QB Russell Wilson $6,900 @ GB
We remember what we saw last season, and in Wilson’s case, that was a really hobbled QB that depends on his mobility to make plays. Now fully healthy heading into a new season, he’s facing a Packers defense that gave up the second-most passing YPG (269.2) and third-most passing TDs (31) last year. Of course, Aaron Rodgers is going to put points on the board against a declining Seahawks defense and Wilson could respond with big plays to speedy weapons Tyler Lockett, Paul Richardson, or his main man Doug Baldwin.
QB Josh McCown $4,600 @ BUF
With the Jets, you know they’re going to be down early and often with a laughable 3.5 Over/Under set for their season win total. Sometimes that’s all you’re looking for in GPP formats, and we’ve seen McCown put up huge numbers with a huge number of pass attempts in a Browns uniform recently. The Bills are going to be weak at linebacker and lost solid CB Ronald Darby to a division rival, so the Jets might be able to compete, and that makes McCown worth a gamble at DraftKings’ new low QB price tags.
RB Marshawn Lynch $5,300 @ TEN
No player enters this season with more question marks about his conditioning, motivation, and potential, so it’s safe to say that using Lynch in Week 1 is a big gamble. He’s facing a mediocre Titans defense that is ripe for the taking, and this game has a 51.5-point Over/Under to top this Sunday’s lines. Oakland is expected to play from ahead this season, and there’s not a more proven goal-line back around than Lynch, so young DeAndre Washington is unlikely to push him for touches in key spots.
RB Carlos Hyde $4,600 vs. CAR
Offensive mastermind Kyle Shanahan is now at the helm for the 49ers, and that bodes very well for Hyde. He’s underachieved a bit and dealt with injuries while playing for middling teams, but Shanahan’s ability to get Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman into space in the Red Zone last year was incredible, and there’s hardly any competition for touches in San Francisco to open the year. The Panthers defense took a huge step back last season and Hyde happens to have scored 2 TDs with monster numbers in consecutive season openers.
WR DeAndre Hopkins $5,900 vs. JAX
Apparently “1,000 percent” healthy and ready to go for Week 1, Hopkins is getting overlooked heading into 2017 it would seem. He’s working with a solid if unspectacular QB in Tom Savage and has demonstrated an unbelievable ability to catch balls in traffic throughout his career. Hopkins caught eight balls in his last meeting with Jacksonville and should become more of a consistent red zone threat as Houston becomes more competitive overall.
WR Kendall Wright $3,200 vs. ATL
While Kevin White stands out as the new WR1 in Chicago due to Cameron Meredith’s season-ending injury, he’ll have to deal with borderline shutdown CB Desmond Trufant in Week 1. Wright should operate as a security blanket for Mike Glennon, and he’ll get to work against the Falcons slot coverage while moving all over the formation. When healthy, Wright has been a short-completion machine, but he’s competed for targets amidst a crowded Titans receiving corps and is now the unquestioned second option in Chicago.
TE Julius Thomas $2,900 vs. TB
Once a touchdown-catching machine playing with Peyton Manning in Denver, Thomas has been completely forgotten due to a couple of lackluster, injury-plagued campaigns with Jacksonville. He could find new life with another talented player looking for redemption in Jay Cutler, a notably strong-armed QB who made Martellus Bennett into a Fantasy star several years ago with his willingness to fire the ball into traffic in the end zone. Thomas is a classic GPP play due to his ability to box out and catch TDs.
FLEX Duke Johnson $4,600 vs. PIT
Jacquizz Rodgers was initially slotted here but due to the storm, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Miami Dolphins game has been postponed. Duke Johnson takes his place as the Browns will be playing catchup all game against Big Ben, Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant. Johnson should see plenty of targets as rookie QB DeShone Kizer will be forced to throw the ball a ton. Expect a bunch of dink and dump passes as Kizer may not be comfortable yet throwing down field often.
D/ST OAK $2,500 @ BUF
With so many unknowns in Week 1, it makes sense to gamble on an underpriced defense in some tournament lineups. The Raiders have a verifiable Defensive POY candidate in Khalil Mack coming from the outside along with the dangerous Bruce Irvin, and now they have promising 2015 draft pick Mario Edwards back in the trenches. There’s no denying Marcus Mariota’s talent, but he’s been known to commit turnovers as young quarterbacks are prone to doing, and he’s dealing with a lot of new receivers. It may take some time for the offense to get acclimated.
Here’s a suggested lineup this week:
QB Russell Wilson $6,900 @ GB
RB David Johnson $9,400 @ DET
RB Carlos Hyde $4,600 vs. CAR
WR Doug Baldwin $6,700 @ GB
WR DeAndre Hopkins $5,900 vs. JAX
WR Allen Robinson $5,200 @ HOU
TE Martellus Bennett $4,100 vs. SEA
FLEX Duke Johnson $4,600 vs. PIT
DST Raiders $2,500 @ TEN
Good luck!
