It's here -- it's finally here! The 2025 NFL season kicks off this weekend, and fans, fantasy footballers, and DFS enthusiasts alike can barely contain themselves. It's time for the hustlers of the fantasy and daily fantasy world to start making that extra cash.
Of course, anybody who has ever won a thing in fantasy land knows that sleepers and value plays serve as the secret ingredients to success.
That's why this column dishes out the best deals on DraftKings and FanDuel each week, highlighting the top plays at every position so you can create an optimal lineup and cash in.
The ultimate objective: get the most bang for our buck during lineup construction. Finding a balance between proven weekly studs and high-value sleepers is crucial, just like our kids' schools mixing art, gym and music into their academic schedules (listen up in class, little ones!).
MORE FANTASY: Week 1 rankings | Start 'em, sit 'em for Week 1
Our favorite subject is fantasy football, and our classrooms and auditoriums are the contest pages of DK and FD. Each week, we scour the player pools and target the most undervalued and overlooked players, then list them here as a weekly cheat sheet for all our daily fantasy students.
Let's get to it. Here's the Sporting News' NFL Week 1 DFS sleepers and value picks on DraftKings and FanDuel. We'll highlight the most affordable high-value options at each position, and list each player's cost or scoring boost on both daily fantasy sites.
Best NFL DFS sleepers for Week 1: Quarterback
Drake Maye, Patriots vs. Raiders (DK: $5,500 | FD: $6,600)
The tide has shifted in New England, as the Patriots have gone from a four-win team to a squad that most expect to compete for a playoff spot.
Maye not only has more weapons in his second NFL season — most notably veteran wideout Stefon Diggs and rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson — he also has an improved offensive line. The return of Josh McDaniels to Foxboro should have positive effects, too.
Now Maye gets to go up against the Raiders, with whom McDaniels briefly held a head-coaching position, and Patriots GOAT Tom Brady now serves as a minority owner.
Talk about a fun team for the new-and-improved Pats to face in Week 1!
Las Vegas gave up the 10th-most fantasy points per game to QBs last season, so Maye should have a strong first game of the season at Gillette Stadium.
Michael Penix Jr., Falcons vs. Bucs (DK: $5,600 | FD: $6,700)
Yours truly took Penix just about everywhere this fantasy draft season, and not just for the fun fantasy team names. The dude's also one heck of an athletic QB. Just look at his final two weeks of the 2024 season, right after being named the starter over washed-up Kirk Cousins: 549 total yards, four total TDs, two interceptions.
Obviously, you don't love to see the picks, but that's 38.2 total fantasy points — good for QB9 over the final two weeks of the season! Now he starts the 2025 season as the season-long starter, and he's going against an underwhelming Bucs secondary. Only four teams allowed more fantasy points to signal-callers last season. The Penix Mightier!
Other QBs whose Week 1 values exceed their price tags:
- Bo Nix, Broncos vs. Titans (DK: $6,300 | FD: $7,400)
- Jordan Love, Packers vs. Lions (DK: $6,100 | FD: $7,600)
- Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars vs. Panthers (DK: $5,300 | FD: $7,000)
- Joe Flacco, Browns vs. Bengals (DK: $4,900 | FD: $6,600)
Best NFL DFS sleepers for Week 1: Running back
Chuba Hubbard, Panthers at Jaguars (DK: $6,000 | FD: $6,500)
Hubbard has size, speed, and athleticism, and his juke rate might be the best in the NFL this season. He's been a top target of ours all draft season, and now we're taking him as our No. 1 value pick for DFS contests in opening weekend. You needn't worry about the Jags, regardless of where the game's played — they surrendered the second-most FF points per game to running backs last season, and they're not much better in 2025.
Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks vs. 49ers (DK: $5,900 | FD: $6,700)
New Seahawks offensive coordinator has a way of making good running backs great, and we all know the kind of upside KW3 has when he's healthy. He sure looked good in camp and during the preseason, and he's an extremely good value at $5,900 in an important NFC West bout to kick off the season. Don't expect to see Walker priced below $6,000 very much after this weekend.
More strong Week 1 RB values (bold prices indicate volatility):
- RJ Harvey, Broncos vs. Titans (DK: $5,800 | FD: $5,700)
- TreVeyon Henderson, Patriots vs. Raiders (DK: $5,500 | FD: $4,700)
- Cam Skattebo, Giants at Commanders (DK: $5,100 | FD: $4,700)
- Tank Bigsby, Jaguars vs. Panthers (DK: $4,600 | FD: $5,300)
Best NFL DFS sleepers for Week 1: Wide receiver
Travis Hunter, Jaguars vs. Panthers (DK: $5,000 | FD: $5,700)
Okay, we'll bite. The Jags didn't throw the kitchen sink at the Browns to acquire Hunter and then only play him at cornerback. The dude is explosive, he's now in a Liam Coen offense, and he's probably reason No. 1 most fans bought tickets to this season-opener.
He's going to draw his targets, and he will more than likely outperform the expectations of whichever DFS geniuses listed him at $5,000.
Deebo Samuel, Commanders vs. Giants (DK: $5,200 | FD: $6,300)
One of the most overlooked acquisitions of the 2025 offseason, Deebo sure seems to have a lot of football left in him. And now he's playing with 2024 Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels, with whom he has already grown a tremendous rapport.
The Giants have a good defense, but there's only so much a unit can do against a fast, strong wideout with Samuel's YAC ability. Enjoy the production at this ridiculously low price point.
More strong Week 1 DFS values at WR:
- Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins at Colts (DK: $5,700 | FD: $5,500)
- Marvin Harrison Jr., Cardinals at Saints (DK: $5,500 | FD: $6,400)
- Matthew Golden, Packers vs. Lions (DK: $4,900 | FD: $5,400)
- Emeka Egbuka, Bucs at Falcons (DK: $4,600 | FD: $5,000)
- Ricky Pearsall, 49ers at Seahawks (DK: $4,500 | FD: $5,300)
Best NFL DFS sleepers for Week 1: Tight end
Hunter Henry, Patriots vs. Raiders (DK: $3,900 | FD: $5,000)
Look, we get it — it's not the sexiest pick of the week. But sexy doesn't usually win you jackpots — value does! Henry typically starts the season hot, and he should find more openings over the middle with a better wide receiver room in New England.
Few defenses were as poor as the Raiders against tight ends last season — they gave up the second-most points to the position on the campaign.
More Week 1 TEs worth a look (but really, all these options stink):
- David Njoku, Browns vs. Bengals (DK: $4,700 | FD: $5,700)
- Tyler Warren, Colts vs. Dolphins (DK: $4,400 | FD: $5,100)
- Brenton Strange, Jaguars vs. Panthers (DK: $3,300 | FD: $5,000)
Best NFL DFS sleepers for Week 1: D/ST
San Francisco 49ers at Seahawks (DK: $2,900 | FD: $4,400)
The Niners D had a disappointing season in 2024, but a lot of that had to do with injuries and the offense continually struggling to hold onto the ball. Things look far better for Kyle Shanahan's team this time around, and a rejuvenated defensive unit should be ready to make life difficult for new Seattle QB Sam Darnold.
There's always a little extra juice in a divisional game in Seattle, so don't be surprised if Fred Warner and company force a couple turnovers.
More sleeper D/ST plays for Week 1:
- New York Jets vs. Steelers (DK: $2,800 | FD: $3,600)
- New England Patriots vs. Raiders (DK: $3,100 | FD: $3,900)
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