RADIO
Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season is in the rearview mirror and we now have more information -- albeit, a very small sample -- on what certain teams will look like this year. Early in the season is a time for us to determine what metrics are going to stick for players and a time for us to take advantage of misprices before the DFS sites adjust (Brandon Aiyuk was only $4,900 on DraftKings in Week 1).
In this weekly article, we'll be taking a look at stacks and bring-back options that are ideal plays in GPPs (guaranteed prize pools) on DraftKings and FanDuel. Salaries and scoring formats can differ on both sites, making some players much better options on one site compared to the other.
When looking at stacks and bring-back players each week, you have to take into account potential game scripts and correlation. Before the second week of the season, here are my favorite stacks and bring-back options in NFL DFS on DraftKings and FanDuel.
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Detroit Lions vs. Seattle Seahawks
- Jared Goff ($6,200 DK, $7,300 FD)
- Amon-Ra St. Brown ($7,800 DK, $8,100 FD)
- Sam LaPorta ($3,900 DK, $5,100 FD) or Josh Reynolds ($3,700 DK, $5,900 FD)
The Detroit Lions kicked off the 2023 campaign with an impressive road win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1. After defeating the reigning Super Bowl champions on the road, the Lions will make their home debut in Week 2 versus the Seattle Seahawks. The upcoming matchup has the second-highest projected total (47.5) on the main slate. On top of that, Jared Goff had massive home/road splits in 2022. This makes him extremely viable when he's playing within the confines of Ford Field.
Goff exploded for 378 yards and four touchdowns in Week 4 versus the Seahawks a season ago. If Goff has another productive outing against the Seahawks, Amon-Ra St. Brown is likely going to be the main beneficiary. St. Brown saw a strong 28% target share in Week 1 and is the only player I want in every lineup I use Goff.
Even though Marvin Jones Jr. began the game as a starter, it was Josh Reynolds who had the second-highest route participation (83%) among the Lions' wide receivers in the win over the Chiefs. Reynolds made the most of his opportunities by catching four of his seven targets for 80 yards. Sam LaPorta played the second-most snaps on the Lions (57) in Week 1. And I don't expect Brock Wright to continue stealing many looks from the rookie tight end moving forward.
Bring-back options:
- Kenneth Walker ($5,800 DK, $6,700 FD)
- D.K. Metcalf ($7,000 DK, $7,700 FD), Tyler Lockett ($6,100 DK, $6,500 FD), or Jaxon Smith-Njigba ($4,500 DK, $5,200 FD)
Kenneth Walker looked great with his limited touches in Week 1 and he saw 65% of the running back snaps for the Seahawks compared to rookie Zach Charbonnet's 24%. Walker's snaps should increase moving forward and he's cheaper than AJ Dillon and James Conner on DraftKings.
D.K. Metcalf is already seeing positive regression in touchdowns after finding the end zone in Week 1. It was a forgettable day for the Seahawks in their season-opening loss to the Rams, but we know targets are going to funnel primarily to Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Jaxon Smith-Njigba did suit up in Week 1 and hauled in three of his five targets for 15 yards. The rookie wideout's role in the offense should grow each week; however, his wrist ailment could limit his ceiling for now.
Los Angeles Chargers at Tennessee Titans
- Justin Herbert ($7,000 DK, $8,200 FD)
- Austin Ekeler ($8,700 DK, $9,200 FD)
- Keenan Allen ($7,100 DK, $7,800 FD) or Mike Williams ($5,700 DK, $6,700 FD)
Anyone who speaks on this game for DFS purposes is going to mention that the Tennessee Titans are a pass-funneling defense. While the Los Angeles Chargers ran the ball more than expected in Week 1 -- and had success doing it -- Justin Herbert is poised for a busy game on the road in Week 2. Derek Carr produced the second-highest yards per attempt (9.24) against the Titans in Week 1, so Herbert could be unleashed for the first time under new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.
