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

This Cowboy is going to blow up in Week 1.

Dak Prescott won’t be a bargain play in Week 1, but he’s the one Dallas Cowboys player you need to start on DraftKings. Even as QB3 with a salary of $6,900, Prescott should come out firing in a high-scoring contest against the Los Angeles Rams.

Surely, Mike McCarthy will want to show off the work he’s done with Kellen Moore this offseason. Moore was one of the more promising offensive coordinators in 2020 before Jason Garrett sunk the Cowboys season. With new leadership, it seems Prescott is due for a huge season. It doesn’t hurt that the Cowboys will have receivers Amari Coopers and Michael Gallup returning alongside running back Ezekiel Elliott. To add to that embarrassment of riches, the Cowboys drafted Ceedee Lamb, arguably the best receiver in the 2020 NFL Draft, at 17th overall. He was simply too talented for them to pass, even when they didn’t need another receiver. And perhaps Dallas has a breakout candidate at tight end in Blake Jarwin.

This all adds up to a huge season for Prescott and an impressive Week 1 for him. The Rams defense isn’t a bunch of pushovers, however. Cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and Troy Hill are good players. And, of course, defensive tackle Aaron Donald is one of the best players in the NFL. But L.A. doesn’t seem to have the depth that they’ll need to stop a group of skill players as well-rounded as the one Dallas has.

Start Prescott in the your Daily Fantasy and DraftKings rosters for Week 1 and enjoy the show.

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

The NFL season is here and it’s time to create your Week 1 DFS lineup on DraftKings. If you aren’t familiar with DraftKings or DFS football, it’s as simple as creating a one-week fantasy lineup with a $50,000 salary cap to win cash prizes.

Today, we are looking at the one New Orleans Saint you must fit into your DFS lineup this week:

TE Jared Cook ($5,500) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In one of the best games of the 2020 season, the new-look Buccaneers will take on the Saints in New Orleans. And while you might be tempted to play a Drew Brees or Alvin Kamara in your DFS lineups, there is actually a better value on the board; tight end Jared Cook.

Cook is only the fifth-most expensive tight end during the Sunday afternoon slate of games and that means he is a screaming value. Cook played well against Tampa Bay last season, catching eight passes for 74 yards and two touchdowns. In total, he scored 25.4 DK points in his two meetings against the Buccaneers.

Tampa Bay allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends last season and they didn’t do much to address that need this offseason. Cook will still have a big size and speed advantage over the smaller Buccaneers’ secondary and should get a few looks in the red zone, as well.

If you decide not to play the likes of George Kittle and Mark Andrews at tight end this week, consider putting Cook in your lineup. He’s got one of the highest ceilings of all the tight ends in the NFL and has a fantastic Week 1 matchup. Considering his price, Cook is a good bet to return a ton of value this week for DFS players.

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

Texans running back Duke Johnson could be a daily fantasy sports sleeper in Week 1.

The Houston Texans will face the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL’s season opener on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC. The game features two explosive offenses and several fantasy football stars.

For the Texans, quarterback Deshaun Watson should have a good game, but he’s an expensive quarterback ($6,900) in DraftKings’ daily fantasy salary cap challenge (roster limit: $50,000). With an average of $5,555 available per player in the cap challenge, splurging on Watson would leave you with limited options at other positions.

Houston’s new running back, David Johnson, will make his debut against Kansas City but he also has a costly cap hit ($6,000). Johnson’s cost seems to be based more on name recognition than actual performance, making him a poor play in DFS.

The Texans player to start this week could be fellow running back Duke Johnson, who has an affordable cap hit of $4,500. David is listed as the starter on Houston’s depth chart but Duke seems like a much better value.

Duke could serve as the Texans’ primary receiving back this year after catching 44 passes for 410 yards and three touchdowns last season. KC had the fifth-highest scoring offense in the NFL last season and Houston might have to throw often to stay in Thursday’s game.

When the Texans faced the Chiefs in the Divisional Round of the Playoffs last season, Watson threw 52 passes and Duke led the team’s backfield with five receptions. He also got limited work in the ground game with one rush.

Duke Johnson will share touches with David Johnson but his low cap hit makes him an intriguing option for Week 1.

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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