The NFL is finally back, and Week 1 brings with it the return of NFL Daily Fantasy on Draftstars. With an offseason full of coaching changes, roster movement and evolving depth charts behind us, the opening slate provides one of the most interesting DFS challenges of the season. Unlike later weeks, there is no current season usage data to lean on, making 2025 production, offseason personnel changes and projected roles particularly important when constructing lineups.
The Monday morning Australian slate features plenty of intriguing game environments, with Buccaneers @ Bengals shaping as one of the most appealing games to attack. Elsewhere, Saints @ Lions offers stacking potential, while Bills @ Texans brings together two AFC contenders in a rematch of a game Houston won 23-19 last season. The late window also features Cardinals @ Chargers and Commanders @ Eagles.
Week 1 inevitably creates uncertainty, but that can also produce significant value before Draftstars salaries fully adjust to new roles. Building correlated lineups remains important but identifying players whose 2026 opportunity exceeds what is reflected in their salary could be the biggest edge of the opening slate.
Also the NFL Star returns at Draftstars this year with $60,000 up for grabs! You can find out all the important NFL Star details here.
NFL 2026-27 Daily Fantasy Tips: Week 1
Quarterbacks
Justin Herbert - $14,660
Justin Herbert immediately stands out at a very manageable salary, particularly after his rushing production added another dimension to his fantasy profile in 2025. Herbert completed 340 of 512 passes for 3,727 yards and 26 touchdowns across 16 games, but it was his career-high 498 rushing yards that really caught the eye. He averaged more than 31 rushing yards per game, recorded five runs of at least 20 yards and added another two touchdowns on the ground.
That rushing floor makes Herbert considerably more attractive in DFS than a pure pocket passer with similar passing numbers. He opens 2026 at home against Arizona, giving the Chargers a favourable environment to start the season. Herbert was also far more aggressive as a runner last year, increasing from 69 rushing attempts in 2024 to 83 despite playing one fewer game.
At $14,660, we aren't paying an elite quarterback salary for a player with legitimate 300-yard passing upside and the ability to add another 30-50 yards with his legs. He is my preferred combination of floor, ceiling, and salary at quarterback, and it doesn’t hurt that the Chargers are 9.5-point favourites.
Tyler Shough - $13,960
Tyler Shough is one of the more intriguing second year quarterbacks entering 2026. He didn't become the Saints' starter until midway through his rookie season but finished with 2,384 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions on 327 attempts, completing an impressive 67.6% of his passes. More importantly for DFS, Shough wasn't stationary in the pocket, adding 186 yards and three touchdowns on 45 rushing attempts.
Shough went 5-4 across his nine starts and helped New Orleans win four of its final five games, giving the Saints enough confidence to enter 2026 with him firmly established as their starter. The matchup with Detroit also creates an interesting tournament environment. The Lions generated 49 sacks last season and have added to their defensive front, so there is certainly downside if New Orleans struggles in protection.
However, Detroit should also be capable of putting points on the board at home, potentially forcing Shough into elevated passing volume. With Chris Olave commanding a huge share of this passing game, a Shough-Olave stack provides an inexpensive way to attack a game where New Orleans may have to throw throughout the second half.
QB Strategy
The temptation in Week 1 is always to pay for the established superstar quarterbacks because their roles carry less uncertainty, but Herbert and Shough both create useful salary flexibility. Herbert is the stronger standalone option, with his 2025 rushing spike giving him multiple paths to a ceiling game, while Shough makes considerably more sense when paired with Olave.
Stacking remains my preferred approach at quarterback. Herbert can be paired with one or two Chargers pass catchers, while Shough and Olave have obvious correlation. In tournaments, bringing an opposing player back into those stacks can further increase the chance that your lineup benefits if the entire game exceeds expectations. The key is not simply finding the quarterback projected to score the most points, but finding the combination that provides ceiling without compromising the remainder of the roster.
Running Backs
Saquon Barkley - $13,430
Saquon Barkley's 2025 season was a major step backwards from his incredible 2,005-yard debut with Philadelphia, but the Draftstars salary has adjusted accordingly. Barkley still carried 280 times for 1,140 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games, while catching 37 passes for another 273 yards and two scores. That's more than 17 carries per game despite Philadelphia reducing his workload from the previous season.
