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DraftKings NFL 2021: Best lineup for Week 1

By Nick Villano

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 03: Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans runs for yards during the first half against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on January 03, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 03: Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans runs for yards during the first half against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on January 03, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /
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Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon (25): (Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports) /

Flex option: Melvin Gordon $5,300

Everyone is loving Javonte Williams in season-long fantasy, and that’s probably the right move overall, but for Week 1, there is a veteran in the spot for RB1 on the Denver Broncos. There’s a reason the Broncos kept Melvin Gordon on the roster at the price tag he brings to the table. It’s because the coaching staff plans on using him.

Gordon hasn’t been the explosive playmaker he was in years past, but he was really good to start last season. He scored at least 16 points in three of the first four weeks. He should be able to get a decent start to the season before Williams takes the starting spot. Over the season, the Giants were pretty good against the run, but they allowed 154 yards per game over the final three games of last season. Gordon has a chance to make some noise in Week 1.

Tight End: Pat Frieirmuth $2,500

Do you see that price? $2,500 for a tight end who has been named co-starter of the Pittsburgh Steelers, a team that has been known to use the tight end in the past? Ben Roethlisberger is going to use every available pass catcher to keep himself in this game against the Buffalo Bills. The Bills have been annointed in the spot that was once held by the Patriots and Steelers as the best team behind the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Steelers went out of their way to put Frieirmuth as the co-starter on the depth chart. That takes effort and was done for a reason. Frieirmuth is going to be a part of this offense. Against the Bills, the Steelers are probably going to be passing a lot as they try to ease Najee Harris in, and Roethlisberger is going to want to show he still has it. The rookie tight end will get a cheap touchdown, and he will finish the game with at least five catches. Book it.

Other options: Dallas Goedert $4,800, Evan Engram $4,100

Defense: Green Bay Packers $3,500

We have seen the Jameis Winston experience before. The last time we saw him as a starting quarterback, he threw 30 interceptions in a season. Winston was abjectly terrible in 2019, and he was replaced on the Bucs by Tom Brady. Brady turned the Bucs into a Super Bowl contender, and now Winston is looking to prove he can still start in this league.

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That is going to come with some desperation from Winston. For some quarterbacks, desperation is good. For Winston, that is as scary as Pennywise in a storm drain. The Packers have a great secondary, and Aaron Rodgers will put points on the board. That will forced the Saints to throw, and the Packers will get at least two turnovers in this game, and hopefully one goes for six.