Fantasy Football Matchups We Love - Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Picks for Week 1 (2025)

September 7, 2025

Quincy's top fantasy football matchups for Week 1 of 2025. His favorite start 'em, sit 'em picks and predictions -- strong start/sit matchups that he loves.

The fantasy football season is just about set to begin. With the regular season Week 1 finally upon us, we can stop dealing with hypothetical questions and begin formulating opinions based on reality. The many months of research and draft hype are set to pay off (or not). Rejoice, for the NFL has returned.

Now that we can settle into our routine, it is time to dive back into matchups we love and hate. This early in the season, we must rely on past data and offseason moves to make start/sit decisions. We will not have enough data from the new season to make serious judgment calls until a few weeks in. Week 1 is a serious "feeling-out" period for NFL teams. They are all finding their groove, and could look drastically different by midseason.

With the wait finally over, let's dive into some of the top matchups and lesser matchups this coming week. A few names are obvious, and a few may surprise, but that is the fun of fantasy football.

Fantasy Football Quarterback Matchups We Love

Jalen Hurts - Philadelphia Eagles
Opponent: DAL
2024 Opponent Rank vs. QB: 32nd

Jalen Hurts should be started in fantasy every week, but make no mistake, Week 1 could bring serious fireworks. The Cowboys' defense was awful against opposing quarterbacks in 2024. This is the same Cowboys defense that just traded away perhaps the best pass rusher in the game in Micah Parsons.

The Eagles' offense should completely dominate this game. Hurts and running back Saquon Barkley should run wild. Without much of a pass rush, the Eagles should also have no problem airing it out on Dallas as well. Hurts is a top-3 option at the position to begin the NFL season.

Joe Flacco - Cleveland Browns
Opponent: CIN
2024 Opponent Rank vs. QB: 30th

Odds are that Joe Flacco is not rostered in your fantasy league However, if you punted on the quarterback position in your draft, Flacco could be a nice plug and play for a week. Flacco has done well to deliver fantasy value over the last two seasons with the Browns and the Colts. He has a solid stable of weapons at his disposal, led by wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and tight end David Njoku.

The Bengals' defense was horrendous in 2024. Their offseason moves (or lack thereof) do not suggest that there will be much improvement in 2025. Despite the team's remarks that they have kept their scheme close to the chest during the preseason, it is tough to buy into a substantial leap. Additionally, the team just got pass rusher Trey Hendrickson back after a months-long contract stalemate. His presence is huge, but he is likely still coming up to speed.

4 days till Joe Flacco and the Browns play football pic.twitter.com/FoF3uzPSfV

— KFC (@KFChristian_) September 3, 2025

Fantasy Football Quarterback Matchup to Temper Expectations

Jayden Daniels - Washington Commanders
Opponent: PHI
2024 Opponent Rank vs. QB: 18th

Pay no attention to the Giants' 2024 rank against quarterbacks, as this is a different defense in 2025. The Giants' defensive front boasts the likes of Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence II, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Abdul Carter. Those players are well-positioned to stop the run and keep Jayden Daniels contained to the pocket.

Daniels is entering Year 2 with massive expectations after a monstrous rookie season in 2024. However, wide receiver Terry McLaurin just reentered the fold after signing a new contract. It will take time for McLaurin to ramp up to game speed. The Commanders should win this game, but it may be a lot closer than fantasy managers would like. This could turn into a slugfest, which is not conducive to fantasy points.

Fantasy Football Running Back Matchups We Love

De'Von Achane - Miami Dolphins
Opponent: at IND
2024 Opponent Rank vs. RB: 23rd

Assuming De'Von Achane plays this weekend, he could get back on track running the football. Achane feasted through the air in 2024, but his efficiency on the ground fell off from his ridiculous 7.8 yards per carry as a rookie in 2023. The Colts were not great against the run in 2024. That does not figure to change substantially in 2025.

With Achane dealing with a calf injury, his official status for Week 1 will not likely be known until we approach the weekend. If you happened to take a late-round flyer on Ollie Gordon II, then this analysis applies to him if Achane needs to sit in Week 1.

🎥 De'Von Achane reveals he is back to 100% following his calf injury: "It was more of, we don't want to reinjure it, so me being out those two weeks was something that I did to make sure I didn't have any [setbacks]." (@MiamiDolphins) #PhinsUp pic.twitter.com/k7c6vSWeXl

— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) September 4, 2025

Jerome Ford/Dylan Sampson - Cleveland Browns
Opponent: CIN
Opponent Rank vs. RB: 27th

This pick is particularly applicable for fantasy managers who employed a zero-running back strategy during drafts. Little is known about how the Browns plan to deploy their running backs in Week 1, but one of these two players should provide some fantasy value. Jerome Ford is likely going to draw the start. However, fourth-round rookie Dylan Sampson has impressed during the preseason and could challenge Ford for early touches.

