The NFL season is here, and daily fantasy players are gearing up to create lineups that can provide big returns on DraftKings and FanDuel. Identifying value plays is crucial, and RotoQL’s projections offer key insights for Week 1. Whether you're looking to roster a high-upside QB like Jayden Daniels or capitalize on low-cost options like Jerome Ford, we’ve highlighted the top DFS value plays at every position to help you build a winning lineup.
Commanders QB Jayden Daniels vs. Buccaneers ($5.7k DraftKings, $7k FanDuel)
RotoQL DraftKings Points Projection: 18.82 FPTS (3.3x Value)
RotoQL FanDuel Points Projection: 18.31 FPTS (2.62x Value)
If you’ve played DFS for multiple seasons, you already know that Tampa Bay is a pass funnel defense under HC Todd Bowles, meaning that the Buccaneers sell out to stop the run in an effort to make opposing offenses one-dimensional. The result: opposing running backs have not fared well, but opposing quarterbacks have had epic performances against them over the years. Fresh off of a Heisman Trophy, Jayden Daniels is a dual threat and, per RotoQL’s projections, the top overall value on both DraftKings and FanDuel in Week 1. Pass-catching RB Austin Ekeler joined the team this offseason and Terry McLaurin is more likely than not to have a big day at WR1, but Daniels’ upside is undeniable, especially since he’s expected to make things happen with his legs as well. Since QB ownership is usually spread out on both sites, you should be confident in Daniels’ floor and ceiling in both cash games and GPP’s.
Browns RB Jerome Ford vs. Cowboys ($5.5k DraftKings, $6.2k FanDuel)
RotoQL DraftKings Points Projection: 13.63 FPTS (2.48x Value)
RotoQL FanDuel Points Projection: 12.50 FPTS (2.02x Value)
With Nick Chubb starting the season on the IR, it’ll be the Jerome Ford show at running back for the Browns. Cleveland also cut backup D’Onta Foreman, leaving Ford as the true bellcow for the first four weeks of the year. Don’t forget that Cleveland was very comfortable with giving Ford a big workload last season; he had 248 touches (204 carries, 44 catches) and only he and Christian McCaffrey were the running backs with 300-plus receiving yards and five-plus receiving touchdowns. Therefore, not only does he have obvious rushing upside, but he could be a factor as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. Deshaun Watson may need to use him as a quick dump-off option given the ferocity of Dallas’ defense, so there could be some extra sneaky PPR value on DraftKings in particular. Overall, the matchup is tough, but the volume and role will absolutely be there, which is why he grades out as such a solid value.
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Falcons WR Drake London vs. Steelers ($6k DraftKings, $6.7k FanDuel)
RotoQL DraftKings Points Projection: 15.91 FPTS (2.65x Value)
RotoQL FanDuel Points Projection: 12.97 FPTS (1.94x Value)
After beginning his career with rotating subpar quarterbacks, Drake London is finally going to have a stud throwing him the football with Kirk Cousins now a member of the Falcons. The tall wideout has proven big-play ability and excels at grabbing 50-50 balls, but given Cousins’ ability to get the ball to Justin Jefferson with ease in past seasons, it’ll be clear pretty quickly if the two have chemistry. Pittsburgh’s secondary is formidable, but this price on both sites conveys that matchup. You’ll see why in a second, but a Cousins-London-Pitts-Pickens stack or full game stack might make some sense in large-field GPP’s and will have very small ownership.
Falcons TE Kyle Pitts vs. Steelers ($4.6k DraftKings, $6.3k FanDuel)
RotoQL DraftKings Points Projection: 13.09 FPTS (2.85x Value)
RotoQL FanDuel Points Projection: 10.65 FPTS (1.69x Value)
You can ignore this price over at FanDuel given the other guys around his price tag if you want to, but DraftKings is simply tempting us at $4.6k. Yes, he was dealing with a minor hamstring injury in recent practices and yes, he’s been a major DFS and fantasy disappointment since turning pro, but this could be the start of a major turnaround under a new coaching staff and, most importantly, with a physically and mentally competent QB throwing him the football. I can’t wait to see how he performs and he’s grading out as one of the top values on both sites, per RotoQL’s projections.
Commanders D/ST vs. Buccaneers ($2.5k DraftKings, $3.4k FanDuel)
RotoQL DraftKings Points Projection: 7.06 FPTS (2.82x Value)
RotoQL FanDuel Points Projection: 7.06 FPTS (2.08x Value)
Commanders DC Joe Whitt Jr. and HC Dan Quinn are going to be aggressive. That play-calling was a staple in Quinn’s successful defenses in the past, most recently in Dallas when he was the DC there. Baker Mayfield was great last season, but over the course of his career, he’s shown an ability to turn the football over. Not only that, but Tampa Bay always seems to have an inefficient rushing attack, which could lead to additional Mayfield passes and a lack of general scoring from Tampa Bay if they become one-dimensional. Rostering defenses is never fun and oftentimes is more about ownership than anything else, but Washington is popping as a solid value option.
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