The 2023 NFL schedule kicks off Thursday with a matchup between the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and the Detroit Lions, who are favored to win the NFC North for the first time in over 30 years. Both teams feature plenty of players who can have a significant impact on NFL DFS lineups, including veteran quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Jared Goff. Mahomes, the reigning NFL MVP, is the highest priced player in the NFL DFS player pool on both DraftKings and FanDuel, but has regularly proven to be well worth his lofty price tag. Goff is entering his third season with the Lions and will guide one of the most balanced offensive attacks in the league, making a key part of most people's NFL DFS strategy.
Should your Thursday showdown NFL DFS lineups feature Mahomes and Goff? Or would it make more sense to target a running back like Isiah Pacheco or wide receiver like Amon-Ra St. Brown? Before locking in any NFL DFS lineups for Lions vs. Chiefs on sites like DraftKings and FanDuel, be sure to check out the NFL DFS lineup advice, strategy and player stacks from SportsLine NFL daily Fantasy expert Jimmie Kaylor.
Kaylor is a NFL and DFS expert for SportsLine, who opened the 2022 NFL season by winning DraftKings' NFL Showdown Thursday Kickoff Millionaire contest. He edged out over 355,000 other entrants in the contest and also has multiple five-figure tournament wins on his DFS resume. Kaylor, who cashed big all season in 2022, has covered the NFL and college football for close to a decade as a member of the Pro Football Writers of America, and his background as a former college and NFL player gives him a unique perspective when building his fantasy lineups and locking in his betting picks.
Kaylor hit on epic NFL DFS picks all season in 2022. He was all over Travis Kelce's four-touchdown performance against the Raiders on Monday Night Football, Kirk Cousins' 460-yard, four-TD performance on Thanksgiving Day, and T.J. Hockenson's 13 catches for 109 yards and two touchdowns in Week 15.
Now, Kaylor has turned his attention to Lions vs. Chiefs in the 2023 NFL season opener and just locked in his top daily Fantasy football picks. You can only see his picks and analysis at SportsLine.
Top NFL DFS picks for Chiefs vs. Lions
One of Kaylor's top NFL DFS picks for Thursday is Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. The former fourth round pick out of USC has quickly established himself as the No. 1 wide receiver in Detroit's offensive attack and is one of the top young pass-catchers in the NFL today. In 16 games in 2022, St. Brown saw 146 targets and totaled 106 receptions for 1,161 yards and six touchdowns. Kaylor is expecting another double-digit target night for St. Brown on Thursday.
"In a game that projects to be a bit of a shootout, St. Brown has the potential to have a massive fantasy impact. The 23-year-old is Jared Goff's top option in Detroit's passing attack, and is coming off a season where he averaged over 9 targets per game. If the Lions fall behind and are forced to play catch up, St. Brown could have a field day against Kansas City's average secondary," Kaylor told SportsLine.
Kaylor is also targeting Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes in his Thursday NFL DFS picks. The 27-year-old signal-caller is the reigning NFL MVP and guided the Chiefs to their second Super Bowl title and third AFC championship in the last four years in 2022. The Chiefs have surrounded Mahomes with multiple explosive options at wide receiver and a dynamic group running backs, which should give him plenty of insurance if All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce (knee) is limited or unable to play on Thursday.
In 2022, Mahomes completed 435 of 648 pass attempts (67.1%) for 5,250 yards, 41 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and a quarterback rating of 105.2. He also rushed for 358 yards and four TDs. Kaylor is expecting the three-time All-Pro to get off to a hot start to the 2023 season on Thursday. See who else Kaylor likes right here.
How to set Lions vs. Chiefs NFL DFS lineups, player pools
Kaylor is also targeting another undervalued player who could explode for huge numbers on Thursday. This pick could be the difference between winning your tournaments and cash games or going home with nothing. You can only see who it is, and the rest of Kaylor's NFL DFS picks, at SportsLine.
So who is Jimmie Kaylor including in his optimal NFL DFS lineups for Chiefs vs. Lions, and which under-the-radar NFL DFS picks offer huge value? Visit SportsLine now to see optimal NFL DFS picks, rankings, advice, and stacks, all from a DFS expert who won a prestigious millionaire maker tournament last season, and find out.
