NFL Week 1 DFS Value Picks 2026: 7 Players to Watch
Our NFL Week 1 DFS value picks 2026 highlight seven players and backfield situations offering interesting fantasy upside before opening-week contests lock.
DFS value does not always mean choosing the cheapest player available. It can come from an expanding role, an injury elsewhere on the depth chart, a player returning to full health or a situation where expectations may not yet reflect opportunity.
Salaries, projections and player pools vary between DFS and Pick’Em platforms, so the players below are best viewed as situations to monitor rather than salary-specific recommendations.
For broader position-by-position selections, see our NFL Week 1 DFS picks for 2026. For player availability and injury situations, see our NFL Week 1 DFS injury watch.
Best NFL Week 1 DFS value situations to watch
| Player | Position | Week 1 matchup | Why he is interesting |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Holani | RB | vs Patriots | Expected to share Seattle’s early backfield workload with Jadarian Price. |
| Jadarian Price | RB | vs Patriots | First-round rookie with a path to meaningful opening-week carries. |
| Mike Washington Jr. | RB | vs Dolphins | Strong preseason production has put him firmly in the Raiders backfield conversation. |
| Travis Etienne Jr. | RB | at Lions | Alvin Kamara’s availability remains uncertain ahead of the opener. |
| Cam Skattebo | RB | vs Cowboys | Healthy again and positioned for a significant role in the Giants backfield. |
| Brian Thomas Jr. | WR | vs Browns | Back to full participation after a shoulder issue and offers big-play upside. |
| Zay Flowers | WR | at Colts | Returned to Ravens practice after missing time with a quad issue. |
1. George Holani – RB, Seahawks
Week 1: New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks
Seattle begins the season without Zach Charbonnet, who will open the year on Reserve/PUP while recovering from his ACL injury.
The Seahawks’ roster has George Holani, first-round rookie Jadarian Price and Emanuel Wilson in the backfield. Seattle has indicated that Holani and Price figure to split the workload early in the season.
That makes Holani relevant for DFS users searching for roles that may be larger than expected heading into Week 1.
2. Jadarian Price – RB, Seahawks
Week 1: New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks
Price was selected by Seattle with the No. 32 overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft and enters the season with an opportunity to contribute immediately.
Seattle expects Price and Holani to split early-season work, while Charbonnet’s absence leaves significant touches available in the Seahawks backfield.
Price offers a different DFS route into the same situation. His combination of first-round draft investment and immediate opportunity makes his Week 1 role worth following closely.
3. Mike Washington Jr. – RB, Raiders
Week 1: Miami Dolphins at Las Vegas Raiders
Few rookies helped their case more during the preseason than Mike Washington Jr.
Washington carried 23 times for 168 yards across three preseason games, averaging 7.3 yards per attempt. His longest run went for 53 yards, highlighting the explosive ability that helped him earn attention heading into the regular season.
Ashton Jeanty remains the lead back when healthy, but Washington’s productive preseason has put him firmly in the Raiders backfield conversation while Jeanty continues working back from his ankle injury.
4. Travis Etienne Jr. – RB, Saints
Week 1: New Orleans Saints at Detroit Lions
Etienne enters his first season with New Orleans after spending his first five NFL seasons with Jacksonville.
He rushed for 1,107 yards during the 2025 regular season and also contributed 36 receptions for 292 yards, giving the Saints an experienced option in both the running and passing game.
Alvin Kamara is recovering from a knee injury and is not participating in on-field work this week. New Orleans expects to have a clearer idea of Kamara’s Week 1 availability as the opener approaches.
5. Cam Skattebo – RB, Giants
Week 1: Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants
Cam Skattebo enters the 2026 season healthy again after the serious leg injury that ended his rookie campaign.
Skattebo rushed for 410 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie while adding 24 catches for 207 yards and two receiving scores.
His role had grown before the injury, and his return gives the Giants a physical, versatile option in the backfield heading into Week 1.
6. Brian Thomas Jr. – WR, Jaguars
Week 1: Cleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars
Brian Thomas Jr. briefly dealt with a shoulder issue late in the preseason, but Jacksonville head coach Liam Coen said Thomas was “full go” and should be ready for the opener.
Thomas finished 2025 with 48 catches for 707 yards and two touchdowns. Jacksonville now has a deeper receiving group that also includes Jakobi Meyers, Parker Washington and Travis Hunter.