Austin Ekeler is dealing with an ankle injury, so we'll certainly need to monitor his status ahead of Sunday's matchup. If Ekeler is active, then he remains a viable stacking option with Herbert. The Titans didn't have to worry about a true pass-catching back in Week 1, so it's worth noting they surrendered 88 receptions (11th-most in the NFL) to running backs in 2022.
Keenan Allen led the way with a 29% target share in the Chargers' season-opening loss to the Miami Dolphins. The veteran wideout remains Herbert's most reliable option in the passing game. Mike Williams made a brief exit in Sunday's loss and put up a pedestrian 45 yards on four receptions. Nothing suggested that either rookie Quentin Johnston or Joshua Palmer is worth stacking with Herbert yet. Though using one of them could be a nice dart throw in GPPs.
Bring-back options:
- Derrick Henry ($7,400 DK, $8,300 FD)
- DeAndre Hopkins ($6,700 DK, $7,100 FD) or Treylon Burks ($4,500 DK, $5,400 FD)
Despite oddly seeing 47% of the offensive snaps compared to rookie Tyjae Spears' 56%, Derrick Henry still received a league-best 79% of the backfield rushing attempts. Henry is still the focal point of the offense and he turned two receptions on three targets into 56 receiving yards in Week 1 against the New Orleans Saints.
DeAndre Hopkins garnered 13 targets in his debut with the Titans and he should have more success against a Chargers secondary that had no answers for the Dolphins (primarily Tyreek Hill). Treylon Burks still has the talent to emerge as a productive No. 2 option alongside Hopkins and is easy to afford on both sites in Week 2.
Kansas City Chiefs at Jacksonville Jaguars
- Trevor Lawrence ($6,700 DK, $7,800 FD)
- Calvin Ridley ($7,200 DK, $8,300 FD)
- Christian Kirk ($5,100 DK, $6,000 FD) or Zay Jones ($4,700 DK, $6,300 FD)
Stacking the Jaguars certainly looks better on DraftKings than FanDuel this week, but I want exposure to their impending matchup against the Chiefs. Trevor Lawrence had a handful of "watch this" throws in Week 1 and he's already building a special connection with Calvin Ridley. We also saw Lawrence register seven rushing attempts (it only resulted in 21 yards) in the season-opening win over the Indianapolis Colts, which is something he did just once in 2022.
Ridley showed exactly why the Jaguars were excited to trade for him as he caught eight of his 11 targets for 101 yards and a score in Week 1. It was Zay Jones and not Christian Kirk who recorded the second-highest route participation (94%) for the Jaguars to open the season and Kirk seems locked exclusively into the slot. DraftKings didn't increase Jones' salary much after posting 55 yards and a touchdown on five catches to begin the season.
One thing that we'll need to monitor is whether or not Travis Etienne Jr. continues to see an increased role in the passing game. Etienne led all running backs in Week 1 with an 83% route participation and he brought in all five of his targets for 27 yards. If that is something that sticks, he could be a sneaky stacking option with Lawrence in Week 2.
Bring-back options:
- Travis Kelce ($7,600 DK, $8,500 FD)
- Marquez Valdes-Scantling ($4,500 DK, $5,700 FD) or Skyy Moore ($4,100 DK, $5,200 FD)
Travis Kelce is expected back for the Chiefs, so he's the easiest choice as a bring-back option in this anticipated matchup. Kansas City's passing game was a mess to begin the season, but the presence of Kelce should aid Patrick Mahomes and the other pass catchers on the roster.
I understand recommending Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Skyy Moore deserves for tomatoes to potentially be thrown at me. That said, Valdes-Scantling and Moore both were the lone wideouts to have a route participation of 64% or higher in Week 1 for the Chiefs. There are better days ahead for the Chiefs wide receivers (at least you would hope) and they come at a cheap cost in a game that holds the highest projected total (51.5) in Week 2.
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