Fantasy Football Week 1 Sleepers: Targeting new Jets receiver Corey Davis plus other lineup and DFS options
Some lineup choices are easy, but these suggestions can help with the rest.
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2 min read
Corey Davis was the star of the Jets receiving corps in the preseason, and hopefully that carries over to Week 1 at Carolina. He's one of my favorite sleepers this week.
We'll see how Zach Wilson treats Davis and Elijah Moore now that both are healthy, but I expect each of them to be heavily targeted. Davis should be considered a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues and a borderline starter, and Moore is more of a flyer since he missed valuable practice time with a quad injury.
But both should benefit with Jamison Crowder (reserve/COVID-19) out and Keelan Cole (knee) either out or limited. The Jets will likely be throwing a lot this week, and I expect Wilson to need Davis and Moore to make plays. I also like Tyler Kroft as a tight end sleeper, which you'll read about below.
Along with the sleepers listed here, I'll also give you my favorite DFS lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel. Good luck this week, and I hope all of these recommendations help you win big in Week 1.
- The FFT crew breaks down key Week 1 lineup decisions on the Fantasy Football Today podcast. Listen below and follow at Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts:
Week 1 Sleepers
Week 1 Preview
Sleepers
Quarterbacks
Ryan might be one of the players who by the end of the season I wish I had ranked higher than when the year started. He could flourish if Kyle Pitts and Russell Gage help the Falcons move on from Julio Jones, with Calvin Ridley the new lead singer. This week, he could be in a shootout with the Eagles, which would be fun. He's also averaged 25.0 Fantasy points per game in his past two season openers.
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Mayfield might be throwing a lot this week if the Browns are in a shootout with the Chiefs, and he gets Odell Beckham (knee) back. Mayfield averaged 25.6 Fantasy points per game in his final five road games last season, but he struggled at Kansas City in the playoffs with 204 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception, with 11 rushing yards. I have higher expectations for Mayfield this week.
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You know I love the revenge game angle, and Darnold is facing his former team this week. We'll see how he does in his debut with the Panthers, but he has plenty of weapons around him with Christian McCaffrey back, D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson and Terrace Marshall. Darnold is only a starting option in two-quarterback and Superflex leagues, but this could be a strong start for him in Carolina.
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Running backs
I love Raheem Mostert this week, and he's our Start of the Week with San Francisco's matchup at Detroit. But I like Sermon also as a flex, and he should get enough touches to be successful, even in a secondary role. Hopefully, we see the Lions struggle against running backs like they did last year when they allowed the second-most Fantasy points to the position. San Francisco, meanwhile, scored the third-most Fantasy points among running backs last year. Mostert and Sermon could both go off in Week 1.
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Hunt should be considered a borderline starter in PPR, and he could be heavily involved if the Chiefs are chasing points. He scored at Kansas City in the divisional round of the playoffs with six carries for 32 yards, and he also added one catch for 2 yards. Nick Chubb is a must-start running back in all leagues, but Hunt could have a big game if the Browns need to make a comeback on the road.
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At some point this season, we should see Javonte Williams as the best running back for the Broncos. He might even be the best Denver running back this week. But Gordon will likely lead the team in touches against the Giants, and I would use him as a flex. New York's run defense should be stout, but the Broncos should be playing with a lead in this game. Williams also has flex appeal in this matchup, but give Gordon the slight edge over Williams as the best Denver running back early in the year.
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The Texans will use Ingram, Phillip Lindsay and David Johnson in a committee, but Ingram might have the best chance for success based on his role in the preseason. And if the Texans are playing with a lead, as shocking as that might seem, Ingram could play well against the Jaguars. I like him as a flex option, with his value higher in non-PPR leagues, and we'll see if Houston can pull off an upset in what might be the Texans best chance to win a game this year.
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The Athletic reported this week that the Colts want Hines to get more touches this season, and he could be needed in the passing game with T.Y. Hilton (neck) hurt. This game also projects to be a high-scoring affair based on the projected points (49 from Caesars Sportbook), and Seattle was top five last season in receptions allowed to running backs. Jonathan Taylor is a must-start Fantasy option in all leagues, but Hines is worth using as a flex in PPR.
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Wide receivers
In two games against Jacksonville last season, Cooks had 47 PPR points combined with 11 catches for 244 yards and two touchdowns on 21 targets. Now, that was with Deshaun Watson, and Tyrod Taylor is the new starter in Houston, which is a downgrade. But Cooks should command plenty of attention from Taylor in a plus matchup, making him a borderline starter in all leagues.
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Smith will make his NFL debut against the Falcons this week, and hopefully it's the start of a brilliant career. He should have the chance for plenty of targets from Jalen Hurts, and Atlanta is coming off a season where the Falcons allowed the third-most Fantasy points to opposing receivers. The last time Smith played in Atlanta it was the SEC Championship Game for Alabama against Florida in December, and Smith had 15 catches for 184 yards and two touchdowns. We'd love to see him do that again.
