With the NFL quickly approaching, both FanDuel and DraftKings released their Week 1 NFL DFS salaries well ahead of the season. With injuries, depth chart shifts and COVID-19 affecting playing time, a few players enter Week 1 underpriced. Here is a first look at some of the best NFL DFS picks that are providing exceptional value for DFS lineups.
**50% OFF Awesemo+ NFL WEEKLY**
The Fantasy Football season kicks off in full on Sunday, and we’re offering you 50% off the Awesemo+ NFL Weekly Pass by 50% when you use promo code REDZONE. The Weekly Pass gets you access to Awesemo’s leading fantasy points and ownership projections, lineup builder and top stacks tool. Use promo code REDZONE before time runs out on Tuesday, 9/15/20.
Week 1 NFL DFS Picks: Low-Priced Value Plays | DraftKings + FanDuel
Cam Newton ($6,100 DraftKings/ $7,300 FanDuel)
Making his debut with the Patriots, Newton finds himself in a favorable matchup against the Dolphins in Week 1. The last time we saw Newton in extensive action, the former MVP completed 67.9% of his passes for 3,395 yards and 24 scores. More impressively, he did so while playing through a debilitating shoulder injury.
Looking at the Week 1 matchup, Miami possesses an improved secondary following the acquisitions of Byron Jones and Noah Igbinoghene. However, both Xavien Howard and Jones popped up on the Miami injury report, putting their Week 1 statuses in question. Either way, Newton should find time to throw against a Miami defense that ranked dead last in adjusted sack rate last year.
Also providing a solid floor with his legs, Newton notched at least 448 rushing years in his last eight healthy seasons. Priced as a bargain on both platforms, Newton is a solid salary-saving option in Week 1.
Antonio Gibson ($4,000 DraftKings/$4,600 FanDuel)
With Week 1 salaries coming out so early, value often appears as a result of injuries or roster changes. This year, the Washington Football Team cut Derrius Guice and Adrian Peterson, leaving Gibson to theoretically handle a large workload against the Eagles.
Gibson remains a projection at the NFL level after handling just 33 carries and 38 catches in his final season at Memphis. However, he offers tantalizing measurables, running a 4.39 40-yard dash at 228 pounds.
Concerns remain with Gibson, including elevated ownership, a poor offensive line and the potential time share with J.D. McKissic and Bryce Love. However, Gibson should retain a role in the pass game after dabbling at slot receiver for Memphis. With Washington pegged as 5.5-point underdogs, Gibson figures to catch a few passes, likely paying off his reduced salary on both platforms.
Jonathan Taylor ($5,700 DraftKings/$5,400 FanDuel)
Another rookie value pick, Taylor enters a Week 1 matchup against the Jaguars below $6,000 on both platforms. As it stands, the Colts enter Week 1 as 7.5-point favorites over Jacksonville. With Taylor playing behind one of the NFL’s top offensive lines, both he and Marlon Mack should find running lanes in Week 1.
Looking at Taylor’s prospect profile, he weigh 226 pounds and ran a 4.39 40-yard dash. Taylor also recorded a 10.3% target share at Wisconsin, which actually bested D’Andre Swift and J.K. Dobbins in this rookie class. Philip Rivers notoriously threw to running backs 32% of the time in 2019, which led the NFL.
While Taylor figures to split time early in his career, the potential upside in this matchup remains worth targeting. For those looking at a Gibson pivot, Taylor makes some sense as another value running back.
Marquise Brown ($5,100 DraftKings/$5,900 FanDuel)
Entering his second season with the Ravens, Brown should benefit from an offseason of full health. Despite battling injuries throughout 2019, he showed big-play ability as the top wide receiver in a Lamar Jackson-led offense.
Last year, Brown averaged just a 59% snap share as he battled an ankle injury throughout the regular season. After resting during the team’s playoff bye, Brown’s snap share jumped to 85%. On the elevated snap share, Brown recorded 11 targets, which he turned into seven catches and 126 yards.
In Week 1, Brown finds himself facing a banged-up Browns secondary. Already without Grant Delpit due to a non-contact injury, Greedy Williams, Kevin Johnson, and M.J. Stewart all appeared on the Browns’ Week 1 injury report. Playing as a primary target in Jackson’s high-powered offense, Brown remains a supreme value in Week 1.
Henry Ruggs ($5,100) DraftKings/$5,100 FanDuel)
Playing in potential Week 1 shootout, Ruggs and the Raiders take on the Panthers. The game total currently sits at 47.5 ahead of this match, but Ruggs in particular holds a strong matchup advantage in this spot. Priced at $5,100 on both platforms, Ruggs provide the rare value leverage play.
