DFS Cash Game Plays: NFL Week 1
Week 1 NFL DFS is finally here and with it comes the largest and most anticipated slate we will have all season. Apart from a few last-minute question marks (looking at you, Mark Andrews and Christian Watson!), all of the players we need on the main slate are healthy, active, and ready to pick up major usage roles after a preseason of mostly avoiding real game action. After a tasty appetizer and a surprising result in the Thursday night kickoff game, if you’re like me you are now clamoring for the Sunday main slate. Let’s go through each position at a variety of salary levels to see who are the best plays in cash games on DraftKings and FanDuel. For these purposes, a cash game is any contest that pays out more than one-third of the field. While these may also be viable GPP options, we primarily seek a safe floor combined with high usage that can lead to ceiling games.
DFS Tools
Previous Week’s Results
Each week (beginning on September 15th) I will post my final cash game lineup in this spot and the results from the contests I enter in DraftKings with that roster. I believe the best way to improve in DFS is accountability and reviewing results with honesty. I will try to provide brief thoughts each week on what I did right and what I did wrong with my DK cash lineup.
Scoring Differences Between DraftKings and FanDuel
A quick primer on DraftKings versus FanDuel scoring for DFS if you are unfamiliar with their platforms.
- On DraftKings, you are selecting nine spots with a total of $50,000 to spend. FanDuel has nine spots with $60,000 to spend, so salaries are slightly higher.
- DraftKings is full PPR scoring, while FanDuel is half-PPR.
- DraftKings deducts one point for a fumble lost and an interception. FanDuel is minus two points for a lost fumble and minus one for an interception.
- DraftKings awards three-point bonuses for 300-yard passing games, 100-yard rushing games, and 100-yard receiving games. FanDuel does not award bonuses.
With those differences in mind, let’s look at which players make good selections in Week 1.
Quarterback
Lamar Jackson (DraftKings: $8,000, FanDuel: $8,900) can only be stopped this week by a putrid Houston Texans offense that might not score nearly enough to stay in this game, forcing a run-heavy approach for Baltimore in the second half. But I believe the Ravens and new offensive coordinator Todd Monken want to unleash what they have worked on all training camp, and the Texans will be their whipping boys. I don’t know if you need to pay up for quarterback this week considering the cheaper options with good matchups, but if I’m paying up, it’s for Lamar.
Justin Herbert (DK: $6,900, FD:$8,100) leads the Chargers against the Miami Dolphins in what should be the most popular game to stack. This contest has a slate-leading 50.5 implied total, and no other game is within three points of that number. The salary is clearly better on DraftKings, where it’s almost comically low for the matchup. Miami allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks last season. Kellen Moore as the new offensive coordinator should allow Herbert to air it out in this game.
Sam Howell (DK: $4,900, FD: $7,100) has a wild salary discrepancy on the two sites and should be the punt QB play du jour for managers looking to save salary at the position. The Cardinals look to be absolutely abysmal this season and Howell has a number of weapons at his disposal. With Jahan Dotson, Antonio Gibson, and looks like a healthy Terry McLaurin lining up, Howell can make things happen in the air. He can also run when called upon, as evidenced by his 35 rushing yards and a score in Washington’s Week 18 win over Dallas last season.
Running Back
Austin Ekeler (DK: $8,400, FD: $8,400) could not be in a better spot in this game against Miami. The Dolphins were sneaky bad against pass-catching running backs like Ekeler last season. They allowed the seventh-most receptions and the most receiving touchdowns to the position in 2022 and now face arguably the best pass-catching back in the league. Ekeler should be plenty busy on the ground and in the air in this high-octane game with Miami. The best part about Ekeler is he is game-script-proof. Whether the Chargers are ahead or behind, they rely on their starting running back.
Josh Jacobs (DK: $7,700, FD: $8,400) now has a fresh $12 million contract for the season so he can comfortably slide right back into the primary rushing role for the Raiders. Last season, his 83.7% opportunity share ranked first in the NFL and he was also ninth at the position in Red Zone touches. The Broncos allowed top-ten fantasy numbers in both DK and FD scoring, and Las Vegas will look to run the ball and control the clock in this one.
Rachaad White (DK: $5,500, FD: $6,400) has an opportunity to take the reins of the Tampa Bay backfield on Sunday against a very suspect Minnesota defense. White especially looks good on DK where you will be rewarded with one point per reception. White caught 50 passes last season and was 16th among all running backs in routes run. Baker Mayfield loves to check down to running backs so this could be a great opportunity for White if the game shoots out.
Deon Jackson (DK: $4,100, FD: $5,600) is only $100 above the minimum salary for running backs on DK this season. While his role and efficiency still need some clarification, Jackson is the back who can catch passes on this Colts’ squad and they will need some of that against the Jaguars. In Week 18 of 2022, Jackson caught six of eight balls for 75 yards in addition to 35 yards on the ground. He might be the Anthony Richardson safety valve with Jonathan Taylor and Jelani Woods on the IR. I’m not prioritizing Jackson, but if I need a cheap running back, he is my first look.
