There are so many different ways to make your picks for Week 1 of the NFL season on DraftKings and DraftKings Sportsbook. 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 NFL Week 1 Spreads Pool with $5,000+ in prizes for $5 here.
You can also enter the DraftKings $500K+ NFL Season-Long Pick ‘Em Pool with $100,000 going to the winner for $500 here.
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. For the season-long pools, each 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. You will also be given one “skip week” during the season, where you don’t need to make picks if you don’t have a good feel for that slate. 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. You can also play the weekly pools, where you pick every featured game against the spread.
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
Giants +5.5 at Commanders — The Commanders were the darlings of the NFL last season. Jayden Daniels set the league on fire, won the Offensive Rookie of the Year award and led the Commanders to the NFC Championship Game. However, there is bound to be some natural regression. Washington traded away running back Brian Robinson Jr., and they were without star receiver Terry McLaurin all summer. It could take some time for Daniels and McLaurin to get back up to speed. The Giants upgraded during the offseason, with Abdul Carter added to their now elite defensive line and Russell Wilson at quarterback. Both of these games were decided by five points or fewer last season when the Commanders were the far superior team. It should be close again between two division rivals.
Packers -1.5 vs. Lions — The Packers are all in on the 2025-26 season. They pulled off a blockbuster trade, acquiring Micah Parsons from the Cowboys. Green Bay had a top-five defense in the NFL by EPA/play last season, and should be even better with Parsons at the EDGE. Offensively, they drafted Matthew Golden to hopefully be the WR1 that Jordan Love was promised to be over the last couple of years. The Lions lost both of their coordinators to head coaching jobs during the offseason. They could see some hiccups over the first couple of weeks as these coaches adjust to their new roles. The Packers want to set the tone in the first week of the season that they can win this division. Matt LaFleur is 7-0 at home during Weeks 1-3 and should keep that trend going here.
49ers -2.5 @ Seahawks — The 49ers had a disappointing season filled with injuries in 2024-25. Christian McCaffrey missed most of the season, but he is back healthy. They are already going to be without Brandon Aiyuk to start the season, but with McCaffrey, George Kittle, Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings, this offense should be close to its old self. The Seahawks have a new quarterback, Sam Darnold, and a new offensive coordinator. It could take them some time to find their feet with this new offense. In his career, Brock Purdy is 3-0 SU and ATS in Seattle. He should make it 4-0 in this game as San Francisco looks to start this season on the right note.
Browns +5.5 vs. Bengals — The Browns are a scary team to back, but this is an ideal spot for Cleveland. They are home underdogs against a divisional rival, who has struggled mightily in early-season games the last few seasons. Week 1 divisional home underdogs are 23-7 ATS since 2010. There is so much familiarity between these coaching staffs that it is much harder to win with margin, especially on the road. In his career, Joe Burrow is 1-9 SU and 3-7 ATS in his first two games of the year. The Bengals have yet to break their streak of bad play to start the season. While Joe Flacco is fully healthy in Week 1 is the best time to bet on the Browns. If they have to turn to Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders, things get much murkier in Cleveland. However, if Flacco can provide steady quarterback play, the Browns should stay inside this number.
Chiefs -2.5 @ Chargers — The Chiefs are masters of finding ways to win close games. Entering this season, they have won 17 consecutive one-score games, an NFL record. Patrick Mahomes is 6-1 SU and 5-2 ATS in Week 1 in his career, and Andy Reid is 10-2 SU and 8-4 ATS in Week 1 with the Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes has dominated the AFC West, with a 35-5 SU record against divisional opponents and 10-2 record against the Chargers specifically, including all the last six meetings. The recipe for the Chiefs has been simple over the past several seasons, if they are favorites of a field goal or less, bet on them. If they are favorites of more than a field goal, fade them. Despite some promising signs for the Chargers, back Mahomes in this spot until he gives you a reason not to.
Week 1 Leans
Cowboys +8.5 @ Eagles
Falcons +2.5 vs. Buccaneers
Jets +2.5 vs. Steelers
Dolphins +1.5 at Colts
Panthers +3.5 at Jaguars
Cardinals -6.5 at Saints
Patriots -2.5 vs. Raiders
Broncos -7.5 vs. Titans
Rams -2.5 vs. Texans
Ravens +0.5 vs. Bills
Bears +1.5 vs. Vikings