A first-round rookie out of Alabama, the Raiders spent the 12th overall pick on Ruggs this spring. A premier run-after-catch receiver, Ruggs actually recorded fewer deep targets than Jerry Jeudy in Alabama’s offense. This suits Derek Carr’s non-aggressive skill set after he attempted the 25th-most deep balls last year (47).
However, Ruggs remains particularly intriguing because of his matchup against a porous Carolina secondary. After losing James Bradberry to free agency, the Panthers also placed Eli Apple on injured reserve. This leaves Donte Jackson to face opposing alpha receivers after the Panthers benched him for stretches of 2019. Carolina rounds out their secondary with fourth-round rookie Tory Pride and career reserve Corn Elder. Elder has played 63 career snaps, allowed three catches for 63 yards and a pair of scores on four targets.
Related NFL DFS Content
- Awesemo YouTube Channel — NFL DFS Picks & Strategy
- NFL DFS Slant And Go: Taking Advantage of NFL Week 1
- The NFL Fantasy Football Matchups Breakdown with Matt Savoca | Week 1
- Awesemo’s Week 1 NFL DFS Big Board
- NFL Week 1 Survivor Picks + Strategy | Chiefs or Colts?
- Awesemo’s NFL DFS Projections (PREMIUM)
- Alex ‘Awesemo’ Baker’s Top Stack Tool (PREMIUM)
T.Y. Hilton ($5,800 DraftKings /$6,400 FanDuel)
After battling soft tissue injuries last year, Hilton returns for 2020 with a quarterback upgrade in Philip Rivers. More importantly, Hilton draws a favorable Week 1 matchup against the Jaguars with an affordable price tag.
When healthy last season, Hilton saw a 23% target share and a 32% air yards share in Indianapolis’ offense. He turned this into 45 catches and 501 yards, making this the first year he fell below 966 yards in six consecutive seasons. Rivers should also boost the offense after he bested Brissett in completion percentage and yards per attempt last year.
As for the matchup in Week 1, Jacksonville will trot out a completely gutted defense. Without Jalen Ramsey, Yannick Ngakoue and Calais Campbell, this defense remains a shell of its former self. In the secondary, Tre Herndon, D.J. Hayden, and rookie C.J. Henderson will attempt to halt Hilton in this contest.
While potential game scrip remains a worry here, Hilton’s price tag and matchup provide solid value for DFS lineups.
Dallas Goedert ($4,100 DraftKings/$5,200 FanDuel)
Despite not playing any preseason games, the Philadelphia Eagles enter Week 1 surprisingly banged up. Alshon Jeffery continues to rehab after offseason surgery, and Jalen Reagor expects to miss Week 1 with a shoulder injury. Outside of DeSean Jackson and Zach Ertz, this leaves Dallas Goedert to play an expanded role, making him a strong value in Week 1.
Last year, the Eagles increased their 12-personnel usage after various injuries to their wide receivers. In total, they ran 12 personnel on 52% of their offensive plays, which easily led the NFL. From Week 9 onward, Goedert played above 80% of the Eagles’ snaps in all but two games. He also saw at least six targets in each of his final seven games, including 22 total targets in his final two.
Washington’s defense remains the strength of their team, but they still ranked bottom 12 in receptions allowed to the tight end position last year. With a strong target projection and a low price, Goedert remains an immense value in Week 1.
Ian Thomas ($3,400 DraftKings/$5,100 FanDuel)
For those looking to completely punt tight end, look no further than Thomas. Thomas dealt with an injury towards the end of training camp, but he appears all systems go ahead of Week 1. With Greg Olsen out of the picture, Thomas looks like the main beneficiary of those 82 vacated targets.
When Olsen missed a pair of games last year, Thomas’ snap share jumped to 86% and 96% in Carolina’s offense. With only Chris Manhertz to compete with, Thomas could jump into that every-down role again this year.
Thomas also provides a cheap avenue to this potential shootout against Las Vegas. The Raiders also have major questions in their secondary. Right now, they project to rookie Damon Arnette, Lamarcus Joyner and second-year player Trayvon Mullen. With Joe Brady instituting his pass-friendly, up-tempo offense, Thomas provides a pure value play at the tight end position.
Check out our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for more great Awesemo fantasy football breakouts content.
Don’t forget to check out the loads of free content on our Fantasy Football home page, including more fantasy football breakouts. Sign up for just $29.95 (includes a $35 credit at FFPC for new users). Sign up HERE!
