Ricky Dimon
Week 1 of the NFL regular season is here. And what better way to celebrate the first full day of action by playing some Daily Fantasy? We have 13 games with which to work.
Here are my Week 1 picks, using prices from DraftKings. Also be sure to check out all of our NFL picks for EVERY Week 1 matchup.
QB – Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($6600)
Mayfield is coming off an outstanding 2024 campaign (4,500 passing yards and 41 TDs, 378 rushing yards and 3 TDs) and he gets to face a familiar foe with a vulnerable defense in the Atlanta Falcons. In 2 head-to-head matchups last year, the Oklahoma product threw for 510 yards and 6 touchdowns. This game could be a shootout all around.
RB – James Conner, Arizona Cardinals ($6100)
The New Orleans Saints were the second-worst rushing defense in 2024 in terms of both total yards and yards allowed per attempt. Their defense was terrible and they are expect to be an awful team all around this season. Count on Arizona building a big lead and then running the football. Conner should get a ton of opportunities on Sunday.
RB – Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers ($6000)
The strides that Bryce Young made in year 2 took a lot of pressure off Hubbard in the backfield. It paid off bigtime; 7 of his 10 rushing touchdowns came in his last 7 games and during that stretch he rushed for at least 152 yards on 2 occasions. Hubbard begins the 2025 campaign by facing the Jacksonville Jaguars, who allowed 132.6 rushing yards per game and 19 TDs on the ground.
WR – Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($6900)
DFS is an all-or-nothing kind of game, so grabbing a QB and a WR on the same team is not a bad idea. If one has a bad game, who cares if the other one does because you already aren’t going to win. But if both go off, you’re in business. And both Mayfield and Evans could go off in Atlanta. Evans is a perennial Falcons killer and he has scored 3 TDs in the last 2 head-to-head matchups.
WR – Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders ($6200)
McLaurin’s contract dispute came to an end last month with an extension. I expect him to make an early statement for the Commanders to throw the ball all over the Giants. New York surrendered 7.7 yards per pass attempt in 2024 to go along with 23 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions. Jayden Daniels can have his way with this secondary.
WR – Matthew Golden, Green Bay Packers ($4900)
At fewer than $5000, Golden has good value in DFS. The first-round pick out of Texas is WR2 on Green Bay’s depth chart; WR1 Jayden Reed is questionable to face the Detroit Lions due to a foot injury. Jordan Love is expected to have a huge year under center and his rookie wide receiver should be among the beneficiaries. Count on a fast start to the season.
TE – David Njoku, Cleveland Browns ($4700)
The Cincinnati Bengals gave up more fantasy points to tight ends last season than every team in the league other than Carolina. Then again, the Bengals gave up a ton of fantasy points to pretty much everyone. It’s a favorable matchup for the entire Cleveland offense. Njoku is a red-zone machine and will be a favorite target of Joe Flacco in a conservative offense.
FLEX – Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seattle Seahawks ($5900)
With an occasional exception, I pretty much always want a running back rather than a wide receiver in the flex position. RBs are simply more reliable. Walker kicks off his season against the NFC West rival San Francisco 49ers, who gave up 24 rushing touchdowns in 2024. Only the Dallas Cowboys allowed more. KW3 should rack up points on Sunday.
D/ST – New York Jets ($2800)
There’s a reason why New York’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers comes with the lowest total of the entire week at 37.5. It’s hard to see either offense doing much of anything. And when drives are sustained, they will likely be run-heavy slogs in which the clock is moving. I have zero faith in Aaron Rodgers — on the wrong side of 40 years old — against his former team.
