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It feels like forever since the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII. But after months of waiting, Week 1 is finally here. Things will certainly look and feel different this season. Tom Brady finally hung up his cleats, seemingly for good this time, while another future Hall of Fame quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, is now a Jet. Rodgers will be joined on the field by Dalvin Cook, who built a Pro Bowl career in Minnesota.
Of course, what would any season be without some rookies? In 2023, the Panthers took Alabama's Bryce Young as the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. The quarterback run continued as the Texans took C.J. Stroud with the No. 2 pick while the Colts grabbed Florida's Anthony Richardson at No. 4. On the other hand, Bijan Robinson, a highly-touted running back out of Texas, went to the Falcons in the top-10. But enough of that, it's time to figure out how to attack DFS contests for Week 1.
In this article, I will be providing you with my Week 1 daily fantasy football lineup picks for FanDuel. These lineups can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on FanDuel. Be sure to also check out our weekly DraftKings DFS lineup picks and lots of other great NFL DFS articles and NFL DFS tools to help you win big! Also, feel free to give me a follow on Twitter @DennisMClausen. Let's get started!
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FanDuel Quarterbacks - Week 1 DFS Lineup Picks
Trevor Lawrence - @ IND ($8,000)
Lawrence received plenty of attention coming into the NFL after a successful collegiate career. He was selected as the first pick in the 2021 Draft. But he struggled as a rookie, throwing 12 touchdowns and 17 interceptions while completing a miserable 59.6% of his throws. However, the 23-year-old improved significantly last season, so there's reason to believe he will be even better moving forward.
Lawrence has plenty of reasons to be successful in the opener, as the Colts' defense has a ton of question marks surrounding it. The Jags also added Calvin Ridley to the mix, making Lawrence a viable DFS target for those looking to do something different.
Geno Smith - vs. LAR ($7,200)
Smith enters the season armed with a new three-year, $75 million contract. With it, the expectations will certainly be higher, especially since the signal-caller has plenty of weapons in his arsenal.
Luckily, Seattle has one of the most favorable schedules in the National Football League, so Smith should have more than a few potent fantasy showings this season. With the Rams on tap for Week 1, the Seahawks will benefit from going against one of the worst secondaries in the NFL, making the 2022 NFL Comeback Player of the Year an ideal DFS option.
Also Consider: Joe Burrow ($7,900), Deshaun Watson ($7,400)
FanDuel Running Backs - Week 1 DFS Lineup Picks
Austin Ekeler - vs. MIA ($9,000)
Ekeler requested a trade in the offseason. However, both sides worked things out, so he'll be on the field for the Chargers this season. He should remain a favorite target of Justin Herbert, who inked a lucrative extension only a few months ago.
Although Miami's defense could be better this season, Ekeler should get plenty of work in the opener. Vegas loves him, too, as the Pro Bowler has some of the best odds to score a touchdown (or two) on Sunday.
Nick Chubb - vs. CIN ($8,600)
Chubb had his best year in 2022, finishing with a career-high 1,525 rushing yards and 13 total touchdowns. While the Browns have Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong Jr. on the roster, neither man is in a position to take carries away from four-time Pro Bowler, meaning he could be in for an even busier season.
Chubb has been successful against the Bengals throughout his career. In nine meetings versus Cincinnati, he's found the end zone eight times while surpassing the 100-yard mark on the ground five times. Even better, his rostering cost is reasonable, so DFS participants won't need to break the bank to get him in their lineups.
Joe Mixon - @ CLE ($7,500)
Mixon had a down year in 2022, finishing with nine total touchdowns, seven fewer than the previous season, and failed to surpass the 1,000-yard rushing mark. His offseason wasn't much better, as he took a pay cut to remain in Cincinnati. But the 27-year-old has an opportunity to re-enter the Pro Bowl conversation in 2023-24, so he'll look to begin on a high note against the AFC North rival Browns.
