Strategies

Fantasy Value Picks for Week 1 of the 2014 NFL season


 
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Marqise Lee top the list of fantasy value for FanDuel on Week 1 of the 2014 NFL season. Fitzpatrick takes over the starting quarterback job in Houston for the Texans while Lee suits up for his first regular season NFL game.

Fitzpatrick is entering his 10th NFL season and offers a great value pick at the quarterback position for week 1 allowing you a chance to move a little more of the money into some of the other key fantasy positions. In week 1 Fitzpatrick will get his shot a Washington Redskins defense that allowed the 20th most passing yards and the second most points per game in 2013.

The Texans quarterback will also have a healthy Arian Foster in the running game as well as Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins in the passing game. Last season Fitzpatrick showed at times in the right matchup that he could be a nice fantasy pickup.

The other fantasy matchup that stands out is Marqise Lee going up against the Philadelphia Eagles secondary. The Eagles offense is a fast paced which produces a lot of points but it will also give the opponents team offense a chance to make plays.

Here are ten value picks for FanDuel for week 1 of the 2014 NFL season:

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Quarterback ($6,100): Fitzpatrick and the Texans have a week 1 matchup against the Washington Redskins. We expect both Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins to have an opportunity to make plays against the Redskins secondary.

Jeremy Hill, Running Back ($5,400): Hill will form the new thunder and lightning tandem with Giovani Bernard. The Bengals rookie running back should get plenty of opportunities to touch the ball near the goal line. In week 1 the Bengals take on a Baltimore Ravens team that has concerns in the secondary that could open up the running game.

Lorenzo Taliaferro, Running Back ($4,500): The Baltimore Ravens rookie running back could get more carries than expected in week 1 depending on if Bernard Pierce can stay healthy. Pierce left the last preseason game with concussion like symptoms. The team will also be without veteran Ray Rice for the first two games.
 

 
Jordan Matthews, Wide Receiver ($5,200): Matthews the former SEC leader in receptions has a perfect opportunity in the Eagles as the team’s third wide receiver. This includes week 1 against a Jacksonville Jaguars team that lacks a ton of talent in the secondary.

Marqise Lee, Wide Receiver ($4,800): The Jacksonville Jaguars landed Lee in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft but his potential is much greater. We don’t like the Jaguars chances against the Eagles in week 1 but the team should have plenty of opportunities to make plays on offense.

Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Tight End ($4,800): Week 1 will be a difficult matchup for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the take on division rivals the Carolina Panthers. If Bucs get into the redzone look for Seferian-Jenkins size to play a factor.

Zach Ertz, Tight End ($4,500): The matchup the Eagles have in week against the Jaguars is one of the best fantasy matchups of all 16 games. We expect the Eagles to us Ertz and Brent Celek equally in 2014 including in two tight end sets.

Cody Parkey, Kicker ($4,900): Parkey takes over the Eagles kicking duties in 2014 and should have his fair shot of kicks all-season long.

Brandon McManus, Kicker ($5,000): McManus is the favorable choice early as he will take the kicking duties for the Denver Broncos while Matt Prater is suspended. McManus benefits at the kicker position from playing in one of the NFL’s top offenses.

Minnesota Vikings Defense/Special Teams ($5,000):  The Vikings have two factors that go in their favor on the defensive/special team’s side of the football. The first one is the team’s defense will be going against aging quarterback Shaun Hill. The second factor is it benefits from having a play maker like Cordarrelle Patterson in the return game.
 
 
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