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We are finally here, Week 1, the most wonderful time of the year. But before we get to Sunday's 14-game schedule, we will get a fantastic Thursday Night Football matchup, with the Bills traveling across the country to take on the Rams, the defending champs. It's possible that this won't be the only time these two teams will meet this season, as both are heavy favorites to reach the Super Bowl.
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 to picks already and start figuring out how we want to build our week 1 DFS lineups.
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FanDuel Quarterbacks - Week 1 DFS Lineup Picks
Patrick Mahomes, QB - @ ARI ($8,700)
Despite losing Tyreek Hill, Mahomes is still an MVP favorite. He shouldn't have any issues finding others down the field, and of course, if he gets into trouble, he can make plays on his own using his legs.
Vegas expects this matchup to be one of the highest-scoring games of the week as the total has swelled to 53.5 points, so Mahomes should draw consideration from DFS enthusiasts. The same could be said for Kyler Murray, who checks in at $500 less.
Lamar Jackson, QB - @ NYJ ($8,500)
Jackson didn't see any action throughout the preseason, but that shouldn't matter as he has a favorable matchup against the Jets. Although New York made moves to bolster its defense by adding Sauce Gardner and Jermaine Johnson II during the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the team is still lacking.
The 2019 MVP isn't coming off his most productive season. He missed time due to injury, threw a career-high 13 interceptions, and ran for less than 1,000 yards for the first time since 2018. With that said, Jackson has a shot to begin the year on a high note versus the Jets, and his desire to become the highest-paid quarterback in the league makes him even more dangerous.
Matt Ryan, QB - @ HOU ($6,900)
For the last 14 seasons, Ryan has been under center in Atlanta, so seeing him in a Colts' uniform will be strange. However, with the Texans and Jaguars on tap for the first two weeks of the season, the veteran will have multiple chances to become acclimated with his new offense in real-time before the Week 3 matchup against the Chiefs.
The Texans made a modest attempt to upgrade its defensive unit. Yet, despite new head coach Lovie Smith retaining his duties as the defensive coordinator, Houston's defense still shouldn't be a challenge. The Colts have one of the better offensive lines in the league, so Ryan should have more than enough time to make his throws and make a positive first impression with his new team.
FanDuel Running Backs - Week 1 DFS Lineup Picks
Jonathan Taylor, RB - @ HOU ($10,200)
Taylor needs to be in every DFS lineup, and there is no way around it. Of course, there's a good reason, as the 23-year-old is coming off a dominant year. He finished last season with 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns off 332 carries. He also averaged 5.5 yards per carry.
Although the Colts have Matt Ryan, Indy's game plan should remain the same, with Taylor getting plenty of touches and pulverizing his way through opposing defenses. With the team taking a trip to Houston, Taylor may easily pick up where he left off from last season.
Antonio Gibson, RB - vs. JAC ($6,800)
Unfortunately, Brian Robinson was the victim of an armed robbery attempt and sustained multiple gunshot wounds. He is out indefinitely. J.D. McKissic is currently dealing with a groin issue, making it possible he won't be out there either against the Jaguars.
The issues surrounding those players should allow Gibson more touches and thus more room to flourish as far as DFS contests are concerned. Still, even if McKissic is available, Gibson should get his carries as McKissic is used almost exclusively as a pass-catching back on third downs.
Saquon Barkley, RB - @ TEN ($6,800)
Barkley was the 2018 NFL Rookie of the Year. He finished his first season by running for 1,307 yards off 261 touches. That's not all, as the former Nittany Lion added 91 catches for 721 yards. Overall, he scored 15 touchdowns throughout his inaugural campaign.
Barkley hasn't been the same since as a result of injuries and constant coaching changes over the last three years. Now, with Brian Daboll at the helm, Buffalo's former offensive coordinator, the fantasy community has high expectations from him. With linebacker Harold Landry on the injured reserve list because of a knee injury, Tennessee is weaker on that side of the ball.
