Daily fantasy football continues to climb in popularity as jackpots have risen consistently and more fans are joining sites every week. Our weekly article showcases players to target at three general levels of value: The big dollar talent (Heavy Hitters), the average-priced contributors (Average Athletes), and the guys very questionable players at the bottom of the cost charts (Sneaky Sleepers). Our selected players are based on DraftKings values as that is our daily fantasy site of choice, but the values should translate fairly well to any other sites you may use. We don’t share specific lineups or optimized computer rankings, but we will give you some great candidates for you to consider. We set this breakdown up that way because while winning is great, a big part of the fun draw of daily fantasy is mixing and matching your lineups to see how you can maximize your team. That and the fact that we are trying to win the same way that you are, and quite frankly, we don’t want our readers to all have the same exact lineups.
NFL Week 1
A full slate of games in week one include some potential shootouts and teams showcasing newly acquired talent give us a lengthy roster to explore. If you happened to read our offseason article of players we feel can help you win in fantasy football, you’ll find some common selections during the early weeks of the season, including week number one. Here’s the link if you want to check that out: https://betcrushers.com/7playerstowinyourfantasyleague/
Before we highlight our three levels of talent, let’s look at our projected star of the week:
STAR OF THE WEEK:
In what was a learning year in 2021 for the Colts young wideout, Michael Pittman, Jr. had some highs and lows along the way. In reality, the lows were really the fact that he was playing with a wildly inconsistent quarterback in Carson Wentz. Pittman had one of the best win rates in the entire league, meaning he was open a lot on passing routes. The upgrade at QB to Matt Ryan should provide instant improvements and dividends for the Colts receiver when it’s time to throw the ball. Even if you’re concerned about the Colts offensive game plan, it’s important to remember that a good running game can actually help a number one receiver. Safeties will no doubt be inching towards the line of scrimmage with eyes on running back Jonathan Taylor, leaving Pittman with some windows in the secondary. Not surprisingly, the Colts opponent for their opener is not projected to have a great passing defense, or defense in general. We’ll more than likely have Michael Pittman, Jr. in our lineup quite a bit in the first half of the season, as long as the price tag stays where it is.
Quarterbacks:
Patrick Mahomes – $7,700 vs. Cardinals
Lamar Jackson – $7,300 vs. Jets
Running Backs:
Jonathan Taylor $9,100 vs. Texans
Austin Ekeler – $8,200 vs. Raiders
Wide Receivers:
Ja’Marr Chase – $7,100 vs. Steelers
Terry McLaurin – $6,500 vs. Jaguars
Tight Ends:
Mark Andrews – $6,800 vs. Jets
T.J. Hockenson – $4,900 vs. Eagles
Defense / Special Teams:
New Orleans Saints – $3,700 vs. Falcons
Quarterbacks:
Joe Burrow – $6,400 vs. Steelers
Kirk Cousins – $6,100 vs. Packers
Running Backs:
Najee Harris – $6,400 vs. Bengals
Antonio Gibson – $5,800 vs. Jaguars
Wide Receivers:
Marquise Brown – $6,200 vs. Chiefs
Devonta Smith – $5,500 vs. Lions
Tight Ends:
Dallas Goedert – $4,500 vs. Lions
Pat Freiermuth – $4,200 vs. Bengals
Defense / Special Teams:
Carolina Panthers – $3,400 vs. Browns
Quarterbacks:
Trevor Lawrence – $5,600 vs. Commanders
Matt Ryan – $5,500 – vs. Texans
Running Backs:
Elijah Mitchell – $5,400 vs. Bears
Raheem Mostert – $4,200 vs. Patriots
Wide Receivers:
Marquez Valdes-Scantling – $4,700 vs. Cardinals
Marvin Jones, Jr. – $4,400 vs. Commanders
Tight Ends:
Mo Alie-Cox – $3,400 vs. Texans
Hayden Hurst – $3,300 vs. Steelers
Defense / Special Teams:
Chicago Bears – $2,200 vs. 49ers
If you play Daily Fantasy Football we love talking sports and we’d love to hear your take and who you like each week, find us on Twitter @TheBetCrushers and let us know. Good luck and enjoy the weekend! 
