Up-and-coming country musician, HARDY, released a new album last week titled, “A ROCK.” In the title song that closes the album, he tells a familiar story of growing up.
HARDY cleverly describes that despite the insurmountable amount of greed and lust in the world, all we care about as children are how far we can skip a rock.
Later down the road, that rock becomes the opposite side of the hard place that we are stuck between when we’re offered our first underage beer. And not too long after, that rock suddenly is something we’re saving up for after meeting the girl or guy of our dreams.
Hardy was able to find the beauty in the simplest of objects – a rock.
As the fantasy football season arrives once again, we here at In-Between Media challenge you to think critically and overtly about what small, yet consistent things in your life bring you comfort and familiarity in these ever-changing times?
The answer, like a majority of life advice, is open-ended for you to find and finish for yourself. We will continue to bring you these thought-provoking questions, stories and quotes, along with our Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) lineup in every “Open-Ended DFS“ staff-collaborative column this season – leaving it up to you, the reader, to decide the resolution.
As it is these thought-provoking stories and quotes that can help get our minds thinking forthrightly as we venture into DFS, a game that can be as open-ended as the life we are living.
DFS Week 1 Draft Kings Lineup
QB: Cam Newton (Miami at New England) – $6,100
Despite adding major improvements, Miami’s defense is still bad. Especially against the passing game. Cam Newton is a former MVP, in his prime years, with a very high ceiling for the 2020 season. He has a chip on his shoulder, and in a McDaniels offense known for creativity, look for Newton to explode in Week 1. – Nate Polvogt
RB: Austin Ekeler (Los Angeles at Cincinnati) – $7,000
This seems like a no brainer. Austin Ekeler has a Christian McCaffrey-type ceiling all season. He is now the feature back in an offense with serious questions at QB.
All season-long projections aside, this is a match made in heaven for Ekeler as Cincinnati’s defense ranked 28th against the run last season. Look for the Chargers to lean on Ekeler in week 1 while you reap the rewards. – Polvogt
RB: Mark Ingram II ( Cleveland at Baltimore) – $5,500
Mark Ingram was a big part of the success Baltimore had in their ground game last year. That may change this year with a new back on the team, but it seems unlikely in week 1.
With the team likely interested in running Lamar Jackson less and slowly working those new rookie J.K. Dobbins into their rotation, they’ll need to rely on Ingram to help get the season started with a bang against Cleveland at home.
And with Ingram averaging just over 12 carries per game and 5 yards per carry last year, he’s sure to provide a solid floor for your RB2. – Thomas Cuda
WR: Davante Adams (Green Bay at Minnesota) – $7,300
When you go for values at other positions in DFS, it generally allows you to pick a couple of sure-fire studs for your lineup. In Week 1, I suggest putting your money where your mouth is and drafting Davante Adams at his $7300 price for his matchup in Minnesota.
We all know that thanks to some questionable off-season moves, quarterback Aaron Rodgers doesn’t have many weapons outside of Adams. And the Vikings were a bottom-nine defense against opposing receivers last season and now have an even more inexperienced secondary, making Adams worth every dollar spent. – Seth Woolcock
WR: Emmanuel Sanders (Tampa Bay at New Orleans) – $5,700
Emmanuel Sanders may not be the best bargain you’ll find this week, but the Saints wide receiver should benefit from having Drew Brees under center; you know Brees won’t want to be shown up in the first matchup with Tom Brady since 2017 as well as the first with Brady in the same division.
Throw in the fact that Tampa Bay’s defense was the worst against the pass last season and it could be a hot night for New Orleans and their new No. 2 wide receiver. – Elliot Hicks
WR: Marquise Brown (Cleveland at Baltimore) – $5,100
Marquise “Hollywood” Brown at WR3? Yes, please. We all know Jackson LOVES Brown, and he is poised to be a top target in an explosive Baltimore offense.
All indications from camp are that he’s healthy, which was the only thing holding him back from WR1 numbers last year. Cleveland’s secondary is improved, but Brown should still be able to top 100 yards and attract at least 15 targets in this matchup. – Polvogt
TE: Jared Cook (Tampa Bay at New Orleans) – $5,500
Jared Cook ended his first year in New Orleans with 43 receptions, 705 yards, and nine touchdowns. He returns for his second year having solidified his connection with Brees. He’s hungry to impress and should get his shot here in the Saints’ Week 1 home opener. – Cuda
FLEX: DeSean Jackson (Philadelphia at Washington) – $4,900
A slew of injuries to the Eagles receiving core, in addition to a juicy revenge game for DeSean Jackson, makes the speedy veteran a great value at his $4,900 price for Week 1.
He’s also been a quick starter out of the gates in seasons past, scoring two touchdowns in each of his last two season openers dating back to his time in Tampa Bay in 2018. – Woolcock
D/ST: Chargers (Los Angeles at Cincinnati) – $2,800
Despite placing Derwin James, arguably the Chargers’ most valuable defensive player, on injured reserve, they still have one of the most talented defenses in the league, with Joey Bosa leading them up-front.
And while I think rookie Joe Burrow comes out and surprises some, there will still probably be a lot of mistakes made by the Bengals due to the lack of preseason, making the Chargers a formidable defense here in Week 1 for the price of $2,800. – Woolcock
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