  • ESPN Insider Coupon Code
  • Premium Fantasy Football Draft Guide
  • Fantasy Football Projections Video Series

Footer

ABOUT US

Established in the summer of 2009, Fantasy Knuckleheads is devoted to providing quality fantasy football news, advice, cheat sheets, tools and services. We’re not a mega-sports-site that churns out content by the pound. We’re simply a small, tight knit group of fantasy experts turned writers that love what we do, especially when we’re right. We strive to tell you something you don’t already know that’s actionable and at the very least, informative.

Fantasy Blog Network

Get This <a href="https://fantasyknuckleheads.com" title="Fantasy Football Rankings"><b>Fantasy Football for all you knuckleheads</b></a>

INFORMATION

  • Staff
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Write For Us
  • Fantasy Sports Widget

Copyright © 2023 · Fantasy Knuckleheads ·

Copyright © 2023 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in