Week 1 DFS NFL FanDuel Cash Game Plays for September 10, 2017

Daily Fantasy Football is one of the most popular DFS contests for good reason, as each Sunday is full of action and excitement. Every week, we’ll bring you our top DFS NFL cash game plays for contests on FanDuel. We’ll also provide an article on GPP plays that come with more risk and more potential reward. As with any DFS sport, the advice below is relevant for fantasy purposes. A player or team might be better or worse from a fantasy perspective than they are in real life due to matchup, price, game flow, etc. This is important when constructing a roster. And if you’re looking for new ways to play DFS, be sure and give BOOM Fantasy and DRAFT a try!

In DFS NFL, predicting game flow can be vital towards success. Teams that are heavily favored and come through with a comfortable win will be far more likely to lean on their running game, while two teams with poor defenses and high-powered offenses could pay off by getting into a shootout. Later in the season, especially, weather will play a key factor in NFL games, so make sure to check the forecast for each Sunday.

Cash Game formats refer to the 50/50, Double Up and H2H games that have consistent payouts amongst the top half of the entrants. With that in mind, Cash Game plays are often more conservative options than you might use in tournaments. We’re looking for high floors and consistent production.

The best RBs for Cash Games have limited competition for touches and/or will be in a position to pile up carries with their team ahead during the second half. You want to avoid the classic “boom-bust” WRs that only run deep routes and can leave you empty-handed in these formats, while reliable QBs in good matchups are a must.

Use these Week 1 NFL Lines as a guide when constructing your lineups:

DFS NFL Quarterbacks

Derek Carr @ TEN ($7.7k FanDuel)
Quarterbacks coming off injury are often overlooked in Week 1 due to natural skepticism, but recall that Carr is recovering from a broken leg rather than the shoulder issues that surround Cam Newton or Andrew Luck for example. The Raiders breakout star signed a fresh extension that indicates the team is fully behind him after an unfortunate injury. He really clicked with his main weapon Amari Cooper in his final exhibition game, and has the steady Michael Crabtree also at his disposal. Tennessee ranked 27th in pass defense DVOA and gave up the second-most passing YPG (269.2) last season, so this is definitely a plus spot for Carr. The 50.5 game total is the second highest of week 1.

Carson Wentz @ WAS ($7.1k FanDuel)
Kirk Cousins is getting a lot of attention after a breakout 2016 campaign and deservedly so, but his success will likely lead to plenty of pass attempts from Wentz in a fast-paced contest. Washington ranked 24th in DVOA pass defense last season while Philly gave up the most passing YPG (289.8), so this contest has shootout written all over it. Wentz has reportedly put in a lot of good work this summer and his WR1 is seriously upgraded with Alshon Jeffery replacing Jordan Matthews. Wentz is priced as QB16 on FanDuel, $100 cheaper than…Blake Bortles.

DFS NFL Running Backs

Le’Veon Bell @ CLE ($9.3k FanDuel)
When Bell was out, Antonio Brown could be dubbed the “King of Cash Games,” but now that title belongs to the Steelers workhorse. A true bellcow who toted the rock 20+ times in each of the Steelers final 6 games last season, Bell also drew the most targets per game (7.83) amongst RBs in the NFL. Game flow should work in his favor with the Steelers (-8.5) heavily favored against a porous Browns defense that ranked 31st in DVOA defense and coughed up the second-most RuYPG (142.7) in the NFL last year. There’s a case to be made for David Johnson, but Bell has the better matchup and floor.

Carlos Hyde vs. CAR ($6.8k FanDuel)
Offensive mastermind Kyle Shanahan is now at the helm for the 49ers and that bodes very well for Hyde. He’s underachieved a bit and dealt with injuries while playing for middling teams, but Shanahan’s ability to get Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman into space in the Red Zone last year was incredible and there’s hardly any competition for touches in San Francisco to open the year. The Panthers defense took a huge step back last season and Hype happens to have scored 2 TDs with monster numbers in consecutive season openers. The Niners offense won’t be great, but it shouldn’t be putrid either.

Rob Kelley vs. PHI ($5.8k FanDuel)
If you simply want a steady option in the lower-tier range, Kelley should provide solid production as the Redskins main back. He ran laps around rookie Samaje Perine during training camp and is firmly entrenched as the lead dog in Washington, with Chris Thompson only threatening to take away snaps should the Skins fall behind. Kirk Cousins has been electric at home over the past couple seasons and this should be a competitive contest in which Kelley handles any work inside the 10-yard line for the home team.

DFS NFL Wide Receivers

Michael Crabtree @ TEN ($6.9k FanDuel)
With one more year spent working with Derek Carr, Crabtree should be able to consistently take advantage of plus matchups. He makes for a great pairing with Carr in a game with the second highest Over/Under (50.5 points) of Week 1 and will face a Titans defense that struggled in pass defense throughout last season. Tennessee ranked 30th in DVOA pas defense against the opposition’s WR2 last year, so Crabtree seems a little safer than teammate Amari Cooper at a cheaper price. He happened to catch 8-of-11 targets for 102 yards in a meeting with the Titans secondary last fall.

Terrelle Pryor Sr. vs. PHI ($6.2k FanDuel)
This is easily the biggest pricing mistake of Week 1 on FanDuel, as Pryor enters in the lower-mid range despite moving to a far superior offense with a far superior quarterback. He had a Pro Bowl caliber year in 2016 with 77 catches for 1,007 yards and 4 TDs for the Browns and now he’s the top target for Kirk Cousins ahead of a matchup against an Eagles defense that gave up 57 pass plays of 20+ yards and 25 receiving TDs while playing at a blistering pace last year. He makes for a great correlation play if targeting the Washington-Philly matchup.

Kendall Wright vs. ATL ($5.2k FanDuel)
While Kevin White stands out as the new WR1 in Chicago due to Cameron Meredith’s season-ending injury, he’ll have to deal with borderline shutdown CB Desmond Trufant in Week 1. Wright should operate as a security blanket for Mike Glennon and he’ll get to work against the Falcons slot coverage while moving all over the formation. When healthy, Wright has been a short-completion machine but he’s competed for targets amidst a crowded Titans receiving corps and is now the unquestioned second option in Chicago.

DFS NFL Tight Ends

Delanie Walker vs. OAK ($6.1k FanDuel)
Marcus Mariota will be dealing with a number of new receivers this season, but Walker remains his security blanket and he should look for him early and often in a potential shootout. Oakland ranked 25th in DVOA pass defense while coughing up the fourth-most receiving YPG (65.2) to opposing TEs last season. Walker ended 2016 quite consistently, averaging 4.63 receptions per game over his final 8 appearances last year.

Zach Ertz @ WAS ($5.9k FanDuel)
Now that Jordan Matthews is no longer in an Eagles uniform, the middle of the field belongs to Ertz. That’s where Carson Wentz primarily looked during his rookie year and he should remain relatively conservative in his progressions to start the year. Washington ranked 25th in DVOA against opposing TEs last season and Ertz laid a 10-112 line on the Redskins in Week 14 of last year.

DFS NFL D/ST

LA Rams vs. IND ($4.6k FanDuel)
With news that Andrew Luck will miss the Colts season opener, the Rams defense immediately becomes a much safer play. Scott Tolzien is a borderline NFL talent and the Colts seem to share that sentiment as they gave up former first round WR Phillip Dorsett for a backup QB in Jacoby Brissett. Aaron Donald’s potential absence certainly hurts, but the Rams have a capable secondary that will look to bracket Indy’s sole receiving weapon in T.Y. Hilton and their sixth-ranked rush defense should keep old Frank Gore in check.