In the whirlwind of the past five years, Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) has exploded into the spotlight, captivating fans from all corners. Picture this: tournaments teeming with a field that could have hundreds of thousands of players. Now, strap in for an adrenaline-fueled ride as we delve into the heart of the Fan Duel Milly Maker, where the action never sleeps and the stakes are sky-high with a $250 buy-in. But wait, there’s more! This battleground is reserved exclusively for Sunday’s main slate of games, where every move counts and champions rise to claim their glory. With a manageable $60,000 salary cap, contenders must craft their dream team of nine gridiron warriors: 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 Flex, and 1 DST. Are you ready to seize your moment in the spotlight? Welcome to Fan Duel Fanatics (Week 1).
The Milly Maker
With players growing more familiar with DFS tournaments, they’re actively seeking tactics to gain an advantage. Here we are going to highlight a player at each position that we think is a great value in the Milly Maker. Keep in mind, that these values should not be played together in one single lineup, but rather to be used to save cap space when combining them with the more expensive studs.
QB1- Trevor Lawrence vs Dolphins
Lawrence starts the season against the 24th-ranked pass defense, the Miami Dolphins who made a habit of allowing high passing totals in 2023. He is $7,400 which is far less than top option Josh Allen who is $9,200. The difference in points per game between Allen and Lawrence was massive last season but I’m going to take the deep discount on Lawrence and count on a bounceback season in a prime matchup this week.
RB1- James Cook vs Cardinals
Cook was quietly one of the best all-around running backs in 2023 and will look to continue that in 2024 with a matchup against the 16th-ranked Arizona Cardinals run defense. The Bills lost Stefon Diggs this offseason and will need Cook to continue to step up if they hope to remain competitive. He may not have the high-end upside of top running back option Bijan Robinson, but at a $1,200 discount, I will take Cook who is likely to put up similar production to Robinson in Week 1.
RB2- Aaron Jones vs Giants
Jones has battled injuries for what seems like ages. This season he finds himself out of Green Bay and into a Minnesota lineup that is missing some key pieces. JJ McCarthy is done for the season, TJ Hockenson is likely going to miss half of the season, and Jordan Addison is currently dealing with a nagging injury. If the Vikings are going to stay in the hunt, Justin Jefferson and Aaron Jones are going to have to carry this Sam Darnold-led offense. Jones is coming in at a discount of $2,000 when compared to Bijan Robinson and that’s all I needed to hear to fire him up in Week 1.
WR1- Gabriel Davis vs Dolphins
A new team, and a new dream for Gabe Davis. After several years in Buffalo where he defined the term “boom or bust”, Davis has moved on to the Jacksonville Jaguars. This is certainly not a safe play as Davis carries with him inherent volatility, but when you factor in a discount of $3,500 when compared to Tyreek Hill, I will fire up Davis and stack him with my starting quarterback Lawrence. The QB/WR stack at a discount gives me solid upside and a unique lineup that, if it hits, is unlikely to be replicated by too many other fantasy managers. Sometimes you have to swing for the fences and think outside the box to win these large field tournaments, and that’s what the Jaguars stack is.
WR2- Cooper Kupp vs Lions
There was a time not long ago when Kupp was the most expensive wide-receiving option, but only a year later we find him $2,600 more than Tyreek Hill. Sure, it’s unlikely that Kupp will have the same upside he once had, but we can’t rule it out. Factor in a deep discount from the elite tier of receivers and a matchup against the 32nd-ranked pass defense last year in the Detroit Lions and Kupp has the makings of a Week 1 steal. Another thing worth considering is the revenge game narrative for Stafford and the Rams that could see them attempt to put on an impressive passing display after being eliminated by the Lions last year in Stafford’s return to Detroit.
WR3- Michael Pittman vs Texans
Pittman is $2,100 cheaper than Tyreek Hill and I will take him at that price all day. Anthony Richardson returns to the Colts lineup and is sure to target Pittman early and often. The receiving options for Indianapolis, outside of running back Jonathan Taylor are pretty grim which ensures that Pittman will see a high volume of targets in a matchup against the 21st-ranked Texans. This game also figures to be a high-scoring shootout and if the Colts hope to keep up, they are going to need Pittman to put up a monster game.
TE1- Dalton Kincaid vs Cardinals
Much like Cook, Kincaid is going to have to step up his game if the Buffalo Bills hope to have success after the departure of Diggs. Kincaid faces the 13th-ranked Cardinals defense and will look for this to be the first step in a breakout season. Kincaid is valued at $6,800 when compared to Sam LaPorta at $8,00 who is currently questionable with a hamstring injury. It’s not typically a great strategy to pair a running back and pass-catcher from the same team as they tend to cannibalize each other’s upside, but in this offense, the receivers are not ones I’m looking to target so I will invest in the other fantasy positions instead.
FX1- Zamir White vs Chargers
White is a complete act of faith. The possibility of him being Mike Davis 2.0 is there for White but in Week 1, against a Chargers defense that ranked 30th in 2023, I will take my chances. He looks to be a three-down workhorse for the Raiders and considering his price tag of $6,400 is $2,400 cheaper than Bijan Robinson, it seems like the risk is worth the reward. White continues the trend of high-upside risks in this lineup, but this is the approach you need to take with such a large field.
DST1- Bengals DST vs Patriots
The Bengals were a mess in 2023 and hope to rebound in 2024 when they start the season against a New England Patriots offense that has no identity and lacks game-breaking talent. Whether rookie Drake Maye starts at quarterback in Week 1 or journeyman Jacoby Brissett, the Patriots are going to struggle to score, making the Bengals an excellent option for DST.
