Another long summer is finally over, and football is back! The NFL season kicks off in style tonight with a marquee Cowboys-Eagles showdown.
Both Dallas and Philadelphia have plenty of star power, especially on offense. However, the x-factors in this Cowboys-Eagles matchup will be the lesser-known names. The same is true for fantasy football managers looking to start the season on a high note. Here are three value plays to consider in all DFS contests ahead of Thursday’s festivities.
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TE Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys ($5,400)
It was a nightmare season for the Cowboys, who saw Dak Prescott ($9,000) miss over two months with a hamstring injury. One of the players most impacted by the quarterback’s absence was Jake Ferguson. The tight end’s numbers dropped across the board, hauling in 59 catches for 494 yards and zero touchdowns. Now, Dallas will welcome wideout George Pickens ($8,000), who steps in as the second option in this passing attack.
Between last season and a more crowded offense, Ferguson isn’t garnering much attention. Still, $5,400 is far too low of a price for a proven difference-maker at TE. It helps that the Cowboys might be forced to play from behind if they’re trailing the Eagles on Thursday. In 2023, Ferguson averaged 20.2 fantasy points in two meetings with Philadelphia. Considering the tight end’s price tag, anything close to that in Week 1 would boost your DFS lineups.
WR John Metchie, Philadelphia Eagles ($3,800)
In an under the radar move, the Eagles traded for John Metchie from the Texans in August. The wideout entered the NFL with plenty of hype, having produced in college at Alabama. However, a competitive depth chart prevented the speedster from emerging as a reliable weapon for Houston. Over 29 career games, the former second-round pick has compiled just 254 yards and one touchdown.
On paper, those statistics don’t suggest immediate fantasy production. However, Metchie’s 10.6 yards per reception in 2024 points to some untapped potential. For starters, the Eagles have a need for weapons in the passing game. After A.J. Brown ($9,400) and Devonta Smith ($8,400), there aren’t many reliable targets. In addition, quarterback Jalen Hurts ($11,000) ranked fourth in football last season with 8.0 yards per attempt. All it’ll take is a big play or two for Metchie to return value here at $3,800. An added bonus? Dallas’ secondary allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers.
WR Jalen Tolbert, Dallas Cowboys ($3,400)
Speaking of WR3’s, let’s head back to Big D. As previously mentioned, the Cowboys made some noise when they traded for George Pickens. Still, there should be a ton of available targets in this pass-friendly offense. As we’ve learned from the 2024 Bengals, bad defense + Pro Bowl quarterback = fantasy production. For a quarterback such as Prescott returning from a lengthy injury, it’ll take some time getting back into rhythm. That means there’s a good chance the gunslinger looks for a familiar target.
If anyone other than Pickens and CeeDee Lamb ($10,800) is stepping up for Dallas, it’s Jalen Tolbert. The wide receiver enjoyed a career-best 2025 campaign: 49 catches for 610 yards and seven touchdowns. A similar statistical output this season is wishful thinking for the 26-year-old. However, he did notch five different performances of at least 40 yards in Prescott’s eight games as a starter. As only the sixth-most expensive receiver available, Tolbert could be an absolute steal.