Week 1 also gives him a familiar divisional opponent. Barkley shredded Washington for 132 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries when these teams met in Week 16 last season, including a 48-yard run. The Commanders have spent the offseason trying to address exactly that problem, but Philadelphia still owns an offensive line capable of controlling this matchup.
There is also reason for optimism around his 2026 role. New offensive coordinator Sean Mannion is installing more wide-zone concepts, and reports throughout camp have indicated Barkley remains the clear focal point of the backfield. At $13,430, we're getting genuine 25 touch upside without paying the salary he was consistently priced at the past two years.
Bucky Irving - $11,440
Bucky Irving's sophomore season never really got going after injuries restricted him to only 10 games, but his receiving production continued to demonstrate why he remains such an appealing DFS back. Irving finished with 588 rushing yards on 173 carries but added 30 receptions for 277 yards and three receiving touchdowns. That gave him 865 yards from scrimmage despite missing seven games.
The rushing efficiency dropped dramatically from 5.4 yards per carry as a rookie to 3.4 last season, but that also helps explain the relatively modest $11,440 Week 1 price. The matchup against Cincinnati is particularly interesting after the Bengals finished dead last against the run in 2025. Cincinnati has attempted to fix that weakness aggressively, adding Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen to the defensive front, so we shouldn't simply assume last year's matchup remains intact.
Still, Irving's ability to contribute as a receiver protects him from game script, and Buccaneers v Bengals has the ingredients to become one of the slate's better offensive environments. If Irving returns to anything approaching his rookie efficiency, this salary won't remain this low for long.
D'Andre Swift - $11,280
D'Andre Swift enters Week 1 with considerably more security than his salary suggests. Chicago has just handed him a three-year extension after the best rushing season of his career, with Swift recording 1,087 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground in 2025. He also caught 34 passes for 299 yards and another touchdown, giving him 1,386 yards from scrimmage and double-digit total scores.
That extension is important from a DFS perspective because it reinforces Chicago's commitment to Swift as a major component of the offense rather than viewing him as a placeholder in the backfield. His receiving ability also gives him a route to production regardless of game script.
The Bears open on the road against Carolina in a matchup they should be capable of controlling, making Swift attractive at just $11,280. Week 1 backfields can be notoriously difficult to project after an offseason of speculation, so there is value in targeting a player whose team has quite literally just committed significant guaranteed money to him. He doesn't need a massive workload to return value at this price, while his receiving work gives him tournament ceiling.
RB Strategy
Running back is where I'm particularly interested in taking advantage of Week 1 pricing. Barkley provides the established workhorse profile, while Irving and Swift allow considerably more salary flexibility without forcing us into speculative backup running backs.
All three also have receiving involvement, which is important when we're trying to avoid backs who require a touchdown to produce a usable score. Barkley is the strongest raw volume play, Irving offers perhaps the most interesting combination of matchup and price, while Swift's newly reinforced role gives him an appealing floor. Using two of these backs together is completely viable, and I'm comfortable allocating more salary to wide receiver rather than forcing in the most expensive RB options on the slate, especially looking at the matchups of the two running back studs, Gibbs and Bijan.
Wide Receivers
Amon-Ra St. Brown - $17,820
Amon-Ra St. Brown remains one of the safest volume bets at wide receiver. He produced another monster season in 2025, catching 117 of 172 targets for 1,401 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 82.4 receiving yards per game. That works out at more than 10 targets and almost seven receptions per contest across the entire season.
Detroit opens at home against New Orleans, and this matchup sets up particularly well for the areas of the field where St. Brown thrives. The Saints employ plenty of zone match concepts, creating opportunities underneath and through the slot for receivers capable of finding space and generating yards after the catch.
The $17,820 salary is substantial, but St. Brown's combination of target volume and touchdown equity means he doesn't necessarily need a huge downfield play to deliver. His ceiling comes through accumulation: double-digit receptions, 100+ yards and touchdown opportunities. On a Week 1 slate filled with uncertain receiver rotations, paying for one of the NFL's most dependable target earners makes plenty of sense.
