Best Week 1 DFS value picks to help you afford fantasy football’s biggest stars

When it comes to season-long fantasy football, Week 1 lineup decisions should remain pretty straightforward. 

Regardless of what you witness unfold across the opening primetime slates, there is zero need to get overly cute with your starting roster. You are not starting a wide receiver drafted in the 13th round over a high-upside player selected in the third just because you feel a bit better about an individual matchup. You play the elite talent and respect the high price you paid in draft capital. 

Once your season-long roster is locked in, you can turn your full attention to having some fun playing daily fantasy sports (DFS) and crafting a winning lineup specifically tailored for Week 1. 

Everyone naturally wants to pack their DFS rosters with marquee names, paying up for explosive superstars like Bijan Robinson and Ja’Marr Chase. To afford that kind of elite top-end talent, finding the best value bargains and deep-slate discounts is an absolute necessity. 

At quarterback, look toward the Saints’ Tyler Shough. Game scripts suggest the Lions will control the pace and lean heavily on their ground game in the second half to bleed the clock. That dynamic points to a heavily discounted Shough being forced into a pass-heavy approach, operating against a secondary already missing key personnel with safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph sidelined to open the year.

Those glaring holes in the secondary also unearth secondary bargains for the Saints, opening up low-cost stacking paths via wide receiver DeVaughn Vele and tight end Juwan Johnson. 

Shifting to the running back spot, dig deep into the player pool for Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd and exploit the reality that DFS pricing locks in weeks ahead of kickoff. With Josh Jacobs remaining on the Commissioner’s Exempt List, Lloyd steps in as the featured option in Matt LaFleur’s run-focused system. LaFleur understands the necessity of establishing an early ground game to counter Brian Flores’ notoriously fierce Vikings defense, meaning a heavy volume of carries should funnel straight to Lloyd. 

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) carries the ball against the Arizona Cardinals in the first half at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, on Thursday, August 13, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Beyond those options, another incredible value avenue has opened up with late-breaking news out of Las Vegas. Raiders tight end Brock Bowers recently underwent a minor meniscus trim on his knee and is expected to miss a couple of games.

This injury thrusts fourth-year tight end Michael Mayer straight into an expanded starting role. Mayer historically thrived when given extended opportunities with Bowers out of the lineup last season, proving he can command targets and produce. 

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With a somewhat limited receiving corps surrounding him, veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins will heavily lean on Mayer’s security blanket presence. Because DFS pricing adjusted before this injury news surfaced, Mayer represents an exceptional, budget-friendly roster piece who can unlock high-priced stars. 

By squeezing these smart Week 1 bargains into your build, financial flexibility opens up to load the rest of your roster with top-tier options in elite matchups. It is the ultimate way to enjoy a sweat and chase a DFS payout, completely unburdened by how your traditional season-long matchups shake out. 

Howard Bender is the head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on X @rotobuzzguy, catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Ch. 87) weekdays from 6-8 p.m. and dominate your leagues with the latest football news and advice from Fantasy Alarm.