I got the notification sitting at my desk. “Week 1 Salaries are now live on DraftKings!” I couldn’t believe my eyes. There’s no way. This is way too early. I’m not expecting this until August! Sure enough, my prayers were answered. In fact, the Week 1 prices are listed, which is crazy to think of, seeing as Baker Mayfield and Josh Allen just signed their rookie contracts on the same day and the NFL Hall of Fame game hasn’t even been played. Hell, training camps have barely even started. But that’s not gonna stop me from looking through these options and finding some plays that immediately catch my eye. Remember, last year I tabbed Zach Ertz in this article and he caught 8 balls for 93 yards.
QBs:
- Deshaun Watson ($6,700) @ NE
- We saw what Watson did to New England’s defense last season and he was just getting started. Now he’s got experience, and New England has historically started slow on defense.
- Tyrod Taylor ($5,400) vs PIT
- Wolf has gotten into my ear about Tyrod and the Browns, but he’s upgraded to a better offense with more weapons in a tough game against Pittsburgh. Good value with his price here.
- Sam Bradford ($5,200) vs WAS
- Sammy Sleeves does that thing where he starts the year off hurt before injuring his vag and going on the IR for the year. A home game against Washington is nothing to fret, and Larry Fitzgerald and David Johnson will be there to catch passes all game.
RBs:
- Alvin Kamara ($8,500) vs TB
- Kamara was always a good play last season, but now with Ingram suspended while playing at home as a heavy favorite, he’ll probably be close to 60% owned. Might be the week’s most popular player.
- Saquon Barkley ($6,700) vs JAX
- Get a good look now folks because this is probably the cheapest you will see Barkley priced all year. Mid six-thousand is a price for like Christian McCaffrey who doesn’t get a ton of carries. Especially here with the Giants likely struggling to throw on this elite secondary.
- Dalvin Cook ($6,200) vs SF
- I saw this price and fell out of my chair. Sure Cook is coming off injury (knee brace off today), but he’s a bonafide stud going against the worst rushing defense in the NFL. The departure of Jerick McKinnon is big for his touches.
- Chris Thompson ($4,700) @ ARI
- Another guy coming back from injury, Thompson had worked his way into the high five, low six salary as a stud receiving back. Cheap price for a guy who has an established role, and is sharing a backfield with a rookie. Rookies can be very hit and miss so it’s important to track Guice’s work in preseason.
- Rex Burkhead ($4,200) vs HOU
- I swear, the Wolf didn’t make me put this here. Dion Lewis gone hurts the team but is solid for Burkhead who is likely to share main duties with rookie Sony Michel. Burkhead also seems to have to line on goal line touches early on which is what we love in DK.
WRs:
- Keenan Allen ($7,500) vs KC
- He’s a PPR machine against a weak secondary who lost their best CB in Marcus Peters to the Rams. This defense is ripe for the picking.
- Stefon Diggs ($6,300) vs SF
- Diggs being much cheaper than Thielen is a little surprising, but Diggs is the big play guy. As long as he’s healthy, he’s got the higher ceiling.
- Will Fuller ($5,100) @ NE
- Fuller and Watson were magical in their short time together. I’d expect New England to use Stephon Gilmore against Hopkins, allowing Fuller to use his speed to run free on the defense.
- Kenny Stills ($4,700) @ TEN
- People will target DeVante Parker, but I love Kenny Stills and think he’s the receiver to own in Miami. Landry being gone opens up so many targets, and Stills has proven to be a factor for the Dolphins.
TEs:
- Rob Gronkowski ($6,900) vs HOU
- Tom Brady is missing his blanket Julian Edelman this game, and I mean cmon just look at his price.
- Austin Seferian-Jenkins ($3,200) @ NYG
- If you remember last year, we target tight ends against the Giants. The new Jaguar could be the apple to Bortles’ eye who isn’t known to sling it deep.
- Ricky Seals-Jones ($3,000) vs WAS
- Sammy Sleeves and tight ends are a match made in heaven. We expect big things from RSJ this year, starting with a nice matchup against the Redskins.
Defense
- Baltimore ($3,800) vs BUF
- Obvious choice here. Tough defense against one of the worst offenses featuring an inexperienced QB with no weapons. The Ravens were huge with shutouts in 2017, might start off that way here.
- Los Angeles Chargers ($2,800) vs KC
- Contrarion play here against a solid Chiefs offense, but if Mahomes doesn’t look as sharp as everyone is hoping he will be, he could have a ton of trouble with the Chargers talented secondary.
- Indianapolis ($2,400) vs CIN
- The Colts have some solid young pieces in their secondary, and the Bengals were flat out awful last year. A decent play for someone at home that’s near the bare minimum in price.
Do you have any early leans? Sound off below or hit me up on Twitter!
