NFL DFS Week 1 Lineup: DraftKings Picks for Sunday

Week 1 of the NFL season is finally here, and there are plenty of opportunities to find value on the DraftKings Fantasy main slate. This lineup focuses on a mix of high-volume stars, affordable upside plays, and a few lower-priced options that can help open up salary for the top of the roster.

The lineup comes in at exactly $50,000, leaving no salary on the table. Here are my DraftKings NFL best daily fantasy picks for Sunday’s Week 1 slate.

DraftKings NFL DFS Week 1 Lineup

Jared Goff ($6,000)

Goff is one of my favorite quarterback values on the Week 1 DraftKings slate. The Lions get a favorable matchup at home against New Orleans, and Detroit’s offense should give Goff plenty of opportunities to put together a strong fantasy performance.

At just $6,000, Goff doesn’t need to approach his ceiling to pay off his salary. The combination of his passing volume and the overall scoring potential of Detroit’s offense makes him an appealing way to start this lineup.

Quinshon Judkins ($5,500)

Judkins is an interesting way to attack the running back position without spending up. The second-year player enters the season with plenty of upside, and his $5,500 DraftKings salary makes him one of the more affordable backs with the potential to see meaningful touches.

Cleveland’s matchup with Jacksonville allows Judkins to make an immediate impact. If he can find the end zone, he has a chance to outperform this salary significantly.

Bijan Robinson ($7,700)

Robinson is the highest-priced player in this lineup, and for good reason. He has the all-around skill set to rack up fantasy points through both rushing and receiving, giving him one of the highest ceilings at the position.

Atlanta faces Pittsburgh on Sunday, but Robinson’s capability to contribute as a receiver gives him multiple paths to a big DFS performance. I’m willing to pay up for that combination of volume and upside.

Drake London ($6,500)

London gives us another piece of the Atlanta offense and is a natural pairing with Robinson. At $6,500, he’s priced below the elite wide receivers while still possessing the talent and expected workload to produce a big Week 1 performance.

If Atlanta’s offense has a strong afternoon, there’s a good chance London is heavily involved. His combination of target potential and red-zone upside makes him one of my favorite mid-range wide receiver plays.

Terry McLaurin ($5,700)

McLaurin is another player I’m targeting for his potential value at $5,700. Washington opens the season against Philadelphia, and McLaurin should remain one of the team’s primary options in the passing game.

The matchup isn’t necessarily the easiest on the board, but that is reflected in his relatively modest salary. McLaurin has the big-play ability to turn limited opportunities into a tournament-winning DFS score.

Chig Okonkwo ($5,300)

Okonkwo provides some salary relief at wide receiver while giving this lineup another player with upside. The matchup against the Jets is appealing, and his capability to contribute after the catch makes him an intriguing option at this price.

With several expensive players already in the lineup, finding value in this price range matters. Okonkwo has the type of role that might make him a worthwhile value if he gets enough opportunities.

Harold Fannin Jr. ($4,200)

Fannin is one of the biggest salary-saving plays on this roster. At only $4,200, he doesn’t need an enormous performance to justify his spot in the lineup.

The matchup against Jacksonville is another reason to take a shot on him. Tight end can be a difficult position to predict in DFS, so I’m looking for affordable players who can find the end zone or see enough volume to exceed their salary expectations.

Travis Etienne Jr. ($5,900)

Etienne gives us another inexpensive running back with the potential for significant involvement. At $5,900, he fits nicely into this lineup and lets us spend up for Robinson.

His capability to contribute both as a runner and receiver is especially important in DraftKings scoring. If Jacksonville gives him consistent touches around the goal line and in the passing game, Etienne has a path to a strong return at his price.

Philadelphia Eagles DST ($3,200)

I’m finishing the lineup with the Eagles defense at $3,200. Philadelphia gets Washington at home, giving the Eagles DST a chance to make plays through sacks, turnovers, and potentially a defensive touchdown.

Paying up slightly at defense can be worthwhile if the unit has a favorable matchup. The Eagles have enough talent to generate pressure and create the splash plays that can quickly turn a modest DFS salary into a strong score.