The time is nigh — welcome to Week 1 of Pickards ‘Pick-Six’. But, before we get into the selections, I want to review something with you.
Playing fantasy football can be a volatile concoction for some. My player selections are to educate and help the casual player reach the next tier. DraftKings is a gambling website. Do not become so entrenched that you put yourself in a financial or personal bind. For season-long fantasy, remember this should be fun, and do not let a losing day ruin your day.
The season’s first week is quite precarious because it is like buying a pig in a bag. Where do you begin to make selections based on no current metrics?
I thought about it like going back to the gym to get my selections. We reminisce and remember players like weightlifting. Sometimes we forget the work it took before we saw results. There were workouts you disliked, and others you favored. Memories like these tie into one of the essential pieces of playing fantasy football, removing emotion.
It’s day one back at the gym, and to ensure the best results possible, we have six exercises that are the core of any weightlifting routine. They are squats, bench presses, deadlifts, military presses, barbell rows, and cardio. We must use this history of a proven strategy to start our season.
1) Lamar Jackson QB, BAL $7,300
He is our deadlift, the one who gets this team going. Don’t overthink it. Lamar Jackson is facing the Jets in a game they are heavily favored to win.
Several QBs in other matchups will take a lot of ownership away. Jalen Hurts for $6,800 in a matchup versus the Detroit Lions squad (which he eviscerated 44-6 last season) is the chalk.
Lamar averaged 21.6 Draft Kings fantasy points per game in 2021. That’s a fantastic median to work with paired with his lethal rushing totals. He already ranks 7th all-time in rush yards for QBs and has a record of 37-12 since he became the starter.
2) Najee Harris RB, PIT $6,400
He is our squats, the one who will shoulder the load and lift us. The game plan will be simple for the Steelers. Play keep away with the ball or die a death of a thousand paper cuts by Joe Burrow. When head coach Mike Tomlin selects an RB, they are blessed as the bell cow.
Only Jonathan Taylor had more carries than Harris’s 307 touches. That’s a great stat, but Najee Harris was also first in the league for RBs with 74 receptions. This gives you a lot of leverage when predicting a player’s mean. Harris will get his attempts and receptions; lock him in.
3) Mike Williams WR, LAC $6,600
He is our military press, the one who puts us over the top. Mike Williams was tied for third in endzone targets for WRs last season. A big-bodied receiver that has the proven capability to post monster numbers.
On average, he is targeted 6.8 times with 61.1 receiving yards and 0.5 touchdowns a game with Herbert at QB. Those numbers are also a welcomed addition in a game with a -3.5 line for the Chargers and an over/under of 52.
4) George Kittle TE, SF $5,900
He is our bench press, the one who builds the strength of our team. No TE had a higher snap share of 92.4% last season than Kittle while finishing second for target share percentage with 24.9%. He is on the field too much to ignore with an attractive salary.
QB Trey Lance is at the helm now, and Kittle will provide a security blanket. When paired together, Kittle averages six targets and 54.6 yards per game.
5) Dameon Pierce RB, HOU $4,800
He is our cardio, the one who keeps us going when digging deep. To save money for our roster construction, Dameon Pierce is the perfect piece. In a matchup against a formidable Colts defense, a few things stood out to me. They ranked 29th in tackles for a loss and finished 25th for sacks last season.
Pierce is the elastic man, and he will keep the opposing defenders on their toes when he bounces off the line of scrimmage. He is a great flex play or cheap second RB if you are paying up for WRs or the top two TEs.
6) Vikings DST, MIN $2,200
Defense is our barbell rows, the one who pulls the team up. I’ll be honest; this was the most laborious selection of the week. Aaron Rodgers has had an average stat line when facing the Vikings in his career, with 252 yards and 2 TDs a game.
However, two of his WRs are currently dealing with injuries. He has been publicly vocal about the receivers not being where they should be with routes and dropped balls. The Vikings finished second in sacks last season and 11th in QB hits.
Mike Zimmer is gone, and he was the defensive mind in the land of the SKOL for 9 seasons. A new defense is playing at home with a high-powered offense. Rodgers is going to throw, and if things aren’t clicking, there will be plenty of opportunities for sacks and turnovers.
Next week, we will review the points these players scored and our successes and failures. I will be making these picks all year exclusively at 5th Down Fantasy.
“Chance favors the prepared mind.”
Louis Pasteur
