X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Thursday Night Football Week 1: DFS Lineup Picks for FanDuel, DraftKings

Dan Palyo highlights the top NFL DFS lineup picks for Thursday Night Football for Week 1 of the 2020 season, and a couple of sleepers to consider while building TNF daily fantasy rosters on FanDuel and DraftKings.

Football is back! And what a way to welcome back the NFL to our lives than with the defending Super Bowl Champs taking on the Houston Texans in Kansas City. This game has a lofty 54.5 point over/under and we should see some fireworks from these offenses on opening night. The Texans got the best of the Cheifs in the regular season 31-24 and had a 21-0 lead on KC in the AFC playoffs before the Chiefs came storming back to beat them 51-31 in an incredible offense performance.

In this article, I will be providing you with daily fantasy football picks on FanDuel and DraftKings for Thursday Night Football on September 10th, 2020 (Week 1). These lineups can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on FanDuel. Lineup construction can differ greatly from FanDuel to DraftKings with the biggest difference being the Captain and MVP slots. On DK, you'll pay 1.5x the salary of a player in order to roster them as your captain while the price doesn't change on FanDuel.

With both FanDuel and DraftKings hosting Milly-maker contests on opening night, there's some serious money being wagered on this game! If you have any questions you can follow me on Twitter @ThunderDanDFS and fire away, or sign up for a premium RotoBaller NFL package and chat with myself and other NFL DFS analysts any time you'd like! Now let's break this slate down and make some cash right out of the gates!

Featured Promo: Get any DFS Premium Bundle for for 50% off using code SUMMER! Win more with expert advice from proven winners and exclusive DFS tools. Get instant access to RotoBaller's Lineup Optimizers, Research Stations, daily picks and VIP chat rooms across 10 sports! Go Premium, Win More!

 

DFS Quarterbacks

It's not often we have a single-game slate where the opposing quarterbacks are both potentially elite plays, but that's absolutely the case in this game as Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson are both top options. Opposing QBs actually correlate well and there's a case to be made for playing both in a lineup if you think this game shoots out and stays close.

Mahomes should be the more popular play and for good reason. The Super Bowl MVP is the better passer of the two and has better weapons around him as well as a better offensive line. While I usually don't play QBs at captain or MVP very often in single game/showdown, you can absolutely play either of these guys as they both have the ability to run the ball and score rushing TDs (Watson ran for 3 TDs total in the two meetings between these teams last year).

Summary: Play Mahomes in cash, Watson in GPPs. Stack them together to be different. Both make viable captain/MVP choices.

 

DFS Running Backs

There's a number of viable options at running back in this game, but probably only one relatively "safe" play in Clyde Edwards-Helaire. We don't know how Andy Reid is going to divvy up the touches amongst his backs, but we do know that CEH is the starter and easily the most talented of the bunch. Andy Reid schemes the ball to his backs better than most NFL coaches and therefore CEH is a top play even with 50-60% of the RB touches. He's an explosive back who's great in space and that skillset should translate well to way in which the Chiefs will want to utilize him.

Backing up CEH will be Darrel Williams (only 1800 on DK) and I'm definitely interested in rostering him as a pivot off CEH or actually using them together to try to grab as much of the running back production as possible. He didn't see all much action last season but did score 4 TDs and is reportedly ahead of DeAndre Washington in the pecking order.

Houston's lead back will be David Johnson. After a disappointing year in Arizona, he came over in the trade that sent DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals. Coach Bill O'Brien will definitely want to get him involved often, but he be facing a negative game script if the Texans get down early. He has been a solid pass catcher in his career but the Texans also have an effective third-down back in Duke Johnson who should see his share of touches as well. I'm not all that high on David Johnson at his price and there's no way to know if Duke Johnson is on the field enough to make value, but I'd rather roll the dice on him if I had to take a Houston back.

Summary: CEH is the safest back on the slate for cash. Darrel Williams is an excellent value on DK. The Houston RB situation is a bit of a mess that I am likely to avoid if possible.

