The long days without NFL football are finally in the past. This year will kick off with a bang with the back-to-back Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs facing off against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night football.
The Chiefs enter as 3-point favorites in the matchup while the Ravens are +130 underdogs on the moneyline. The game total is set at 46.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook.
There are far more ways to get involved in the action than just traditional betting. One of the more unique features on DraftKings this year is Pick6 Fantasy Football!
Ravens at Chiefs Pick6 Plays:
The Chiefs enter this season as the championship favorites after winning back-to-back Super Bowls and three in the last five years. However, the Ravens made a notable addition this offseason by adding Derrick Henry. They will be looking to make that Super Bowl leap themselves this season. This will be an excellent measuring stick matchup for Week 1, and if there is ever a time to catch the Chiefs it is the opening week. This occurred just last season with the Lions picking up the opening week win as Kansas City nursed their Super Bowl hangover.
With the stage fully set, here are my picks for Week 1’s Thursday Night Football Pick6 slate.
Derrick Henry More Than 0.5 Total Touchdowns
The Derrick Henry addition is one of the more notable moves of the NFL offseason. The former Titans star signed a two-year deal with Baltimore this offseason. The former Alabama product has led the NFL in carries four times, in yards twice, and in touchdowns twice.
Henry will be the most dynamic back the Ravens have had in the Lamar Jackson era and this will be by far the most talented offense Henry has been a part of. While his workload will be scaled back some, Henry should still see plenty of opportunity. This will especially be the case in the red zone. Lamar Jackson will still be making his impact felt with his legs, but expect this to occur primarily in the middle of the field. Henry will undoubtedly serve as the red zone back and will get his Ravens career started by finding the pay dirt.
Justice Hill Less Than 9.5 Receiving Yards
Derrick Henry is accustomed to being the bell-cow running back and this will be the likely outcome for the star again this season. While Justice Hill is a competent backup, don’t expect him to see the field much in the opening game. Hill ended last season on a high note receiving the most targets of his career with 10 in the final regular season game. It also should be noted that there were six games in which he did not record a reception at all last season.
Hill may come into play as the season goes on as the Ravens look to limit the wear-and-tear on Henry. But don’t expect this to be the case in Week 1. This is a bit of a risky pick as it can lose in just one play, but don’t expect Hill to make his presence felt in the opening game to any extent.
Travis Kelce More Than 57.5 Reception Yards
Despite the massive growth in notoriety and continued team success, Travis Kelce is coming off of a down season. The nine-time All-Pro had his fewest receiving yards since 2015 and the fewest touchdowns since 2019. The Chiefs continue to show faith in the future Hall of Famer and rewarded him with a contract extension this offseason.
Kelce remains the surefire number-one option in the passing game even with the upgraded receiving core. The chemistry he has with Mahomes will not be able to be matched by the new additions and he should expect plenty of work in Week 1. Even with the down season by his standards, Kelce exceeded 57.5 receiving yards in eight of the 15 games he played in last year. Look for Kelce to start the season off on the right foot and find some holes in the middle of the Ravens’ defense throughout the matchup.
Xavier Worthy More Than 45.5 Reception Yards
Speaking of the improved receiving group, Kansas City spent the 28th overall pick on Xavier Worthy in this year’s NFL draft. The Texas product is coming off a 1,000-yard receiving season in his final year of college and will be immediately looked at to make an impact in the Chiefs offense.
It felt as if last season the Chiefs truly put to the test whether Patrick Mahomes could elevate any wide receiving group. After finding more Super Bowl success, the team rewarded him with better weapons. With Hollywood Brown set to miss the season debut due to injury, Worthy will be even more important to the offense. Look for him to get off to a hot start and exceed the 45.5-yard receiving margin comfortably.
Lamar Jackson More Than 49.5 Rushing Yards
The dual-threat nature of Lamar Jackson’s game has made him one of the most dangerous weapons in the NFL. The reigning MVP seems to only be leaning into his legs more this season as he reportedly arrived at training camp after losing 25 pounds this offseason.
While Henry will make more of a dent in the rushing game than any other pairing he has had, the two have a complimentary style. There will be plenty of attempts to go around and Jackson should be especially counted on to make his impact felt in the middle of the field. Jackson can take one carry and break free for this number at a moment’s notice, and he looks to have even gained a bit of speed based on his new focus on his body.
Mark Andrews More Than 4.5 Receptions
There was a point in time when Mark Andrews was near the same conversation as Travis Kelce among the best tight ends in the NFL. Injuries have prevented him from remaining in it, but Andrews has looked good when he is on the field. The 3-time Pro Bowler played just 10 games last year and had his fewest receptions since his rookie year. Andrews enters this matchup with a clean slate of health and will be ready to help the offense.
I’m bullish on Andrews this season. Count on him to tally at least five receptions in the opening week and power the Ravens offense moving forward. Flash back to the 2021 season and Andrews recorded over 4.5 receptions in 13 of the 17 games. Look for him to regain form this year and kick this off in the opening week.
What is DraftKings Pick6?
Pick6 is a peer-to-peer fantasy variant where you build a lineup (your “Pick Set”) of 2 to 6 players and select whether or not you believe each will outperform their listed stat projection. Enter your Pick Set in Pick6 contests to compete against other users. Get enough picks correct and win a share of cash prizes.
How to Play DraftKings Pick6
Create a Pick Set
Create a Pick Set by choosing between 2-6 players from the same sport and Pick Group (a set of picks available from a group of set competitions). For each player, simply select if you think they’ll have more or less than their listed stat projection. In each Pick Set, you can not pick the same player twice and you must pick players from at least two different teams.
Enter an Amount
Once you finalize your Pick Set, choose your entry fee amount. Your entries will be automatically distributed into available contests, subject to your confirmation.
Sweat Your Picks
When the games go live, use the My Picks tab to follow your picks in real time to track how your players are performing against their projections and how they stack up against other users.
Compete for Prizes
Make enough correct picks and win a share of the contests’ guaranteed prizes. Any prizes won will be credited to your DraftKings account after contests are finalized.
Play at DraftKings Pick6 or by downloading the DraftKings Pick6 app on Apple or Google!
Apple DraftKings Pick6 App
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is seanbarnard) 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 do not have access to any non-public information.
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