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Danny Boily looks at fantasy football landmines, busts, and avoids for Week 1 of 2025. Given these Week 1 fantasy situations, consider benching these players.
The offseason is a time of optimism. We draft our teams, pore over rookie reports, and listen to every bit of coach-speak with the unwavering belief that this is our year. The 2025-26 NFL season is finally here, and with it, the promise of a championship.
We’ve studied the depth charts, analyzed advanced metrics, and meticulously constructed our rosters. Now, the time for tinkering is over, and the time for a triumph is upon us. But before you blindly trust your draft day rankings, consider this: Week 1 is not like any other week. We’re working with limited data, new schemes, and player movement that could shift a fantasy landscape overnight. It is in this haze of uncertainty that landmines lie in wait—players with big names and high rankings who are primed to underperform.
These are not players you should drop, but rather, players you should consider benching if you have a viable alternative. This weekly article will serve as your guide to navigating these precarious situations, ensuring you start your season on the right foot.
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Justin Fields, QB, vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
The narrative surrounding Justin Fields is a compelling one. He’s the dynamic, dual-threat quarterback who, after a stellar six-start run in 2024 with the Steelers, landed with the New York Jets and their superstar wide receiver Garrett Wilson. Fields's rushing ability is a fantasy manager's dream. In his limited action last season, he averaged 21.07 fantasy points per game, ranking as a top-10 QB and a legitimate league winner. He threw for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception, but his actual value came on the ground, where he added 231 rushing yards and another five touchdowns. This rushing production provides a high floor and an explosive ceiling that few others at the position can match.
However, the Jets’ Week 1 matchup is a harsh dose of reality. Fields isn’t facing a porous defense; he’s facing his former team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, a unit that plays with a ferocity and discipline that is a nightmare for a new quarterback learning a new system. In 2024, the Steelers’ defense was a brick wall, allowing a mere 20.4 points per game, the eighth-best mark in the league. They are aggressive, unpredictable, and they will be well-prepared to exploit any hesitation or miscommunication from Fields. Their strength is their ability to put pressure on the quarterback, forcing errant throws and preventing them from escaping the pocket.
While Fields’s running ability is his superpower, the Steelers will be specifically schemed to neutralize it. This is a wait-and-see situation. While Fields has the potential to be a fantasy stud, this is not the week to bet on a new player in a new offense against a team that knows his tendencies. If you have a safer, high-floor option, let them ride to victory for you this week.
David Montgomery, RB, vs. Green Bay Packers
David Montgomery is a running back who has always made fantasy managers happy. He’s a touchdown machine with a nose for the goal line, finishing the 2024 season with 12 rushing touchdowns. He also proved to be a reliable pass-catcher, hauling in 36 receptions for 341 yards. His 14.7 average fantasy points per game ranked him as a top-15 running back, and his Week 1 RB25 ranking reflects his rock-solid floor. But the Detroit Lions’ backfield is a two-headed monster, and Montgomery is not the alpha.
The Lions have been transparent about their plans for superstar running back Jahmyr Gibbs. While Montgomery is an elite talent, he only commanded a 33.7% snap share in 2024. In a potential shootout against the Green Bay Packers, where the Lions could be playing from behind, Gibbs' role in the passing game could completely eat into Montgomery's usage. The Lions will be facing a Packers’ defense that has made a major addition. Did you hear that Green Bay acquired the best young pass rusher in the league, Micah Parsons? The addition of Parsons to an already formidable defense that was sixth in the league in points allowed per game (19.9) last year will make it difficult for the Lions to run the ball.
While Montgomery has a safe floor and will likely get his goal-line carries, his lack of high-volume usage and a brutal matchup against a stout defense make him a landmine to avoid in Week 1
Starting to feel like we'll start to see David Montgomery see a reduced role in the Lions offense, with Jahmyr Gibbs become more of a focal point.
That's the bet I want to make this year.
