Cowboys vs Eagles Week 1 DFS SHOWDOWN: September 4th 2025

DeVonta Smith

Philadelphia Eagle

VS

Dallas Cowboys

(0-0)

DraftKings: $8,400 Flex, $12,600 Captain

FanDuel: $9,600 Flex, $14,400 MVP

DeVonta Smith is poised for a bounce-back season after a disappointing season last season in some fantasy metrics, but the Dallas game is always a strong point for him every season. The Eagles’ WR2 had a 30-point fantasy day the last time these two teams met, and that was with Kenny Pickett and Tanner McKee at quarterback. Another plus for Smith is that the Cowboys’ secondary is a question mark due to how limited Trevon Diggs could be due to injury for the opener, as well so Philadelphia’s passing game should be on all cylinders in this game. Still with Diggs probably suiting up, Smith has owned the Daron Bland matchup, so Lock Smith into DFS lineups.

Start ‘Em

George Pickens

Dallas Cowboys

AT

Philadelphia Eagles

(0-0)

DraftKings: $8,000 Flex, $12,000 Captain

FanDuel: $8,400 Flex, $12,600 MVP

The New Toy in Big D should be starting in your DFS Lineups this week for multiple reasons. Dak and Dallas Head Coach Brian Schottenheimer want to showcase their new shining WR2 for sure in this game, so he should be getting a great amount of targets. Plus, the major issue of the Eagles’ corner opposite Quinyon Mitchell being Adoree’ Jackson is a red flag for Philly fans and eyeballs, and DFS lineups should have Pickens on their radars on Thursday if they want to have the opportunity to make some money on DraftKings and FanDuel.

Jalen Hurts

Philadelphia Eagles

VS

Dallas Cowboys

(0-0)

DraftKings: $11,000 Flex, $16,500 Captain

FanDuel: $12,200 Flex, $18,300 MVP

Jalen Hurts is coming into 2025 after playing the two greatest games of his career in the NFC Championship and Super Bowl 59. Yes, I know this is a new season and a fresh slate for everyone. But this Dallas defense is probably one of the worst units in football after the Parsons trade that shook up the landscape of the NFL season. Hurts averaged 21.0 FPPG last season and had 29.7 Fantasy Points against Dallas in the lone game he played against the Cowboys. So I fully expect Jalen Hurts to fully take advantage of a weak defense in front of him at home under the lights on Thursday night.

Sit ‘Em

Javonte Williams

Dallas Cowboys

AT

Philadelphia Eagles

(0-0)

DraftKings: $5,400 Flex, $8,100 Captain

FanDuel: $6,600 Flex, $9,900 MVP

Javonte Williams is one of the new faces in the Dallas backfield, and people think that because of his values, he is going to be a smart play in DFS as a budget option to go along with their big spenders in their lineup. But I think there are too many questions with the Cowboys’ o-line and the performance of Williams himself over the last couple of seasons in Denver, to go ahead and trot him into the OPENING DFS opportunity of the 2025 NFL season and expect stellar results right away. So sit Williams at all costs in DFS, along with Miles Sanders and Jaydon Blue as well.

Saquon Barkley

Philadelphia Eagles

VS

Dallas Cowboys

(0-0)

DraftKings: $11,200 Flex, $16,800 Captain

FanDuel: $14,400 Flex, $21,600 MVP

DISCLAIMER: This is not me thinking Barkley is going to have a subpar performance at all; it is strictly a budget reason. The budgets on both platforms for Barkley are not great, but it’s much worse on FanDuel.

The best DFS lineups are always the ones that have the most balanced within the budget. Barkley deservingly so is that budget breaker, and he can perform above those prices easily against one of the worst run defenses in the league last year. But at the same time, this is an article that wants to help you make money. So play Barkley at your own peril, because you might be stuck with some options that would burn you in the end if you don’t budget properly.

Fade of the Game

DEFENSE

Dallas Cowboys

AT

Philadelphia Eagles

(0-0)

DraftKings: $3,600 Flex, $5,400 Captain

FanDuel: $5,400 Flex, $8,100 Captain

As I have been lying out throughout this article, this Cowboys defense is going to be BAD without Micah Parsons, as he is now in Green Bay. The game is going to be a trial by combat for this defense, and they are going to get exploited in all facets of the game in multiple ways on Thursday night, thanks to the defending champs’ elite offense that returns all but one starter. Don’t get me wrong, I like a couple of pieces on that defense, but a couple of pieces don’t make a strong, cohesive unit overall. So FADE the HELL out of the Cowboys defense in Philadelphia on Thursday night.