 

DFS Wide Receivers

The WR position might be the hardest spot to figure out on this slate. The Chiefs' top pass-catching option is their tight end, Travis Kelce, followed closely by the speedy Tyreek Hill. Hill is fairly expensive on both sites but has explosive playmaking ability and the ability to rip off huge chunks of yardage at a time. He's definitely worthy of some GPP exposure, but not a priority for me in cash games.

Sammy Watkins is the WR2 for KC and also has shown big-play ability with Mahomes at times. He's way too inconsistent for cash but a solid GPP option as a pivot off Hill/Kelce. Both Demarcus Robinson and Mecole Hardman have occasionally popped off for long TD receptions but are low floor plays that are best reserved for large field GPPs.

For Houston, we have four receivers who are all worthy of consideration to be paired with DeShaun Watson. With Hopkins' departure, we should see more targets for incumbents Will Fuller and Kenny Stills, both of whom can be solid threats in the vertical passing game.

The arrival of Brandin Cooks and Randall Cobb muddies things a bit as both should get a number of looks their way, too. My favorite plays from this group are Fuller (for his ability to stretch the field and his prior success with Watson in the last few seasons) and Cobb (for his track record doing work underneath in the short passing game).

Summary: All the WR options on this slate carry some risk and none of them have very safe target floors. Hill has the most upside but is expensive. Fuller will be popular but is my favorite Houston WR while Cobb is a nice cheap play with some volume upside.

 

DFS Tight Ends

There are not many tight ends (or receivers, really) with the talent and playmaking ability of Travis Kelce. He's easily one of the best plays (if not THE best play) on this slate and I will have a healthy share of him in my captain/MVP slot. He's not just a safety blanket for Mahomes who can pile up a bunch of catches in the short passing game, he's an athletic freak who can rip off huge gains on seam routes and do plenty of damage after the catch on patterns in the flat or across the middle. In the 51-31 playoff comeback against Houston, he piled up 10 catches for 134 yards and three scores. He's an elite play in all formats and a hard guy to fade on this slate.

Houston actually has a few really compelling plays here at the TE position, too. Starter Darren Fells caught 9-91 and a TD between the two contests against KC last season. It remains to be seen where Hopkins' vacated targets go, but Fells is certainly worth a look at his price, as is their TE2 Jordan Akins who is the better athlete of the two and more of a big-play threat.

Summary: Play Kelce in all formats. Houston TEs are solid GPP value options.

 

DFS Defense/Special Teams

In high total games like this one, defenses are often overlooked on DraftKings (not available on FanDuel) and that can be a mistake. The Chiefs D/ST is 3400 and is in a nice spot to produce here if the Texans are trailing and playing catch up. That would equal more chances at sacks and interceptions as Watson is trying to make things happen in the passing game. It's a contrarian play with some nice upside if they score a defensive touchdown or a special teams TD (also a strength of KC).

Harrison Butker is an excellent kicker, but in order for him to be an optimal play he's going to need to make probably three field goals and a few extra points. It's certainly well within the range of outcomes, but I think KC converts more of their drives into TDs than FGs and therefore I won't have too much exposure, at least not when there are other position players cheaper on both sites.

Summary: KC defense is in play on DK. Butker is decent floor play on either site. 

 

Good luck, RotoBallers, and remember to mix it up and don't be afraid to be different in these large field GPPs on opening night!

More Weekly DFS Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Daniel Zellhuber

