There are so many different ways to make your picks for Week 1 of the NFL season and the DraftKings Pick ‘Em pools are one of the best ways to get in on the action.
DraftKings has huge NFL Pick ‘Em pools for Week 1. You can enter the Micro NFL Season-Long Pick ‘Em pool with a $50,000 prize for just $5. You can also enter the Mini NFL Season-Long Pick ‘Em pool with a $150,000+ prize, where $15,000+ will go to first place, for $50. Check out all of the NFL season-long pools on DraftKings here.
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NFL Pick ‘Em Pools
These pools are really easy to use and allow you to have action for the entire NFL season with just one entry fee. Every week you will go back to the pool and pick five games on the slate against the spread. Each correct selection is worth 1 point and each incorrect selection is worth 0 points. You will also be given one “skip week” during the season where you don’t need to make picks if you don’t have picks you like for that week. In total, you will make 80 selections throughout the NFL regular season. That way even if you have one bad week, you are still in contention in the contest.
Every week of the regular season I will be giving out my five favorite selections, along with my leans for every other game on the slate.
Week 1 Picks
Chiefs -2.5 vs. Ravens — Sometimes you don’t need to overthink it. When you need Patrick Mahomes to basically just win a game for you, he usually does. When Mahomes is an underdog or a favorite of three points or less (basically when he just needs to win) he is 19-6-1 ATS (76%) in his career. The Chiefs proved last season that they could scheme their defense to stop Lamar Jackson, as they held the Ravens to just 10 points in the AFC Championship Game.
Panthers +4.5 @ Saints — Going from the defending Super Bowl champions to the team that finished with the worst record in the league last year is the epitome of betting on the NFL. The Panthers made a huge upgrade at head coach this offseason by bringing in Dave Canales. Canales was the OC in Seattle two seasons ago and revived Geno Smith’s career. He was then the OC in Tampa Bay last season and revived Baker Mayfield’s career. Canales can now get Bryce Young’s career off the ground after a tough rookie year. The Panthers also got some weapons for Young in the form of rookie WR Xavier Legette and former Steeler WR Diontae Johnson. The Panthers’ offense should be much improved and this divisional matchup should be tight.
Texans -1.5 @ Colts — CJ Stroud set the league on fire in his rookie year and DeMeco Ryans coached up a great defense in Houston. In Year 2, Stroud should only get better with the additions of Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon to an offense that was already loaded. Fellow sophomore QB Anthony Richardson will start for the Colts in this game and there are some concerns about how ready he is. Richardson played just four games in his rookie year before sustaining a season-ending injury. There could just be some level of caution for Richardson as he starts this season. Stroud came into this building and won at the end of last season and he should do so again to start this season.
Seahawks -5.5 vs. Broncos — The Seahawks are a known commodity compared to the Broncos, who will be starting Bo Nix in his first career NFL game. The Seahawks’ offense is loaded with weapons and they will test this Denver defense that lost their All-Pro safety Justin Simmons this offseason. The Seahawks are an experienced team facing a Broncos team with a lot of new faces, including at the most important position on the field. The Seahawks should take care of business at home to start their 2024 campaign.
Jets +4.5 @ 49ers — The Jets had a memorable Week 1 performance last season when of course Aaron Rodgers went down with a season-ending injury, but the Jets also beat the Bills on a walk-off punt return touchdown by Xavier Gipson. The Jets start their season on MNF again, this time against the defending NFC Champions. Despite bad offensive play, the Jets’ defense was second in the NFL in total defense last season. They return the same core of star players and should be, at worst, a top-5 defense in the NFL again this season. The long-term health of Rodgers is a bit of a scary prospect but he should be fired up for this game to prove that he still has “it.” The Jets desperately need to start the season on a strong note and should keep this close or even win outright.
Week 1 Leans
Packers +1.5 vs. Eagles
Titans +4.5 @ Bears
Cardinals +6.5 @ Bills
Patriots +9.5 @ Bengals
Jaguars +3.5 @ Dolphins
Vikings -0.5 @ Giants
Falcons -2.5 vs. Steelers
Chargers -3.5 vs. Raiders
Cowboys +2.5 @ Browns
Commanders +3.5 @ Bucs
Rams +3.5 @ Lions
Join the NFL Pick ‘Em pools on DraftKings and make your picks for Week 1.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and customer (my username is blakekrass) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and cannot access any non-public information.