— Frank Ammirante (@FAmmiranteTFJ) June 16, 2025
Jerry Jeudy, WR, vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Jerry Jeudy is one of the most polarizing players in fantasy football. His elite route-running and explosive athleticism have always tantalized managers, but inconsistent quarterback play and a lack of touchdown production have held him back. That changed in the second half of the 2024 season when he finished as a WR25 with 1,229 yards and four touchdowns. His 19.9% target share and high-volume usage made him a viable flex option in all formats. His Week 1 WR25 ranking on FantasyPros shows that managers still have a lot of hope for him.
However, Jeudy’s 2025 outlook is drastically different. His success last season was with a gunslinger quarterback throwing him the ball. This year, his quarterback is 40-year-old Joe Flacco. Flacco is a game manager who prefers to dink and dunk, which could be a major problem for Jeudy's fantasy value. The Cincinnati Bengals’ defense was bad in 2024. But they were only 20th in the league for passing yards allowed per average, which is not a brutal matchup.
The problem is with the Browns’ offense. Jeudy’s floor is lower than you'd like, especially with uncertainty at quarterback. Without the high-volume targets, Jeudy’s floor drops dramatically. If you’re debating between Jeudy and a safer option, don’t overthink it—leave Jeudy on the bench.
Evan Engram, TE, vs. Tennessee Titans
Evan Engram has been a solid, if unspectacular, tight end throughout his career. He’s a receiving tight end who has a knack for finding the end zone, and his 11th overall Week 1 TE ranking reflects the optimism that many have for him in 2025. He signed with the Denver Broncos this offseason, and Sean Payton fans are hoping that he can unleash Engram offensively as the “Joker,” a tight end who can line up all over the field and be a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. While the hype is understandable, his Week 1 matchup is a massive red flag.
Engram will be facing a Tennessee Titans defense that has been a tight-end killer over the past few seasons. In 2024, they ranked third in fantasy points allowed to the position, giving up only an average of 7.98 TE fantasy points per game.
While Engram has a lot of upside in the Broncos’ offense, this is a terrible matchup to start the season. It’s a wait-and-see approach with Engram, as he adjusts to a new offense and a new quarterback. Don’t trust him in Week 1.
DK Metcalf, WR, vs. New York Jets
DK Metcalf is a physical specimen, a wide receiver with an elite combination of size, speed, and athleticism. He’s a big-play machine who has the potential to break any game open with a single catch. He signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason, and the hype surrounding him has been palpable. But his Week 1 matchup is a brutal one, and his fantasy value is in question.
Metcalf will be facing a New York Jets defense that was fourth in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers in 2024. They gave up only an average of 29.25 WR points total per game, and this game will be personal for them as they face off against former quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
While Metcalf is an elite talent, the Jets’ secondary, led by star cornerback Sauce Gardner, will be a tough test for him and his new quarterback. This is a wait-and-see approach with Metcalf, as he adjusts to a new offense and a new quarterback.
One matchup that isn’t talked about nearly enough is DK Metcalf be Sauce Gardner
They’ve faced each other in 2022 & 2024, the results? Sauce Wins
8 Targets
2 Receptions
31 Yards
1 1st Down
3 Pass Breakups#Jets will be hoping for more of the same this Sunday pic.twitter.com/7MDmqdQZwO— Stefan Stelling (@li_jets) September 5, 2025
Final Thoughts
Week 1 is an exciting time, but it's also a time for smart, calculated decisions. The players we've discussed today—Fields, Montgomery, Jeudy, Engram, and Metcalf—are all incredibly talented, but the stars are simply not aligning for them this week. Between new teams, uncertain roles, and brutal matchups, the risk of a fantasy bust is far too high. You drafted your team for a reason, but now is the time to be a manager, not a fan. Don't be afraid to bench a big name for a better matchup. Play the percentages, trust the data, and avoid the landmines. Your path to the championship begins by making the right choices in Week 1.
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