Set To Open Up UFC 318 Main Card
Michael Johnson

Looks For Third Consecutive Win
Elijah Arroyo

Signs Rookie Deal
Jaydon Blue

Described as "Borderline Lazy"
T.J. Sanders

Bills Sign T.J. Sanders to Rookie Deal
Christian Wilkins

Raiders Put Christian Wilkins on PUP List
Jabari Small

Lions Add Jabari Small to Backfield
Quinshon Judkins

Remains Unsigned, Won't Report With Rest of Rookies
Mason Taylor

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Jets
Hendon Hooker

Leading Lions QB2 Battle Entering Training Camp
Ozzy Trapilo

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Bears
Tate Ratledge

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Lions
Jack Bech

Signs Rookie Contract with Raiders
Yegor Chinakhov

Requests Trade
Dakota Joshua

Maple Leafs Acquire Dakota Joshua
Lukas Dostal

Signs Five-Year Extension with Ducks
Shemar Stewart

Not Practicing With College Team
Uchenna Nwosu

Seahawks Place Uchenna Nwosu on PUP List
Taylor Decker

Alim McNeill, Taylor Decker Placed on PUP List
Tyrion Davis-Price

Titans Waive Tyrion Davis-Price
Tre Harris

Chargers Relying on Tre Harris to Be Starting X Receiver
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Expected Back Friday
Micah Parsons

Will Become Highest-Paid Non-QB
MarShawn Lloyd

Vying for RB2 Role
Keandre Lambert-Smith

KeAndre Lambert-Smith Finds End Zone in First Training Camp Practice
Tyler Shough

Pushing for Fully Guaranteed Rookie Deal
Ar'Darius Washington

Goes on PUP List
Damian Lillard

Returning to Portland
Paul Skenes

Pirates Could Preserve Paul Skenes in Second Half
Brooks Barnhizer

Grabs 19 Points, Nine Boards in Summer League Win
Jeremiah Fears

Scores 22 Points in Summer League Loss to Thunder
Isaiah Collier

Collects 17 Points In Summer League Win
Caleb Houstan

Joins Hawks
AJ Johnson

Erupts for 25 Points in Summer League Loss
Washington Wizards

Leaky Black Logs Double-Double in Loss to Jazz
Connor Norby

Undergoes Surgery, Expected to Miss 6-8 Weeks
Trey Alexander

Tallies 25 Points in Losing Effort
Johni Broome

Records Second Consecutive Double-Double
Jahmir Young

Has Historic Summer League Outing
Rob Dillingham

Plays Big Role in Wednesday's Win
Tyrese Proctor

Erupts for 35 Points Against Kings
Cody Williams

Leads Jazz to Victory Against Wizards
LeBron James

Mavs Not Interested in "Gutting its Roster" For LeBron James
Josh Hart

Undergoes a Procedure on Right Finger
Jake Burger

Goes on 10-Day Injured List With Quad Strain
Sal Frelick

Dealing With Grade 1 Hamstring Strain, TBD for Start of Second Half
Chris Sale

Plays Catch
Los Angeles Clippers

Bradley Beal Heading to Los Angeles to Join Clippers After Contract Buyout
Rayan Rupert

Scores 24 Points in Summer League Win
Derik Queen

Collects Third Consecutive Double-Double in Summer League Loss
GG Jackson II

Records 13 Points in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Johni Broome

Logs Double-Double Against Wizards
DaRon Holmes II

Records Double-Double in Summer League Loss to Raptors
Kyle Schwarber

Named All-Star Game MVP
Harris English

Takes Stellar 2025 Performance to The Open Championship
Aldrich Potgieter

Seeks Better Result in Northern Ireland
Cameron Young

Likely to Hang Around at The Open Championship
Cameron Smith

Just Trying to Make the Cut at Royal Portrush
Jordan Spieth

Is Jordan Spieth Still a Natural for Links Style Golf?
Patrick Reed

a Viable Option at The Open Championship
PGA

Sungjae Im Wants to Rebound from Last Experience at Royal Portrush
Xander Schauffele

Looks to Defend His Claret Jug at Royal Portrush
Tony Finau

Trying to Turn Tide at Royal Portrush
Daniel Brown

Seeks a Rebound at The Open Championship
Rory McIlroy

Will be the Most Watched Player This Week at Royal Portrush
Daniel Berger

Trending Poorly as The Open Championship Looms
Clayton Kershaw

Retires Both Batters In ASG Appearance
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Hit In Pinky In All-Star Game, X-Rays Negative
MLB

