Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season is underway, and there is a lot of excitement. We get to watch regular season football, your fantasy football team starts to crush it (or not), and your entire Sunday is taken up by sitting on the couch watching football. What makes it even more exciting? Opening up the Draftkings Sportsbook and placing some prop bets. While Week 1 can be somewhat of a question mark, it is also the best time to place bets on known commodities, as the Sportsbook adjusts to the data. In my first weekly article, I’ll break down 5 DraftKings player prop bets that should hit and start you off strong for the 2024 season. For any additional prop bet questions, be sure to follow me on X @LobosFFDen.
Week 1 DraftKings Prop Plays
Jordan Love 0255.5 Passing Yards (-115)
In what should be a high-scoring game in Brazil under the Friday Night Lights, I anticipate Jordan Love will exceed his 255.5 prop bet. Love caught fire in the second half of last year, putting up more than 250+ yards in the last 7 of the 9 games of the season. He goes against a defense that was one of the worst, allowing 4,551 yards in the air in 2023, and while there were some improvements made to that Philly defense, we shouldn’t see much improvement. I expect Love to exceed the 255 and win you some cash.
Expected yards: 311 passing yards, 2 TDs
High roller bets:
- 300+ yards (+285)
- o1.5 TDs (-160)
Saquon Barkley o15.5 Receiving Yards (-115)
This Philadelphia and Green Bay game has a favorable amount of prop bets. It continues with Saquon Barkley, who joins a Philadelphia team that gives him something he lacked in New York for a long time; an offensive line. Not only do I anticipate a big rushing game for Saquon, but I could see him getting involved early and often in the passing game. Coming into the game, Barkley’s career average is nearly 80 targets a year (when healthy) and I expect a healthy dose of targets for Saquon this year. Jalen Hurts isn’t known for his ability to dump off to his RBs, but he’s never had Saquon-like talent in the backfield. Take advantage of the o15.5 and don’t look back.
Expected yards: 86 rushing yards, 31 receiving yards, 1TD
High roller bets:
- 70+ rushing yards (+120)
- 100+ Rushing + Receiving combined yards (+170)
Jayden Reed 50+ Receiving Yards (+140)
If you’re taking the prop bet for Jordan Love above, this is a great addition to your SGP. The Green Bay receiving core is a bit murky, and there are some unknowns on who the WR1 will be, but I truly believe that it’s Reed’s job for the taking. The Packers face the 32nd-ranked defense vs. WRs in 2023, and while there were slight improvements to that Philly defense, this game should be a shootout in Brazil. Reed ended his 2023 campaign on a high note, averaging 84YPG, and nearly 7 targets a game. I expect Reed to get well over that in Week 1.
Expected yards: 74 receiving yards, 11 rushing yards
High roller bets:
- 70+ receiving yards (+350)
- o3.5 receptions (-125)
DJ Moore o62.5 Receiving Yards (-115)
There’s a new QB in town, and a freshly paid DJ Moore is going to benefit from it. After putting up 96 receptions, and 1364 yards in 2023, DJ Moore is in line for another great year. Though the addition of Keenan Allen and first-round draft pick, Rome Odunze will play a part in this offense, I expect DJ Moore to dominate targets and touches in 2024. Tennessee allowed 4,181 yards to WRs in 2023, and I expect Chicago’s WR1 to put up more than 100 in Week 1.
Expected yards: 107 receiving yards, 1TD
High roller bets:
- o4.5 receptions (-145)
- 90+ receiving yards (+295)
Evan Engram 50+ Receiving Yards (+125)
Engram had a career year in 2023, and that success should carry over to 2024. Engram saw 50+ yards in 6 of the last 7 games of the season and became one of Trevor Lawrence’s favorite targets. While the Jags did add first-round rookie Brian Thomas to the offense, and added Gabriel Davis, Engram should still see his fair share of targets in that Jags offense. In a game which the Dolphins might score upwards of 30 points, the Jags offense will have to be on the attack to keep up and should position for Engram to have a nice game.
Expected yards: 70 yards, 1TD
High roller bets:
- o5.5 receptions (+120)
- Anytime TD (+170
- First TD (+1300)
Make sure to check out all of our Week 1 Fantasy Football Rankings and analysis!