The first week of the football season is bound to produce some surprises in the fantasy world. With starting lineups getting little time during preseason, some lesser-known players could score big this week. However, some established stars are expected to shine as well.
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Five Receivers Worth Considering On Sunday
1. A.J. Brown
The leading receiver for the NFC champions, Brown is an obvious choice. The Patriots appear to be playing more man coverage, which could work in Brown’s favor as he was targeted 35% of the time against man coverage. The Eagles also threw 143 passes in Brown’s direction last season. While the game between the Titans and Cardinals is expected to be a tough one, Brown could make the difference between the two teams.
2. Curtis Samuel
It’s hard to predict how Sam Howell will perform in his debut, but the Cardinals’ defense is not expected to be strong. The entire Commanders offense could put up big numbers, and Samuel figures to be lining up opposite rookie cornerback Kei’Trel Clark. Clark is smaller than Samuel, so he should be able to get open frequently. Samuel even scored a rushing touchdown last season, so he could be a sneaky play this week.
3. Mack Hollins
The tall and speedy Hollins is playing against a Panthers defense that could be trading away their star pass rusher. The Falcons offense has a lot of threats, which makes them difficult to predict in fantasy terms. However, in 2022, they ran the ball more than any other team and drafted an extra running back. As a Raider last year, Hollins saw 11 red zone targets and averaged 12.1 yards on his 57 receptions. He’s dirt cheap in most DFS formats, and if he stumbles into the end zone will pay off at his price point.
4. Jordan Addison
The Vikings are expected to spread the offense out and let Kirk Cousins pass. Justin Jefferson and TJ Hockenson will likely be heavily defended, leaving space for Addison and K.J. Osborn to operate. Addison looks like a homerun threat, he averaged 14.8 yards per reception during his college career. Osborn is expected to fulfill the Adam Thielen role. While Osborn may not score as many fantasy points, he could pop up in spaces created by the others. Addison could break off some big plays and be a good week one DFS option.
5. DeAndre Carter
Carter is a bit of a wildcard, as he’s behind Renfrow on the Raiders’ depth chart. However, he only needs one chance to take a short pass to the house. He averaged 11.7 yards per reception in 2022 as a Charger. Even though the Chargers couldn’t get him going on either of his rushing attempts, he still averaged 10.9 yards per touch. The Broncos defense is a bit of a mystery, making it the perfect opportunity for the Raiders to start the season with a statement win. If Josh McDaniels wants to demonstrate why he let Derek Carr go, mixing up the passing game would be a good start.
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