FanDuel NFL Preview: Week 1 Prices and Games Announced
Are you ready for some football? Sure, the MLB All-Star break just ended, and golf’s fourth major hasn’t kicked off yet, but we’re being collectively thrown into football preparation mode thanks to FanDuel, who have released their Week 1 NFL contests and pricing.
And since it’s absolutely never too early to talk some football, let’s take a look at a few of intriguing options at various positions for Week 1, which you can use to build lineups for FanDuel’s opening week million dollar grand prize contest for only a $25 entry fee.
Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers, $9,700 – The best quarterback in the NFL faces the second-worst defense against quarterbacks from a fantasy perspective last season. This is an easy one. Prepare to anchor cash lineups with Rodgers in Week 1, as the Packers take on the Bears at Soldier Field. Chicago added former 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, which may help them as the season progresses, but I’m going to bank on Rodgers and company being ahead of the game against a defense that lacks in talent and will be under new leadership.
Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys, $8,700 – Romo finished the 2014 regular season with the highest passer rating in the NFL, and yet there were still countless narratives about his “clutch” ability and the way the running game was “carrying” the Dallas offense. The sarcastic quotes should indicate that I don’t buy any of that, as I think Romo is one of the best quarterbacks in the league. He gets to face the Giants in Week 1, at home, in primetime, which means a date with a top-five defense in terms of most points allowed to fantasy quarterbacks last year. With DeMarco Murray out of the picture, the Cowboys may throw a bit more than they did last season, which would lead to more fantasy goodness for Romo.
Running Back
Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers, $8,500 – Volume = points at running back, and if you think the Packers are going to blow out the Bears (and they might, and Vegas odds at the moment show them as the biggest favorite), you’ll want exposure to Eddie Lacy. The big Alabama product will see plenty of opportunities in this game, especially with his surprisingly increased involvement in the passing game at times last season. He’s as safe of a pick as you’ll find.
DeMarco Murray, Philadelphia Eagles, $8,500 – It was frustrating to own Shady McCoy last year because of how running backs were used in Philadelphia, but if we stay true to process, we have to consider Murray as one of the top options for Week 1. The Falcons were one of the worst run defenses in the league last year, and Chip Kelly’s system seems to work with his personnel and open up running lanes for backs. Oh, and Murray was one of the best backs in the league last year.
Wide Receiver
Kendall Wright, Tennessee Titans, $5,800 – Tall wide receivers tend to score more fantasy points when touchdowns are weighted heavily. They’re better red zone targets and find their way into advantageous positions in the red zone more often. But when facing a team like the Buccaneers, who regularly miss assignments and generally play pretty poor pass defense, I am willing to take a shot on a guy who may catch 10 passes for 100 yards. With Justin Hunter’s future in doubt, Wright will be the main man for the Titans’ offense, and he comes at a great price.
Charles Johnson, Minnesota Vikings, $5,600 – The 49ers have been in turmoil all summer long, and the Vikings are quietly looking pretty good on offense. Charles Johnson has limitless potential, and as he gets on the same page with future top-five quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, he’ll become a weekly DFS option. For now, take advantage of his low price and hope his offseason of work with the offense has him ready to contribute in primetime in Week 1.
Tight End
Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs, $6,000 – Since Rob Gronkowski will be unavailable in the main slate as he plays on Thursday, we’ll target Baby Gronk.
Kelce is tough to own because the Kansas City offense is as exciting as a watching paint dry, but when things get interesting for the Chiefs this season, it will be because he was doing Gronk-like things at the tight end position. 67 catches, 862 yards and five touchdowns in that offense last season is promising for a player in his first year of action, and the Texans’ defense isn’t worthy of any fear when it comes to rostering Kelce.