The 2025-26 NFL season kicks off in earnest on Monday morning for Aussie fans, with a massive 12-game slate for the huge $40,000 contest at Draftstars! We kick off with an 8-game early slate, where the Octobox will get a solid workout on Redzone, before four games in the late window for those who have a bit of a sleep in. With several divisional matchups locked in, there should be plenty on offer for fans and fantasy players alike.
Draftstars has a $40,000 main contest, with a near $4,000 top prize, while there are multiple qualifiers to the 2025 NFL Star contest. The final of the NFL Star has a $60,000 prize pool and you can win your way into the big one through low buy-in qualifiers every NFL slate on Drafstars!
NFL 2025-26 Daily Fantasy Tips: Week 1
Quarterbacks
Jayden Daniels - $17,800
The reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year kicks off his 2025 campaign with a home game against NFC East rivals the New York Giants. Daniels scored decently last season against the Giants, and whilst I’m expecting an upgraded Giants’ defence, Daniel showed enough last year to put him straight into the upper tier of fantasy quarterbacks coming into the season. My numbers suggest expecting around 225 yards through the air, and 50 yards rushing for Daniels, with an average score around the 21 mark with some decent upside.
Daniel Jones - $11,340
Daniel Jones has certainly surprised a lot of people by winning the starting quarterback gig at the Colts, in a decision that I believe says more about Anthony Richardson than Jones himself. Regardless, a start against a team with potentially the worst secondary in the NFL at home to kick off the season isn’t a bad thing at all. Priced as the second lowest starting quarterback, Jones has top 15 upside this week against a defence he and his above average receiver group can exploit. Not only can he do it through the air this week, but Jones has also always been dependable on the ground, and I expect an average score of 16.5 this week, which is great for the price.
Running Backs
Jahmyr Gibbs - $17,980
It will be fascinating to see how much the offensive game plan changes with Offensive Co-ordinator Ben Johnson having moved on to Chicago, however I can’t see Gibbs’ role shrinking. Gibbs was the second best running back in fantasy football last season, and if the usage can go up a tad without effecting his efficiency, that could jump to number 1 this season. Comes up against a solid Packers’ run defence but should still figure amongst the elite running backs this week.
James Conner - $13,350
Conner was so solid last season, finishing as the RB11 in fantasy football. The Cardinals have made some big moves in the off season; however, Conner still figures to be a big part of the offense and he should once again be a very dependable running back, and a play in certain weeks. This week is one of those weeks, as Conner and the Cardinals face the New Orleans Saints as 6.5-point favourites. The Saints run defence last year was poor, particularly for second half of the year, where they allowed the third-most rushing yards per game, 11th highest explosive run rate, and the tenth-highest missed tackle rate. Their run defence has not been fixed, so expect a big game from Conner.
Travis Etienne Jr. - $9,520
There is a definite yin and yang in this selection, with the Jaguars’ running back room resembling a riddle right now. The running back room looks very much like it will be managed as a committee, with Etienne having his most disappointing season last year, third year banger Tank Bigsby coming back, and fourth round rookie Bhayshul Tuten coming into the fold. Given it will be Tuten’s first game, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him only come in late if the game is over, leaving Etienne and Bigsby to split snaps. Etienne was woeful last season; however, he gets a plus matchup to start the season, coming up against the Panthers at home in week 1. The Panthers were an historically poor run defence last year, and whilst they have made moves in the off season to sure this weakness up, it will still be a below average unit. Etienne can exploit this on the ground and through the air if he isn’t completely washed.
Wide Receivers
Brian Thomas Jr. - $14,220
Thomas has every chance to be WR1 in this slate, with so many positives coming into the Jaguars’ week one matchup with the Panthers. With Liam Coen coming on board as the Jags’ new offensive play caller, expect this offense to immediately take a step forward on last year. Trevor Lawrence is expected to take a step forward, and whilst the addition of Travis Hunter may take some targets away from BTJ, I don’t see it effecting his scores. With this game totalled at 46.5, points are expected, and BTJ should be good enough to deal with the likes of Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson.
Nico Collins - $15,360
Collins was great last year for the Texans, despite several injuries hampering his season. I expect him to take a step forward this year, as the Texans offense now fully revolves around him, with both Stefon Diggs (lost in free agency) and Tank Dell (injury) out for the year. Whilst I’m not expecting huge points in the Texans/Rams matchup this week, Collins will be a volume monster, as Stoud looks to his main man all game with the Rams pressure coming for him. Collins is elite when his QB is pressured, ranking 6th in the NFL when his QB is pressured. Collins also eats against zone, with the Rams running zone at the 5th-highest rate in the league last season.
Josh Downs - $9,760
A bit of a shot in the dark here, as we can’t be sure who Daniel Jones is going to target, however I like Downs at price, particularly against a defence that looks as poor as the Dolphins. Downs was tremendous last year against two-high safety looks, with the Dolphins running that scheme at the sixth-highest rate last season. Downs will take on a rookie this week in Jason Marshall Jr., who is a converted safety, and may well struggle to match it with Downs. Huge upside for the price, we just have to trust Jones…
Tight Ends
Brock Bowers - $14,200
Bowers was elite last season as a rookie tight end, and this season he gets a much better quarterback to feed him the ball. With not a lot of upgrades at wide receiver, it will be expected that Bowers continues as the 1B option, along with Jakobi Meyers in this passing attack. Yes, rookie running back Ashton Jeanty will be tasked with plenty of work too, but Bowers should pick up where he left off last season and be in the conversation all season as TE1.
Hunter Henry - $7,000
If you can’t afford an elite tight end this week, fear not, as Hunter Henry has the touchdown upside and the solid matchup to make him a solid pick at tight end. Whilst in an ideal world, you’d always want a Bowers, McBride, or Kittle in your team, it’s not always easy to shoehorn so many studs into your team. I’m predicting a solid score of 8 points this week for Henry, without a touchdown. He gets the third worst defence against tight ends from last season Las Vegas Raiders, so has a great shot at a score.
D/ST
Pittsburgh Steelers - $6,720
The Steelers get a tremendous matchup this week against a Jets team that may well finish last as an offense this year. With Justin Fields taking over at quarterback, the Jets don’t have a tonne of help for him on the offense, with Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson surrounded by a bunch of replacement level players. With Fields enjoying getting sacked as much as anyone, and this total lined like a pre-season game (38), there is not a lot of offense expected. If you’ve got the money, splash out on the Steelers.
Los Angeles Rams - $5,980
The Rams defence took a nice step forward last season, thanks in no small part to their two tremendous rookies, Jared Verse and Braden Fiske. Their defensive front is very good, and they come up against a Texans’ offensive line that was terrible last season, and lost their franchise left tackle Laremy Tunsil to the Commanders during the off season. I’m expecting 4+ sacks for the Rams, potential turnovers, and a relatively low scoring game (current total at 43.5). With the Rams at home, it’s the perfect mix for a D/ST.
Suggested Draftstars NFL Lineup
