The first week of the NFL season is nearly in the books. With the thrilling upsets, superstar performances, and emerging storylines all signaling a great season ahead – there is one final matchup to put the exclamation point on the opening week.
The New York Jets will open the season on Monday night for the second consecutive season. Hopefully this season, there will be better results. Aaron Rodgers’ Achilles tear put a damper on one of the more hyped-up teams in recent memory after just four plays. The four-time MVP will now return a season later with the same goals in mind and looking to be the missing piece the Jets have been seeking.
It will not be an easy matchup as the San Francisco 49ers return this season with their own championship aspirations. The 49ers enter as four-point favorites in the matchup on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Jets are +170 underdogs on the moneyline and the game total is set at 43 points.
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!
Jets vs 49ers Pick6 Plays
Despite the opening week injury to Aaron Rodgers, the Jets still finished the season with a 7-10 record last year even with disastrous quarterback play. New York finished the season ranked 29th in the NFL in scoring with just 15.8 points per game. Defensively, they still shined. New York held opponents to the 3rd fewest yards, 2nd fewest first downs, and ranked 8th in turnovers. If the team is to get just average production offensively, they would have been a playoff team last season. The Jets will now kick off the opening week hoping to prove that Rodgers can still produce at this point in his career.
San Francisco has made it to the Conference Championship or beyond in each of the past three seasons and is coming off a Super Bowl loss. The organization has been extremely successful but is still looking to get over that championship hump. They return almost entirely the same core as last year with the hopes of achieving even more. Despite battling Achilles/calf injuries in the preseason, the 49ers star Christian McCaffrey appears set to suit up in the season opener.
With the stage fully set, here are my picks for Week 1’s Monday Night Football Pick6 slate.
Garrett Wilson More Than 69.5 Receiving Yards
No player will benefit from the presence of Aaron Rodgers more than Garrett Wilson. The third-year wide receiver has eclipsed 1000 yards receiving in both seasons as a professional. This has occurred when being thrown passes from Zach Wilson, Trevor Siemian, Tim Boyle, Joe Flacco, and Mike White.
Rodgers surely will not produce at the level he once did in Green Bay, but the bar is on the floor for what competent quarterback play will look like and Wilson has continually produced throughout. The Ohio State product has eclipsed 69.5 receiving yards 15 times already thus far in his NFL career.
Wilson has never tallied less than three receptions in a game at the NFL level and holds an average of 9.3 targets per game. Expect Rodgers to lean on his new number-one wide receiver often and for the 24-year-old to soar past 69.5 receiving yards. There is a chance this duo develops into one of the best pairings in the NFL so look for them to attempt to iron things out early on to get on the same page.
Aaron Rodgers More Than 1.5 Passing Touchdowns
It has been 610 days since Aaron Rodgers has thrown a touchdown in the NFL. Even still, the 40-year-old has tallied 475 touchdowns in his career and led the NFL in this category in two separate seasons.
The Jets offense is desperate for some sort of production. Last season the team tallied just 11 passing touchdowns and 29 total on the year. New York has a talented offensive core capable of much more than this with Garrett Wilson, Mike Williams, Allen Lazard, and Breece Hall as a threat out of the backfield.
Expect the Jets to keep the game simple on opening night. Rodgers likely will not be testing his legs on roll-outs or ad-lib plays like he once did, but expect New York to scheme wide receivers open and for Rodgers to capitalize. While San Francisco has an intimidating defense, there are touchdowns for the taking in the New York offense and bank on Rodgers to capitalize with at least two passing touchdowns. Look for Rodgers to play more of a game-manager role and for him to lead the team on at least two touchdown drives.
Deebo Samuel More Than 68.5 Rush and Receiving Yards
There is still some uncertainty regarding the status of Christian McCaffrey. While all signs are pointing toward the three-time Pro Bowl running back being available, how much opportunity he gets is still to be determined. McCaffrey missed time throughout training camp and was limited in practice earlier this week. If he is to see his opportunity cut back, Deebo Samuel will be the primary beneficiary.
The 49ers’ Swiss Army knife has evolved into almost a full-time wide receiver, but still tallied at least one carry in every game last season. Looking at the other Pick6 values, Samuel’s numbers are set at 13.5 for rushing yards and 49.5 for receiving yards. While the 68.5 combined yards require a bit more production, the versatility in his game is worth capitalizing on.
Samuel battled injuries last season and still managed to record 1117 yards from scrimmage. Look for him to return to his full form and for the 28-year-old to eclipse 68.5 yards from scrimmage in the opening matchup.
Breece Hall More Than 96.5 Rush & Receiving Yards
Entering his third year in the NFL, Breece Hall is another huge reason for optimism within the Jets offense. Hall tallied 994 rushing yards and 591 yards receiving last season despite the increased attention due to the struggling quarterback play. A popular name in all fantasy football circles, Hall is expected to take another leap forward this season.
The Iowa State product is in line for one of the largest work rates of any starting running back in the NFL this season. Hall is a dual-threat back who can catch it out of the backfield or beat opponents with his legs. Expect more spacing this season with Rodgers returning and for Hall to capitalize on this. If the Jets’ offense clicks the right way Hall should be in line for over 100 yards weekly. Expect this to start on the right foot and for Hall to tally more than 96.5 yards from scrimmage in his 2024 debut.
Christian McCaffrey More Than 72.5 Rushing Yards
**Editors note 7:05 p.m. ET 9/9/24: 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (Achilles/Ankle) will be inactive tonight vs. the Jets.
While there is a chance his workload is slightly reduced, the 49ers would not risk putting Christian McCaffrey on the field if he was not ready. In all likelihood, San Francisco was extremely cautious in their approach with McCaffrey during training camp and will now set him free. The three-time Pro Bowl RB is coming off a season in which he led the NFL in rushing yards. He tallied more than 72.5 rushing yards in 11 of the 16 games he played in and went over 100 yards in seven different games in 2023.
Look for McCaffrey to find some success on the ground against the stout New York defensive line. He is the NFL’s most dynamic running back and the 72.5 number is too low. Expect McCaffrey to shake off some early rust and have a reduced role from what we are accustomed to, but for the star to have no problem putting his imprint on the game.
Brock Purdy More Than 235.5 Passing Yards
Despite the continued production, there still does not seem to be the proper respect for Brock Purdy’s level of play. The former 7th-round pick ranked 5th in the NFL in passing yards last season throwing for an average of 267.5 yards per game. He may lack some of the elite physical tools, but Purdy thinks the game as good as any quarterback in the league and has the talent around him to clear past this number.
Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle provide Purdy with one of the most dynamic offensive groups in the NFL. It is time to stop waiting for the 24-year-old to come back to reality and acknowledge him as the legitimate NFL quarterback he is. Look for Purdy to take another step forward this season and get off on the right foot by throwing for more than 235.5 yards in the opening game. While much of it may occur after the catch, passing yards all count the same in this context.
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!
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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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