ACS Sports & DFS · NFL Fantasy
NFL Week 1 DFS Picks 2026: Best Players & Fantasy Targets
The 2026 NFL season is almost here. These are our early Week 1 DFS and fantasy targets across quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end, plus the matchups and injury situations worth monitoring before contests lock.
NFL Week 1 DFS watchlist at a glance
- The 2026 regular season begins Wednesday, September 9 with New England at Seattle.
- San Francisco and Los Angeles play in Melbourne on Thursday, September 10.
- The main Sunday slate takes place September 13, followed by Denver at Kansas City on Monday night.
- Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen sit at the top of the Week 1 quarterback fantasy rankings.
- Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, Puka Nacua and Ja’Marr Chase enter Week 1 among the highest-ranked overall fantasy players.
Week 1 can be one of the hardest DFS slates to price correctly. Offseason roster moves, new coaches, changing depth charts and players returning from injuries all create uncertainty before teams have played a meaningful snap.
For that reason, the names below should be treated as an early watchlist rather than finished lineups or automatic Pick’Em selections. A great fantasy player can still be poor DFS value when the salary or individual projection is too high.
2026 NFL Week 1 schedule
Opening week is spread across Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday and Monday. The main Sunday afternoon slate contains 12 games, while standalone games create additional single-game and Pick’Em opportunities.
| Date | Matchup | Kickoff |
|---|---|---|
| Wed, Sep. 9 | Patriots at Seahawks | 8:20 PM ET |
| Thu, Sep. 10 | 49ers at Rams – Melbourne | 8:35 PM ET |
| Sun, Sep. 13 | Bears at Panthers | 1:00 PM ET |
| Sun, Sep. 13 | Buccaneers at Bengals | 1:00 PM ET |
| Sun, Sep. 13 | Saints at Lions | 1:00 PM ET |
| Sun, Sep. 13 | Bills at Texans | 1:00 PM ET |
| Sun, Sep. 13 | Ravens at Colts | 1:00 PM ET |
| Sun, Sep. 13 | Browns at Jaguars | 1:00 PM ET |
| Sun, Sep. 13 | Falcons at Steelers | 1:00 PM ET |
| Sun, Sep. 13 | Jets at Titans | 1:00 PM ET |
| Sun, Sep. 13 | Cardinals at Chargers | 4:25 PM ET |
| Sun, Sep. 13 | Dolphins at Raiders | 4:25 PM ET |
| Sun, Sep. 13 | Packers at Vikings | 4:25 PM ET |
| Sun, Sep. 13 | Commanders at Eagles | 4:25 PM ET |
| Sun, Sep. 13 | Cowboys at Giants | 8:20 PM ET |
| Mon, Sep. 14 | Broncos at Chiefs | 8:15 PM ET |
Best early quarterback targets for Week 1 DFS
FantasyPros’ Week 1 quarterback consensus ranks Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen in the top three, with Caleb Williams also inside the top 10. That makes them sensible names to research before DFS pricing and Pick’Em projections are finalized.
Joe Burrow – Cincinnati Bengals
Week 1: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Burrow opens at home with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins among his receiving options. The Burrow-Chase combination is an obvious stack to evaluate in lineup-based DFS, but its popularity and price will matter.
Lamar Jackson – Baltimore Ravens
Week 1: at Indianapolis Colts
Jackson’s passing and rushing production give fantasy players more than one route to points. Compare his passing, rushing and combined fantasy projections rather than assuming the most prominent line offers the best value.
Josh Allen – Buffalo Bills
Week 1: at Houston Texans
Allen remains one of fantasy football’s premier dual-threat quarterbacks. Houston provides a significant opening-week test, so salary and projection levels will be especially important when assessing him for DFS.
Caleb Williams – Chicago Bears
Week 1: at Carolina Panthers
Williams offers an alternative to the highest-ranked quarterback tier. His appeal will depend on pricing, contest format and the passing or rushing projections available closer to kickoff.
Running backs to monitor
Preseason half-PPR rankings place Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson first and second overall, with James Cook and Christian McCaffrey also inside the top 10. These are season-long rankings rather than Week 1 DFS prices, but they identify several high-end players worth considering when contests open.
Jahmyr Gibbs – Detroit Lions
Week 1: vs New Orleans Saints
Gibbs enters the season at the top of the half-PPR consensus rankings. His rushing and receiving involvement makes multiple stat categories relevant when comparing DFS and Pick’Em options.
Bijan Robinson – Atlanta Falcons
Week 1: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Robinson’s combined rushing and receiving role keeps him among the most highly rated fantasy players entering 2026. The Week 1 matchup and final price will determine whether that translates into strong DFS value.
James Cook – Buffalo Bills
Week 1: at Houston Texans
Cook provides another route into Buffalo’s offense alongside Allen. DFS players should compare his workload expectations with a difficult Houston matchup rather than relying on season-long rank alone.
Christian McCaffrey – San Francisco 49ers
Week 1: vs Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne
McCaffrey remains a high-end fantasy option entering the season. Because San Francisco plays on Thursday in Melbourne, confirm that the contest slate you are entering includes the game.
Wide receiver targets to watch
Puka Nacua, Ja’Marr Chase, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jaxon Smith-Njigba all sit inside the top seven of the half-PPR consensus rankings. They enter Week 1 as obvious players to consider, but receiving-yard and reception projections still need to be judged against the number offered.
Puka Nacua – Los Angeles Rams
Week 1: vs San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne
Nacua opens the season in the standalone Melbourne game. His high preseason fantasy ranking should make him a prominent name in single-game contests and player-projection boards.
