Let’s take an early look at some positional players and their corresponding salaries for Week 1 on DraftKings.
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Quarterbacks
Derek Carr (OAK): $7,300 @ NO
Carr and the Raiders have some high expectations heading into the 2016 season, and they will have a great chance to get things rolling offensively in Week 1. The Saints did little, if anything, in the offseason to dissuade me from picking on them early to start the season. The early Vegas lines have this pegged as a close game, with a projected total of 50.5 points. This is a phenomenal matchup for Carr, and at this price, look for his ownership levels to be high in tournaments.
Tony Romo (DAL): $6,800 vs. NYG
I would expect the Cowboys to be conservative in their approach with Romo, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be productive. His salary is ripe for the picking at this level, and with a plus matchup on deck at home, he could easily exceed value. With a seemingly healthy Dez Bryant back in the fold, coupled with a stout offensive line, I love Romo to put up big numbers in Week 1.
Robert Griffin III (CLE): $5,600 @ PHI
This isn’t for the faint of heart, but I don’t mind utilizing Griffin III if entering multiple tournament lineups. He hasn’t played in a while, but he does draw a good matchup, albeit in a tough environment on the road. We will find out real quick whether or not this offense has made any strides under a new coaching staff, and I want to be one of the owners to find out in Week 1.
Running Backs
Doug Martin (TB): $6,200 @ ATL
There are nine running backs priced ahead of Martin, who draws a good matchup against the Falcons. I don’t think we should expect anything too drastically different from the Buccaneers in terms of using Martin, so I have no issues targeting him as I would expect his price to ratchet up as the season progresses.
Latavius Murray (OAK): $5,600 @ NO
The jury is still out on Murray, but with such a soft salary, I am certainly going to have plenty of exposure to him this week. The Saints are not an imposing defense, and as I noted earlier, this game is projected to be close, with a healthy amount of points likely to be scored. I am not as high on Murray for the long haul, as I think he is vulnerable to having touches taken away by DeAndre Washington. That being said, a good performance out of the gates will only help his case.
Wide Receivers
Michael Crabtree (OAK): $5,500 @ NO
Amari Cooper will be the trendy pick, but Crabtree carries a decent floor for the price. He makes for a strong pairing in tournaments with Carr as the matchup is a good one.
Travis Benjamin (SD): $4,100 @ KC
With Steve Johnson out of the equation, Benjamin could be a beneficiary of some extra targets. The Chargers had already lost their downfield threat in Malcom Floyd, which is a role I expect Benjamin to fill. With the woeful Browns, Benjamin was still able to put up some relevant games, which should happen a bit more often due to a better quarterback situation.
Rishard Matthews (TEN): $3,300 vs. MIN
With Dorial Green-Beckham being shipped out of town, Matthews emerges as a tremendous value, assuming nothing else changes in Tennessee. The matchup isn’t the best against the Vikings, and his floor is low, but there’s all sorts of value to be had in this low price.
Tight Ends
Delanie Walker (TEN): $4,500 vs. MIN
The separation between Walker and Rob Gronkowski in terms of expected production in Week 1 is marginal, yet the pricing disparity between Gronkowski and the rest of the field is wide. Walker was a target monster last season for Marcus Mariota, and I don’t expect the usage to go down that much.
Dwayne Allen (IND): $3,200 vs. DET
I would anticipate Allen’s ownership levels being through the roof at this price, so keep that in mind when constructing rosters. Allen should benefit from Coby Fleener’s departure this season, but I’m more intrigued by Rob Chudzinki’s tight end-friendly offense. For cash games, Allen is nearly a free square.
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Adam Sutton is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Adam, follow him @DraftStars_Adam. You can find more of Adam’s work at DraftStars.net.