Week 1 FanDuel.com DFS NFL GPP Plays & Picks 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 GPP plays for contests on FanDuel. We’ll also provide an article on Cash Game plays that come with less risk and a more stable floor. 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.
Targeting games with high Over/Under lines is an effective strategy for GPP formats. In DFS NFL, you can not only stack players on the same team, but use WRs and QBs from the opposition as correlation plays in the hopes that a particular game turns into a shootout and provides heavy production on both sides of the ball.
In general, GPP plays are high-risk, high-reward prospects that can fizzle out and leave you empty handed. That said, if you want to win the big money, you have to take big chances and sometimes that means fading a safer choice for a risky play with more upside.
Use these Week 1 NFL Lines as a guide when constructing your lineups.
DFS NFL Quarterbacks
Cam Newton @ SF ($7.9k FanDuel)
You can take advantage of skepticism surrounding the health of Newton’s arm and buy low on a stud that is coming off a disappointing campaign. All the talk from Panthers camp about Newton taking a more conservative approach in terms of rushing and the questions about his arm strength should go out the window once action commences on Sunday. He’ll have a great opportunity to hit the ground running against a 49ers team that ranked 30th in overall DVOA defense last year. With a healthier Kelvin Benjamin on the outside and dynamic rookie in Christian McCaffrey ready to make plays on short passes, Newton is set up for success.
Josh McCown @ BUF ($6.6k FanDuel)
One thing is certain when it comes to the Jets: They’re going to be losing a lot this year. That means high volume passing attempts from McCown and hopefully, high yardage and high completion rates during the second half of most games. We’ve seen McCown put up big numbers in a similar situation with the Browns recently. The Bills are going to be weak at linebacker and lost solid CB Ronald Darby to a division rival, so the Jets might be able to compete and that makes McCown worth a gamble at what is certain to be tiny ownership.
DFS NFL Running Backs
Marshawn Lynch @ TEN ($6.9k FanDuel)
No player enters this season with more question marks about his conditioning, motivation and potential, so it’s safe to say that using Lynch in Week 1 is a big gamble. He’s facing a mediocre Titans defense that is ripe for the taking and this game currently has a 50.5-point Over/Under to top this Sunday’s lines. Oakland is expected play from ahead this season and there’s not a more proven goal-line back around than Lynch, so young DeAndre Washington is unlikely to push him for touches in key spots.
Isaiah Crowell vs. PIT ($6.5k FanDuel)
Game flow is particularly important for running backs that make their living on the ground and that’s why Crowell is a risky option in Week 1. Yet anything can happen in divisional rivalry games and Ben Roethlisberger has posted far inferior splits on the road, so perhaps the Browns will hang around in this game long enough for their workhorse to get a fair share of carries. Cleveland HC Hue Jackson is committing to the run more often and the huge discrepancy in touches between Crowell and third-down back Duke Johnson Jr. this preseason supports that assertion.
DFS NFL Wide Receivers
John Brown @ DET ($5.7k FanDuel)
There are concerns about Brown’s longevity given his sickle cell issue and nagging quad injury, but he’s worth using in GPP formats in a plus matchup to open the season. Detroit ranked dead last in pass defense DVOA while giving up the second-most receiving TDs (33) and that secondary will be hard pressed to match Brown’s speed. Smokey Brown has been dynamite indoors over the past few seasons and he could break a big play or two in the opener in a game that has sneaky shootout potential.
Marquise Goodwin vs. CAR ($5.4k FanDuel)
An absolute burner with the potential to break big plays, Goodwin earned a role as the 49ers number two wide receiver with a solid training camp and preseason. He was a complete afterthought in a run-heavy Buffalo offense over the past few seasons, but now he’ll be working under offensive mastermind Kyle Shanahan and could come up with long gains down the seam as we saw from speedster Taylor Gabriel in Atlanta last year. Carolina lacks speed at the back end due to the Panthers size and that means Goodwin could get loose down the field.
Robby Anderson @ BUF ($5.2k FanDuel)
Someone has to catch the ball as the Jets try to come back each and every week and Anderson is their de facto top receiver. He caught 14 balls for 240 yards and 2 TDs in Weeks 13-15 last year and got the Bills for a 4-43 line in the season finale. Now Anderson will be working with a more consistent QB in veteran Josh McCown and he’ll open against a Bills secondary that’s been depleted this offseason, while Buffalo gave up an above average 11 pass plays of 40+ yards last year.
DFS NFL Tight Ends
Jared Cook @ TEN ($4.9k FanDuel)
Going cheap at TE is a great way to get the best studs in your lineup on FanDuel and Cook stands out as the most appealing punt play at his position this week. He was quite inconsistent while with the Packers last season and that’s been his calling card throughout his career. However, Derek Carr is much more conservative when it comes to hitting targets over the middle of the field and he’s established a decent rapport with Cook thus far. Tennessee struggled in pass defense last year and as mentioned above, this contest is expected to be very high scoring.
Austin Hooper @ CHI ($4.7k FanDuel)
All eyes will be on Julio Jones when targeting the weak Bears pass defense this Sunday, but Hooper could emerge as one of Matt Ryan’s favorite targets this season. New offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian is not as creative as former OC Kyle Shanahan, which means more traditional formations and more looks towards the tight end, a staple of Sarkisian’s offenses at Alabama. The Bears ranked 30th in DVOA pass defense against opposing TEs and we’ve seen plenty of oversized targets make a leap in their second season.
DFS NFL D/ST
CIN vs. BAL ($4.6k FanDuel)
While Joe Flacco is supposedly ready to play in Week 1, he’s dealing with a serious back injury that might limit his mobility. The Bengals sacked Flacco five times with three interceptions over two meetings last year and they have plenty of pass-rushing capability led by star young defensive end Carlos Dunlap. A five-game suspension for Vontaze Burfict seems to have lowered Cincy’s price tag and might lower their ownership ahead of what is still a plus matchup at home against one of the weaker offenses in the NFL.
