DraftKings NFL DFS Picks For Chiefs vs. Broncos Showdown Slate

What a start to the NFL season. We’ve already had some great games, with some of the biggest names in fantasy getting off to phenomenal starts. Six different running backs went for more than 27.0 points in 0.5-PPR scoring, while 10 different pass catchers had at least 20.0 (seven wide receivers and three TEs).

We’ll wrap up Week 1 with another excellent matchup on paper. The defending AFC West champs will take on arguably their biggest rivals, with the Broncos traveling to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs. The Chiefs are listed as 2.5-point home favorites, while the total sits at 43.5 points.

Let’s dive into all the top DraftKings NFL DFS picks for Chiefs vs. Broncos on Monday Night Football.

Studs To Target On DraftKings NFL DFS Showdown Slate For Broncos vs. Chiefs

Bo Nix ($9,800 Flex, $14,700 Captain)

Both quarterbacks are coming off serious injuries, creating an interesting dynamic in this contest. Nix will be playing his first game since suffering a fractured ankle in the playoffs, while Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL in December. Neither player carries an injury designation heading into this matchup, but it’s reasonable to wonder if there will be any lingering effects.

Of the two, Nix stands out as the safer option. He’s coming off a less serious injury, and he has a much stronger matchup. The Chiefs’ defense was still solid last season, but it took a clear step back compared to the previous two years. They ranked just 12th in EPA per pass attempt defensively. Now, they’ll have to play without their top two cornerbacks from last season, Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson.

Nix is quietly coming off a QB7 finish last year, and he brings a decent rushing floor to the table. He averaged more than 20 rushing yards per game for the second straight year, and he added five rushing touchdowns. Nix also has the strongest group of pass-catchers of his career, anchored by the addition of Jaylen Waddle.

Add it all up, and Nix stands out as the strongest stud target on this slate. He leads all players in terms of fantasy points in our NFL DFS projections.

Rashee Rice ($9,400 Flex, $14,100 Captain)

This one is pretty simple: when Rashee Rice plays football, he tends to produce. He was fifth at receiver in terms of fantasy points per game last year, trailing only the “big four” of Puka Nacua, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ja’Marr Chase, and Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Rice had a strong 29% target share in his eight games last season. He had a 34% target share across three weeks in 2024-25, averaging better than 17.5 0.5-PPR points per game. The Chiefs have done little to improve their receiving corps heading into this season, so there’s no reason to expect much different.

The only issue with Rice is the matchup. The Broncos are one of the best defensive teams in football, and they managed to hold him in check in their lone matchup last year (nine targets, six receptions, 38 yards, zero touchdowns). Still, Rice has the top projection among the non-QBs in this matchup. If he produces like he has the past two years, he won’t be below $10k for long.

NFL DFS Value Picks For Chiefs vs. Broncos DraftKings MNF Showdown Slate

J.K. Dobbins ($6,400 Flex, $9,600 Captain)

The Broncos’ RB situation has the potential to be a headache for fantasy purposes. Dobbins, RJ Harvey, and Jonah Coleman all figure to be in the mix, which limits the fantasy value for all three.

That said, Dobbins figures to lead this trio in Week 1. He was impressive as the team’s lead back last season, averaging 5.0 yards per carry with 772 rushing yards in just 10 games. Dobbins did manage just four touchdowns – compared to 12 for Harvey – but he was still the team’s preferred option around the goal line. He had 70% of the carries from inside the five-yard line through the first 10 weeks of the season.

Dobbins will likely lose some work on passing downs, but he should handle the majority of the early-down snaps. That makes him the clear target in this backfield. He’s projected for more fantasy points than Harvey, despite checking in at a cheaper price tag.

Broncos Defense ($4,800 Flex, $7,200 Captain)

The days of the Chiefs being an offense that you need to fear might be in the rearview mirror. They’ve been slipping for quite some time now, and they dipped to just 20th in yards per game and 21st in points last season. Those numbers were slightly impacted by playing without Mahomes down the stretch, but he still suited up in 14 games last year.

The Broncos held Mahomes and the Chiefs to just 19 points last season, adding one turnover and three sacks. That was before Mahomes tore his ACL. If he’s at all limited mobility-wise, the Broncos could have a field day in this contest.

Picks To Differentiate Your DraftKings NFL DFS Showdown Lineup For KC vs. DEN

Evan Engram ($3,400 Flex, $5,100 Captain)

Engram checks in with the third-most projected targets for the Broncos in this contest, trailing only Waddle and Courtland Sutton. While Engram’s first year with the team could only be described as a disaster, he still has a solid track record of production. He should have a chance to bounce back in Year 2, making him an interesting value target.

Pat Bryant ($3,200 Flex, $4,800 Captain)

Bryant is another name to monitor in Denver. He seemed to emerge multiple times last season, only for a timely injury to keep him from fully taking over. Bryant has more competition for snaps this season, but there is still a bit of optimism for him. ESPN’s Dan Graziano recently reported that Bryant “might force his way into a bigger role than expected.” He had a strong camp, and he’ll look to keep the positive momentum going in Week 1.