Fantasy Football: 10 Bold Predictions for Week 1

A Price to Fade & A Price to Aid

Ezekiel Elliott ($8,600 FanDuel) Will Score 8.6 FanDuel Points or Fewer

Admittedly, this take is a scorcher. Could Ezekiel Elliott -- one of the most dependable running backs we have seen when active -- really put up a 1x performance in DFS this week? I think there is a real chance.

As a side note, you'll see me mention weekly in this section various multipliers. When using a term like "1x", I'm referring to the projected points scored relative to their cost in DFS. So, for Zeke's $8,600 price tag, a 1x performance would be 8.6 points. A 2x performance would be 17.2 points and so on -- you get the picture. As a general rule in NFL DFS, we want players to return at least 2x on their cost across the board.

According to Football Outsiders' DVOA, the Carolina Panthers' defense fielded the fifth-most imposing unit in the NFL in 2017. But the bigger concern is the Dallas Cowboys' offensive line, which is currently holding on with duct tape.

Left tackle Tyron Smith is battling a hamstring injury, center Travis Frederick has no timetable for return, and right guard Zack Martin's knee appeared troublesome, though he has avoided the Week 1 injury report. Plus, right tackle La'el Collins has a pair of injuries that has seen him limping around practice.

While this group looks to mostly be available for now, they will certainly not be as effective at less than 100%. And until the Cowboys show more willingness to involve Elliott in the passing game, I see Elliott running into a brick wall in Week 1.

James Conner ($5,000) Will Score 20+ FanDuel Points

James Conner is the ultimate feel-good story in sports, after his successful battle against cancer and an elite recovery back to a standout at Pitt. He now gets the keys to the car in one of the most productive roles in the NFL: the Pittsburgh Steelers running back gig. And I'm calling the rare 4x multiplier for him absent Le'Veon Bell.

Conner has shone brightly this preseason, which was no big shock given how dominant he was in college. While there are few running backs as skilled in the passing game as Bell, Conner has displayed some passing-game chops of his own.

Here at numberFire, we don't award points for motivation, heart, or character, but I love the narrative emerging around this Steelers offensive line and their desire to prove that they run the show. Add in a truly dynamic running back who could have been a first-round pick in his own right prior to a cancer diagnosis, and I think the Steelers will not miss a beat.

Conner has received all the first-team reps since camp opened up a month ago and is firmly entrenched in that offense. I expect his workload to hold and be a near-lock for a touchdown and 100 yards from scrimmage. Conner is easy chalk this week.