Sleepers are part of the equation of winning your daily fantasy football contest. But that’s not the only way to victory.
Those players who are top-tier performers at their positions also play a significant role. There are a handful of those must-starts in regular fantasy football. In DFS, you must decide which one of those top players will perform at the highest level for each week.
Here’s my week 1 take on those daily fantasy football week 1 locks.
Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks
With question marks surrounding the running game, expect the Seahawks to take to the air Sunday against Miami. And with the way the Dolphins have been against the pass recently, that should be a boon to daily fantasy owners choosing Wilson.
Wilson is going off as the fourth-most expensive quarterback at DraftKings, making him a decent deal as the best option for DFS. The Dolphins ranked in the bottom half of the NFL in passing defense last season, just above their inability to stop the opponents’ running game.
But Miami did add some talent to its front seven, which could limit Seattle’s ability to run the football. That’s OK, with Wilson progressing as a passer and Seattle owning three quality receivers who should light up Miami’s secondary.
Seattle will go with a pass-first approach, which will propel Wilson to top billing in fantasy.
Lamar Miller, RB, Houston Texans
Pretty much everyone is backing Todd Gurley this week. And while I believe Gurley will be the best running back this season, I have to see if his quarterback won’t hold him back too much before buying into him.
I’ve been all over Miller in the offseason, so I might as well stake my reputation on his performance in week 1. He faces a Chicago Bears defense that ranked in the bottom-10 against the rush last season. Even though the Bears have improved up front, I anticipate Miller to see plenty of action in a pass-catching role out of the backfield, too.
This pick is all about my perception of who Miller will be this year. Miller was by far the best option for the Dolphins last year, but failed to make any traction thanks to a ridiculous offensive game plan focused on Ryan Tannehill.
That won’t happen this year and the Texans should be much improved on offense. Miller goes off in week 1, showing the league how much he was undervalued last season.
Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
This pretty much goes without saying, but Brown is a monster. And in a matchup against a team that ranked in the bottom-10 in pass defense last season, he should dominate again.
What makes Brown even more attractive is the sudden lack of weapons on Pittsburgh’s offense. Le’Veon Bell and Martavis Bryant are gone. New tight end Ladarius Green is sidelined with an injury, too.
That leaves a void of options in the early going for the Steelers. But don’t worry. That offers even more value for Brown against the Redskins.
He’s the most consistent wide receiver in fantasy football and he’s playing a defense that was leaky against the pass last year. Don’t worry about Josh Norman on the other side of the ball for Washington. He won’t make that much of a difference against Brown.
Coby Fleener, TE, New Orleans Saints
I know I’m picking against Rob Gronkowski. But follow me on this one.
Fleener will have more opportunities to succeed with New Orleans thanks to a reliance on the tight end position within their offensive game plan. Look at Ben Watson’s season last year for proof of that fact.
So Fleener will get more looks and against the Oakland Raiders, that’s a major reason why you shouldn’t dismiss Fleener as the best option at tight end.
To begin last season, Oakland allowed 14 or more points to tight ends in five of the first six games. Overall for the season, Oakland allowed the third-most points of any NFL team against tight ends.
That should give Fleener an opportunity for a major first game with the Saints. He’s my best fantasy option and he’s the fifth-most expensive tight end.
