Week 1 DFS GPP Value Plays For FanDuel And DraftKings

September 13, 2020

Mark Strausberg offers up his favorite Week 1 fantasy football DFS value plays at each NFL position for your daily fantasy GPP lineups on FanDuel, DraftKings.

Week 1 of the NFL season is upon us! And with that comes the debut of my DFS GPP Value Plays for FanDuel and DraftKings!

You might be asking who am I? Well, I'm not Prisoner 24601 nor am I Troy McClure. However, you RotoBallers might know me from my KBO DFS previews earlier this summer. I know KBO DFS previews didn't generate the level of clicks that NFL DFS does. However, those that did read know I had a knack for finding low-priced gems that then produced at the plate.

And the good news is I like and know football even better than I do the KBO.

Week 1 brings us a clean slate, but with little to go on you'll understand that will I reference some of last year's performances. Whodathunk we would miss preseason games? Let's get to the games however that do matter this week.

Week 1 Quarterback Value Play for GPPs

Dwayne Haskins vs Philadelphia Eagles  (Fanduel $6500 DraftKings $5000)

I know, we're starting right off with the bottom of the barrel. No starting QB is priced lower than Haskins. I do like the reports I am hearing coming out of Redskins camp on Haskins. But that's all very subjective. Far less subjective is how unimpressive the Philadelphia secondary is. They gave up the 12th most completions last year and the 11th most passing TDs.

Haskins is not going to throw for 350 yards or four touchdowns. But against this secondary, he should be able to throw for around 275 yards and two scores. And at this low price, that's plenty of profit with still plenty of space for some studs.

Week 1 Running Back Value Play for GPPs

David Montgomery @ Detroit Lions (Fanduel $5900, DraftKings $5900)

Do you know who was even worse than the Eagles secondary? That's right, the Lions rush defense. How'd you guess? The Lions gave up the fifth-most fantasy points to running backs last year. The Lions did add CB Jeff Okudah with the third overall pick, but I still see the front seven struggling with the run.

With the injury scare that Montgomery had earlier this preseason, I expect many to steer clear. And it is certainly possible that Montgomery is not much more than a decoy. However, now in his second year, I think Montgomery takes another step forward this season. And against this questionable Lion front seven he's a great value pick.

Week 1 Wide Receiver Value Play for GPPs

Miles Boykin vs Cleveland Browns (Fanduel $4800, DraftKings $4100)

This is not the first time nor the last you are going to hear me whipping the reins on the Miles Boykin bandwagon. I love how far he fell in every one of my seasonal drafts, but it should not have happened. So allow me to repeat some of the same things I've said elsewhere this preseason.

Recall that Boykin was a sparkling SPARQ darling, notching the same top-level scores as J.J. Watt and some other wide receiver named Calvin Johnson. Johnson turned out to be pretty good at this wide receiver thing. Boykin is a tall 6’4″ but has the speed of his shorter brethren. Would you believe me if I told you that Boykin’s athletic profile is higher than D.K. Metcalf?  And recall that Metcalf was a bit of a marvel as well. But I think that might actually be the best comparison for Boykin.

So the talent is there, he just needs the opportunity. And with Seth Roberts out of Baltimore, his opportunity is now. He should be the WR2 in Baltimore. Last year Marquise Brown played 563 snaps while Boykin was on the field for 425. Expect a far more equitable number this year. Furthermore, as the bigger target, I think Boykin also adds six or more touchdown grabs this year. He's not going to be a WR1, but at $4100 that's going to be a heck of bargain this weekend.

Week 1 Tight End Value Play for GPPs

Irv Smith Jr. vs Green Bay Packers (Fanduel $4800, DraftKings $3100)

I might not be whipping the reins as hard as I am on Boykin, but I will definitely be leading the charge on Irv Smith this year as well. Stefon Diggs is now in Buffalo, which means there are 94 targets up for grabs this year. Will Smith get the majority of those? No. But I'd expect at least three or four more targets per game headed Smith's way. And some could be of the huge chunk variety. The Vikings have been experimenting at camp this summer with lining Smith up on the outside.

Priced just barely above the minimum, Smith makes for a great punt play and one of my favorite value plays this weekend.

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