NFL DFS: Optimizer reveals Week 1, 2026 daily Fantasy football picks for DraftKings, FanDuel

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SportsLine's NFL DFS optimizer has revealed its top value picks for Sunday daily fantasy football in Week 1

Sep 13, 2026 at 9:15 am ET • 3 min read

There is a consensus for most of the top Week 1 NFL DFS picks across DraftKings and FanDuel. Josh Allen is the most expensive QB at both sites, despite Buffalo facing Houston's top-ranked defense. At running back, Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson are 1-2 on both platforms, with Ja'Marr Chase and Amon-Ra St. Brown are first and second, respectively, at receiver. The only discrepancy comes at tight end when looking at who to fit under your NFL DFS salary cap as Brock Bowers tops at DraftKings, with Trey McBride first at FanDuel.

Bowers (knee) is expected to sit on Sunday, but even the most skilled daily Fantasy football manager wouldn't be able to insert all of the aforementioned into Week 1 NFL DFS lineups. You have to balance these highly-priced stars with more economical options, and finding the latter is what people often struggle with. Before making any NFL DFS picks for Sunday or locking in NFL DFS lineups on sites like DraftKings and FanDuel, be sure to check out SportsLine's advanced NFL DFS lineup optimizer.

The DFS Optimizer uses info from the SportsLine Advanced-Data Projection Model and DFS Professional Millionaire Mike McClure to identify top DFS picks/plays for any slate on betting apps like DraftKings and FanDuel. It simulates every game 10,000 times to help DFS players optimize and build winning DraftKings and FanDuel lineups. Optimize, export, and enter lineups confidently with injury updates, floor and ceiling player projections, and Vegas lines and picks all with one winning tool.

Now, SportsLine's NFL DFS Optimizer has turned its attention to Sunday's 2026 NFL Week 1 schedule and just locked in its top daily Fantasy football lineups. You can only see its optimal lineups at SportsLine.

Top NFL Week 1 DFS picks for Sunday

One of the optimizer's top DFS value picks for Sunday is Saints running back Travis Etienne at $5,900 on DraftKings and $6,800 on FanDuel. The Louisiana native returns home after four years with the Jags, and he's coming off 1,399 scrimmage yards and 13 scores. On Sunday, the Saints play the Lions, who were 22nd in scoring defense a year ago, and Etienne has a history of shining in the season opener. His 143 rushing yards in Week 1 of last year were the second most he's had in any game, and he scored a touchdown in both the 2023 and 2024 season openers. See who else to pick here.

The optimizer's NFL DFS strategy also includes building around Jets receiver Garrett Wilson at $5,800 on DraftKings and $6,900 on FanDuel. After three straight 1,000-yard seasons to start his career, a knee injury ended Wilson's 2025 season after seven games. He should be able resume his production on Sunday against the Titans, who were among the league's worst versus the pass last season. In 2025, the Titans gave up the fourth most Fantasy points to wideouts as Tennessee allowed 20 different receivers to have at least 70 yards or score a touchdown. You can see the rest of the optimizer's NFL DFS picks here.

How to build Sunday Week 1 NFL DFS lineups

The NFL DFS Optimizer is also targeting multiple undervalued players who could explode for huge numbers on Sunday. Those players could be the difference between winning your tournaments and cash games or going home with nothing. You can only see who they are, and the rest of the optimizer's NFL DFS picks, at SportsLine. 

So what is the optimal NFL DFS lineup for Sunday, and which under-the-radar NFL DFS picks offer huge value? Visit SportsLine now to see optimal NFL DFS picks, rankings, advice and stacks, all from an NFL DFS optimizer that simulates every game 10,000 times, and find out.