It’s Christmas in July! On Friday, DraftKings released their 2022 Week 1 salaries and opened up the Millionaire Maker contest for only $5. Of course, we’re salivating over here looking at the initial slate and seeing which player price values pop out immediately to us. As time moves on and we get deeper and deeper into camp, more reports will come out and we’ll get more clarity on how teams and depth charts are shaping up.
With that said , these seven guys were the first to jump out to me, and peak my interest with the 2022 DraftKings Week 1 slate over six weeks away.
QUARTERBACKS
Trey Lance at CHI ($6,000)
- After basically redshirting his rookie season, Kyle Shanahan officially gave the keys to the 49ers offense to Trey Lance. Lance has unreal upside thanks to his legs and in the three games he started last season, he finished with 20, 15, and 20 DK points. Now with a full off-season working with the first team and opening the season with a below-average Bears defense, Lance is looking mighty juicy in a Week 1 matchup against Justin Fields.
Jameis Winston at ATL ($5,300)
- God, I’ve missed James Winston under center. Barring a setback, Winston is locked into the QB1 role for the Saints with a loaded weapons cabinet, highlighted by a healthy Michael Thomas, savvy slot man Jarvis Landry, and rookie first-rounder Chris Olave. We know Jameis loves to sling it with no regard for negative consequences, and with Alvin Kamara potentially suspended, Winston could light up one of the league’s worst defenses.
Other intriguing options:
Lamar Jackson at NYJ ($7,300), Kyler Murray vs KC ($7,200), Jalen Hurts at DET ($6,800)
RUNNING BACKS
Najee Harris at CIN ($6,400)
- Some people will be scared of the reports that Najee Harris is due for a decreased workload this year after leading all running backs in snaps and touches as a rookie. But, not me, and especially not in Week 1. After ‘training to carry loads,’ Harris should still end up in the 300-350 touch range by catching plenty of passes, getting goal-line work, and being a safety valve for a new quarterback. The volume king lives on in 2022.
Travis Etienne at WAS $5,600
- Arguably no RB is getting more hype this offseason than Travis Etienne. James Robinson is working back from his Achilles injury which should keep him sidelined or limited for some time, despite not beginning training camp on the PUP list. In the meantime, Etienne has been “the star” of training camp thus far and has looked as advertised as a 2020 first-round pick. It also doesn’t hurt that he will share a backfield with his former college quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, and will be utilized all over the formation with or without Robinson in the lineup. His usage could be massive in Week 1 against a Commanders’ defense without Chase Young.
Other intriguing options:
Alvin Kamara at ATL ($7,400) or Mark Ingram ($5,900), JK Dobbins at NYJ ($5,600), Breece Hall vs BAL ($5,500), Rhamondre Stevenson at MIA ($5,500)
WIDE RECEIVERS
Michael Thomas at ATL ($5,700)
- Assuming he’s out there and healthy in Week 1, this will likely be the cheapest that we’ll see the Winston/Thomas stack this season. We all know Thomas is a target hog and when healthy, he’s one of the best receivers in the league. Now alongside Olave and Landry, Thomas will not be the opposing secondary’s only focus. Thomas notoriously checks in at $7k or over, so it’s critical to take advantage of this price tag.
Treylon Burks vs NYG ($5,000)
- Treylon Burks caught some flack for his off-season conditioning and asthma condition, but the rookie receiver will likely be in line for a massive target share. Following the departure of AJ Brown and Robert Woods coming off of ACL surgery, Burks will have all training camp to gain Ryan Tannehill’s trust. So far, Burks is off to a hot start in camp, but he’s someone I’ll be monitoring over the next few weeks.
Other intriguing options:
Ja’Marr Chase vs PIT ($7,100), Keenan Allen vs LV ($7,000), Brandin Cooks vs IND ($6,300), Marquise Brown vs KC ($6,200), Allen Lazard at MIN ($5,600), Rashod Bateman at NYJ ($5,300), Brandon Aiyuk ($5,200), JuJu Smith-Schuster at ARI ($5,200), Jakobi Meyers at MIA ($4,300),
TIGHT ENDS
Dallas Goedert at DET ($4,500)
- It would be easy to pay up for Travis Kelce ($6,600) or Mark Andrews ($6,800), and I probably will in a few weeks. But, let’s roll with Dallas Goedert as he enters the season for the first time in his career as the Eagles’ TE1. With AJ Brown and Devonta Smith on the perimeter, expect defenses to forget about Goedert around the red zone. The Lions haven’t been able to cover the tight end in years and that won’t change in Week 1. Goedert will find the end zone at this absurdly cheap price.
Other intriguing options:
Mark Andrews ($6,800), Travis Kelce ($6,600), Darren Waller ($5,400), TJ Hockenson ($4,900), Gerald Everett ($3,800), Hunter Henry ($3,800), Evan Engram ($3,500)
Check back the Wednesday before Week 1 for my locked-in 2022 DraftKings Week 1 Picks.