NL All-Stars Win On Tie-Breaker Home Run Swing-Off
Robert MacIntyre

Hoping to Bounce Back at Open Championship
Shane Lowry

Hopes to Repeat at Royal Portrush
Brian Harman

Hopes to Rekindle Some Magic at the 153rd Open
UTA

Michael Carcone Returns to Utah on One-Year Contract
Bowen Byram

Signs Two-Year Deal with Sabres
Morgan Barron

Jets Re-Sign Morgan Barron for Two Years
PGA

Chris Gotterup Punches Ticket to Royal Portrush With Win at Scottish Open
Bryson DeChambeau

Hopes to Reverse Links Golf Struggle at the 153rd Open
Keegan Bradley

Needs to Find The Weekend at Royal Portrush for Ryder Cup Hopes
Oneil Cruz

Ties Home Run Derby Distance Record
Cal Raleigh

Wins 2025 Home Run Derby
Justin Thomas

Finishes Tied For 22nd at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Finishes Tied For Eighth at Genesis Scottish Open
Jon Rahm

Finishes in Second at LIV Andalucia
Tallison Teixeira

Suffers First-Round TKO
Derrick Lewis

Scores First-Round TKO
Michael Lorenzen

Royals Put Michael Lorenzen on Injured List With Oblique Strain
Stephen Thompson

Loses Controversial Split Decision
Gabriel Bonfim

Wins Controversial Split Decision
Calvin Kattar

Gets Outclassed At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Extends His Win Streak
Nate Landwehr

Gets Knocked Out
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere Scores Third-Round Knockout
Austen Lane

Suffers Submission Loss
Vitor Petrino

Scores First-Round Submission In Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Earns His First UFC Win
Junior Tafa

Unsuccessful in his Light-Heavyweight Debut
Chase Elliott

Charges to A Finish of Third At Sonoma
Chase Briscoe

Finishes Second With his First Career Road-Course Top-Five at Sonoma
Christopher Bell

Rollercoaster Day Ends With Top-5 Finish at Sonoma
William Byron

Maintains the Regular-Season Points Lead
Kyle Busch

Earns A Hard-Fought Top-10 Finish At Sonoma
Alex Ovechkin

Not Thinking About Retirement
PIT

Penguins Acquire Arturs Silovs
NHL

Nikolai Kovalenko Returns to Russia
Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Tosses Gem Against Giants
Shota Imanaga

Shuts Down Yankees on Sunday
Nathan Eovaldi

Dominant Again in Seventh Win
Tyler Reddick

Evades Near Upset to Remain Alive in In-Season Challenge
Ty Gibbs

One of Three Tylers to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinals
Kyle Larson

Curiously Mediocre at Sonoma Before Late-Race Crash
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek Edges Out Teammate to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Alex Bowman

Ty Dillon Bumps Alex Bowman to Advance to In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Chicago White Sox

Billy Carlson Goes 10th Overall to White Sox
Cincinnati Reds

Steele Hall Selected Ninth by Cincinnati
Toronto Blue Jays

Blue Jays Select JoJo Parker with Eighth Overall Pick
Miami Marlins

Marlins Select Aiva Arquette With Seventh Overall Pick
Pittsburgh Pirates

Pirates Select Seth Hernandez with Sixth Overall Pick
Shane Van Gisbergen

Can Anyone Beat Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma?
Tyler Reddick

Better at Sonoma Than Record Shows
Chase Elliott

a Prime DFS Option at Sonoma
Michael McDowell

Struggling a Bit at Sonoma
NASCAR

Christopher Bell Has Never Finished Better Than Ninth at Sonoma
Ryan Blaney

Has Top-10 Upside at Sonoma
NASCAR

Sunday at Sonoma Will Likely Be a Long Race for Bubba Wallace
Kyle Larson

Is A Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Ryan Preece

Points Position Could Affect Race at Sonoma
Todd Gilliland

Struggling to Find Speed at Sonoma
Ty Gibbs

May be an Underrated Favorite to Compete for the Win at Sonoma
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF