Pat yourselves on the back, folks, because you survived the NFL offseason. It is officially time to dive back into the world of football and fantasy football, or more specifically in this series, the DFS format.
This year, we are switching things up and making our picks on the “Flex Six Frenzy” DFS game from the FastDraft app. It’s a new way to play DFS in fantasy football, drafting six players across the positions of running back, wide receiver or tight end. After that, you add “Boosters” to your drafted players to multiply their points by either 2x, 1.75x, 1.5x, 1.25x and 1.0x (two players). You draft live against other players, so you may or may not get the guys you want. But even with that variable, or opportunity for strategy, let’s look at six players to target in Week 1 during the main slate on Sunday.
Keep in mind, all stats and information come from the 2024 fantasy football season, but that all changes soon!
Week 1 NFL “FastDraft Flex Six Frenzy” Lineup Advice (2025) | NFL DFS Picks
Alvin Kamara (RB, New Orleans Saints)
Age is just a number if you ask Alvin Kamara. The 30-year-old running back continues to defy the odds and stay a relevant fantasy player. In Week 1, Kamara and the Saints face off against the Arizona Cardinals, a defense that favors Kamara’s position. The Saints’ weapons remain limited, and one of the biggest questions is what kind of play we will get from starting quarterback Spencer Rattler. But as mentioned, this matchup favors Kamara.
Last season, the Cardinals were the tenth easiest matchup for the running back position, allowing 23 points per game to those backs. Throw in the fact that they allowed the eighth-most rushing and receiving yards in the league to running backs, and the longtime Saints vet is set up for a big Sunday. Arizona thrives against the pass, and yes, their rushing defense should improve, but Kamara specializes in dump-offs, and Rattler should be under pressure all game. Lastly, Alvin Kamara is on an 11-game streak of four-plus receptions, a number he should easily hit Sunday. Get after him in your draft and let him do what he’s best known for.
Kenneth Walker III (RB, Seattle Seahawks)
Everyone jokes and pokes fun at the fact that Kenneth Walker cannot stay healthy. But the truth of the matter is, when Walker is healthy and rested, he’s one of the best with the ball in his hands. It sounds like the Seahawks have really focused on his health this offseason, and he should be ready to go Sunday against the 49ers.
The 49ers were a slice of Swiss cheese against the run last year, allowing the third-most rushing touchdowns to the running back position. That also made them the third-easiest matchup for running backs, allowing them to score 24 points per game! Enter Sam Darnold, who just got a big payday, but can he repeat his magical season from last year in Minnesota? Many say no, and now in a new system, I think the Seahawks will lean on the run to help. That means more work for Kenneth Walker, and with the 49ers likely to be vulnerable against the run yet again this year, it should work out fine.
Ja’Marr Chase (WR, Cincinnati Bengals)
There isn’t a lot to say here. Ja’Marr Chase was going as the 1.01 overall in many fantasy leagues during drafts and all signs point to another great season. What else can sway you? Well, maybe the fact that this matchup is one made in heaven for the Bengals. The Browns were absolutely atrocious against wide receivers last season. So atrocious that they were the second easiest matchup against the position. The Browns allowed a staggering 31.4 points per game to wideouts, and you know Chase is salivating to exploit that weakness.
Ja’Marr Chase has a decent track record against the Browns, as well. In the last two games he’s played against Cleveland, Chase had a total of 14 targets for 11 receptions, 152 yards and two touchdowns. Not a bad stat line. But to top it all off, the Browns allowed the fourth-most receiving touchdowns to wide receivers in 2024. If you somehow manage to get the 1.01 in this week’s “Flex Six Frenzy,” I have no problem pulling the trigger on Ja’Marr Chase.
Matthew Golden (WR, Green Bay Packers)
This wide receiver should be much easier for you to draft this week, as he is an unproven rookie who will not be taken high in this format. However, Matthew Golden of the Green Bay Packers has a path to some serious success in his first-ever NFL game. He takes on the Detroit Lions at home in Lambeau, and the Lions love to give up points to wide receivers. Last season, they were the fifth-easiest matchup for wideouts and allowed them to score an average of 31.2 points per game. They also allowed wide receivers to have the second-most receptions per game, a stat that could very well repeat.
If the Packers want to keep up with the high-flying Lions offense, they’re going to need to have their own fast-paced scoring. Why wouldn’t you test the waters with your stud rookie wide receiver? They don’t have anyone else to throw to, which bodes very well for Matthew Golden, who might get peppered in this game. I especially like taking a shot at him this week in DFS because he probably won’t be on many teams, giving you an edge.
David Njoku (TE, Cleveland Browns)
Let’s go back to the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals matchup for Sunday. I really like David Njoku in this game; in fact, I really like him all season long if we’re being honest. But that heavily depends on who is taking the snaps and as of now, it’ll be old man Joe Flacco. Why would I be excited about the old guy out there chucking the football? It’s simple, really. The Browns’ tight end has proven that when Joe Flacco is playing quarterback, he’s a fantasy monster. In five games with Flacco, Njoku has had 45 targets for 30 catches that tallied 390 yards and four touchdowns. That is some absolutely solid numbers across the board.
But it gets better. The Bengals’ defense, as we know, is terrible. From the looks of pre-season, it hasn’t improved. What’s particularly great about the Bengals’ poor defense is that they’re an opposing tight end’s dream come true. Last season, the Bengals were the easiest matchup for the tight end position, allowing an average of 13.4 fantasy points per game. Those numbers, combined with the Joe Flacco-David Njoku magic, should equal another great fantasy day for the big dog.
Brenton Strange (TE, Jacksonville Jaguars)
It’s time to toss out a name that is a little lesser known, but it might not be by the end of the season. Heck, we may see a stampede to the waiver wire in fantasy leagues for this guy after Week 1. Brenton Strange of the Jacksonville Jaguars is a name you need to pay attention to, even if you don’t have the berries to draft him this week. Strange will presumably take the “Evan Engram role” for the Jaguars, and it could bode well, especially this week.
Strange and Jacksonville take on the Carolina Panthers, who have a really hard time defending the tight end position. Last year, they were the seventh-easiest matchup for the position and on average, tight ends walked away with 11.3 points per game. The Panthers as a whole allowed the most receiving touchdowns to tight ends in 2024. I know, the Jaguars also have Brian Thomas Jr. and the new hotness, Travis Hunter. But especially if, or when, defenses key on those two guys, Trevor Lawrence is going to look elsewhere. Why not to the big-bodied tight end who has an extremely favorable matchup? Keep an eye on Brenton Strange, and if you can talk to yourself into it, draft him for this week’s “Flex Six Frenzy” if you miss out on a bigger-name tight end like George Kittle, Brock Bowers, Trey McBride or David Njoku.
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*Photo Credit: Matthew Hinton – USA TODAY Sports*