Chris Olave - $14,590
Chris Olave finally delivered the season fantasy players had been waiting for in 2025. After injuries ruined much of his previous campaign, Olave established career highs across the board with 100 receptions, 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns, leading New Orleans in all three categories.
His connection with Tyler Shough became particularly interesting late in the year. From Weeks 15-17, Olave produced lines of 6/85/1, 10/148/2, and 8/119/1, demonstrating both an enormous target ceiling and considerably improved touchdown production. That late season chemistry is a major reason I'm willing to go straight back to the pairing in Week 1.
Detroit's secondary presents a tougher challenge, with D.J. Reed likely to see plenty of Olave, but the Saints' limited receiver depth makes the target concentration difficult to ignore. If Detroit plays from in front, Shough could easily push towards 35-40 attempts. At $14,590, Olave gives us true WR1 volume at a noticeable discount from the slate's premium receivers.
Khalil Shakir - $10,250
Khalil Shakir might be my favourite matchup specific receiver on the slate. His overall 2025 numbers were relatively modest, 72 receptions for 719 yards and four touchdowns across 16 games, but the last time Buffalo travelled to Houston, Shakir produced his biggest receiving game of the season.
Shakir was targeted 10 times in that Week 12 matchup, catching eight passes for 110 yards, including a 44-yard gain. Houston's pass rush completely overwhelmed Buffalo, sacking Josh Allen eight times, and Shakir's underneath role became extremely valuable as Allen needed to get the football out quickly.
That same structural matchup makes him fascinating at $10,250. Houston still possesses an elite pass rushing combination in Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, meaning Buffalo may again lean on quick throws and yards after catch rather than waiting for deeper routes to develop. Shakir doesn't need to repeat 110 yards to justify this salary, and his established chemistry with Allen gives him a very useful floor.
WR Strategy
Wide receiver offers the clearest opportunity to combine an expensive anchor with mid-range value. St. Brown is the premium option because his 2025 target volume remained elite, while Olave offers similar concentration at a lower salary. Shakir then provides the flexibility required to make those combinations possible.
Correlation should still influence decisions. Olave naturally fits Shough lineups, while St. Brown can be used as the opposing piece in those same game stacks. Shakir is attractive independently but can also serve as a bring back when targeting Houston. Rather than simply selecting three receivers projected for the most points, I want at least part of my WR construction tied directly to the game environments I'm betting on elsewhere in the lineup.
Tight Ends
Cade Otton - $6,680
At only $6,680, Cade Otton doesn't need to produce like an elite tight end to become extremely useful. He caught 59 passes for 572 yards on 81 targets last season, essentially matching his 2024 reception total despite scoring only once.
That touchdown number stands out as a potential regression candidate. Otton had scored four times in each of the previous two seasons, and he finished 2025 strongly with seven catches for 94 yards and a touchdown against Carolina.
The appeal this week is also roster construction. Tampa Bay v Cincinnati has shootout potential, and Otton gives us cheap exposure without needing to pay premium prices for the Buccaneers' primary weapons. His 81 targets last year demonstrate that he isn't simply reliant on touchdown upside. At a volatile position, that combination of route involvement, established receiving volume and a bargain salary makes him one of my favourite ways to save money. The Bengals were also the worst team against tight ends in fantasy last season.
Michael Mayer - $6,440
Michael Mayer is one of my favourite value plays on the entire slate following the news that Brock Bowers will miss Week 1. Mayer was largely relegated to TE2 duties when Bowers was healthy last season, but his role changed dramatically whenever the superstar tight end was unavailable. In four games without Bowers, Mayer played more than 90% of the offensive snaps and caught 18 of 24 targets for 196 yards and a touchdown, including nine catches for 89 yards in Week 17.
The matchup makes the $6,440 salary even more appealing. Miami conceded the third most fantasy points to opposing tight ends last season, allowing 109 receptions and 1,134 receiving yards to the position. With Bowers unavailable, there is a significant number of targets suddenly up for grabs in an already thin Raiders receiving corps.