Mike Davis, RB - @ NYJ ($5,600)
A video recently surfaced showing J.K. Dobbins participating in drills. Whether he wants to admit it, he appeared to be limping, strengthening the belief that he won't be ready to rock versus the Jets. Davis was brought in during the offseason for this very reason.
The veteran was definitely a capable starter during his days with the Panthers, but his stock fell last season in Atlanta. Yet, he is at least worth a look if Dobbins is out, especially since he could provide some value. Kenyan Drake, who was recently added after the Raiders released him, could threaten Davis' workload to some degree, but not enough to take him out of the DFS conversation at this price.
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FanDuel Wide Receivers - Week 1 DFS Lineup Picks
Justin Jefferson, WR - vs. GB ($8,100)
Jefferson's rostering cost is laughable heading into Week 1. Sure, the Packers are projected to have one of the best defensive units in the league. However, there's a reason why Jefferson has been a sought-after commodity in seasonal fantasy leagues.
New head coach Kevin O'Connell served as the Rams' offensive coordinator last season and played an integral role in Cooper Kupp's breakout season. Jefferson is predicted to line up all over the place this season, so O'Connell should put him in a position to succeed against a quality Green Bay defense.
Michael Pittman Jr., WR - @ HOU ($7,200)
Pittman broke out last season by finishing with 1,082 yards and six touchdowns off 88 catches. What's more impressive is that he did it with Carson Wentz. To be fair, Wentz didn't have a horrible year by any means, but he completed only 62% of his tosses, which ultimately didn't do his receivers any favors.
Pittman has a new quarterback in Matt Ryan, a signal-caller who's thrown to some of the most talented wideouts during his career. Ryan should prove to be an upgrade over Wentz, and considering the Colts get to face the Texans, Pittman may be in store for a solid DFS outing.
A.J. Brown, WR - @ DET ($7,100)
Brown quickly became among the best young wideouts in the league during his first three seasons. However, after failed contract negotiations, the Titans traded him to the Eagles during the 2022 NFL Draft.
Now armed with a fresh four-year, $100 million contract, with $57 million guaranteed, Brown will be catching passes from Jalen Hurts. DFS managers shouldn't be scared off by the new situation, though, primarily since Hurts and Brown were reportedly in sync throughout all of training camp. With the Lions on the horizon, the 25-year-old could begin his year in Philadelphia with a bang.
FanDuel Tight Ends - Week 1 DFS Lineup Picks
Travis Kelce, TE - @ ARI ($8,000)
In the offseason, the Chiefs traded Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins, so Patrick Mahomes will undoubtedly be missing one of his top receiving options. Kansas City still has some capable pass-catchers, notably Marquez Valdes-Scantling, rookie Skyy Moore, and JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Since it may take the signal-caller some time to build a rapport with his new weapons, he may often look in Kelce's direction against the Cardinals, especially if he gets in trouble. Kelce has already been one of Mahomes' favorite targets over the years, so the thought of him getting even more attention is scary.
Mark Andrews, TE - @ NYJ ($7,900)
The Ravens parted ways with Marquise Brown this offseason by trading him to Arizona. As a result, Lamar Jackson lost one of his favorite targets. The team is clearly lacking on the receiving end, even more so now that Gus Edwards, who is a proven pass-catcher out of the backfield, was placed on the injured reserve list in August.
New York ranked in the bottom five against opposing tight ends in 2021. To help make things better, the Jets took steps through the 2022 NFL Draft to improve things on the defensive end. The franchise also brought in former Buccaneers safety Jordan Whitehead, who should help make things better. However, Andrews should have no issues producing in Week 1 and beyond based on volume alone. Considering Baltimore wants to throw more than in previous years, that only adds to Andrews' appeal.
Pat Freiermuth, TE - @ CIN ($5,300)
Many DFS participants like to save cash at the TE position, and that's fine. As a result, there are some less-costly options to consider. Freiermuth is a guy who may emerge as one of the top tight ends throughout the year, so he deserves a look on Sunday.
Without a doubt, the Steelers' offense could take a step back without Ben Roethlisberger under center. However, even with Mitch Trubisky as the team's starter (for now), Freiermuth still has more than enough upside, especially inside the red zone.
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