What a great way to close out the week. Aaron Rodgers is back, and the hope is that he makes it through more than four snaps. From a skill position perspective, everyone is healthy and accounted for. This is truly a battle of the running backs as the New York Jets take on the San Francisco 49ers, but there is more too than just that. It’s an exciting matchup between two teams with postseason aspirations. We know that you will want to close the week with some DFS success. We have covered there so let’s jump into Monday Night Football NFL DFS picks with preferences ranked within each category.
Monday Night Football NFL DFS Picks – New York Jets @ San Francisco 49ers
Captain Plays
Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets
Now another year removed from his knee injury, Breece Hall is ready to go. The cheaper of the two running backs, Hall is truly at full strength entering 2024. And to make matters better, there is no doubt as to who is in control of New York’s backfield.
Last year, Hall had three monster games while averaging 4.5 yards per carry. The fact that he finished six yards shy of the 1,000-yard mark is more of a reflection of the Jets’ season than anything else. Hall is also a capable receiver which only enhances things from a PPR perspective. In 2023, Hall added 591 yards and four touchdowns on 76 receptions.
Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers
Christian McCaffrey is the most expensive player on tonight’s slate, and it is for good reason. Despite being limited this summer with a calf injury, McCaffrey appears to be ready to go for Week 1. Even if the 49ers do decide to take things slow with McCaffrey, he is simply too good to ignore.
We can’t understate his role in the offense. Last year, McCaffrey rushed for 1,479 yards while gaining another 564 yards through the air. McCaffrey combined for 21 touchdowns, and even against a tough Jets defense, he should find success. In 2023, there were just two games in which McCaffrey failed to reach the end zone. That gives him as good a floor as any.
Flex Plays
Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets
While the focus is on Aaron Rodgers (more on him later), it’s really about Garrett Wilson. Last year, to say Wilson had to make do with whatever the Jets put at quarterback might be an understatement.
Wilson played all 17 games and managed to gain 1,042 yards while catching 95 passes. With just three touchdowns, the only place to go from there is up for Wilson. Now that the Jets have a rebuilt and improved offensive line, in addition to a healthy Rodgers, there is a lot of room for improvement for Wilson.
We know that the skills, talent, and determination are there, and the chemistry has been building with Rodgers. It also helps that Wilson is the clear go-to target.
Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Deebo Samuel is an electric player. When the ball is in Samuel’s hands, either through the air or on the ground, he certainly can make things happen. Health has been an issue at times for Samuel, but there is no better time than Week 1 for him to be at full strength.
Between Brandon Aiyuk being late to sign and Ricky Pearsall being unfortunately sidelined, Samuel is truly the focus of San Francisco’s passing game. The Jets do have a tough defense, but Samuel’s versatility helps here as Brock Purdy simply has to get the ball into Samuel’s hands.
Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers
The fact that Brock Prudy can do limited damage on the ground makes him the more desirable quarterback tonight. It also helps that Prudy threw for 4,280 yards and 31 touchdowns last year and returns with his offense intact. There might be some rust to begin the season as teams take things slow, but Purdy did have success in the preseason.
Purdy is slated to have another strong season, but in Week 1, I’m not sure he’s someone we need to force into lineups at this price.
Aaron Rodgers, QB, New York Jets
I’m not sure many people in the NFL have more to prove this year than Aaron Rodgers. We know all about his track record and credentials, that goes without saying. But with all of the publicity he has received over the past year, Rodgers needs to do something. That is especially the case after he logged just four snaps last year.
Rodgers has everything in place for him to succeed. Chemistry with his teammates shouldn’t be an issue. The offensive line is improved, and it doesn’t get much better than Hall and Wilson when it comes to skill position players. At the very least, Rodgers should be a strong game manager.
George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers
While George Kittle was inconsistent at times last year, he still finished with 1,020 receiving yards on 65 receptions. Kittle had six touchdowns while continuing to be a reliable receiving threat. Last year, the Jets didn’t go great against tight ends, and Kittle could rack up production in the middle of the field. The other thought is that if Aiyuk plays a limited role, Kittle could pick up some additional red zone work.
Value Plays
Tyler Conklin, TE, New York Jets
At least initially, behind Wilson, the Jets are thin this season from a receiving perspective. That brings us to Conklin who caught 61 of his 87 targets last year. Conklin failed to find the end zone, but we also know how bad the Jets’ quarterback situation was last year. The tight end averaged 10.2 yards per catch for 621 total yards in 2023 and he figures to have a prominent role in New York’s offense.
Jordan Mason, RB, San Francisco 49ers
With Elijah Mitchell sidelined, Jordan Mason enters the season as the clear backup to McCaffrey. There is no question that is in a supporting role, but in Week 1, we know that things sometimes progress a little slower. Mason is a solid playmaker, and he could make a difference in limited action tonight.
Fade
Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers
It certainly is good news for San Francisco that Brandon Aiyuk re-signed prior to the season. A limited ramp period over the summer though will likely lead to a slow start to the season for Aiyuk. The 49ers are going to ease Aiyuk into action, and he gets started against a tough defense.
In recent days, we have seen Aiyuk’s yardage prop drop from 59.5 to 49.5 yards, and that is enough for me to stay away. The other problem is that we aren’t getting him at a discount.
Mike Williams, WR, New York Jets
Mike Williams is more affordable than his counterpart, but he too, will be limited. This comes after ACL surgery last season, but the good news is that Williams appears to operating at full strength. The issue though, is that Jets appear to be putting him on a snap count to begin the season. That doesn’t mean Williams can’t rip off a big play and make us look foolish, but it’s not something I want to bank on.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 1 Fantasy Football Rankings and analysis!