4 NFL FanDuel Studs to Target in Week 1

Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints

FanDuel Price: $8,400
Projected Points: 24.7

At a projected 29.5 points, the New Orleans Saints have the highest implied total of any team in the opening week. They are also favored by a league-high 9.5 points over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who gave up the second-most passing yards per game (265.9) of any team to opposing quarterbacks last season and ranked 27th with a 0.09 Adjusted Defensive Passing Net Expected Points (NEP) per play.

The Buccaneers will have their hands full trying to improve on that statistic against Drew Brees, who averaged more than 40.0 pass attempts per game in seven straight seasons prior to 2017. Brees did see his volume dip last season, averaging just 33.5 passing attempts per game. But he was still extremely efficient, as his 0.24 Passing NEP per drop back ranked fifth among all quarterbacks with at least 150 drop backs last season.

With Brees' proven track record and a plus matchup, our models project him as the highest scoring player at any position in Week 1.