Wide Receiver
Justin Jefferson (DK: $8,800, $FD: $9,500) and Tyreek Hill both look like absolute smash plays in their respective games this week. We’ve already looked at the Chargers-Dolphins game environment, but what about the Vikings? They are at home this week with the third-highest implied total on the slate (26.5 points), facing a team ranked 26th in DVOA against the pass last season. With no more T.J. Hockenson and rookie Jordan Addison lining up on the other side of Jefferson, I expect Kirk Cousins to rely heavily on the best security blanket there is at the wide receiver position. This $8,800 salary on DK is a full $1,000 more than it was in Week 1 last season.
Chris Olave (DK: $6,500, FD: $7,300) could very well feast in this game against a horrific Titans’ pass defense. Tennessee allowed the second-most receptions and third-most receiving yards overall to wide receivers last year while also giving up a crazy 20 receiving scores. They allowed both the most DK fantasy points and FD fantasy points per game to the position last season. Now, Olave gets an upgrade at quarterback with Derek Carr and should once again approach a 25% target share.
Elijah Moore (DK: $3,800, FD: $5,700) looks to be gaining steam in DFS circles this week for his low salary on DK plus the shootout potential between the Bengals and Browns in their opening matchup. The Bengals were tough against wide receivers last season, but they were fifth in pass-play percentage last season and the Browns will likely be playing catch up in this one. There is some risk here with an unknown role between him and Donovan Peoples-Jones, but even six points at this low DK salary wouldn’t sink your lineup.
Marvin Mims (DK: $3,000, FD: $4,700) is only an option for me in cash this week if Jerry Jeudy does not play for the Broncos this week. Apparently, from reports on Thursday, the decision is “up to him,” whatever that means. But Mims was brought in (after Denver traded up to get him) to complement the deep ball Russell Wilson likes to throw. Wilson threw the most deep balls in the league last year, and Mims was top-20 in all of college football with 19.8 yards per reception at the University of Oklahoma.
Tight End
Mark Andrews (DK: $6,200, FD: $8,000) has been dealing with a leg injury in the latter part of training camp but looks poised to be on the field in Week 1 against Houston. We know he is Lamar’s favorite target and the Ravens threw the most targets to tight ends of any team last year (204, three more than Kansas City). I would caution paying up for tight end on a slate with no crystal clear salary-saving option, and I will likely be playing one of the two guys below here.
Tyler Higbee (DK: $4,800, FD: $5,300) looks like he will be a huge beneficiary of the Cooper Kupp injury for as long as the wide receiver is out. Kupp had a 31% target share last season when he played, good for third in the NFL during that time. Higbee had a sneaky 104 targets last season and is one of the more underrated tight end options available. The salaries are a little high for my taste, but if fits my builds, I will happily take the six to eight targets he should see on Sunday.
Hayden Hurst (DK: $3,000, FD: $5,000) is at almost the stone-cold minimum salary for tight ends and has two really big things working for him. First, both Adam Thielen and D.J. Chark have popped up on the injury report for Sunday, leaving the Panthers’ receiving room potentially very thin. Add in a revenge game narrative playing the Atlanta Falcons, and Hurst could easily provide 4x salary on DK. It’s a tougher decision on FanDuel, but with Hurst’s touchdown equity, it still might be worth the gamble.
Defense/Special Teams
Jacksonville DST (DK: $3,500, FD: $4,400) on most slates would look like the best play around. They are relatively cheap (I don’t like paying more than $3,500) for a DST. They are favored on the road, forcing the Colts into a pass-first position. And they are playing a rookie quarterback in his first NFL game. Anthony Richardson played less than 20 college games the last two seasons and had a completion percentage under 60% in both seasons. Richardson is likely to be running for his life in this one as the Colts’ offensive line was 28th in adjust sack rate allowed last season. This is a much better play on FanDuel.
Washington DST (DK: $2,800, FD: $4,900) is the play in cash games this week on DraftKings this week, and it isn’t particularly close. Washington will be at home against a Josh Dobbs-led Arizona Cardinals team, and Dobbs wasn’t even on this squad 15 days ago. Washington was top-ten in sack rate last season, the Cardinals are projected for a slate-low 15.8 points, and now their best receiver (Marquise Brown) is on the injury report to end the week. Don’t overthink this one.
Cash Game Sample Lineup
Using the players listed above, you could construct a roster that looks something like this. However, keep in mind, that this is just a suggested build and could change drastically by the time the games kick off on Sunday. You should come to your own conclusions and build a cash game roster that suits the players you prefer and your style of build. Herbert works at quarterback and Jefferson and Ekeler both fit in these builds. I likely will not have both Moore and Mims in a DK lineup and will need to find a way to save salary somewhere else, likely with Josh Jacobs.