Ja’Marr Chase – Cincinnati Bengals
Week 1: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Chase remains one of fantasy football’s top receiving options and can be paired with Burrow in traditional lineup contests. Check receptions, yards and touchdown-related projections separately before choosing a Pick’Em line.
Amon-Ra St. Brown – Detroit Lions
Week 1: vs New Orleans Saints
St. Brown enters 2026 near the top of receiver rankings and gives Detroit another major fantasy option alongside Gibbs. Reception-based formats may value his profile differently from standard scoring.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba – Seattle Seahawks
Week 1: vs New England Patriots
Smith-Njigba gets the opening-night spotlight as Seattle begins its season against New England. The standalone Wednesday game should also create additional single-game fantasy interest.
Tight ends to monitor
FantasyPros’ tight-end consensus ranks Brock Bowers first, Colston Loveland third, George Kittle eighth and Dalton Kincaid 11th. These rankings provide an early hierarchy, but contest-specific salary and projections remain the deciding factor.
Brock Bowers – Las Vegas Raiders
Week 1: vs Miami Dolphins
Bowers enters the season as the consensus top-ranked fantasy tight end. In DFS formats that require a tight end, he is an obvious premium option to compare against lower-cost alternatives.
Colston Loveland – Chicago Bears
Week 1: at Carolina Panthers
Loveland enters 2026 among the highest-ranked players at the position. His Week 1 role, target expectations and final price should determine whether he becomes an attractive alternative to Bowers.
George Kittle – San Francisco 49ers
Week 1: vs Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne
Kittle gives San Francisco another significant fantasy option in the Melbourne opener. As with McCaffrey, make sure the Thursday game is included in the contest slate before building around him.
Dalton Kincaid – Buffalo Bills
Week 1: at Houston Texans
Kincaid offers another way to gain fantasy exposure to Buffalo. His receptions and receiving-yard projections will be worth comparing with the broader Bills offense as Week 1 approaches.
Patrick Mahomes is a major Week 1 situation to monitor
Kansas City hosts Denver on Monday Night Football, but Patrick Mahomes enters opening week with unusual uncertainty after tearing his ACL and LCL during the 2025 season.
The NFL’s Week 1 preview identifies Mahomes’ availability as one of the central storylines surrounding the game. Until his status and expected role are clearer, Kansas City should be treated as a situation to monitor rather than a normal early DFS assumption.
How to use this Week 1 DFS watchlist
Season-long fantasy rankings and DFS value are not the same thing. Rankings help identify strong fantasy players, while DFS decisions also depend on salary, scoring system, slate size, roster construction and the individual projection offered.
For lineup-based DFS
Compare expected opportunity with salary. Paying premium prices for several elite players can leave too little budget elsewhere, so lower-cost players with established roles can become important once Week 1 pricing is available.
For Pick’Em contests
Judge the individual number rather than the player’s reputation. Passing yards, rushing yards, receiving yards, receptions and fantasy-point projections can each create a different decision for the same athlete.
If you are new to the format, read our guide explaining DFS, Pick’Em and fantasy contest formats .
Compare DFS & Pick’Em sites
Contest formats, age requirements, state availability and wallet structures can differ between fantasy platforms. Compare the available options before creating an account or entering a paid contest.
Compare the best DFS sitesCheck DFS availability in your state
DFS availability is not identical across the United States, and Pick’Em access can be narrower than traditional fantasy contests. Check the rules for both your location and the specific operator before entering.
See the ACS DFS legal states and Pick’Em availability guide for the state-by-state overview.
NFL Week 1 DFS FAQ
When does the 2026 NFL season start?
The 2026 regular season begins Wednesday, September 9 when the New England Patriots visit the Seattle Seahawks at 8:20 PM ET.
When is the main NFL Week 1 DFS slate?
The largest group of games takes place Sunday, September 13. Individual DFS platforms can divide Week 1 into different contest slates, so check which games are included before entering.
Who are the top early Week 1 quarterback targets?
Week 1 consensus rankings place Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen as the top three quarterbacks. Final DFS value will still depend on salary, scoring and the specific projections offered.
Are season-long fantasy rankings the same as DFS picks?
No. Season rankings estimate player value across a broader fantasy season. DFS decisions are slate-specific and also depend on salary, lineup rules, individual projections and late injury information.
Should I submit DFS entries several days before kickoff?
Entering early can mean acting before final injury reports, inactive lists and role changes are known. Recheck every entry before contests lock whenever the platform allows changes.
ACS bottom line
Week 1 brings plenty of elite fantasy names, but selecting the biggest name is not automatically the best DFS decision.
Burrow, Jackson, Allen, Gibbs, Robinson, Nacua, Chase and other highly ranked players all deserve attention. Their actual Week 1 value depends on the price or projection attached to them when contests open.
The most important work comes closer to kickoff: check injuries, starting roles, contest slates and updated projections before locking an entry.
Paid fantasy contests involve financial risk. Use only money reserved for entertainment, never chase losses and review the ACS Responsible Sweepstakes Gaming guide for practical information about limits and safer play.
Written and reviewed by Edvina Kaminskaite
Owner and Editor, American Casino Sweeps
Edvina oversees American Casino Sweeps’ casino, sports and fantasy coverage, including guides explaining DFS formats, Pick’Em contests, state availability, account requirements and operator rules for US readers.
About Edvina Kaminskaite and ACS editorial transparencySources
- National Football League. 2026 NFL schedule release: Complete slate of Week 1 games . Published May 14, 2026.
- FantasyPros. Week 1 Quarterback Fantasy Football Rankings .
- FantasyPros. 2026 Half PPR Fantasy Football Rankings .
- FantasyPros. 2026 Tight End Fantasy Football Rankings .
