3 FanDuel Defenses to Target in Week 1

Arizona Cardinals

FanDuel Price: $5,000
Projections: 27.1 points allowed, 1.94 sacks, 1.5 turnovers, 0.18 touchdowns

As you can see above, we don’t project Arizona to score nearly as many FanDuel points as Kansas City and Seattle. As a result, the Arizona D/ST will likely carry a much lower ownership percentage in GPPs, especially because they’re not any cheaper than those two highly-rated defenses.

But our points allowed projection of 27.1 points is certainly on the upper end of the possible outcomes, as the New England Patriots’ implied team total is just 20.5 points. Without Dion Lewis and Tom Brady, it’s hard to envision a Jimmy Garoppolo-led offense scoring more than three touchdowns.

The sack projection falls in line with how the Cardinals performed last season, as they produced three or more sacks in a game just four times. But this offseason, they’ve added Chandler Jones and rookie Robert Nkemdiche, who should cause problems for a below-average Patriots offensive line that ranked 18th at Pro Football Focus before center Bryan Stork was released and tackle Sebastian Vollmer was placed on injured reserve.

Many DFS players will look at defenses with lower Vegas totals, eliminating Arizona once they see the total of 47. Don’t make that mistake -- Arizona has huge upside, as evidenced by their nine games of two-plus turnovers and three games of multiple return touchdowns a season ago. At below 10 percent ownership, it’s hard to find a higher ceiling.