Daily Fantasy: The one Titans player you need to start in Week 1 on DraftKings

Titans tight end Jonnu Smith could be a DFS sleeper in Week 1.

The Tennessee Titans will go on the road in Week 1 to face the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on Sept. 14. The game, televised on ESPN, will feature several notable fantasy football options.

For the Titans, running back Derrick Henry is the big name in fantasy, but he has an expensive price tag ($7,900) in DraftKings’ daily fantasy salary cap challenge (roster limit: $50,000). With an average of $5,500 available to spend on each player, it’s probably not worth splurging on Henry.

When Tennessee faced Denver in Week 6 last year, Henry was limited to just 28 rushing yards on 15 carries. Henry will likely have a better game in Monday’s season opener but his DFS cap hit it too big to justify.

Instead, fantasy owners should consider playing tight end Jonnu Smith.

Denver’s defense allowed the sixth-most receptions to tight ends last season (90) and the fourth-most yards (974). The Broncos only allowed three touchdowns to TEs in 2019 but that might have been more of a coincidence than an intentional effort to lock down tight ends in the red zone.

The Broncos’ top coverage linebacker, Mark Barron, has a hamstring injury and might not play in Denver’s season opener. If Barron doesn’t suit up in Week 1, the Broncos’ defense might struggle to cover TEs even more than usual.

Titans tight ends totaled five catches for 76 yards in a 16-0 loss to Denver last season. With Delanie Walker no longer part of the team, Smith has emerged as the No. 1 tight end on Tennessee’s depth chart and he could be a DFS sleeper in Week 1 with an intriguing matchup against the Broncos.

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