Welcome to the Late Slate. This is my first time doing the late slate. Each week I’ll provide the best plays for the late slate which includes the Sunday and Monday night games. Much like Money Makers and Heart Breakers, we will lay out the pricing of players the difference is I will only give you the best few plays at each position. This week we kick things off with my favorite Week 1 NFL DFS picks.
Week 1 NFL DFS Picks for the Late Slate
Quarterbacks
Jared Goff
In the dome at home playing a game against this old team that looks like it will be a shoot-out. Has there ever been a better time to play Jared Goff in DFS? Goff was very good last season and better when he played in a dome. The Rams gave up the sixth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks in 2023. I am liking him for Week 1.
$6,400 on DraftKings
$7,500 on FanDuel
Matthew Stafford
If you don’t want to play Goff in the late slate, then run it back the other way with Stafford. The 52.5 over under is good for both players. The Lions were not much better than the Rams last season at defending the pass as they gave up the seventh most fantasy points to opposing teams’ quarterbacks. Stafford also is playing against his old team in this one and both guys have a lot to prove to the teams that shipped them off.
$6,200 on DraftKings
$7,300 on FanDuel
Running Backs
Christian McCaffrey
This is Christian McCaffrey. What more do you want me to say about potentially playing him? But here it is anyway. The Jets are great against the pass but they are not so good against the run. The Jets gave up the seventh most fantasy points to running backs in 2023. McCaffrey will run, he will catch footballs, and he will score touchdowns in Week 1.
$8,600 on DraftKings
$10,500 on FanDuel
David Montgomery
Montgomery is priced the best out of all the viable running backs playing in these two games. That makes him someone I am interested in. Coming off his second 1000-yard rushing season where he also had 13 touchdowns the coach has confidence in Monty to get it done on the ground. Montgomery will be used in the red zone, especially inside the 10 to punch the ball in.
$6,100 on DraftKings
$7,000 on FanDuel
Wide Receivers
Amon-Ra St. Brown
I am in full start your Lions and Rams as far as receivers go for this slate. The Rams gave up the seventh most fantasy points to wide receivers in 2023. When we talk about St. Brown we are looking at a 30% target share of the Lions passing offense. In 2023 he had 164 targets, 119 receptions, 1515 yards, and 10 touchdowns. Break out your sunglasses and put on your suntan lotion because the sun god is going to shine bright.
$8,200 on DraftKings
$8,900 on FanDuel
Cooper Kupp
If you play any Lions receivers you need to run it back with some Rams. Who better than Cooper Kupp? In 2023 Kupp had a 25% target share after returning from injury. He is literally one of Matthew Stafford’s best friends on the team. Expect him to have double-digit targets in this game.
$7,200 on DraftKings
$7,000 on FanDuel
Garrett Wilson
In 2023 Wilson had 95 receptions, 1042 yards, and 3 touchdowns with backups playing quarterback. He reportedly has great chemistry with Aaron Rodgers and we can expect big things from him this season. It all starts Week 1. The Niners are pretty much middle of the road against wide receivers and the Jets will most likely need to throw in this game. Yes to Wilson!
$6,900 on DraftKings
$7,900 on FanDuel
Jameson Williams
Williams is going into his third season in the NFL. Word out of training camp was that he appears to be a man on a mission. After missing time from an ACL operation in his rookie season and a suspension last year he is ready to go in year 3. This game is going to be a shootout with an over-under of 52.5.
$4,400 on DraftKings
$5,800 on FanDuel
Kalif Raymond
As mentioned, this is going to be a shootout. It has the making of players breaking out who may not typically do that, and Raymond is one of those guys. He is priced right enabling you to fit in some higher-priced guys already mentioned in this article.
$3,300 on DraftKings
$4,900 on FanDuel
Tight Ends
Sam LaPorta
The Rams gave up the third most fantasy points to tight ends in 2023. If you wanted to pay up here it is completely understandable as LaPorta is the second option in the Lions passing attack after Amon-Ra St.Brown.
$6,300 on DraftKings
$8,000 on FanDuel
Colby Parkinson
The Lions also were not spectacular in 2023 at defending tight ends. They gave up the seventh most fantasy points to tight ends. Tight ends averaged 5 receptions and 55 yards against the Lions. Look for Parkinson to fill his role as a large target, especially in the red zone.
$3,100 on DraftKings
$4,700 on FanDuel
DEF
49ers
The Jets will be better on offense this season with Aaron Rodgers at the helm. But the Niners defense is excellent. The Jets offensive line is still a little shaky. I can see the Niners getting some turnovers in this game. For this Week 1 NFL DFS late slate, I am paying up at defense. I simply don’t trust any of the others.
$3,500 on DraftKings
$4,500 on FanDuel
Make sure to check out all of our Week 1 Fantasy Football Rankings and analysis!