Cash plays are different than usual candidates for NFL DK main slate
Let’s see if this year’s DFS Week 1 can be as successful as the end of the regular season was last year for me.
Each week of the season I will be providing my top plays for cash and GPP for DraftKings.
I will have my top picks for your cash lineup at quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end and provide a little info on all my picks.
I will be providing my spreadsheet and main cash and GPP lineups on my Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/fantasyfbguru
Also don't forget to check out Boris' DFS Breakdown of each game!
Onto this week’s top cash plays for my DFS Week 1!
My Top Play
Quarterback
Sam Howell, Washington ($4,900): Despite only one NFL start, Howell is my cash lineup play at QB.
He scored 19.3 points vs. Dallas in the Commanders’ last game of 2022. He provides the upside with legs (he rushed for 828 yards and 11 TDs during his senior season at North Carolina) and he has a solid core of receivers in WRs Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson and RB Antonio Gibson at his disposal.
Plus, the Arizona defense was a bottom 10 pass defense last season.
Other QBs
Justin Herbert, LA Chargers ($6,900)
Geno Smith, Seattle ($6,100)
Russell Wilson, Denver ($5,900)
Herbert will be quarterbacking in the game with the projected highest game total at 51 and the Miami defense struggled last year vs. the pass. Smith had a breakout season in 2022, and the Seahawks have added offensive firepower around him. It also helps the Rams defense is a shell of its former Super Bowl winning self. You may think I’m crazy for picking Wilson with his top WR option Jerry Jeudy out with a hamstring injury. Well, maybe I am a little crazy but sometimes that crazy can bring you home the money with a contrarian play.
My Top Play
Running back
Cam Akers, LA Rams ($6,200): With Cooper Kupp out on Sunday, the Rams will have to ride the legs of Akers.
He proved he can carry the heavy workload at the end of last season. In the Rams’ last six games, he touched the ball 13 or more times in each game and averaged 19.35 points on DraftKings.
The Seahawks, who concentrated their draft this spring on offense, were 30th last season for fantasy points allowed vs. RBs.
Other RBs
Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco ($8,700)
Austin Ekeler, LA Chargers ($8,400)
Derrick Henry, Tennessee ($7,800)
McCaffrey should see plenty of touches in a game against Pittsburgh that is expected to close. CMC averaged 27.5 DK points last year in road games. Ekeler is in Kellen Moore’s new offensive scheme which wants to continue to feature Ekeler as a three-down back. He scored 24.4 points vs. Miami last year. Henry continues to defy Father Time and he is still the backbone of the Titans’ offense. After averaging 8.35 points in his first two games last year, Henry scored 14.7 points or more in every game except two.
My Top Play
Wide Receiver
Michael Thomas, New Orleans ($5,100): Thomas, when he is on the field, is a ball magnet.
In the 10 games he’s played during the last three seasons, Thomas has seen 5 or more targets in each game, and he’s scored 16.4 points or more in five of those games.
The Titans were also the worst defense last year for fantasy points scored by WRs.
Other WRs
Keenan Allen, LA Chargers ($7,300)
Amari Cooper, Cleveland ($5,800)
Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas ($4,800)
Marvin Mims Jr., Denver ($3,000)
Allen is playing the CeeDee Lamb role in new OC Kellen Moore scheme. Lamb saw 156 targets last season, and Allen saw 14 targets vs. the Dolphins last year. Cooper struggled when Deshaun Watson took over as the Browns’ QB last season, but Cooper did have a big game (26.1 DK points) in Cleveland vs. the Bengals last year. Davante Adams is the Raiders best WR, but Meyers is the best value vs. the Broncos. Mims Jr. will benefit from the absence of Jeudy from Denver’s starting lineup and at the WR min price, Mims only needs to score 9 DK points to reach 3x the value.
My Top Play
Tight End
Hayden Hurst, Carolina ($3,000): Hurst, along with Adam Thielen, are the Panthers most experienced receivers.
From the looks from preseason, it appears the Panthers are going to use their TEs extensively, and he can handle the workload. He saw 22 targets during the Bengals’ last four games last year and he converted those into 17 catches for 155 yards and a TD.
If he falls into the end zone, he will be well worth his price tag.
Other TEs
T.J. Hockenson, Detroit ($5,900)
Tyler Higbee, LA Rams ($4,800)
Gerald Everett, LA Chargers ($4,300)
Hockenson gets a matchup against a Bucs’ defense that was 29th last season vs. TE fantasy points scored. In the Vikings last three competitive games last season, Hockenson was targeted 39 times. Higbee may be Matthew Stafford’s No. 1 receiving option with Kupp missing the Week 1 contest against Seattle, who struggled vs. TEs last season. Everett is the player to use to get different in the highest points total game on the main slate, and he had 5 catches on 8 targets last year vs. the Dolphins.
My Top Play
Houston ($2,100) at Baltimore: The Texans may be the worst mispriced option this week. Baltimore is expected to open up the pass offense but that plays into Houston’s strength on defense. The Texans forced 8 turnovers, including 6 interceptions, in their final three games last season and accumulated 8 sacks as well.
Other Defenses
Jacksonville ($3,500) at Indianapolis
Washington ($2,800) home against Arizona
New England ($2,700) home against Philadelphia
Sunday’s DK Cash Core
QB: Sam Howell, Washington
RB: Cam Akers, LA Rams
WR: Michael Thomas, New Orleans
TE: Hayden Hurst, Carolina
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