Every week, the first step of your DFS homework should be to examine the opening Vegas odds on all the NFL games for that week. Through some fairly simple algebra, it is easy to derive a spreadsheet that predicts team totals for every game, thereby allowing you to develop a rudimentary game script to help narrow down your decisions for the week.
Once the appealing (and unappealing) games have been highlighted, it becomes easier to focus on those games to help build your core of players for that week; the caveat, however, is that the NFL is a dynamic league, and anything is subject to change from Tuesday to Sunday...so keep that in mind as the week progresses and always monitor player injuries, weather conditions, and potential roster moves. Let's take a look.
[Blue font indicates games *not* on the DFS main slate.]
Three Stars
Quarterbacks
- None
Running Backs
- None
Receivers
- None
Team Defense
- 49ers
- Chiefs
- Jets
Two Stars
Quarterbacks
- Kyler Murray (Cardinals)
- Joe Burrow (Bengals)
Running Backs
- James Conner (Cardinals)
- Zack Moss (Bengals)
- Jordan Mason (49ers)
Receivers
- Marvin Harrison Jr./Michael Wilson/Greg Dortch (Cardinals)
- Ja'Marr Chase/Tee Higgins/Mike Gesicki (Bengals)
Team Defense
- Dolphins
- Raiders
One Star
Quarterbacks
- C.J. Stroud (Texans)
- Dak Prescott (Cowboys)
- Jared Goff (Lions)
- Brock Purdy (49ers)
- Lamar Jackson (Ravens)
Running Backs
- Joe Mixon (Texans)
- Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys)
- David Montgomery/Jahmyr Gibbs (Lions)
- Derrick Henry (Ravens)
Receivers
- Stefon Diggs/Nico Collins/Tank Dell/Dalton Schultz (Texans)
- CeeDee Lamb/Brandin Cooks/Jake Ferguson (Cowboys)
- Amon-Ra St. Brown/Jameson Williams/Brock Wright (Lions)
- Brandon Aiyuk/Jauan Jennings/Eric Saubert (49ers)
- Zay Flowers/Rashod Bateman/Mark Andrews/Isaiah Likely (Ravens)
Team Defense
- Titans
- Browns
- Steelers
