Julio Jones is positioned as well as any of the top WRs to have a huge Week 1

The start of the 2016 NFL season is upon us and while the most exciting time of the year for season-long fantasy leagues is coming to a close, DFS is just now getting into full swing for the next 17 weeks of regular season excitement. Watch for my weekly FanDuel lineups prior to the Thursday night game to start to get you thinking about potential plays at a variety of price points for each position and an example lineup construction for the upcoming week.

Be sure to pay close attention to injury reports and late-breaking news to find any new value plays that could emerge as the week unfolds. With that, on to the Week 1 FanDuel Lineup.

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Quarterback

Derek Carr (OAK): $7,700 @ NO
Carr provides a nice mix of value and upside to plug into the QB position. He averaged about 250 yards and two touchdown passes per game last year and has a great matchup to start 2016 facing the Saints who allowed the most points to opposing quarterbacks last season. With one of the highest Vegas totals of the week and a close point spread, Carr is one of the top plays at QB in Week 1.

Other Notables

• Andrew Luck (IND): $8,700 vs DET
• Eli Manning (NYG): $7,200 @ DAL
• Dak Prescott (DAL): $5,000 vs NYG

Running Back

Lamar Miller (HOU): $7,600 vs CHI
Miller should be a workhorse back for the Texans this season resulting in at least 20 touches every week. He should get quite a bit of work in the opener playing at home as a six-point favorite against a Bears’ defense that allowed the 11th most rushing yards to opposing running backs last season. Even if Vegas is wrong and the Texans need to come from behind Miller will also be part of the passing game for the Texans providing a dual threat that is great to have from your DFS running back.

DeAngelo Williams (PIT): $7,100 @ WAS
With Le’Veon Bell suspended, Williams will take over as the primary back for the Steelers during their first three games. Williams averaged over 20 touches in each game without Bell last season for 112 total yards and one score. He is another dual-threat option that will be heavily involved both on the ground and in the air with the Steelers as a small road favorite against the Redskins in a game with one of the highest Vegas point totals.

Other Notables

• Todd Gurley (LA): $8,900 @ SF
• Ezekiel Elliott (DAL): $7,900 vs NYG
• DeMarco Murray (TEN): $6,500 vs MIN
• Ryan Matthews (PHI): $6,100 vs CLE
• Spencer Ware (KC): $5,400 vs SD

Wide Receiver

Julio Jones (ATL): $9,000 vs TB
While all of the top priced wide receivers are worth considering including Antonio Brown and Odell Beckham Jr., Jones could be in the best position to have a big day. He will face off against a Buccaneers secondary that gave up 22 touchdowns to wide receivers last year (5th most) while allowing the 12th most yards to the position. Jones offers the consistency you look for when paying up at WR with only two games with less than 10 targets last season.

Amari Cooper (OAK): $7,100 @ NO
Pairing up Cooper with Carr for a high upside QB-WR stack for at a reasonable price. Cooper was inconsistent with many highs and lows in his rookie season but should start to become a more consistent player in his second season. That consistency will start this week facing a Saints’ defense that allowed a league-worst 27 TD receptions to opposing wide receivers last season.

Marvin Jones (DET): $5,500 @ IND
Jones will look to help fill the void left by the retirement of Calvin Johnson in Detroit. With a cheap price tag, Jones should be in line for at least 8-to-10 targets in a game with a high Vegas point total and the Lions as a small underdog against a Colts’ defense that allowed the eighth most fantasy points to opposing WR last season.

Other Notables

• Antonio Brown (PIT): $9,300 @ WAS
• DeAndre Hopkins (HOU): $8,400 vs CHI
• Mike Evans (TB): $7,900 @ ATL
• Brandon Marshall (NYJ): $7,700 vs CIN
• Donte Moncrief (IND): $6,200 vs DET

Tight End

Travis Kelce (KC): $6,400 vs SD
Kelce consistently gets 6-to-8 targets a game for the Chiefs’ offense and offers nice salary savings at the tight end position compared to Rob Gronkowski ($8,700), Greg Olsen ($7,500) and Jordan Reed ($7,400) with similar upside. He will face a Chargers’ defense that allowed an average of 4.7 catches for 53 yards and 0.5 TD last season to the TE position.

Other Notables

• Jordan Reed (WAS): $7,400 vs PIT
• Dwayne Allen (IND): $5,500 vs DET

Kicker

Mason Crosby (GB): $4,700 @ JAC
The Packers have one of the highest projected team totals for the week and will be playing in the warm weather in Jacksonville against a Jaguars team that allowed the most points to opposing kickers last season. Crosby has also connected on at least four 50+ yard field goals in each of the last three seasons.

Other Notables

• Steven Hauschka (SEA): $4,800 vs MIA
• Nick Novak (HOU): $4,500 vs CHI

Defense

Houston Texans: $4,900 vs CHI
The Texans are almost a touchdown favorite playing at home in a game with a low Vegas point total. They also ranked fifth in sacks last season with 44 and will face a Bears’ team with turnover-prone QB Jay Cutler behind center.

Other Notables

• Seattle Seahawks: $5,000 vs MIA
• Los Angeles Rams: $4,500 @ SF

My Lineup

• QB – Derek Carr (OAK): $7,700
• RB – Lamar Miller (HOU): $7,600
• RB – DeAngelo Williams (PIT): $7,100
• WR – Julio Jones (ATL): $9,000
• WR – Amari Cooper (OAK): $7,100
• WR – Marvin Jones (DET): $5,500
• TE – Travis Kelce (KC): $6,400
• K – Mason Crosby (GB): $4,700
• D – Houston Texans: $4,900

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Brad Richter is a correspondent at FantasyPros and a contributor at DailyOverlay and GoingFor2. For more from Brad, you can view his archive or follow him @RotoPilot.