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After an eventful offseason, the NFL returns on Thursday night. Not only will things look different as teams will either be playing without fans or at a limited capacity, but Tom Brady will be wearing a different uniform after spending two decades in New England. In the first game of the new season, the Texans will meet up with the defending champs in Kansas City. With a projected combined total of 56 points, the highest of the week, according to our friends in Vegas, expect some of those involved to put up a healthy amount of fantasy points.
In this article, I will be providing you with my Week 1 daily fantasy football lineup picks on FanDuel. These lineups can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on FanDuel.
Be sure to also check out our weekly DraftKings DFS lineup picks and lots of other great NFL DFS articles and NFL DFS tools to help you win big! Feel free to give me a follow on Twitter @DennisMClausen. Good luck RotoBallers!
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FanDuel Quarterbacks - Week 1 Picks
Dak Prescott, QB - @ LAR ($8,400)
Of all the quarterbacks with something to prove, Prescott may have the biggest chip on his shoulder after an offseason filled with unsuccessful contract negotiations. Having one the best running backs in the league behind him and plenty of options to throw to, the former fourth-round pick has all of the tools needed to succeed. With the 2020 campaign potentially being Prescott's last shot at earning big money, at least in Dallas, he could be heading toward his best season to date.
Josh Allen, QB - vs. NYJ ($7,900)
Allen hopefully improved as it relates to his accuracy as his decision making was questionable at times in 2019. However, even if that area of his game doesn't get better, the 24-year-old has no issues getting it done on the ground. He led the league with nine rushing touchdowns last season, two more than reigning MVP Lamar Jackson. While playing against the Jets Defense isn't a walk in the park, the third-year signal-caller may go unnoticed by many fantasy managers, making him the perfect option for those looking to make a run in tournament contests.
FanDuel Running Backs - Week 1 Picks
Josh Jacobs, RB - @ CAR ($8,200)
There may not be another player with as much hype as Jacobs heading into the 2020 campaign. He battled a shoulder ailment last year but was still able to surpass the 1,000-yard mark on the ground while running it into the end zone on seven occasions. With the 22-year-old seemingly back to full-strength, he has the luxury of going up against a Panthers Defense that gave up the most fantasy points to opposing backs in 2019. Although Las Vegas (and Oakland) fans aren't expecting much from quarterbacks Derek Carr, Nathan Peterman, or Marcus Mariota, the running back position should be something they will be excited about.
Joe Mixon, RB - vs. LAC ($7,300)
While there are a plethora of options that have a rostering cost higher than Mixon's, he may have one of the most elevated ceilings in the league. After battling migraine headaches a few weeks back, the former Sooner is expected to be ready to roll in Week 1 against the Chargers. It's no secret that Cincinnati has one of the most horrendous offensive lines in the league; however, Mixon can make plays on his own, as evident by some of his stellar performances in 2019. With quarterback Joe Burrow having never played a professional snap, Mixon may get plenty of touches against Los Angeles in addition to being the recipient of a few short passes from the No. 1 overall pick.
FanDuel Wide Receivers - Week 1 Picks
Michael Thomas, WR - vs. TB ($8,800)
Thomas has one of the highest rostering costs on the slate, but there is a good reason. He finished 2019 at the league's most efficient fantasy wideout by compiling 1,725 yards and nine touchdowns off of a record-breaking 149 catches. He reached double-digit receptions in nine appearances during the regular season and amassed over 100 yards 10 times. Although the Buccaneers are ushering in a new era, Thomas has historically played well against Tampa Bay, compiling nearly 13 catches for 118.7 yards per game in seven meetings with the club throughout his career.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR - @ NYG ($7,100)
The Steelers didn't have the best season in 2019. The team was plagued with injuries through much of the year, including top offensive options like Ben Roethlisberger, James Conner, and Smith-Schuster. With a new year underway and "Big Ben" healthy, Smith-Schuster will have a quarterback he has built a rapport with over the years, opening the door for his potential return to prominence. The Giants also allowed a second-worst 41.08 fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts last season, and while they have a new coaching staff, it may be yet another rough season on the defensive end for New York.
Will Fuller V, WR - @ KC ($6,000)
With DeAndre Hopkins now in Arizona, Fuller has a legitimate shot to be Houston's No 1 option at the wideout spot. He spent much of 2019 on the injured list with a hamstring issue. However, he had flashes of effectiveness (at times) during the year, including a 14-catch, 217-yard, and three-touchdown performance against the Falcons. Obviously, the Chiefs Defense can hold its own against most teams, but with such an elevated projected score, Fuller could be in line for a reliable fantasy performance on Thursday night.
FanDuel Tight Ends - Week 1 Picks
Mark Andrews, TE - vs. CLE ($7,400)
Andrews emerged as one of the most dependable tight ends in 2019. He finished his second year in the league with an impressive 10 touchdown receptions, and though he may not hit that number again in 2020, he should still have a solid season. With opposing defenses looking to keep Lamar Jackson from accumulating significant gains on the ground, the 25-year-old will likely have some favorable matchups moving forward. Look for that trend to potentially begin against the Browns.
Evan Engram, TE - vs. PIT ($6,300)
After missing a large portion of the 2019 campaign due to a foot issue, Engram reportedly looked as good as ever over the summer. He has still yet to play an entire season during his three-year career, but in 2020, he should establish himself as a dependable target for Daniel Jones. Many fantasy managers may not take the chance on Engram in Week 1 due to his injury history and touch matchup against the Steelers. However, he should get his fair share of looks from the sophomore signal-caller and may surprise many people this season.
FanDuel Defenses - Week 1 Picks
Bills Defense, DEF - vs. NYJ ($4,700)
The Bills had one of the most dominant defenses last season. Buffalo allowed a third-best 298.3 yards per game to opposing offenses and may keep it going against the Jets, a team that didn't do much to improve on the offensive end heading into the year.
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