Coach Hunter’s Week 1 DFS Plays

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. DFS is so back and it’s time to spend hours scouring through stats and injury reports coming up with the perfect lineup to rake in the cash. Before we get started, I will be using DraftKings pricing and scoring system for this article. This is more of a lineup for 50/50 plays, meaning if you score in the top half of players you get paid. Some of these players can be used in high stakes tournaments as well but remember those are more about having the highest ceiling possible. Here is the team I will be rolling with for the main slate in week 1:

• QB Matt Ryan
• RB Travis Etienne
• RB Dameon Pierce
• WR Michael Pittman
• WR Marquise Brown 
• WR Elijah Moore
• TE David Njoku
• Flex Christian McCaffrey
• DST 49ers 

Travis Etienne: $5600

Travis Etienne is priced at the same point as James Robinson. You read that correctly. We have seen what the dreaded torn Achilles can do to a running back’s overall ability. Only months removed from his achilles injury, James Robinson will not be ready to come in and dominate this backfield. Not many people even expected him to be active week 1. Enter Travis Etienne. The Commanders have a talented defensive line and will be coming after quarterback Trevor Lawrence who led the NFL in check down rate last year. The Commanders are projected to win this game and I expect to see Etienne on the field a ton, especially if the Jags are in catch up mode. He has a safe floor and high upside with his pass catching ability and the explosiveness he brings to this offense.

Dameon Pierce: $4800

Week 1 can be the best time to find value. Dameon Pierce is the biggest riser in ADP  over the last month for fantasy leagues but his DraftKings price has not caught up yet. He flashed in the preseason despite the Texans roster being less than stellar. He earns every single yard and is being priced behind some 3rd string running backs for other teams even though he has locked up the starting role for the Texans. Colts linebacker Shaquille Leonard, one of the best run stopping linebackers in the NFL, has been ruled out for Sunday’s game already. The Texans likely do not want Davis Mills breaking pass attempt records and Pierce is the man they will lean on. We have yet to see how he will involved on passing downs but at this price, he is still a value. He will have enough opportunity for a very safe floor and if he catches passes, this could be the play of the week. 

Michael Pittman: $5500

Michael Pittman solidified himself in many people’s top 15 receiver list going into to the season. If that comes to fruition, this may be the cheapest he is ever priced. He is a strong wide receiver 1 in what projects to be a very good offense. The Colts are favored by 7 points in this matchup and Matt Ryan is a major upgrade over Carson Wentz from last season. Ryan has shown he is not afraid to lock on to his number 1 option and pepper them with targets. At this price, Pittman becomes the free square this week. Plug him in your lineup and build around him. I love stacking him with Matt Ryan, also at $5,500.

Marquise “Hollywood” Brown: $6200

The Cardinals and Chiefs over/under sits at 54 at time of writing, the highest of any game on the week. We want pieces of projected shootouts like this. Ertz is a popular play on DraftKings but he is dealing with a calf injury and is truly questionable for this game. Rondale Moore has already been ruled out. Deandre Hopkins is suspended for the first 6 games. The last man standing is Marquise Brown. The Cardinals will be forced to throw to keep up with the pace of the Chiefs. Brown had the 6th most targets of 20+ yards in 2021. Quarterback Kyler Murray was tied for first in 20+ yard completions and first in the NFL in deep ball completion rate. With lack of target competition this week and a high scoring game, Hollywood is going to shine. He is always a threat to score from anywhere on the field. It never hurts having that college connection between quarterback and wide receiver either. 

Elijah Moore: $5,100

In his one game with Joe Flacco last season, Elijah Moore was targeted 11 times. He finished with 8 receptions for 141 yards and 1 touchdown. Flacco has stated that Moore’s explosiveness reminds him of Steve Smith. This type of chemistry is important in week 1 when rookies like Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson have never taken a meaningful snap in the NFL. It will take time for them to adjust but we have seen Moore produce in the NFL at an elite level already. The ravens are 6.5 underdogs in this game and will have to throw early and often. Elijah Moore finished in the top 5 for rookie wide receivers against man coverage. A second year breakout is coming for Moore and it all starts with week 1. 

David Njoku: $3,900

Njoku is one of my favorite value plays this week. Amari Cooper will be drawing coverage from Jaycee Horn, who showed how dominant of a defender he can be on a very small sample size last season. Horn only allowed 1 reception in 3 games. Jacoby Brissett has targeted the tight end position at a top 5 rate since entering the NFL. His most obvious pivot away from Cooper will be Njoku. Carolina’s defense were bottom 12 In the league at guarding the TE. Njoku is the biggest red zone threat the Browns have and has major touchdown upside.  He is priced outside the top 10 tight ends and is in a prime spot for a big week. 

Christian McCaffrey: $8,500

The icing on the cake. When CMC is healthy, he needs to be played. Over his last 7 full games, he has amassed 978 yards and 8 touchdowns on 179 opportunities. He is truly a difference maker at the position. $8,500 could in fact be the lowest we ever see him priced as long as he is healthy. He is practicing fully so he is in my lineup until further notice. The Browns defense looks weakest right up the middle. Projected starters on the defensive line Jordan Elliot and Taven Bryan don’t exactly scare me away. McCaffrey will be busy whether it’s on the ground or through the air, or most likely both. Plug him into your lineup and reap the rewards. 

Chalk of the week: Jonathon Taylor $9,100

I know I know, taking the most expensive running back on the slate in week 1 seems like the easy way out but come on. This one makes too much sense. JT is the most expensive back on Sunday beacause he is worth it. The Colts will gain an early lead on the Texans and never look back. Every box is checked. One of the best offensive lines versus one of the worst rosters defensively. Projected to win by 7 (tied for highest total of the week). A new, much older quarterback finding his legs in a new system. Why make him throw if you don’t have to? This is one is simple. Give it to one of the best runners in the game and let him carry you to victory. Start Jonathon Taylor, fill up the roster with values at other positions, sleep like a baby. 

Tournament dart throw of the week: AJ Green $4,600

Remember what I said earlier about being the last man standing in Arizona? AJ Green is still on this roster and has a clear path to playing time in one of the league’s heaviest passing offenses  in what projects to be a shootout. It’s not ideal, but having variance from the chalk can help you win big time money in tournament plays like this. His last 4 games without Deandre Hopkins he has averaged 9 targets.Standing at 6’4” he is a legit redzone threat especially if Ertz sits this week. Kansas City was bottom 8 in the league against the wide receiver position. With Hollywood drawing stronger coverage, AJ Green has sneaky upside which is exactly what we are looking for. 

Thank you so much for reading! If you are interested in more DFS opportunity, be sure to check out nohouseadvantage.com! With code “COACHES” they will match your first deposit up to $25!