DraftKings Cash Game Lineup: Week 1
Welcome to a weekly series where I provide you with what I think is the optimal cash game lineup. All prices, fantasy points, and analyses are based on DraftKings’ DFS platform. If you are unfamiliar with what cash games are, or if you are interested in my basic strategy, click here.
Now, let’s dive into Week 1.
Quarterback
Quarterback this week was always going to come down to which of two names I prefer: Anthony Richardson ($6,300) or Jayden Daniels ($5,700). While I admittedly think Daniels is slightly better from a value perspective, I’m playing Anthony Richardson ($6,300). This is because I expect most cash players are making this same choice, and I think the majority will gravitate to Daniels, given the salary savings. If Daniels were to fail this week, we gain massive leverage by playing Richardson at only $600 more.
Note: I am are Justin Fields ($5,000) is now starting for the Steelers. However, I don’t think he’s that much better of a value than Richardson given his offense and I suspect he gets steamed quite a bit in cash fields.
Running Back
Running Back feels pretty thin this week. I only considered a few backs, and landed on two. The first is Alvin Kamara ($6,700). It’s clear Kamara is past his prime, but the Saints have are desperate for weapons and Kamara still is likely their second option, outside of Chris Olave. Kamara should receive enough work in the passing game alone to make him a startable player in cash this week.
While I was originally favoring Chase Brown ($5,000) as my second RB, I landed on Jerome Ford ($5,500). He ranks among the best values on the slate at RB, and has a more established role in this offense, unlike Brown, who’s likely to be in a true timeshare with Zack Moss, at least in Week 1. With Nick Chubb out, I expect Ford to get plenty of opportunity.
Wide Receiver
Last season, I implemented a rule called “Always-play-Tyreek-Hill”. I honored this rule for many weeks, even when his salary crept up into the high $9000s. Now, I’m running back this rule (for now) and playing Tyreek Hill ($8,700) at a massive discount. DraftKings tends to be conservative with pricing early in the season, especially at the top of the board, so I’ll be taking advantage of that until his price gets back in the $9000s, where it belongs.
Speaking of conservation pricing, I don’t understand how DraftKings landed on the salary for Drake London ($6,000). Sure, he only averaged 11.3 pts/g last season, but Arthur Smith coached him and was catching balls from Desmond Ridder and Tyler Heinicke, neither of which are slated to start in 2024 without injuries in front of them. Enter Kirk Cousins at QB and Raheem Morris (not Arthur Smith) at HC. This should provide London with the environment to break out this season, and I’d rather be early than late on the breakout.
At the 11th hour, I’m making a 3v3 off of Odunze/Pitts/Houston to Iosivas/Kincaid/Washington. Bengals WRs Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are both likely to be limited, if playing at all on Sunday, opening up a stone punt option at WR with Andrei Iosivas ($3,000). He should be in line for 8 targets or so (from Joe Burrow nonetheless), making him an insane value at just $3k.
Tight End
While I was originally going to play Kyle Pitts ($4,600), the newfound salary relief thanks to Andrei Iosaves allows me to slot in Dalton Kincaid ($5,600). Kincaid has the chance to be Josh Allen’s #1 target in a game with serious shootout potential against Arizona. Also, if Pitts ends up being as high owned in cash fields as I suspect he will be, Kincaid gives me massive leverage if Pitts fails.
FLEX
Similar to last season, we have a lot of Jaguars players at seemingly low price points. The most attractive one is Christian Kirk ($5,500). With Calvin Ridley gone, Kirk stands as the likeliest player to take over WR1 duties, as he only faces competition from the ever streaky Gabe Davis and rookie WR Brian Thomas Jr. I expect Kirk to be routinely in the $6000s once we get into midseason, so again, I’ll gladly take the discount while it’s being offered.
DST
With the money left over, I’m playing the Washington Commanders DST ($2,500). I prefer them over the other the Denver Broncos DST at $2,500 because I think Tampa Bay is a more favorable matchup than Seattle.
Summary
A lot of this lineup was built by belief formation and not cold hard projections because Week 1 is a different animal. Week 1 gives you the opportunity to take a stance on a lot of murky situations. If you’re right, you can be paid off in a big way.
Here is the final lineup:
