Football is back! If you are in need of a Monday night miracle in your fantasy football Week 1 matchup, then you may want to consider hedging your Week 1 fantasy situation with a winning DFS lineup on DraftKings.
Let’s take a closer look at some of my top DFS picks for the Monday Night Football (MNF) matchup between the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers.
Top MNF DFS Picks on DraftKings for Week 1
Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets ($15,300) | Captain
The Jets’ offense has been tough to watch over the last two years. Yet, that hasn’t been because of the level of play we have seen from Breece Hall, who has averaged 4.8 yards per carry on two inept offensive units throughout his young career.
A big part of the reason we haven’t seen the true fantasy ceiling for Hall yet is because of two main factors: Quarterback and offensive line play.
Both of those issues have been addressed this offseason. The team expects quarterback Aaron Rodgers to re-enter the starting lineup fully healthy, and the additions of Tyron Smith and Olu Fashanu along the offensive line should improve this unit up front to both protect the quarterback and open up rushing lanes.
Hall finished fourth in the league in yards after contact in 2023, which means his low rushing totals are more attributed to the lack of effectiveness of the unit up front than Hall’s ability to produce at an efficient per-touch clip.
Hall’s ability as a pass catcher makes him a game script-proof option in this slate.
Aaron Rodgers, QB, New York Jets ($9,000)
Speaking of Rodgers, it has been a long time since we have seen him on the football field in an NFL game. Yet, the Jets’ offense feels like it could be a very productive unit with an upgrade from the likes of Zach Wilson, Trevor Siemian, and Tim Boyle.
Rodgers is the oldest quarterback in the league and is coming off of a season-ending injury. Additionally, he will be tested by this formidable defensive unit in San Francisco.
Yet, the 49ers’ defense was vulnerable to teams who can create yards after catch (YAC), which is evident by the 2,344 YAC (second-most in the league) this unit surrendered to opposing passing attacks in 2023.
Expect Rodgers to get the ball out of his hands quickly to players like Hall, Malachi Corley, Xavier Gipson, and, of course, Garrett Wilson, and let them create YAC against this defense that ran Cover 3 zone at the third-highest rate in the league at 43.1% in 2023.
Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets ($9,800)
Speaking of Wilson, the time has finally come for fantasy managers to truly have optimism about this talented WR’s ceiling entering his third year in the league.
Wilson has somehow managed to generate 80+ receptions and 1,000+ receiving yards with terrible quarterback play and should be the biggest benefactor of an upgrade under center.
Wilson has dynamic playmaking ability as a vertical threat, route-runner, and YAC threat — which profiles very favorably as Rodgers’ go-to man in this passing attack regardless of matchup.
George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers ($7,400)
If there is one position you want to attack on this stout Jets secondary, it would be at linebacker and safety.
The Jets allowed an average of 10.6 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends last year. That may not seem like much, but that ranked as the 24th-worst mark in 2023.
When you compare that mark to the 17.4 fantasy points per game allowed to opposing WRs, which ranked as the lowest mark in the league last season, then you realize quickly why George Kittle may be the best fantasy pass-catching option from this 49ers offense in Week 1.
Jordan Mason, RB, San Francisco 49ers ($3,000)
You may be wondering exactly when the consensus No. 1 overall pick in fantasy football drafts is going to make an appearance in this article.
Well, Christian McCaffrey is going to be mentioned here. He is expected to play, but that alone is enough to make me exercise caution at his lofty price tag in this contest.
McCaffrey has been dealing with a calf injury — and the injury report also noted an Achilles issue this week — throughout the vast majority of the preseason. Since McCaffrey has even been limited this week — I’m willing to throw a dart at Jordan Mason.
If McCaffrey is a surprise inactive, then Mason becomes a chalky pick here — but one that needs to be in your lineup.
If McCaffrey goes but is limited or reaggravates the injury, then Mason could still be useful to your lineup at this price point.
New York Jets Defense ($3,200)
We already mentioned how stingy this Jets defense can be against opposing pass catchers, which could make this normally elite 49ers offense a bit vulnerable if McCaffrey’s calf is compromised in any capacity.
Brock Purdy has had some struggles against elite pass defenses in the past. Last year, his two worst fantasy outings of the season came against the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens. Those two teams happened to rank in the top four of defenses in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks.
In those two games combined, Purdy threw for just 380 yards and one score to go with five interceptions.
Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed create one of the best cornerback tandems in the league, and they could certainly give Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel some issues in this contest.
If Purdy puts the ball in harm’s way, this is a secondary that could capitalize on those mistakes in Week 1.