It’s finally here- Week 1 of the 2023 season, and we are going to give you some DraftKings bargain bin plays for the week. These are plays that are on the ultra-value/ GPP contrarian side. So generally avoid these plays in cash game lineups, but in GPPs- especially big fields go for it!
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Anthony Richardson v JAX ($5,600)
After investing the No. 4 overall pick into Richardson, it was no surprise to hear new Colts HC Shane Steichen name the former Florida Gator as the team’s starting Quarterback for week 1. Indianapolis may not have been the ideal landing spot for any young signal caller due to a somewhat lacklustre receiving corps, but Richardson’s fantasy potential comes primarily from his legs and with Jonathan Taylor set to miss at least four weeks, the 22-year old will be given plenty of opportunity to run the ball early on this season…starting at home to a Jags team ranked bottom half against both QBs and RBs in 2022. Many are questioning who will be the RB1 on the Colts roster with Taylor missing time – it may just be their rookie QB.
Sam Howell v ARI ($4,900)
Sam Howell has only one NFL start, but his showing in a week 18 victory over Dallas last year proved to be enough for Ron Rivera to name him the starter over veteran Jacoby Brisset, who joined the Commanders on a one-year $10m deal back in March. Howell may not have the draft capital of fellow sophomore QBs such as Kenny Pickett or Desmond Ridder – but he does have Terry McLaurin, Johan Dotson and a pair of excellent pass-catching running backs in Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson. Week 1 sees Howell take on the Arizona Cardinals, many analysts’ favourite for the No. 1 pick in next years’ draft – at $4900 he’s a low cost/high upside play against a team who might already be tanking before the season has even started.
Raheem Mostert @LAC ($5,400)
Much like his mentor and former Head Coach Kyle Shanahan, Mike McDaniel likes to operate a high tempo run game that utilises running backs by committee to great success. Unfortunately, also like Shanahan, the second year Dolphins HC also finds a lot of his runners picking up injuries, with assumed starter Jeff Wilson starting the season on IR, and 3rd round rookie Devon Achane still struggling with a shoulder injury he picked up in preseason week 2.
Despite Salvon Ahmed seeing some playing time in the Dolphins final preseason outing, this is Raheem Mostert’s backfield for the time being. The former 49er is a favourite of McDaniel and led Miami in rushing yards last season racking up 891 yards and 3 scores on 181 carries – without Wilson or Achane to split work with, Mostert could be in for a monster week 1 against the Chargers for a very budget friendly price of $5400
Deon Jackson/ Evan Hull v ARI ($4,100/ $4,000)
With Jonathan Taylor missing, T-Rich will undoubtedly be given a chance to stretch his legs, but the Colts won’t want to put too heavy a load on their potential franchise quarterback, so expect to see Deon Jackson and rookie Evan Hull worked into the mix. We saw Jackson perform admirably in Taylor’s absence last year, particularly as a receiver out of the backfield, grabbing 30/34 of his targets on the season…10 of those coming against the same Jags D he’ll face in week 1.
Hull has generated a lot of buzz in the pre-season and finished his last pre-season outing with 25 yards and a score on his 6 carries. Jackson has been named the “starter” by Shane Steichen and with his pass-catching ability will be the safer play, those looking for a bargain RB with upside may favour the rookie Hull.
Van Jefferson @SEA ($4,700)
How does rostering the Rams WR1 for a mere $4700 in week 1 sound? No, we’re not talking about Cooper Kupp – who looks set to sit out the season opener with his lingering hamstring injury – but teammate Van Jefferson, who despite his 2nd round draft capital and serviceable sophomore season, has become somewhat of a forgotten man in The City of Angels.
Matt Stafford returns after a multitude of injuries saw his season end after only 11 weeks last year, and with Ben Skowronek, Tutu Atwell, Demarcus Robinson and rookie Puka Nacua the only other healthy receivers on the depth chart, Jefferson is in line to see a bulk of the targets from one of the most pass-happy quarterbacks in the NFL. (Those looking for a deep dart throw could do worse that Puka Nacua who is set to work as the WR2 in the season opener – available at the position minimum of $3000)
Marvin Mims v LV ($3,000)
Those who were used to the fantasy feast when the Seattle Seahawks “let Russ cook” would have been laid up with a bad dose of fantasy food poisoning last year after the signal caller called time on his 10-year stint in Seattle, moving south-west to Colorado to lead Nathaniel Hackett’s new-look Denver Broncos. Tipped to be one of the most explosive offences in the NFL, no receiver on the Broncos roster eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark, with Russ posting his the worst QBR of his career. Enter Sean Payton, out of “retirement” and ready to transform the Bronco’s fortunes…right?
Denver will be without Tim Patrick and KJ Hamler for their season opener, with leading receiver Jerry Jeudy a major doubt to face the Raiders at Mile High. Sophomore TE Greg Dulcich appears to be caught in a timeshare with new addition Adam Trautman and Courtland Sutton is still Courtland Sutton – that leaves electric day two rookie pick Marvin Mims Jr, who has locked up the WR3 spot after an impressive pre-season showing. Mims has big-play ability, showing his speed on a negated 75-yard TD grab in the Broncos final warm-up game against the Rams. At a position minimum $3000, he could provide great value if he gets free of the Las Vegas secondary.
Luke Musgrave @CHI ($2,900)
There are only three certainties in life; death, taxes and rookie TEs failing to make a fantasy impact in their first season. Whilst Kyle Pitts became only the second rookie tight end to break 1,000 yards receiving back in 2021 – adding only 1 touchdown in the process may I add – the list of league debutants at the position who light up the box scores is short…real short. Evan Engram is the only man in addition to Pitts to surpass even 600 yards in the last 15 years, and whilst many analysts feel the No. 25 overall pick Dalton Kincaid may buck the trend, the Packers’ Luke Musgrave is quietly putting together an impressive claim for fantasy consideration.
Jordan Love has spoken highly of Green Bay’s day two acquisition out of Oregon State, with the 6’6” 253lb seeing plenty of targets on the practice field. Will this hype transition onto Soldier Field in week 1 against Division rivals the Bears; we’ll need to wait and see, but at $2900 with a relatively fresh-faced QB, Musgrave is worth the punt in DFS lineups.
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Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – USA TODAY Sports
