The DraftKings' salaries for the NFL week 1 contests were released today.
We'll cover this slate in significant detail for premium members over the next few weeks. For now, let's go over our first reactions to the Main Slate of games on DraftKings. The Main Slate includes only the 12 Sunday games.
Most Expensive Salaries
First, let's cover who DraftKings has listed as the most expensive salaries at each position:
Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) - $9,200 vs. NYG - Elliott's holdout talk hasn't impacted his DK salary. As long as he's on the field, he's projected to be the top running back in week 1. Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey follow him as numbers 2 and 3 in running back salary.
Odell Beckham Jr. (CLE) - $9,000 vs. TEN - While not the top-rated fantasy receiver in season-long fantasy football, Beckham tops the list for DraftKings salary at the wide receiver position in a home game against the Titans. Julio Jones and Mike Evans are the 2nd and 3rd most expensive wide receivers on the slate.
Pat Mahomes (KC) - $7,200 @ JAX - It's no surprise that Mahomes is the top QB for week 1 now that Tyreek Hill is back. Luck and Winston are the next top QBs for the slate.
Travis Kelce (KC) - $7,100 @ JAX - Again, no surprises here with Kelce as the top tight end on the slate. The other two big TEs (Kittle and Ertz) are the next ones behind Kelce, but at a significant discount ($6,600 and $6,100). It's going to be tough to fit Kelce into a lineup without sacrificing elsewhere. Many DFS players will probably pay up to Kittle or Ertz, but that last jump to Kelce is too steep.
Cheap Running Quarterbacks
Kyler Murray and Josh Allen are both priced at $5,600 in week 1 and could provide significant value. Kyler Murray is at home against the Lions and Allen is on the road against the Jets. While these are young unpredictable players, their rushing ability gives them a solid floor and a high upside in fantasy. Expect both of these players to be in a lot of GPP lineups in week 1. Lamar Jackson is only a bit more expensive at $6,000, but many won't see him as a significant upgrade over the other two quarterbacks.
Initial Running Back Reactions
Despite the constant discussion about the health of Todd Gurley's knee, DraftKings has him at a salary of $7,900 and is the 4th-most expensive running back on the slate. If you have concerns about Gurley, you should probably pivot to David Johnson at $7,700.
Also, Kerryon Johnson's season-long fantasy value got a bump up when Theo Riddick was released recently. Despite that news, Johnson is only priced at a $5,800 in his week 1 matchup on the road against the Cardinals. Expect ownership to be high on Kerryon in all formats.
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