Daily Fantasy Football 2023 Week 1: Best Plays And Bargains On FanDuel and DraftKings

The best way to cash on weekly fantasy football sites is to load up on as many stars with good matchups as possible. Here, you'll find the best plays and top bargains at each position on FanDuel and DraftKings. And remember, scoring is IMPORTANT. Here are Fanduel’s and DraftKings’ scoring systems.

For each position I’ll provide the best big name, the best mid range value, and the best low-price bargain. At the end, I’ll also list a big name to avoid at each position.

Quarterback

Best Big Name

Justin Herbert, Chargers ($8,100/$6,900): It’s Week 1, so this will be full of rehashes of reasoning for liking players for season-long and relying on data from last season. Herbert was a bit of a bust in 2022, but even in a down year he threw for 4,739 yards and 25 touchdowns. Herbert is going to throw the ball a ton, and with Kellen Moore in town as the new offensive coordinator they will restore Herbert to getting the ball downfield with his golden right arm that is arguably the most potent in the NFL. With the dink-and-dunk approach being put in the attic, and against a Dolphins team that figures to score a bunch and force a high-scoring game script, Herbert is a fine play if you’d rather assure yourself a lot of points at the QB position.

Mid Range Value

Geno Smith, Seahawks ($7,200/$6,100): Smith was a Top 10 QB last season, and while that finish was reliant on some big name QBs missing time, it does show that he was consistently productive from start to finish. Smith was a solid bet week after week for good production, and occasionally delivered more than that in plus matchups. He delivered two or more touchdown passes in 12 of his 17 games, and threw three touchdowns three times vs. the Saints, Rams and Panthers. He’ll begin this year with a plus matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, a team many have pegged to contend for the No. 1 pick, and he has a new toy in his receiving corps, rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba. 200+ yards and two touchdowns are in the cards.

Thrift Store

Anthony Richardson, Colts ($6,700/$5,600): Richardson is super raw as a passer, and accuracy is a major concern for him. What’s not in question is Richardson’s athletic ability and his talent for running the football. Running QBs are a bit of a glitch in fantasy football, and the Colts undoubtedly are aware of Richardson’s limitations throwing the football. He will be very involved as a rusher, he is built to take some punishment, and Jonathan Taylor’s absence makes it very clear Richardson is the primary option if and when the Colts are near the goal line. It may be a struggle for Richardson to surpass 150 yards through the air, so you’ll probably need a rushing TD for him to really be great, but that is built in to the low price.

Running Back

Best Big Name

Joe Mixon, Bengals ($7,500/$6,800): Mixon has fallen off in the minds of fantasy managers as an elite RB, but he is still a very clear-cut workhorse back in one of football’s premier offenses. Mixon caches the ball well – sixth-best receiving grade at the position per PFF – will receive the majority of the carries, and could be leaned on even more heavily as Joe Burrow gets back to 100% from a preseason calf injury. With Myles Garrett setting his sights on a potentially limited Burrow, the Bengals would be wise to let Mixon shoulder the load, and plan to pass the ball to him rather than drop Burrow back and subject him to possible injury.

Mid Range Value

Cam Akers, Rams ($6,600/$6,200): Akers was an abject disaster for much of 2022, but he turned on the jets in 2023 and became the alpha and omega of the Rams offense that was devoid of any quality playmaking at receiver, or competent quarterbacking. Akers received 12 or more carries in every game from Week 13-18, and averaged more than 100 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown per game in that span. Cooper Kupp is out in Week 1, so Akers will once again be the focal point, but he now has Matthew Stafford back to at least pose some kind of threat to defenses. The Rams probably won’t be good, but Akers should be.

