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Who should I start for Week 1? Fantasy football outlooks for Xavier Worthy, Jakobi Meyers, Jaylen Waddle. Our expert fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks.
As fantasy football drafts wind down, it’s time to shift our focus toward Week 1 lineups. Many analysts and casual fantasy football players seemed to agree that the wide receiver position was very deep. While that’s great for drafting, it can become a real pain when setting lineups.
Several receivers in play for gamers in Week 1 are Xavier Worthy, Jakobi Meyers, and Jaylen Waddle. Each player is a viable starting candidate this week. But are there potential pitfalls fantasy managers should also consider?
So, what should gamers do with these three players this week? Let’s discuss what managers should do with Xavier Worthy, Jakobi Meyers, and Jaylen Waddle.
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Should I Start Xavier Worthy in Week 1?
After fellow receiver Rashee Rice was suspended for the first six games of the year, Worthy will begin 2025 as Kansas City’s WR1.
Rookie Xavier Worthy has his 2nd touchdown of the game 👏
📺: #SBLIX on FOX
📱: Tubi + NFL app pic.twitter.com/8BuZ6UnCrh— NFL (@NFL) February 10, 2025
He was slow out of the gates in 2024, but Worthy really came on late in the regular season and playoffs. Kansas City has reportedly been working hard to improve its deep passing game. If that practice pays off, Worthy would be the obvious beneficiary.
The Chiefs have a Week 1 date with the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers. In two games against Los Angeles last year, Worthy posted an 8-114-1 line on just 10 targets. However, one of those targets was a 54-yard touchdown reception.
MAHOMES TO WORTHY FOR A 54-YARD TD.
📺: #KCvsLAC on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/ZAYGWXNr1V— NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2024
Los Angeles’ passing defense finished well in various metrics last year, but an extremely soft schedule largely aided those results. The Chargers also experienced some turnover on defense this offseason, specifically along the defensive line. These changes could allow Patrick Mahomes plenty of time to find Worthy on those downfield routes that need time to develop.
With less target competition (thanks to Rice’s suspension) and a good matchup, gamers should confidently start Worthy in all formats.
Should I Start Jakobi Meyers in Week 1?
Meyers made headlines recently when he requested a trade. The Raiders made it known they are not interested in doing so at this time, so for now, Meyers will remain the team’s WR1.
Las Vegas faces the revamped New England Patriots this weekend. Even though New England’s defense wasn’t great in 2024, it still allowed the 12th-fewest PPR points per game to wide receivers. That was in large part thanks to star defensive back Christian Gonzalez. However, Gonzalez reportedly did not practice on Monday, and that could be a bad sign for his Week 1 availability.
This is a significant development because Gonzalez would likely guard Meyers since he is Las Vegas’ top wide receiver. If Gonzalez suits up, Meyers would not be an appealing Week 1 option. If Gonzalez doesn’t play, Meyers becomes a viable WR3 or flex play in PPR leagues.
This game also has one of the lowest projected totals on the Week 1 slate. With two defensive-minded head coaches in Mike Vrabel and Pete Carroll on the sidelines, this matchup could turn into a real slog. That could mean there’s little fantasy value for Meyers regardless of Gonzalez’s status.
Gamers should consider Meyers a fringe WR3 with a slight boost if Gonzalez doesn’t suit up. Monitor this situation throughout the week and act accordingly once we have all the facts.
Should I Start Jaylen Waddle in Week 1?
With fellow wide receiver Tyreek Hill and starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa reportedly not on the same page this offseason, Waddle might have a chance to take over as Miami’s WR1.
Big pickup of 63 yards by Jaylen Waddle 🐧 #GoFins
📺: #JAXvsMIA on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/DztwTD51nu— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024
The Dolphins draw a matchup with the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1. The Colts finished 22nd in defensive passing DVOA last year, per FTN Fantasy, and allowed the seventh-most passing yards as well.
That didn’t necessarily translate to fantasy points, though, as Indianapolis allowed the 15th-most PPR points per game to opposing receivers. However, the Colts did allow over 78 receiving yards per game to opposing teams’ WR1s last year, per FTN Fantasy.
Whether or not Waddle is targeted as the team’s WR1 remains to be seen, but there were multiple reports this offseason suggesting Miami was going to feature him more this year. We’ll see how this plays out, but gamers should feel comfortable starting Waddle this weekend. Start him as a back-end WR2 or high-end WR3 with the potential for more.
Who Should I Start Tool
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Who Should I Start? Who Should I Sit? Some common Week 1 fantasy football lineup decisions are regarding players like Xavier Worthy, Jakobi Meyers, and Jaylen Waddle. But not to worry, we are here to help make these decisions and build winning lineups in Week 1. Set your optimal fantasy football lineups for Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season. Our free Who Should I Start? tool will help make your fantasy football lineup decisions. Compare up to four NFL players, and we tell you who to start ... all free! Get your winning lineups set, and make the right decisions.
Week 1 Player Decisions. Today's focus is on specific players -- Xavier Worthy, Jakobi Meyers, and Jaylen Waddle. These are some of the most common searches for fantasy football lineups in Week 1.
Using The Tool. This is a simple tool but very powerful. The first step is to enter the player names that you want to compare. In the first box, search for the first player's name. In the second box, search for the second player's name. Compare up to four NFL players at once, and then click the Who To Start? button to see who the recommended starts are based on weekly fantasy football matchups.
Improvements For Who Should I Start? You may have noticed, our Who Should I Start? tool has gotten an overhaul. We've added lots of great features for you to give you as much information as possible to win your fantasy football matchups each week. You'll see NFL player tiles with headshots and bye weeks, enhanced search results with data to compare, and a slick new interface. We hope you enjoy!
How It Works. Each week, our RotoBaller staff puts together their weekly fantasy football rankings and projections based on their research. That information is the core data that is powering the decision-making in this tool. When you search for player names, you will only see those players who are ranked. If someone is out for the week, they will not appear in the search results.
Scoring Formats. Fantasy football managers play in various types of leagues, and this tool allows you to choose whether it's PPR scoring, half-PPR scoring, or standard (non-PPR) scoring. The second thing you want to do is to select the scoring format. There are three small radio buttons (small circles), so click on the scoring format you prefer. The results may vary based on the scoring format you select.
Popular Week 1 Searches. Curious to see some tough lineup decisions for Week 1 (2025)? Below you will find a list of some popular Who Should I Start? searches that RotoBaller readers are looking at this week. Click any of the links to see the result and recommendation.
Popular Week 1 Searches - Start/Sit Player Comparisons
Below are some popular Week 1 searches and comparisons from our 'Who To Start' tool for Xavier Worthy, Jakobi Meyers, and Jaylen Waddle compared to others:
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