NFL DFS Week 1: Bargain Picks to Complete Your Winning Lineup

If you want to start some high-priced superstars, these value plays will keep you under the cap.

Yesterday, I gave you some of my favorite starts for this weekend's DFS main slate. All of those plays were good value for their price points, but that doesn't mean they were necessarily low price points.

For today's article, we are going bargain hunting. These players have low salaries and can be plugged into lineups where you have already spent up at other positions. Some of them are total dart throws, which could be precisely what is needed to diversify in larger tournaments.

There are two bargain stacks I like this week: Broncos and Commanders. Consider three or more players from each team if spending up at other positions.

Now … let's go bargain hunting. 

Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson could be a surprise DFS bargain along with receivers Marvin Mims (left) and Courtland Sutton (right) :: Kyle Terada (Mims, Wilson) and Ron Chenoy (Sutton) / USA TODAY Sports

Quarterbacks

Russell Wilson, Broncos
Enough talk; it's time to see Wilson in action in a Joe Lombardi/Sean Payton offense. The matchup is excellent at home vs. the Raiders, who allowed the sixth-most DFS points to opposing quarterbacks last year. I expect Wilson to use his legs and arm to put up some nice stats on Sunday.

Sam Howell, Commanders
Howell is loaded with weapons in Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel, as well as two strong pass-catching backs in Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson. Of course, McLaurin may not be ready to start the season due to a toe injury, but who cares? The Commanders are facing the Cardinals, who allowed the fourth-most passing TDs to opposing QBs in 2022. Howell has massive upside because of his mobility, too. At UNC, in his final season, Howell ran for 828 yards and 11 touchdowns on 183 attempts. Howell looked impressive in preseason action and could be in store for a good game this weekend.

Running Backs

Mark Konezny/USA TODAY Sports

Deon Jackson, Colts
He's cheap, and he's probably leading the backfield for the Colts this weekend. Zack Moss is unlikely to start Sunday and Jackson has experience filling in as the starter for Jonathan Taylor in 2022. He performed well in those three starts, and rookie Evan Hull is unlikely to be featured more than Jackson, who averaged more than five catches per game in the three games he started for JT last season.

Samaje Perine, Broncos
I love this play. Perine is so inexpensive and the matchup is so juicy. Javonte Williams will be there, too, but there should be enough to go around vs. a Las Vegas run defense that allowed the fifth-most DFS points to opposing runners in 2022. They also allowed the third-most receiving yards and fifth-most rushing TDs to running backs, and I expect Wilson will target both Williams and Perine this Sunday.

Antonio Gibson, Commanders
He's the cheaper option of the two backs for the Commanders, but he could be just as targeted as Robinson. It's a plus matchup for the converted wide receiver, as the Cardinals allowed the fourth-most receiving yards to opposing running backs in 2022. With McLaurin potentially limited or not playing, Gibson should be involved in this offense, which also favors the Commanders runners due to the expected game script.

Wide Receivers

Courtland Sutton, Broncos
I love Sutton as the X received in a Joe Lombardi offense. With Jerry Jeudy potentially limited or not playing, I like him even more. Here are some exciting stats about Sutton: He commanded 21.4% of the team's target share in 2022 (28th) as opposed to Jeudy's 19.4% (38th), and he saw 37.6% of the team's air yard share (15th) as opposed to Jeudy's 31.8% (33rd). He also was the first read for Wilson 30.8% of the time (17th). However, only 72.5% (71st) of Sutton's targets were catchable, so if Payton can help unlock Wilson, it's a good gamble Sutton will bounce back, too. He's also due for positive touchdown regression after logging only two in 2022.

Marvin Mims, Broncos
The rookie is also in line for more work with a limited Jeudy and Tim Patrick out for the season. Mims averaged 19.5 yards per catch in college and won 54.5% of contested targets.

Tight Ends

Brad Mills/USA TODAY Sports

Logan Thomas, Commanders
Not only will Howell likely be without McLaurin, but the Cardinals continue to be abysmal vs. tight ends. Last season, Arizona ranked last in the league vs. tight ends, allowing an average of more than 14 fantasy points per game. Of course, be sure Thomas is healthy, but if he's a go, I love this dart throw.

Juwan Johnson, Saints
Johnson is a converted wide receiver who runs many routes out of the slot (57.3%) and scored more than 30% of the team's touchdowns in 2022 -- the fourth-highest rate among tight ends. This weekend, he faces a Tennessee team that allowed the fifth-most DFS points to the tight end position in 2022.