By admin 
NFL Week 1 fantasy football action is here! The Sunday-Monday DFS slate offers premium stacking options and enough value to build around name-brand stars. This lineup leans into favorable matchups while still leaving room for lower-cost plays who can outperform their salaries. It’s best used in cash games rather than GPPs.
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Each week, I assemble a daily fantasy sports (DFS) lineup build that is intended to put extra cash in your pocket via DraftKings fantasy football contests. DraftKings is my preferred DFS platform and does not sponsor this content.
Understanding what you’re looking for out of a DFS lineup is paramount. The size of the contest, scope of the competition, and your desired range of outcomes all weigh heavily. Tweaks will be recommended as they arise, but all final decisions should be based on your level of comfort.
My Favorite DraftKings Fantasy Football Lineup for Week 1 DFS
QB Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($6,900)
Joe Cool draws a Tampa Bay defense that allowed 254.8 passing yards per game and 30 passing touchdowns last season, while this matchup carries one of the strongest scoring environments on the slate. Pairing Burrow with Ja’Marr Chase creates an elite DFS stack with multi-touchdown upside.
RB Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Arizona Cardinals ($6,800)
Hampton combines a strong projected workload with a favorable matchup against an Arizona defense that struggled to contain opposing running games last season. In PPR scoring, only two units were bigger cupcakes against the position. Los Angeles should have opportunities to play from ahead, which would keep Hampton involved on the ground while preserving his touchdown upside.
RB D’Andre Swift, Chicago Bears at Carolina Panthers ($6,100)
Swift brings a versatile workload into a matchup with a Carolina defense that had trouble limiting rushing efficiency last season, and it’s fair to question how much work Kyle Monangai will see after missing so much time in the offseason. Swift’s receiving usage also gives him a sturdy floor, particularly if game flow forces Chicago to lean on short-area throws, but that would be assuming the Panthers’ offseason personnel moves immediately make a difference.
WR Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($7,800)
Chase offers game-changing target volume in a matchup that should encourage Cincinnati to remain aggressive through the air. His connection with Burrow makes the pair one of the most obvious high-end stacks on the slate, with Chase presenting both top-flight reception volume and multi-touchdown upside at a reasonable price that allows you to build around him.
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WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions vs. New Orleans Saints ($7,500)
One of the league’s most reliable volume receivers between the 20s, St. Brown also delivers substantial red-zone involvement in Detroit’s high-octane offense. His reception-heavy role provides an awesome one-two punch atop this build when partnered with Chase, and the Saints need to prove their pass defense has markedly improved at limiting WR touchdowns after surrendering one every 10.4 grabs in 2025.
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WR Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers vs. Chicago Bears ($4,600)
Coker provides salary relief and comes with some upside in the event Carolina is forced to play from behind. An expected increase in target volume should give him an opportunity to outperform his modest salary, and it doesn’t hurt that Chicago’s secondary looks to be among the worst in football entering this one.
TE Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders vs. Miami Dolphins ($2,900)
Granted a meaningful role with a veteran quarterback throwing his way, Mayer offers a low-cost route to top-12 volume, making him especially useful for lineups spending heavily at quarterback and wide receiver. With Brock Bowers (knee) on the shelf, expect enough route participation and red-zone opportunities to give Mayer a realistic chance to return TE1-caliber value at only $2,900.
FLEX: TE Isaiah Likely, New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys ($4,300)
Likely carries considerably more receiving upside than a traditional tight end and draws a Dallas team that has the firepower to force the Giants into a pass-heavy script. Likely’s ability to produce downfield and in the red zone gives him WR-lite appeal from the flex spot, where a strong receiving performance could separate this lineup from more conventional roster constructions. Between the matchup, his role, and a thin receiving corps, don’t be shocked if Likely goes bonkers in Week 1.
D/ST Las Vegas Raiders vs. Miami Dolphins ($2,900)
Las Vegas offers a relatively inexpensive defense in a matchup that provides opportunities for sacks and turnovers against Malik Willis’ barren offense. Aside from stopping RB De’Von Achane, the Raiders can focus on forcing Willis to beat them through the air without requiring a dominant defensive performance. Pairing this unit’s modest salary with a favorable home matchup leaves additional cap space for the premium offensive pieces above.
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This story was originally published September 10, 2026 at 4:00 PM.