Welcome to the return of everyone's favorite weekly DFS article! Football is back and I’m revved up and ready to go. For those of you who are new to DFS, welcome. To those who drafted an embarrassment of a fantasy team and are playing DFS to make yourself feel better, welcome (and listen to the podcast so I can make your season long team better!) Last year, we had some great weeks, and a few bad ones to go along with it. The difference between my articles, and the others out there is that I live and die with the players I’m whispering in your ear. At the end of every article I give you my most played lineups, usually my cash game lineups. I focus on FanDuel mainly, but I do use both FanDuel as well as DraftKings, so if I see some value over on DK I will mention them as well. I give you some of the best locks in DFS, week in and week out, for all 17 weeks of the year. Some are obvious plays, but some are great value plays. I break down how I set my lineup of choice with you guys every week. I always throw in additional players who will be in a few of my lineups, including tournament plays I believe are worth speaking on. I am fully transparent with everything, I ask for nothing but your love, support, and for you to stay out of my DFS games.
Week 1 is finally here, and I am ecstatic that I'm back writing the DFS article while watching my Thursday Night Football. I will just jump straight into it this week since I’ve waited what seems like an eternity for this day. I have a balanced week this week, some lineups I’m paying up for running back, others I’m paying premium for wide outs in order to spread the wealth around. I will be targeting the Seahawks vs. Falcons as my main plays this week, as well as certain defensive matchups that worked out well for us last year. There is no guarantee these matchups will provide the same results as last year, but for Week 1 in 2020, crazier things have happened.
Copyright: USA Today
Josh Jacobs- $8200
Josh Jacobs will start the season off against the Carolina Panthers, who were dead last in stopping fantasy football running backs. It was a dream come true for a backfield when they saw the Panthers on the schedule, who allowed 29.2 points in FanDuel scoring last year. They also gave up an average of 143 rushing yards per game which was 29th in the NFL. The Panthers also gave up a league leading 27 rushing touchdowns last year. Jacobs, coming off a monster rookie affair, will look to continue to dominate. As a rookie, he rushed for 1150 yards, 7 TDs while averaging 4.8 ypc. Those are some real solid numbers for a team that wasn’t winning a bunch. I believe that the Raiders win this game, and Jacobs could receive extra garbage time points. He is my chalk player of the week, and I’m honestly surprised his ownership is only around 17% right now.
Copyright: LA Times
Austin Ekeler- $7700
Austin Ekeler is my baby, my keeper in my main home league, my rock, the man that will take me to a fantasy championship this year. In week 1, we couldn't ask for a better matchup than Cincinnati. The Bengals are still bad against the run, and I don't expect much from the Chargers offense this year with questions at QB. What do we know? Austin Ekeler was a monster when he was given that RB1 role in the first 4 games last year. He had an average of 16 attempts, 6 receptions and 122 yards per game in those 4 weeks. Even after those 4 games, he was dominating defenses. I expect this game to be closer than people think which will keep ekeler on the field more frequently than people realize. I have lineups that have either Jacobs or Ekeler, as well as having them both. All my lineups seem to be anchored by one of the two.
Boston Scott- $4900
Paying up for WR has its perks. Boston Scott could be a great value play this week if Sanders doesn’t play week one, or if they give him a light workload to ease him back from injury. Sanders was limited in practice as of Thursday night so keep an eye out for this one. Last season, Washington gave up 2nd most yards to the run, and 2nd most rushing attempts against per game at just under 31 tries.
Marlon Mack/Jonathan Taylor- $6100/$5300
One of these two will get plenty of garbage time work when the colts dismantle the Jaguars. The Jags were horrific against the run in 2019, giving up 27.4 points to the running back. I’m playing Mack for the early game work, but I do believe he will give some carries away to JT. I'm playing Taylor for the garbage time value because the way I see it, it is free game speed practice for the young rookie. This risk vs reward play could make or break a lineup so this one isn’t for the faint of heart. I will have very low ownership of both of them.
Michael Thomas- $8800
Cmon its MT he's gonna eat those targets up all day. Drew Brees’ favorite person in the world pays off on normal days.This Sunday, I believe the Saints will show Tom Brady a NFC South welcome and put up 35 points with ease. Just a great option all around for some safety, if you’re into that kind of stuff. He broke the record for most receptions in a season with two different QBs. In the two contests between the Saints and the Bucs, MT had 3 TDs, 296 yards, and 19 receptions. Don’t worry, hes solid.
Julio Jones- $8200
No Matt Ryan stack is complete without Julio Jones. This man needs no explanation like the rest. Julio is another locked and loaded WR that guarantees you 18-20 points a week regardless of the matchup. Seattle was just all around bad on defense last season, And I expect a lot of the same this year. They added help at Safety with adding Jamal Adams, but there are plenty of holes in that defense still.
Copyright: Tom Kirkland/Getty Images
Calvin Ridley- $6600
Ridley will be a nice fade off of Julio with still getting plenty of volume. For a discount of $1600, you could get that same floor of 18 points, with potential of a much higher ceiling. His ownership is currently at around 20% so expect him to be in a lot of lineups you face.
