Best MLB Bets Today – Free (Thursday 10/17)
MLB Dream
Finding the best anchors for your DFS lineup is the best way to start lineup construction, so each week in this space, I’ll be taking a look at a skill-position breakdown of players who stick out on FanDuel. Whether it’s because of matchup or usage or anything else, these are players who should feature heavily in lineups.
Quarterbacks | FanDuel Week 1 picks
Kyler Murray is an excellent NFL DFS pick for Week 1
($8,400, at Tennessee)
Week 1 starts with a bang, as the Arizona Cardinals travel to the new-look Titans for a potential shootout in Nashville. This game currently sports a 52.5 over/under, and in terms of pace, the Cardinals are one of football’s fastest offense in terms of situation-neutral pace, logging a mark of 25 seconds per play. Fold in a potential negative gamescript, as the Cards are underdogs, and this lines up for a monster day for Kyler Murray.
Jalen Hurts is a DFS value for Week 1
($7,600, at Atlanta)
Finally named his team’s starter (despite it being the assumed result for months), Jalen Hurts comes off an outstanding rookie season where he was named the starter after a Carson Wentz injury, and he gets to begin his second season against the Falcons, who ranked as the league’s worst defense against the pass.
Running back | FanDuel Week 1 picks
Grab Antonio Gibson as a FanDuel Week 1 play
($7,000, vs. LA Chargers)
Returning from a nasty knee injury a season ago, Antonio Gibson should be fed plenty in what we expect to be a low-scoring affair. The Washington Football Team should rely heavily on the defense and pound the rock against a Chargers team that clocked in third worst against the run. Gibson recorded 15-plus touches in four of his last six games, and with an over/under set at 45.5 points, expect him to be heftily involved.
Travis Etienne’s injury makes James Robinson a Week 1 DFS value
($5,900, at Houston)
When a disappointing injury occurred to rookie Travis Etienne, now sidelined for the year, that paved the way for a very clear path to volume for second-year man James Robinson. Fold in a road game that should be tightly contested with Jacksonville the favorite? Yes, please. Houston allowed a whopping 31 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs in 2020, and the 1,000-plus yard rusher could be a massive play.
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Wide receiver | FanDuel Week 1 picks
Tyreek Hill is a top NFL FanDuel pick in Week 1
($8,500, vs. Cleveland)
With the top over/under on the day and implied team total of 30.5 points, you can bet your bottom dollar that Tyreek Hill will be heavily involved against a Cleveland defense that clocked in fifth worst against the pass a year ago. Hill doesn’t command the same presence as a Davonte Adams, but his 22.1% target market share shows that both him and tight end Travis Kelce will be big cogs in this attack. Kansas City ranked as the fifth-heaviest passing attack a year ago (1.60 passes per run), so make sure you can afford Hill.
Michael Pittman is a strong DFS play to open the season
($5,300, vs. Seattle)
With T.Y. Hilton unfortunately placed on the PUP List, that leaves quite a bit of work available in the passing tree, particularly for Michael Pittman. Seattle ranked as a bottom-10 pass defense a year ago, so it’s not often we get an ability to roster what appears to be the No. 1 wideout on an offense for such a cheap price. Pittman could be a real salary saver.
Tight end | FanDuel Week 1 picks
Travis Kelce could open with a DFS bang
($8,500, vs. Cleveland)
Like Hill, Travis Kelce should play a large role in a fast-paced offense — Kansas City ranked in the top half of the league with 26.7 seconds per snap. Kelce commanded a larger share of targets a season ago (23.7%), and he roasted this secondary in the playoffs last season for 8 catches, 109 yards and a score. In Kelce’s final 11 games in 2020, he racked up 1,275 receiving yards. Expect more gaudy numbers this week.