Thrift Store

Antonio Gibson, Commanders ($5,800/$5,200): Gibson was pretty great last season when given chances to thrive, and new offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy likely didn’t come to Washington to view a Ferrari like Gibson and not take him out on the highway. Gibson graded as PFF’s second-best receiving back last year behind only Christian McCaffery, graded him as a strong rusher, and also handed him the second-best pass blocking grade. That sounds like a guy who needs to be on the field a lot! Brian Robinson is going to lead the team in carries, and that’s fine. Gibson does not need a ton of touches to make plays. If he sees an increase in his work, which was about 14 combined carries/targets, there should be big plays for him against a tanking Cardinals team.

Wide Receiver

Justin Jefferson, Vikings ($9,500/$8,800): Jefferson is not a bold pick, but it probably won’t be often I’m recommending the most expensive player at a position. In this case, it’s worth it. Jefferson is basically unstoppable, and with all offseason to prepare for a Bucs team most expect to be in the mix for the No. 1 overall pick, the Vikings will no doubt be focused on feeding him the rock. Jefferson torched the Packers in Week 1 last year for nine receptions, 184 yards and two touchdowns. A repeat performance seems likely.

Mid Range Value

Chris Olave, Saints ($7,300/$6,500): Olave was one of the best rookies in the NFL last season, among the league leaders in Average Depth of Target (14.2) and one of the premier big play guys (14.5 yards per reception). He’s now upgraded at QB from Andy Dalton to Derek Carr, and he gets a juicy matchup with the Titans, who struggled mightily to defend the pass in 2022 and will be without their top CB Caleb Farley.

Thrift Store

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks ($5,300/$4,900): JSN was mentioned in the Geno Smith section, and these two make for a low-price, high-upside stack if that’s your kind of thing. His broken wrist was expected to cause him to miss time, but Smith-Njigba’s ready to go, and he should terrorize the Rams out of the slot. At Ohio State he was widely considered the top receiver on the team, and he shared the field with Garrett Wilson and Olave. In fact, that trio was so strong that Jameson Williams transferred and won a Heisman at Alabama. JSN comes to the league locked and loaded, and he was elite at separating. With Geno putting the ball on the money to a wide-open JSN, there will be plenty of yards after the catch to be had.

Tight End

Best Big Name

T.J. Hockenson, Vikings ($7,200/$5,900): Hockenson stands out as maybe the only safe play among the top TEs, with Travis Kelce missing the Thursday opener, and Mark Andrews and George Kittle battling injuries throughout camp. Minnesota has a likely soft matchup vs. Tampa Bay, and Hockenson was quickly one of Kirk Cousins’ favorites upon his arrival last year. Volume is king, and there’s no position where that’s more true than TE. He offers both volume and touchdown upside so when you combine those factors with a good matchup he becomes a smash play.

Mid Range Value

Tyler Higbee, Rams ($5,300/$4,800): Be careful! With Kupp out, Higbee should be one of the main benefactors in terms of targets. But we’ve been here before with Higbee, and seen him be a total dud. That’s built into his low cost here, which is threatening Thrift Store level, but the upside he provides is actually pretty high. I’d rather spend on Hockenson, but if you’ve gone big elsewhere Higbee is like diet Hockenson.

Thrift Store

Hayden Hurst, Panthers ($5,000/$3,000): Hurst is not a sexy name whatsoever, and I don’t even think the upside is particularly high. But, TEs are often a rookie QB’s best friend, and Hurst is a proven, solid veteran in an offense with incredibly questionable WR talent. Adam Thielen, D.J. Chark and Terrace Marshall are all in various states of injury disarray, while rookie Jonathan Mingo is not exactly a well-rounded prospect. Bryce Young has to throw to someone, and Hurst is probably going to be a key safety valve for him. I don’t see a big game coming, but I also would be surprised if he goosed you, and that certainty is very rare for a Thrift Store TE.

Quarterback to Avoid: Joe Burrow, Bengals ($7,900/$7,100)

Running Back to Avoid: Saquon Barkley, Giants ($8,600/$8,100)

Wide Receiver to Avoid: Stefon Diggs, Bills ($7,700/$7,700)

Tight End to Avoid: George Kittle, 49ers ($6,600/$5,700)