First Look at DraftKings Week 1 Salaries

August 7, 2023

Megan Shoup

View Profile

It has been over a week since DraftKings released the Week 1 salaries (one of the best days of summer IMO). I’ve had time to think about it a little and wanted to give my first look at the Week 1 DFS slate.

First, remember that we will not have the Chiefs, Lions, Cowboys, Giants, Bills, and Jets on the main slate as they are all playing in Primetime Week 1.

Below are my initial gut reaction thoughts at looking at Week 1 salaries. I will have plenty more deeper analysis on every angle of Week 1. But let’s start here…

HIGHEST VEGAS TOTALS:

There are only three Vegas game totals that are currently set north of 47 points.

-Dolphins @ Chargers – 50.5 total

-Rams @ Seahawks – 47.5 total

-Bengals @ Browns – 47.5 total

FAVORITE STACKS:

At this point, I have interest in all 3 of these high total games, plus the Raiders @ Broncos. I also like team stacking the Ravens (vs. Texans), Jaguars (vs. Colts), and Washington (vs. Cardinals). I don’t mind stacking up those teams without forcing a bring-back, because I think those games could be very one-sided.

EARLY STANDS:

I will write a weekly “Take a Stand” series at the beginning of the season. Because you can’t play all the players in daily fantasy no matter how many lineups you play. So it’s important to take a stand on players and teams. It is especially important in the first 4 weeks of the NFL season. We have been analyzing these players and teams all summer and we think we have it all figured it out. We do not. We will learn a lot in the first quarter of the season to then use as data points moving forward. Taking advantage of the unknown and making early stands against the public can really pay off.

Also, a lot of people carry their Redraft or Best Ball draft research into the early weeks of daily fantasy. That doesn’t always translate well for all players depending on match-up, salary, ownership, etc. Take advantage of places where you see that ownership could balloon because of that bias if you see a path to failure for that player/team. More to come in my Week 1 Take a Stand article in early September!

Now onto my priority plays!

MEG’S FAVORITE SPEND-UP PLAYERS:

-QB Lamar Jackson (8K):

The Ravens’ new OC wants to play up in pace and pass more. I want to be early on the Ravens’ passing offense and love Lamar and his weapons against the Texans..

-QBs Justin Herbert (6.9K) and Tua Tagovailoa (6.7K):

As I mentioned, this is my favorite game on the slate, so I’m going to be overweight on these two QBs even if they’re stacks are a bit chalky.

-RB Nick Chubb (8.2K):

I think Chubb could go a little lower-owned since there are so many RBs priced very affordably in the $5K-6.2K range (see below). I’m very bullish on Chubb this season, so I want to be early on this as well.

-WR Cooper Kupp (8.4K):

As long as Kupp recovers fine from the hamstring issue, I love Kupp right off the bat in what should be a high total game against the Seahawks.

-WR Tyreek Hill price (8.2K):

As mentioned multiple times, I love this game and both offenses so I love targeting the alpha receiver for the Dolphins.

MEG’S FAVORITE VALUE PLAYERS:

-Value QBs – Matthew Stafford (5.9K), Russell Wilson (5.7K) and Sam Howell (4.9K):

These QBs prices are too low and based off last year’s results and the unknown factor for Howell. Make a stand and be early on these offenses. And these prices let you jam in a lot of the studs above.

-RBs $5000 – $6200:

There are several starting running backs or running backs with solid roles to choose from in this very affordable price range. Here’s a long list of options – Cam Akers, Najee Harris, Kenneth Walker, Dameon Pierce, Miles Sanders, either of the top Eagles’ RBs, both Washington RBs, AJ Dillon and Jamaal Williams.

-Calvin Ridley (6.5K):

While not super cheap, this is way too cheap for Ridley’s talent and role on the Jaguars’ offense. I think Ridley will be the alpha receiver in that offense, so I want to be early and take advantage while the price is still affordable.

–Mike Williams (5.7K)

The Chargers passing attack figures to be more vertical under new OC Kellen Moore. And this price for Big Mike is criminally low. I love this game and the Chargers’ offense, so I obviously want to take advantage of this price on Williams.

-Rookie Tight Ends:

Sam LaPorta and Dalton Kincaid are not on the slate, but Luke Musgrave (2.9K) and Michael Mayer (2.8K) are priced near the minimum. Especially Musgrave should be locked ast the TE1, I love punting with him or Mayer. Look for more detailed article on rookie TEs soon!

-Other TEs that are too cheap:

Dallas Goedert (5K), Gerald Everett (4.3K), and Greg Dulcich (4K) are way too cheap for their talent and role on top offenses in great game environments.