With Week 1 of the NFL finally here, fantasy football expert Matthew Berry sat down with none other than LeBron James to preview the 2025–26 season and kick off the very first DraftKings Touchdown Scorer Draft.
While James’ NBA legacy is untouchable, fewer people realize just how deep his love for football runs. Back in 2010, then-Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll even sent him a jersey, hoping to lure him onto the gridiron. Now, as a DraftKings partner, James channels that passion for the NFL into sharing his insights, NFL picks, and favorite storylines for the season ahead.
Along with their NFL preview, James and Berry selected their top players to score a touchdown in Week 1, drafting a team of four players they believe will hit paydirt on Sunday.
NFL Preview
Last season, LeBron James tabbed the Washington Commanders as his sleeper pick, and they delivered with a 12–5 record and a trip to the NFC Championship. Not bad for a sleeper! This year, the Ohio native is keeping it close to home, picking the Cleveland Browns as his dark horse.
“I love the fact that, you know, obviously, we locked up Myles Garrett for the long haul, and that was huge,” James told Berry.
Berry added to the analysis, pointing out that many still underestimate head coach Kevin Stefanski, and he believes wideout Cedrick Tillman could have a breakout year. Together, they see Cleveland as a team capable of surprising by staying competitive.
James also gave a sleeper nod to the Las Vegas Raiders, citing the winning-culture additions of Pete Carroll, Chip Kelly, Geno Smith, and even Tom Brady to the franchise. Berry agreed, noting that not only could Smith thrive under the new system, but also he loves the addition of rookie Ashton Jeanty and tight end Brock Bowers’ undeniable talent.
NFL Touchdown Scorer Draft
DraftKings Sportsbook is the No. 1 place to bet touchdowns, and with the season finally back, LeBron James and Matthew Berry drafted a team of four players they believe will score a touchdown on Sunday in Week 1. With James receiving the first pick, let’s see how they did!
LEBRON JAMES’ TOUCHDOWN SCORER TEAM:
- No. 1 Pick: WR Malik Nabers, New York Giants
- No. 3 Pick: WR Ja’marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
- No. 5 Pick: RB Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- No. 7 Pick: RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
Tail LeBron’s parlay using our built-in parlay tool:
MATTHEW BERRY’S TOUCHDOWN SCORER TEAM:
- No. 2 Pick: RB Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
- No. 4 Pick: RB Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
- No. 6 Pick: RB Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
- No. 8 Pick: RB Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
Tail Matthew Berry’s parlay using our built-in parlay tool:
Both teams can be found as a four-leg TD parlay on DraftKings Sportsbook! Plus, have you heard about DraftKings Sportbook’s “Ghost Leg” promotion? Learn more right here.
