Johnny G Hammer DFS

Johnny G’s Week 1 RB Picks – DraftKings NFL & FanDuel NFL

The NFL football season is back!  The Week 1 main slate is fast, and finally, approaching.  We’ve had so many season long drafts and studied the pricing for weeks.  It’s time to put all of that analysis into play in our DFS contests.

We’ll look to highlight some of the primary targets that are jumping out in our projection models.

Johnny G invites the NFL experts from Hammer DFS to share some of their research and insights to help you build your rosters and cross the money line in your DFS contests.

Cash Plays

What if I told you the team that ran the ball more than any team in the league last season is playing as a heavy home favorite against the defense that gave up the most fantasy points to opposing running backs last season?  Could there be a cashier cash game target?  I’m treating Chris Carson as a free square this week.

Chris Carson fantasy football

Nearly everything is indicating this is a smash spot.  The game script skews run-heavy.  The Bengals are missing their #1 receiver (AJ Green), making it less likely this game is close.

Despite leading the league in run plays, the Seahawks have indicated they want to run the ball even more this year.  “But Rashaad Penny” you say?  Every opinion you’ll find from this off-season leans Carson as the starter over Penny.  Plus, no Mike Davis in the mix mitigates the threat of Penny stealing too many snaps.  Carson is good chalk this week.

On DraftKings this week, assuming I don’t use both, I’ll give heavy consideration to Dalvin Cook.  He’s only $300 more than Carson on DK, although Cook’s $7400 price tag on FanDuel doesn’t rule him out over there.

The Vikings want to feature the run more this season and they brought in Gary Kubiak to help the process.  There’s also the added bonus of Latavius Murray no longer on the Minnesota sideline to vulture the goalline carries.

Atlanta’s struggles against running backs has been well documented.  Overall, they gave up the 3rd most fantasy points to backs and no one allowed more receiving yards to RB last season.

GPP Plays

Does anyone remember what Todd Gurley‘s price used to be?  At $7600 on FanDuel, you can have him at an approximate discount of $2000 from peak Gurley.

Should we be worried about his health?  Yes, but Gurley is not likely to be healthier this season than he is Week 1.  We also shouldn’t forget how many points this Rams team puts up.  He’s too risky for cash games, but considering his price and ownership, he’s in play as a possible GPP option.


Good luck in your NFL DFS contests this week!

This is just a taste of the information that the experts over at Hammer DFS are grinding over day in, day out.  From an opportunity perspective, the NFL is a sport with only a few chances to jump on the right plays and make money for the week.  If you need extra help or you just can’t put up the points you want to, check in with the guys at Hammer and see for yourself the difference a DFS Consultant can make.

Chris Racic

Chris Racic lives and plays in NE Ohio. He works full time in the Financial Services industry and owns an absolutely horrendous short game. Chris chipped in for an eagle at Seven Hills Country Club in Hartville the day before his oldest daughter was born and is positive it’s some sort of sign.