That competition can make target distribution less predictable, but Thomas remains one of Jacksonville’s most dangerous downfield options.
7. Zay Flowers – WR, Ravens
Week 1: Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts
Zay Flowers returned to Ravens practice on September 3 after missing time with a quad issue.
His return is a positive development ahead of Baltimore’s opening matchup with Indianapolis and gives the Ravens another important receiving weapon alongside their established rushing attack.
Practice participation closer to the game will still matter, but being back on the field gives Flowers time to build toward Week 1.
How to identify DFS value in Week 1
Opening week is different from later NFL slates because there is no regular-season usage data for 2026 yet. Depth charts, preseason roles, injury information and coaching comments therefore carry more weight.
Players whose workloads changed late in August can be particularly interesting. Pricing and projections may not always fully reflect an injury to a teammate, a rookie earning a larger role or a player returning to health.
It is also important to distinguish opportunity from certainty. Seattle’s running backs, for example, have available touches but are expected to share them. Washington has earned attention in Las Vegas, but Jeanty remains the lead option when healthy.
Week 1 DFS value checklist
Before contests lock, check final player availability, projected workload, platform pricing, contest format and any late depth-chart changes.
A player becomes more attractive when his expected role increases without a similar increase in salary or projection. The opposite is also true: once a player’s expanded opportunity is fully priced in, the value can disappear.
Compare DFS and Pick’Em platforms
Player pools, scoring systems, contest formats and availability differ between platforms. See our best DFS sites guide for platform comparisons, or review our DFS state availability guide before entering.
NFL Week 1 DFS value picks FAQ
What are the best NFL Week 1 DFS value picks for 2026?
George Holani, Jadarian Price, Mike Washington Jr., Travis Etienne Jr., Cam Skattebo, Brian Thomas Jr. and Zay Flowers are among the players and situations worth monitoring. Their value will depend on platform pricing, workload projections and final availability.
Is George Holani a good Week 1 DFS option?
Holani is worth monitoring because Seattle expects him and Jadarian Price to split early backfield work while Zach Charbonnet begins the season on Reserve/PUP. His DFS appeal will depend on projected volume and platform pricing.
Will Mike Washington Jr. have a role in Week 1?
Washington earned attention after rushing for 168 yards on 23 preseason carries. His performance has put him in the Raiders backfield conversation while Ashton Jeanty continues his recovery from an ankle injury.
Is Travis Etienne a Week 1 DFS value?
Etienne could become particularly interesting if Alvin Kamara is unable to handle a normal workload against Detroit. Kamara’s Week 1 availability remains uncertain, so the Saints backfield should be monitored closely.
Is Cam Skattebo healthy for Week 1?
Skattebo enters the season healthy again following the injury that ended his 2025 campaign. His Week 1 workload will show how aggressively the Giants plan to use him at the start of the season.
Why can Week 1 create unusual DFS value?
Week 1 pricing and projections are built without regular-season usage data for 2026. Late injuries, depth-chart changes and unexpected preseason roles can therefore create situations where opportunity changes faster than expectations.
Bottom line
The strongest Week 1 DFS value situations are often created by opportunity rather than name recognition. Seattle’s backfield, Washington’s emergence in Las Vegas and Kamara’s status in New Orleans are three situations where projected workloads could change considerably before contests lock.
Skattebo, Thomas and Flowers offer different types of upside, while final practice information will help clarify which players deserve the strongest Week 1 consideration.
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.
Sources
- NFL – official 2026 Week 1 schedule
- Seattle Seahawks – 2026 roster and running back workload
- Las Vegas Raiders – Mike Washington Jr. 2026 preseason rushing statistics
- Las Vegas Raiders – Mike Washington Jr. and Ashton Jeanty backfield information
- New Orleans Saints – Alvin Kamara Week 1 availability
- New Orleans Saints – Travis Etienne Jr. player profile and 2025 statistics
- NFL – Cam Skattebo return ahead of the 2026 season
- Jacksonville Jaguars – Brian Thomas Jr. Week 1 availability
- Baltimore Ravens – Zay Flowers returns to practice, September 3, 2026
Published September 4, 2026. DFS pricing, projections, player availability, expected workloads and contest eligibility can change before games begin. Always review final team information and platform rules before entering.