As we found out by analyzing the Bengals' defense for our quarterback picks, nothing about this defense scares us. The Bengals' offense figures to be able to put up points on the Browns' defense. That would benefit these players in PPR formats because of the Browns' need to throw to keep up. If you need a spot-start at the position, look no further than Cleveland in Week 1.

Fantasy Football Running Back Matchup to Temper Expectations

Isiah Pacheco - Kansas City Chiefs
Opponent: at LAC
2024 Opponent Rank vs. RB: 5th

Isiah Pacheco is positioned for a bounce-back season in 2025 after suffering from a broken fibula in 2024. When Pacheco returned down the stretch of the 2024 season, he was not the same player. With a full offseason to get healthy, Pacheco should reclaim his lead-back status in Kansas City.

Pacheco's coming-out party may have to wait a week. The Chargers simply do not allow opposing teams to run on them. They were a brutal force up front in 2024. With the current coaching regime entering its second year, the Chargers' front should only get better. You may not have drafted Pacheco in a starting position this season. If you can, it is best to sit him in Week 1.

Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Matchups We Love

Tetairoa McMillan - Carolina Panthers
Opponent: at JAX
2024 Opponent Rank vs. WR: 29th

It is "wheels up" for Tetairoa McMillan right out of the gate. The Panthers travel to face the Jaguars, whose defense leaves something to be desired. The Jaguars' pass rush is solid, but the Panthers' continually improving offensive line should hold up and give the receivers time to work down the field.

McMillan is entering the season as the unquestioned No. 1 wide receiver in this offense. This is especially true following the trade of Adam Thielen to the Vikings. With no one truly scary at cornerback, the Jaguars could struggle to contain McMillan and this ascending offense.

Ricky Pearsall - San Francisco 49ers
Opponent: at SEA
2024 Opponent Rank vs. WR: 21st

The Seahawks' defense actually projects to be pretty dominant this season, but this ranking is more about the fact that Brock Purdy has pretty much no one else to throw the ball to this week. Ricky Pearsall will join tight end George Kittle and running back Christian McCaffrey as the primary pass catchers in Week 1. The 49ers simply have too many injuries at wide receiver not to feature Pearsall this week.

Pearsall is a first-round talent with an incredible opportunity ahead of him. His rookie season was slowed by a pre-season gunshot wound, but Pearsall has a chance for a massive sophomore year with a full offseason under his belt. The Seahawks have a great secondary, but volume alone should give Pearsall a safe floor in Week 1.

Ricky Pearsall week 1 pic.twitter.com/F0FIemo8t4

— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) August 20, 2025

Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Matchup to Temper Expectations

Garrett Wilson - New York Jets
Opponent: PIT
2024 Opponent Rank vs. WR: 18th

Garrett Wilson will be a target hog in 2025, but he could get off to a slow start in Week 1. It is no secret that the Jets' offense has struggled this summer. A struggling offense does not want to meet up with the likes of cornerback Jalen Ramsey or edge rusher T.J. Watt in Week 1.

New Jets quarterback Justin Fields has supported solid fantasy wide receivers in the past. Sure, D.J. Moore was the WR6 a few seasons ago, but the production primarily came in a couple of games. Fields supported George Pickens in Pittsburgh in 2024, but the consistency was lacking in that situation as well. Wilson will have his games in 2025, but Week 1 does not feel like it will be one of them.

Fantasy Football Tight End Matchup We Love

Hunter Henry - New England Patriots
Opponent: LV
2024 Opponent Rank vs. TE: 30th

Hunter Henry is everyone's favorite mediocre tight end. He is fantastic in the red zone, and he is always good for a few spike games per season. Week 1 feels like it could be one of those spike games. In 2024, the Raiders were awful against opposing tight ends in fantasy. This defense will be improved in 2025, but this is a great place for a burgeoning Patriots' offense to start the season.

In favorable matchups that place the Patriots in the red zone consistently, Henry can be good for a couple of touchdowns. Couple that with the fact that offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has a penchant for featuring tight ends in his system, and Henry is a great Week 1 starter if you completely punted on the tight end position in your draft.

The New England Patriots have had stability in the tight end room for years thanks to Hunter Henry. #NEPats

Henry figures to play a major role in the Josh McDaniels offense. We have seen Drake Maye utilize him in the red zone throughout camp. 👀pic.twitter.com/G46j59qViW

— Patriots Lead (@Patriots_Lead) August 20, 2025

Fantasy Football Tight End Matchup to Temper Expectations

Tucker Kraft - Green Bay Packers
Opponent: DET
2024 Opponent Rank vs. TE: 1st

Tucker Kraft could be on his way to a full breakout after a standout 2024 season, but Week 1 may not be where it starts. The Lions were excellent against opposing tight ends in fantasy in 2024. The Lions' defense gave up a lot of points last season, but they were far more vulnerable on the outside due to injuries rather than across the middle.

This game may end up being a surprise slugfest. Both defenses should be excellent. Both offenses are fully capable of scoring points, but in Week 1, we do not always witness the full potency of a team's offense. If you roster Kraft, take caution in Week 1.

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