Squirrel's Nuts & Bolts: Broncos - Chiefs MNF Showdown Strategy (Week 1 NFL DFS)

Sep 14, 2026

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Week 1 of the NFL season wraps up with an AFC West Showdown between the Broncos and the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, following a high-scoring Sunday slate of action. Kickoff is at 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN and ABC. The Chiefs are favored by 2.5 points with the total set at 43.5 points.

The Broncos went 14-3 last season and won the AFC West, and they return one of the NFL's best defenses. Bo Nix is back under center after a broken ankle kept him out of the AFC Championship Game, and Denver added Jaylen Waddle this offseason to an offense that threw the ball 613 times last season, the fourth-highest total in the NFL, with Nix leading all quarterbacks in pass attempts. Waddle joins Courtland Sutton, Pat Bryant, and tight end Evan Engram in the passing game, while J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey split the backfield. Marvin Mims Jr. is questionable for this one.

The Chiefs are coming off a 6-11 season that saw them miss the playoffs for the first time in over a decade, and Patrick Mahomes returns after tearing his ACL and MCL in December. Kansas City's big offseason addition was Kenneth Walker III, who signed a three-year deal after posting 313 rushing yards and four touchdowns in three playoff games for Seattle last season. Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and Travis Kelce are still the primary targets, and Walker gives Mahomes a running back who caught 133 passes across four seasons in Seattle.

This Showdown gives us a division rivalry between last season's AFC West champion and a Chiefs team looking to get back to the playoffs with a healthy Mahomes. Let's break down this Monday night showdown, highlight the key plays, and uncover the strategies that could help you climb the leaderboards.