Best Values of Week One
In order to build a team on either Draft Kings or FanDuel that will get you excited to play that week and have a chance at the big money prizes, you are going to need stars. I am not going to tell you that Julio Jones and Antonio Brown are the best plays of week one because you already know that. This article is about the guys who will help you afford those top guys. FanDuel’s week one slate is much more forgiving than Draft Kings’ slate is, as the prices are much softer. One or two value plays on FanDuel will allow you to play all stars, while you will need at least two in order to field a competitive team on Draft Kings.
Tajae Sharpe WR Titans (3,000 DK, 4,800 FanDuel)
Sharpe was a star at UMass last season, but coming from a small school he fell in the draft due to small hands. Well, he came into camp and has gotten Dorial Green Beckham traded and moved the big free agent signing Rishard Matthews to the number two role. He has built great chemistry with Mariota as every pass is either headed in Sharpe’s or Delanie Walker’s direction this preseason. Sharpe has also shown his explosion, as he took a pass 60 yards in week 3 of the preseason. I think his floor is 6 catches for 60 yards, and with a higher upside this makes him a great cash game option, and has GPP upside. His matchup versus the Vikings defense isn’t the best as they ranked 12th versus WR in fantasy last season. However, the Vikings don’t have a true shutdown corner that should scare you away from Sharpe.
Terrelle Pyror WR Browns (3,000 DK, 4,900 FanDuel)
Pyror is a freak athlete who has shown chemistry with RG3 in his first two preseason games, yet took a step back when Gordon was on the field in the third. Gordon won’t play the first four games which should give Pryor a chance to shine to start the season. All reports are that he has dominated practices, both versus his own team and whenever the Browns held joint practices. At this point, Pryor still needs to develop his route tree, but he offers home run and red zone potential for the minimum price. The Eagles were 32nd versus WR last season, though that number is skewed based on the number of plays the defense had to be on the field. Pryor has a chance to make some big plays for the Browns week one, who should be trailing and needing to come back. He is best served as a GPP player week one.
Marvin Jones WR Lions (4,600 DK, 5,500 FanDuel)
Jones was the Lions’ big-time free agent signing after Calvin Johnson retired. This preseason he has been Matthews Stafford’s first look on both intermediate routes and deep throws. Everyone is very high on Golden Tate this season, citing his stats without Johnson. “Over the past two seasons, Johnson either didn’t play, was used as a decoy, and/or was held to one catch or fewer in seven games. Tate’s stat lines in those weeks were 9-60-2, 6-45-2, 8-116-0, 7-134-1, 7-44-0, 10-154-1, and 7-151-1. “ (per Rotoworld). These stats were also without another bonafide weapon on the team. Jones plays in a game that is expected to be a shootout, as the Colts were 26th versus WR last season. Jones is both a cash and GPP option and provides exposure to what is sure to be one of the highest scoring games of the day.
Tyler Boyd WR Bengals (3,500 DK)
Boyd is stepping into the number two role for the Bengals who lost a ton of targets from last season. Sanu, Jones, and Eifert all won’t be playing in this one as they are either off the team or injured. That leaves AJ Green and Boyd to soak up most of the targets along with Giovanni Bennard out of the backfield. Boyd will be playing the Jets who should put Revis on AJ Green for the entire game. This leaves Boyd to work versus Skrine and Marcus Williams. Williams is a player who should be picked on early and often, and while Skrine is a player who succeeds in the slot, he is just average on the outside. With the Bengals looking away from Revis, Boyd could see a ton of targets week one.
Coby Fleener TE Saints (5,400 FanDuel)
Fleener is too expensive to pay up for on Draft Kings, but comes at a bargain bin price on FanDuel. The Raiders last season were 30th versus the tight end, and struggled to cover them the entire season. The Saints’ tight ends have always been heavily targeted: last season Ben Watson was targeted 110 times. Fleener who was paid the big bucks by the Saints this year, has always been a good red zone threat, converting 7 of his 9 targets inside the 10 yard line into touchdowns in the last two seasons. He and Drew Brees have developed a good chemistry this offseason. Brees was quoted as saying “I’m watching Colts film or Fleener film,” Brees recalled. “It was like, ‘Man, this guy has an uncanny ability to separate.’ He’s always open. There’s always a place to throw the ball where he can get it.” The matchup is great, the player will be used, and the price is right. Fire Fleener up in all lineups on FanDuel.
Julius Thomas TE Jaguars (3,800 Draft Kings, 5,800 FanDuel)
Julius Thomas has always been a touchdown machine whenever he has been healthy. Last season he struggled to get on the field, but when he did he had some big weeks with Bortles. Thomas will be the third option on the field with Robinson and Hurns being one and two, but should be the first or second look in the red zone. I am down on Bortles this year as a majority of his production came when the Jaguars were down. Bortles threw 29 of his 35 touchdown passes while trailing with a lopsided 14 in the fourth quarters of games. With that being said Aaron Rodgers comes to town, so the Jaguars will need points if they want to stay competitive. All it takes is one Julius Thomas touchdown for him to pay off his value on Draft Kings, and it will allow you to load up on other positions.
Theo Riddick RB Lions (4,000 Draft Kings, 5,100 FanDuel)
Riddick was a top 10 PPR running back last season. His receptions should go down this season, but he will also see the field a lot splitting time with Ameer Abdullah. He has looked explosive this preseason and even gotten looks in the red zone ahead of Abdullah. This is more of a flier play, but there isn’t a ton of low end RB value on the slate. He should be a safe bet to catch at least 4 passes and end up with 50 total yards. One touchdown and he makes for a great play. From week 11 on last season he only had one game with less than 4 catches.
Tyrod Taylor (6,900 Draft Kings, 7,200 FanDuel)
“Over the 14 games he played, Taylor actually ranked fifth in fantasy scoring. His dual-threat ability was a big part of his success. Taylor was one of only three quarterbacks to top 100 rushing attempts, and his 566 yards on the ground ranked third at the position” (per Rotoworld). Taylor was the QB4 through the first 4 weeks last season, so he can get off to a hot start. Games where Sammy Watkins played Taylor was lights out. Taylor takes on the weak secondary of the Baltimore Ravens, his former team. Taylor offers the ability to run for both yards and touchdowns and has looked great this preseason, with multiple amazing throws where he showed off his ability to both avoid pressure and throw while taking a hit. Taylor is the best value on the board in week one at the QB position.