Mixon has played well in his 10 meetings against the Browns throughout his career, tallying six rushing touchdowns and averaging 84.1 rushing yards, 32.8 receiving yards, and 4.9 YPC. The Bengals added tackle Orlando Brown Jr. in March to an already improved offensive line from a few seasons ago, meaning Mixon could benefit significantly versus a mediocre Browns defense.
Cam Akers - @ SEA ($6,600)
Akers tore his Achilles in July 2021 but managed to return before the end of the season to help the Rams capture a Super Bowl win. While he had a rough start to the 2022-23 campaign, he turned up the volume, finding the end zone six times in December and running for at least 100 yards in the last three games. With Cooper Kupp (hamstring) unlikely to play against Seattle, Akers should have the ball in his hands more often than not.
Also Consider: Derrick Henry ($8,500), Rhamondre Stevenson ($7,000), James Conner ($6,700), Raheem Mostert ($5,900), Deon Jackson ($5,600)
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FanDuel Wide Receivers - Week 1 DFS Lineup Picks
Ja'Marr Chase - @ CLE ($8,500)
Although Justin Jefferson was the top pick in the bulk of season-long fantasy drafts, Chase could easily be the most productive wideout this season. After the former LSU Tiger amassed 1,455 receiver yards and 13 touchdowns in his inaugural season, he is coming off a year where he barely surpassed the 1,000-yard mark.
To be fair, he battled a hip injury that kept him off the field for five games. However, the sky is the limit if Chase can stay healthy this season. With Denzel Ward potentially out for the Week 1 battle with the Bengals, Chase could thrive.
DK Metcalf - vs. LAR ($7,700)
The NFC West showdown between the Rams and Seahawks is projected to be one of the highest-scoring games in Week 1. Naturally, that's never a bad thing when constructing a DFS lineup. It's also worth noting that Los Angeles shouldn't scare any teams throughout the 2023-24 campaign, considering the team lost several prominent names since last season.
Even worse, the organization didn't spend money to replace them. As a result, the Seahawks' high-powered offensive approach may enable Metcalf to finish as one of the most productive DFS options on Sunday. Of course, Kenneth Walker III, Tyler Lockett, and others should also benefit from the Rams' lousy defense.
DJ Moore - vs. GB ($6,300)
The NFC North rivalry continues, with the Packers and Bears going head-to-head on Sunday. However, things will look different this time, as Aaron Rodgers is no longer under center in Green Bay. Both teams have young quarterbacks, Jordan Love and Justin Fields, with each man expected to be under a microscope for the foreseeable future.
Fortunately for Fields, he has the luxury of having Moore as his primary pass-catcher. The 26-year-old was a potent fantasy option during his five seasons in Carolina, totaling 364 grabs for 5,201 yards and 21 touchdowns. He's had a great offseason, so you can bet Fields will show him plenty of love in Week 1.
Also Consider: Justin Jefferson ($9,500), Chris Godwin ($6,800), Tyler Lockett ($6,800), Christian Watson ($6,300), Jahan Dotson ($6,100), Van Jefferson ($5,500)
FanDuel Tight Ends - Week 1 DFS Lineup Picks
Isaiah Likely - vs. HOU ($4,700)
Travis Kelce isn't an option on Sunday, which won't make things easy for DFS managers. Also, Darren Waller, who's received positive attention throughout the offseason, is playing on Sunday night. There's also a chance guys like Mark Andrews, T.J. Hockenson, and George Kittle won't play. But even if any of them suit up, just how effective will they be?
With so much mystery surrounding this position, why not save some dough and roll the dice? There are more than a few guys who could produce for the Ravens. Yet, Likely may see a bigger role in the offense this season, considering head coach John Harbaugh has elevated expectations for him. Yes, this is risky, but the upside is there.
Also Consider: Kyle Pitts ($6,000), David Njoku ($5,600), Tyler Higbee ($5,300), Irv Smith Jr. ($4,900)
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