Week One NFL DFS Picks: Bring on the Sam Howell Stacks

by Kelly Singh · DFS
DFS week 2

Hi! I’m Kelly Singh and I’ve been creating DFS content for quite a while, but this happens to be my very first article contribution to PlayerProfiler. Join me every week throughout the season for my top NFL DFS picks. I’ve also put together a short video to recap these picks, with a bonus Power Prop, and my favorite survivor pick of the week!

This week, we’re talking about Week 1 NFL DFS Picks for Sunday’s main slate. Whether you play cash games or GPP tournaments, you’ll find a little bit of advice on each to help give you an edge over the competition. The same applies to the platform where you prefer to play. I’ll use both DraftKings and Fanduel pricing, but most savvy players can apply this advice to other platforms as well. Are you ready? Let’s get into it.

Week One NFL DFS Picks

QB Picks

Sam Howell ($4.9K DraftKings / $7.1K FanDuel)

I’m in love with Sam Howell this week for GPP in particular, but he could just as well be played as a value pick in cash games. His rostership is low and the upside against Arizona is high. The Cardinals defense allowed an average of 20.2 FPPG (Fantasy Points Per Game) to QBs last season. At this low salary, you can surely afford to stack with Terry McLaurin or Jahan Dotson for the win.

Trevor Lawrence ($6.5K DraftKings / $8.0K FanDuel)

Another great pick for both GPP and a fairly safe one for cash games is Trevor Lawrence. He’s facing an Indianapolis defense that’s allowed an average of 20.1 FPPG for QBs in the 2022-2023 season, when Lawrence threw over 4,100 passing yards. There’s really no reason he can’t repeat that again this season, especially with WR Calvin Ridley back on the field.

Lamar Jackson ($8.0K DraftKings / $8.9K FanDuel)

Don’t care about rostership and you wanna spend up? Take a look at Lamar Jackson. While the Houston defense allowed the fewest FPPG for QBs last season, this is Lamar Jackson we’re talking about and Baltimore is undoubtedly favored to win. With both his health and new receiving weapons – and regardless of the pricey salary – I’m taking Lamar in cash games as one of my Week One NFL DFS Picks.

WR Picks

Who doesn’t love a good stack?! Not me. I’m obsessed.

Christian Kirk ($5.6K DraftKings / $6.9K Fanduel)

Christian Kirk received 25-percent of the Target Share from QB Lawrence. In this situation, we’re all but guaranteed points. That’s it. That’s the evidence.

Zay Flowers ($4K DraftKings / $5.5K FanDuel)

With all the cheddar you’ve spent on Lamar Jackson, save your pennies and pick up Zay Flowers this week. Sure… we don’t truly know how this is going to play out, but we do know that he can catch and he’s fast and Lamar seemed to have good chemistry with him in the pre-season. I’m game to give him a shot. Especially at this salary.

Justin Jefferson ($8.8K DraftKings / $9.5K FanDuel)

Justin Jefferson is the most expensive WR available and he’s going to be highly rostered, for good reason. The Tampa Bay Defense ranks No. 28 in allowing WR fantasy points. Also, he’s Justin Jefferson. Go cheap with defense and you can afford it in cash games. GPP? You’ve got lesser coveted options available.

RB Picks

Aaron Jones ($6.3K DraftKings / $7.2K FanDuel)

Aaron Jones will be a good pickup for those playing either cash or GPP games this weekend. His rostership will be fairly low due to the low expectations of Green Bay and his salary is fair, if not a value. Here’s what I like best – Chicago is awful stopping the run. Like one of the worst. Not to mention in DFS, the team doesn’t have to win, your player just needs to perform and perform he should.

JK Dobbins ($6.6K DraftKings / $6.5K FanDuel)

I did a double-take here on JK Dobbins‘salary disparity, but it’s correct. When I see both platforms targeting a player like this…I like to go for it. Call it instinct or whatever, but this is too weird to pass up, especially if you’re a FanDuel player. In this case, Dobbins is the RB1 for the Ravens and they’re playing a Houston defense ranking No. 32 in giving up lots of FPPG to RBs. It’s a go for me.

TE Picks

Dallas Goedert ($5.0K DraftKings / $6.4 FanDuel)

Gerald Everett ($4.3 DraftKings / $5.5K FanDuel)

This week is a weird one for TEs. Seeing that it’s likely Mark Andrews will play, there are some pretty great options based on the matchups alone. Dallas Goedert and the Eagles will be facing a Patriots defense that gives up an average of 7.1 FPPG to TEs (ranking No. 25 in the league).

Gerald Everett, everyone’s favorite sleeper TE, is facing a Miami Defense that happens to be even worse, giving up an average of 8.4 FPPG to TEs, No. 30 in the league. With this in mind, I like both of these picks equally as Week One NFL DFS Picks.

DEF/DST Picks

Who do you like? Who can you afford? I like the Washington Commanders this week against the Arizona Cardinals. We all know the Cards are in transition. The Commanders have had a good defense coming into this season. And…they’re so affordable at just $2.8K on DraftKings! If you’re playing FanDuel…they’re a bit pricey for me at $4.9K.

Prefer to listen to my picks? Here’s a recap, plus my Power Prop and favorite survivor league pick this week!

Let me know what you think! You can find me on Twitter… I mean X. Whatever. See you around!