Mayer should also be an ideal safety blanket for new quarterback Kirk Cousins, particularly working underneath and over the middle. At essentially a TE2 price, we're getting a player who should operate as Las Vegas' clear TE1 in one of the best positional matchups on the slate. He is an outstanding salary saving option that opens up plenty elsewhere in your lineup.
TE Strategy
Tight end is the position where I'm most willing to save salary in Week 1. Otton and Mayer both sit below $7,000, yet each has demonstrated an established NFL receiving role rather than relying purely on preseason hype.
Neither needs to lead his team in receiving to justify the investment. Paying down here also makes combinations involving Barkley, St. Brown, and Olave considerably easier to construct, which is exactly what I want from a cheap tight end.
Defence / Special Teams
Philadelphia Eagles - $6,530
Philadelphia opens at home against Washington, and the matchup creates obvious opportunities for pressure. The Commanders enter Week 1 without starting left tackle Laremy Tunsil, while their offensive line also has questions at centre. Philadelphia remains extremely strong through the interior with Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, even with Jonathan Greenard ruled out.
Jayden Daniels' mobility always creates risk for an opposing defence, but it can also create sack opportunities when plays break down. At $6,530, Philadelphia provides a strong combination of home field advantage, pressure potential and a Washington offence adjusting to a new coordinator.
Jacksonville Jaguars - $7,360
Jacksonville is the more expensive option, but the matchup against Cleveland is difficult to ignore. Deshaun Watson is returning to start after nearly two years away, while the Browns are already without guard Teven Jenkins and have uncertainty elsewhere on the offensive line. Jacksonville enters as a sizeable home favourite.
The Jaguars don't necessarily need to completely shut Cleveland down to score well in DFS. If the offense builds an early lead, Watson could be forced into obvious passing situations, creating additional sack and turnover opportunities. That game script ceiling makes Jacksonville one of the strongest defensive options on the slate.
D/ST Strategy
Defence remains inherently volatile, so I don't want to sacrifice a strong skill position play simply to force in Jacksonville. The Eagles offer enough pressure upside at the lower salary to be my preferred balanced option, while Jacksonville makes sense when the extra $830 doesn't materially weaken the lineup.
I'm primarily chasing pressure, turnovers, and favourable game script rather than simply choosing the defence facing the lowest projected team total. Both selections have quarterbacks who could be forced into uncomfortable passing situations, which is exactly the profile I'm looking for.
Slate Strategy & Roster Construction
Week 1 is different from almost every other DFS slate because uncertainty itself becomes part of the strategy. We know what these players did in 2025, but we don't yet know exactly how new coordinators, offseason additions and altered depth charts will translate into regular season usage.
That makes established volume particularly valuable. Barkley, St. Brown, and Olave have clearly defined roles, while Herbert's rushing production gives him a strong secondary source of scoring. At the same time, players such as Irving, Shakir, Otton and Mayer create enough salary relief to build lineups around those premium pieces.
I still want correlation in tournament lineups. Shough-Olave with St. Brown coming back is an obvious three player construction. Tampa Bay-Cincinnati also offers several ways to attack a potentially high scoring game, while Shakir provides an inexpensive piece of Bills-Texans.
Most importantly, don't build a Week 1 lineup based entirely on what we think changed during the offseason. Where possible, combine projected 2026 opportunity with evidence from 2025. The market will become much more efficient once we have actual snap, route, and touch data.
Final Thoughts
Week 1 is one of the most enjoyable Draftstars slates of the season precisely because we don't have all the answers yet. Salaries are based largely on expectations, and one game can completely reshape how we view a player's role.
My preferred builds start with value rather than stars. Shakir and the cheap tight ends open salary, Herbert provides quarterback upside without paying the premium, and that makes it considerably easier to reach players such as Barkley, St. Brown, and Olave.
There will be surprises, there always are in Week 1. The goal isn't to correctly predict every new depth chart. It is to build correlated lineups around strong game environments, established usage and players whose realistic ceiling exceeds what their Draftstars salary suggests.
Suggested Draftstars NFL Week 1 Lineup
NFL DFS is finally back. Let's get into it!