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Waddle has been Miami's No. 1 receiver in the preseason with Will Fuller and DeVante Parker battling injuries, and Fuller won't play this week because he's suspended. While Parker might be 100 percent, this should be a game where Tua Tagovailoa leans on Waddle, and the Patriots have a depleted secondary with Stephon Gilmore (quad) out. Even though J.C. Jackson and Jonathan Joseph are solid corners, you should still consider Waddle a No. 3 Fantasy receiver this week in all leagues.
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Brown loves Week 1. He's played in two season openers in his career, and he has nine catches for 248 yards and two touchdowns in those games for a combined 45 PPR points. We'll see if he can make it 3-for-3 with big games in openers, and you should expect Lamar Jackson to lean on Brown against the Raiders, especially with the run game in question following the season-ending knee injury for Gus Edwards (ACL). While their secondary got better this offseason with the addition of Casey Hayward, I'm excited to see what Brown can do indoors at Las Vegas.
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Meyers was excellent the last time he faced the Dolphins in Week 15 last year with seven catches for 111 yards on 10 targets, and it would be great to see him have a repeat performance in Week 1. Meyers will hopefully stay in the slot for the Patriots and avoid Xavien Howard and Byron Jones, and Mac Jones should lean on Meyers quite a bit. He's a quality No. 3 PPR receiver this week at home.
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Tight ends
Hooper ended the regular season last year on a high note with at least 13 PPR points in each of his final three outings. He had another big game in the wild-card round of the playoffs against the Steelers (17 PPR points), but he struggled against the Chiefs in the divisional round with two catches for 16 yards on three targets. That's obviously concerning, but I would go back to Hooper this week as a low-end starter, especially if Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu (illness) is out because of COVID-19 protocols.
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Smith will make his Patriots debut in Week 1 against Miami, and we'll see if Hunter Henry (shoulder) plays as well. Smith should be a featured part of New England's offense, and hopefully Mac Jones leans on him in this matchup. The Dolphins were tough on tight ends last season, but Smith should be a difference maker given his ability to move around the offense. He's a low-end starter for Week 1.
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Kroft is an option for Fantasy managers in deeper leagues, and he should prove to be a valuable weapon for Wilson this season. Crowder is out and Cole could be out or limited, which could mean more targets for Kroft. He could be the third receiving option for Wilson behind Davis and Moore, who are worth using as No. 3 Fantasy receivers. Last year, Carolina was No. 8 in Fantasy points allowed to tight ends.
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Week 1 Preview
DFS LINEUPS
DraftKings
QB: Jalen Hurts $6,400 (at ATL)
RB: Christian McCaffrey $9,500 (vs. NYJ)
RB: Raheem Mostert $5,800 (at DST)
WR: Robby Anderson $5,700 (vs. NYJ)
WR: Brandin Cooks $5,300 (vs. JAC)
WR: DeVonta Smith $4,500 (at ATL)
TE: Kyle Pitts $4,400 (vs. PHI)
FLEX: Laviska Shenault $5,000 (at HOU)
DST: Broncos $3,300 (at NYG)
Let's go with a little Eagles stack here and hope that Hurts leans on Smith in their first game together. I'll also use Pitts as a counter play with the hope that this game in Atlanta becomes a shootout.
Mostert is the Start of the Week, and I want to play McCaffrey in his first game back from last year's injury-plagued season. I'll use Anderson in the same game with the hope that both players help throttle the Jets.
I also have Cooks vs. Shenault in this lineup, and I expect them to be the best receivers in the Jaguars-Texans game. Shenault has seemingly established a nice rapport with Trevor Lawrence already, and I hope Cooks and Tyrod Taylor will be on the same page in Week 1.
FanDuel
QB: Sam Darnold $6,500 (vs. NYJ)
RB: Dalvin Cook $9,400 (at CIN)
RB: James Robinson $5,900 (at HOU)
WR: DeAndre Hopkins $8,200 (at TEN)
WR: Robby Anderson $6,200 (vs. NYJ)
WR: Laviska Shenault $5,600 (at HOU)
TE: George Kittle $7,000 (at DET)
FLEX: Aaron Jones $7,400 (at NO)
DEF: Vikings $3,800 (at CIN)
I'm going to stack Darnold with Anderson in this lineup, and I hope both former Jets have revenge on their minds in this matchup. Darnold is a cheap option at quarterback, but he could be worth it this week.
By using Darnold, I was able to afford Cook, Robinson and Jones. All three could be top-five running backs this week, so it's nice having them in this lineup.
I was also able to afford two other stars in Hopkins and Kittle, and both should be tremendous in Week 1. And, as stated above, Shenault should do well against the Texans as the lead receiver in Jacksonville for now.