DK Metcalf- $6400
I own Lockett in my home league, but this week I am all over DK Metcalf in DFS. DK will be going against Isaiah Oliver most likely, who gave up 361 YAC last year which was 3rd most in the NFL. I will be looking for him to take a mean cut, and take one to the house against Oliver. There has been a lot of hype surrounding DK this offseason as people believe that he will be taking over as the WR1 for Seattle. For the price, the fade from the Falcons WRs but still have shoot out potential, count me in.
Allen Robinson- $7200
Allen Robinson will go down in the history books. He will be the only receiver to ever have 1,100 yard seasons with both Blake Bortles and Mitch Trubisky. Allen Robinson has some serious talent. Lucky for him, Detroit gave up the most passing yards per game last year with just over 284 yards/per. Unless Matt Nagy does that thing where he tries to coach and ends up starting a forest fire, Robinson will get force fed the ball. He is the only reliable receiver on the field, and they will most likely be playing from behind. Sign me up for some ownership of Allen Robinson most of the year.
DeSean Jackson- $5600
DeSean Jackson does this thing where he balls out in Week 1 and nobody can figure out why. In back to back years, Jackson has had a 2 TD game. Washington Football Team (so dumb) is just plain bad. On paper, they can get to the QB at anytime on the front line, but the Football Team(still dumb) is not a good defense. DeSean is going to break a touchdown in this game, and it's practically a guarantee. Cheap price and great boom player makes for a great option for a WR3 in DFS.
Henry Ruggs- $5100
Going with a boom or bust rookie is dangerous business, especially when there is no preseason.But for some value boom potential, this may be your guy. We just need him to break off one big play against that terrible Panthers defense we spoke about earlier.I’d rather own some shares of Ruggs and see if he does produce right out of the gate than miss out on a great price. Could be completely wrong on this one, Week 1 flyer to get the juices pumping.
Marvin Jones- $6200
This play relies heavily on if Kenny Golladay will be healthy by Sunday. Golladay missed practice today with a minor Hamstring injury. Marvin Jones is a solid fantasy option most weeks, but if Golladay is out he will see added targets as well as more TD opportunities. Jones, at least for me, will be a last minute decision based on the Injury Report throughout the next few days.
Kittle- $8000
Everyone's favorite Defensive Coordinator is making his 2020 season debut against possibly the best all around Tight ends in the league, George Kittle. For those of you that don’t know, Vance Joseph streams tight ends in fantasy football and he plays whoever is against the Cardinals Defense. This matchup has paid out week after week, and If you are willing to spend up at TE, this is a must play. The Cardinals averaged 16.1 fantasy points per game to the TE last year, which was 5 more points than the 2nd worst team. George Kittle may also be the 49ers only receiving option they can trust going into Week 1. Worst case scenario, George Kittle scored a TD and has 8 catches for 100 yards. Play him everywhere you can as much as you can.
Hayden Hurst- $5200
If you want my absolutely honest take, Hayden Hurst will be in many of my lineups this year. I firmly believe the Falcons brought Hurst in to take the volume that Austin Hooper walked out the door with. I have him ranked as my TE6, and I believe there is a decent case to be made that he could finish in the Top 5. With all that being said, his matchup is beautiful to start the year. The Falcons face off against the Seahawks in what I think will be a shootout. The Seahawks tend to completely ignore defending the TE position because of the Cover 2 they run so often, leaving the middle of the field open. Fun fact, Bobby Wagner led the league in YAC, he also happens to be the man over the middle for Seattle. I believe my opinion on Hurst is correct, and he will have a feast on the Seahawks. My concern is that we haven’t seen Hurst on the field with this team, or really all that often to backup my choice in him with statistics. You just gotta trust me on this one, and if you don’t, find your own TE because he's mine.
Matt Ryan- $7800
Shootout waiting to happen against two great offenses.Matt Ryan was terrible last year, so according to how his career has gone, he will have a monster year in 2020. Both of these teams struggled against the pass, finishing outside the Top 20 in passing yards allowed. We will be stacking Matt Ryan with Ridley and Hurst. I will also have some shares of Ryan, Julio, and Hurst.
Russell Wilson- $8400
Same reason as the Matt Ryan pick, but you get added value for when he uses his legs. This just really depends on your personal preference. Since he is more mobile, he may be a better option over Matt ryan for an extra $600. That $600 could be found in taking the Defense of the Week.
Defense of the Week - $3700
Indianapolis Colts this week, whoever is playing the Jaguars next week, and the week after that, or until we find a better team to fade on offense.
Early on in the season, you can get good players at a discount. Take advantage now, because in a few weeks they won’t touch your lineups. Every week as promised I will give you a lineup I believe in. Since I am so hyped up for this season I will give you two for the free price of one. Happy Football Season, here's to backing up those brinks trucks all season long!
Lineup 1
Matt Ryan- $7800
Josh Jacobs- $8200
Marlon Mack- $6100
Julio Jones- $8200
Allen Robinson- $7200
DK Metcalf- $6400
Hayden Hurst- $5200
Calvin Ridley- $6600
Colts D- $3700
Lineup 2
Russell Wilson- $8400
Josh Jacobs- $8200
Austin Ekeler- $7700
DeSean Jackson- $5700
DK Metcalf- $6400
Calvin Ridley- $6600
Hayden Hurst- $5200
George Kittle- $8000
Colts D- $3700
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