Fantasy Football 2020: The Week one winning DFS lineup
By Bob Heyrman
WR | Marvin Jones | vs. Bears | $6,200
The Detroit Lions open their 2020 season by hosting the Chicago Bears. The Bears defense as a whole last season was outstanding, and despite ranking third-best against wide receivers in fantasy football last year, we’re going to plug in Marvin Jones.
Jones will play as the Detroit Lions top outside receiver as the teams’ top pass-catcher, while Kenny Golladay nurses a hamstring injury. Although Golladay led the league with 11 touchdown receptions last season, Jones wasn’t too far behind, recording nine scores.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford often looks to Jones on third down when Golladay is in the lineup; the two have tremendous chemistry. Expect Jones to make an impact early and often for Detroit. In 13 games last season, eight with Stafford under center, Jones made 62 grabs on 91 targets totaling 779 yards.
WR | Allen Robinson | @ Lions | $7,200
We have Marvin Jones plugged into the lineup; let’s stay with Detroit and Chicago and confidently add the Bears top receiver, Allen Robinson, into our fantasy football lineups.
The Detroit Lions were simply atrocious defending the pass last season that with Darius Slay manning the left-corner position. Detroit spent the third overall pick on Jeff Okudah out of Ohio State in hopes of replacing Slay, but he’s not expected to play every down today.
Detroit will likely shadow Robinson with Desmond Trufant. It’s a matchup that should favor the Bears, especially if the Lions fail to produce any-type of pass-rush like a season ago.
Robinson averaged nearly 13 fantasy football points per game last year, recording 98 receptions, 1,147 yards, and seven scores.
WR | Emmanuel Sanders | vs. Buccaneers | $5,600
Remember earlier we talked about looking for players with the potential to produce at the bottom of your lineup after plugging in Jackson and Jacobs? Here is one of those types of players.
In this format, we’ve decided to use the veteran 33-year old Emmanuel Sanders, who will serve as the Saints number two receiver behind the great Michael Thomas for the 2020 season. It’s another weapon at Drew Brees’ disposal.
Sanders should be a steady play all season long but not an ideal DFS play with better options at the same price point. When I say better options, players like A.J. Green, Christian Kirk, DeSean Jackson, for example, don’t overlook some of the leagues’ rookies like CeeDee Lamb and Jalen Reagor, or Michael Pittman Jr.
I like Reagor this week, but his injury status leaves me to question how heavily targeted he will be against an atrocious Washington secondary.
Sanders averaged a just a touch over nine fantasy football points per week last season, not great. He spent time with both Denver and the 49ers. It was in San Francisco where Sanders stood out. Sanders compiled 869 yards and five touchdowns, making 66 grabs on 97 targets. With quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo‘s spotty accuracy, Sanders still produced. He may feast of single coverage with Drew Brees delivering the football as most coverage will be rolled towards Thomas. This is one of those darkhorse plays that hopefully pays off.