NFL DFS Roundtable Picks: Cash Game and GPP Flag Plants for Week 1

NFL DFS is a game of conviction, and below you’ll find a list of flag plants that our panel of DFS analysts are high on for Week 1.

Don’t forget to check out our Lineup Builder if you like to hand build your lineups or our Lineup Optimizer for those of you that like to enter multiple lineups into tournaments.

Let’s get right into it.

Week 1 NFL DFS Flag Plants

Sean Koerner: Director of Predictive Analytics for Action Network

Isaiah Likely ($2,500 DraftKings; $4,100 FanDuel) (GPP)

Likely erupted for 12 catches, 144 yards, and a touchdown (on just 29 routes run) in the first two preseason games. The Ravens decided to give him the starter treatment by resting him in the final preseason game, meaning he could have a bigger Week 1 role than people realize.

Obviously, the Ravens aren’t going to have Likely eat into Mark Andrews’ snaps. However, the wide receiver depth chart is so weak behind Rashod Bateman that I can see Baltimore carving out a Kyle Pitts/Mike Gesicki type of role to get Likely on the field for 40-50% of Lamar Jackson’s dropbacks.

Likely is a great GPP flier considering he is the minimum price on every site, and he has slate-winning upside.

Chris Raybon: Action Network Analyst

Romeo Doubs ($3,000 DraftKings; $5,000 FanDuel) (GPP)

Doubs was targeted on an absurd 15-of-39 (38%) routes in the preseason and will now be pressed into action with the injury to Allen Lazard.

Doubs will split snaps with Sammy Watkins, Randall Robb, and Christian Watson, but the former two are washed, and the latter missed most of camp.

Doubs is the most likely among them to be open, and if you’re open, Aaron Rodgers will throw you the football.

Nick Giffen: Predictive Analyst at Action Network

Mo Alie-Cox (3,400 DraftKings; $4,800 FanDuel) (GPP)

People love using implied team totals to find running back value in DFS, but that’s exactly where I look to pivot to the tight end position in tournaments. In past work, I showed implied total correlated with tight end performance better than other positions.

Well, Indianapolis has an implied team total of 26.5 points, putting them third among all teams on the main slate. With Jack Doyle’s retirement, Alie-Cox should benefit as he expands his role in the offense.

Alie-Cox was on the field for 29 of Matt Ryan’s 33 snaps under center in the preseason, so he should get plenty of work in Week 1.

Justin Bailey: FantasyLabs Senior Editor

Mike Williams ($6,600 DraftKings; $6,600 FanDuel) (GPP)

One of my favorite leverage plays at wide receiver is Mike Williams at $6,600 on DraftKings. Williams ranks fourth in the Minimal Tournament Model and has the fifth-highest ceiling projection with my custom inputs.

Williams was great last season, seeing a target on 23.5% of his routes while soaking up a team-high 32% air yards share.

My favorite stack for single-entry tournaments this week is Justin Herbert + Williams.

Notorious: RotoGrinders Analyst

Justin Jefferson ($7,800 DraftKings; $8,100 FanDuel) (Cash and GPP)

He’s already one of the best receivers in football and now has a head coach (Kevin O’Connell from the Rams) that wants to be more aggressive and that wants to play at a faster pace. Beat writers suggest the Vikings plan to use Jefferson in the Cooper Kupp role, which should be music to our ears.

He doesn’t have the same target competition as Davante Adams or Ja’Marr Chase, and he torched the Packers in two meetings last season.

He caught 14-of-21 targets for 227 yards and two touchdowns. His salary might only go up moving forward, so I’m willing to plant my flag on him in Week 1.

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Beermakersfan: RotoGrinders Analyst

Alvin Kamara ($7,600 DraftKings; $8,500 FanDuel) (GPP)

The possible suspension news had early drafters spooked, but it looks like it’s all systems go for Kamara this season, and I love this spot for him to start out the season with a bang. He shredded this Atlanta defense for 148 rushing yards in Week 18 last season, and the Falcons have not made any significant additions that change the scope of this matchup and will be without stud Deion Jones.

The Falcons struggled mightily against the run last season, finishing bottom 10 in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, receptions, and fantasy points to running backs.

I’m also expecting the underpriced Saints passing game to garner some ownership giving us nice leverage with a Kamara flag plant in Week 1.

Dan Gaspar: RotoGrinders Analyst

Mo Alie-Cox (3,400 DraftKings; $4,800 FanDuel) (GPP)

MAC was my Terrible Take of the week on the Swolecast, and even after I’ve given it more thought, I stand by it. Camp reports suggest that Alie-Cox has been running a bigger route tree with Jack Doyle out of the picture, and he’s seemingly the clear TE1 despite some talented younger guys (Granson, Woods) on the depth chart.

I think Alie-Cox is currently being under-projected for a potential increased role, and I also love the touchdown leverage he provides on popular teammates Jonathan Taylor and Michael Pittman.

NFL DFS is a game of conviction, and below you’ll find a list of flag plants that our panel of DFS analysts are high on for Week 1.

Don’t forget to check out our Lineup Builder if you like to hand build your lineups or our Lineup Optimizer for those of you that like to enter multiple lineups into tournaments.

Let’s get right into it.

Week 1 NFL DFS Flag Plants