Week 1 DFS Lineup Picks: Winning the DraftKings Fantasy Football Millionaire Pot

The quest to be a millionaire is a long and arduous journey. Fortunately for all of us, DraftKings offers a weekly competition to make that journey nothing more than a skip and a hop away.

That is if you can nail the perfect DFS lineup. With steep competition and hundreds of thousands chasing the same dream you may need some advice on how to build the roster of dreams.

With up to 304,500 people making a profit on the competition here’s my winning lineup so we can all make a quick buck.

This weekly column will provide you with the information you need before choosing a lineup in DFS. Prices are sourced from DraftKings and FanDuel. Ownership projections are sourced from Pro Football Focus.

Click here for our DFS Stacks!

Quarterback Derek Carr vs TEN, $5300 

Carr has a fantastic matchup against Tennessee, a team that can defend the run far better than it can defend the pass. I broke this down in my “DFS Sleepers” article this week, so read more on Carr here!

Running Backs

J.K. Dobbins vs. HOU, $6600

Expensive? Yes, but hopefully that will dissuade some from picking him and therefore lowering his ownership percentage. J.K. Dobbins is an electric talent that is a perfect fit for DFS thanks to his ability to rip off big runs. 

Dobbins has been a top-five running back in breakaway run rates in both 2020 and 2022;  his two “healthy” seasons. This is firmly his backfield, and the Ravens should score plenty on the Texans. A 44-point over/under on a 9.5-point spread implies a 27-17 win for Baltimore. That leaves a lot of points for Dobbins to gobble up in DFS lineups. 

Aaron Jones @ CHI, $6,300

Chicago allowed the second-most points to the running back last year, so even some improvement leaves a lot of fantasy production on the table.

It’s what Aaron Jones does through the air is what puts him in my DFS lineup. Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs are both on track to miss this weekend with hamstring injuries. Rookies Jayden Reed and Luke Musgrave can’t carry the load themselves, and Jones is an extremely talented receiver who held a 13.4% target share last season. 

With 47 touchdowns since 2019 Jones has a high enough ceiling to put him in the lineup.

Wide Receivers

Treylon Burks @ NO, $5000

It’s always a smart call to play against your own lineup. If Derek Carr is to have a blowup game, then the Titans are likely in need of playing catch-up. That works well for Treylon Burks, who is already practicing in full after hurting his LCL last month. 

Due to injuries and backup quarterback play it’s tough to draw too many conclusions from Burks’ rookie season. But he was an amazing prospect out of Arkansas, with the skills after the catch and the size in the red zone to shine for DFS. There’s certainly some risk in taking a receiver on a run-first team, but you should let Burks shine while DeAndre Hopkins battles star cornerback Marshon Lattimore.

Tyreek Hill @ LAC, $8,200

Hill’s resume speaks for itself. Only Cooper Kupp and Justin Jefferson finished with more PPG than the Dolphins receiver last season, and the Chargers cornerbacks remain a weak point for the team.

Hill can turn any cornerback into a weak point, to be fair. He’s worth every dollar attached to him.

Mike Evans @ MIN, $6300

Evans has been one of the best names for DFS lineups across the last decade due to his remarkably high ceiling. Normally, in an amazing matchup like Minnesota, Evans would be highly owned on the week. 

But the stink of Baker Mayfield swings far and wide. At an expensive cost of $6300 Evans will likely be less owned than he should, and that shapes him up to be the perfect tournament play. His big-play ability and touchdown prowess remains a combination ripe for DFS success.

Mayfield could derail him but trust the veteran until proven otherwise.

Tight End

Juwan Johnson vs. TEN, $3,900

This play didn’t make my DFS stacks article, but it doesn’t make it any less intriguing. Carr and Johnson combine for just $9200 — nearly the price of Justin Jefferson alone ($9200). Johnson has been a great red-zone target for the Saints in the past couple years, resulting in an extension this offseason.

With Carr leading the charge instead of Andy Dalton those red-zone visits should be much more prevalent. If Jamaal Williams struggles against Jeffrey Simmons and the Titans defense, then the need to pass in the red zone will only increase.

Flex Antonio Gibson vs. ARI, $5200 

I wrote about Antonio Gibson in my DFS values article, which you can check out here!

DST Atlanta Falcons vs. CAR, $3200

Everyone wants to play the Commanders against the Cardinals this week at a cheap cost, so let’s pivot away from the grain. The Falcons were an abysmal unit last year, finishing tied for last in sacks and inside the bottom-10 in takeaways. 

But Atlanta spent a fortune this offseason rectifying it, adding David Onyemata, Jessie Bates, Kaden Elliss, Calais Campbell and Jeff Okudah to the defense, who all should start for the Falcons. They still have a star in A.J. Terrell at cornerback, and they face a rookie in Bryce Young who faced constant pressure during the entire preseason. 

If the Falcons surprise anyone this year with a successful season the defense will play a significant role in doing so.

Leftover budget: $0