The NFL DFS Week 1 slate is live on DraftKings, and sharp players have a big edge. With soft pricing, undervalued rookies and volatile depth charts, it’s a perfect week to build aggressive lineups and leverage early-season uncertainty. This breakdown covers the best NFL DFS picks by position and key DraftKings NFL DFS strategy tips. Yes, we’re early, but if football is happening, we’re jumping on it. Let’s go.
NFL DFS Week 1 Picks and DraftKings Strategy Guide (2025)
NFL DFS success in Week 1 is often about spotting mispriced players before the rest of the field catches up. Here’s how to get an edge:
- Exploit soft pricing: DraftKings often underprices rookies and unproven players in Week 1.
- Stack high-total games: Use game environments to find ceiling outcomes.
- Use cheap quarterbacks: Save salary at QB and spend up at RB/WR.
- Embrace rookie production: Today’s rookies are often NFL-ready from Day 1.
Top Quarterbacks for NFL DFS Week 1
Joe Flacco (Cleveland) – $4,900
If Flacco starts, he’s the best value quarterback on the slate. Perfect for salary-saving builds in DFS DraftKings contests.
Tua Tagovailoa (Miami) – $5,800
Stack with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Low salary in a potential shootout against Indianapolis.
Justin Fields (New York)
Fields’ rushing upside plus his connection with Garrett Wilson makes him an intriguing tournament play. Risky due to his injury issues but high reward.
Top Running Backs – DraftKings NFL DFS Picks
Christian McCaffrey (San Francisco) – $7,300
Elite upside at a discount. One of the best RB plays across NFL DFS Week 1.
Jonathan Taylor (Indianapolis) – $6,800
Workhorse role. Great matchup. Will be popular, and for good reason.
Chase Brown (Cincinnati)
Value play with bell-cow potential. Excellent GPP pivot off Bengals passing game stacks.
Jahmyr Gibbs (Detroit)
Pass-catching back in a high-total game. Strong in both cash and GPP builds.
Wide Receivers to Target in Week 1 NFL DFS
Tee Higgins (Cincinnati) – $6,400
Undervalued compared to Ja’Marr Chase. High-upside part of any NFL DFS picks pool.
Marvin Harrison Jr. (Arizona) – $5,500
Expected WR1 in Arizona. Should see high volume immediately at a bargain salary.
Drake London (Atlanta) – $6,500
Part of the highest-total game on the NFL DFS Week 1 slate. Lock-and-load play in all formats.
Brian Thomas Jr. (Jacksonville)
Emerged as the favorite target last year and in camp. Use in Jaguars stacks or as a standalone value.
Josh Downs (Indianapolis) – $4,600
Cheap bring-back in Miami stacks. Fits multiple lineup constructions in DraftKings NFL DFS contests.
Best Tight End Plays for Week 1 DFS
David Njoku (Cleveland) – $4,700
Reliable red-zone target. Strong in Flacco stacks.
Ja’Tavion Sanders (Carolina) – $2,900
Cheap breakout candidate. If Tommy Tremble is out, Sanders becomes a must-play in value builds.
Dalton Kincaid (Buffalo)
Buffalo’s top receiving options are weak. Kincaid could lead the team in targets from the TE position.
Kyle Pitts (Atlanta)
Boom-or-bust TE play with high ceiling if Darnell Mooney sits. Could line up as a wide receiver in 2-TE sets.
Defense Picks for DraftKings NFL DFS Week 1
Jets (vs. Pittsburgh) – $2,800
Home defense against a weak Steelers offense. Great salary relief with turnover upside.
49ers (at Seattle)
Reliable defense that can generate sacks and turnovers even in tough matchups.
Favorite NFL DFS Stack Builds
Cleveland + Cincinnati Stack
Flacco with Cedric Tillman or Njoku with Chase or Higgins as runbacks. Great leverage play.
Miami + Indianapolis Stack
Tagovailoa + Hill + Waddle with Downs or Taylor. High-volume, concentrated attack.
Tampa Bay + Atlanta Stack
Baker Mayfield + Mike Evans with Pitts and London runback. Low-owned route into the highest-total game of the slate.
Final Thoughts on NFL DFS Picks for Week 1
NFL DFS Week 1 is the best time to get creative. Roster construction flexibility, soft salaries and uncertainty open the door to high-upside builds. This week, focus on:
- Undervalued rookies
- Concentrated offenses
- Low-cost quarterbacks
- Game environments with high totals
Use these NFL DFS picks and strategies to attack Week 1 and start your season with an edge.
