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Isaac Guerendo, Rashod Bateman, Deebo Samuel Sr. fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks for Week 1 (2025). Should you start or sit Isaac Guerendo, Rashod Bateman, Deebo Samuel Sr. in Week 1?
Week 1 of the fantasy season is finally here. At this point, your league has drafted, and you are parsing through all the relevant information to figure out who should be in your lineup for Week 1.
In the opening week, several veteran options have difficult matchups which can make it tough for managers to put them in their starting lineup in the opening week.
Can fantasy managers start Isaac Guerendo, Rashod Bateman, and Deebo Samuel Sr. in Week 1? Read below to find out.
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Should I Start Isaac Guerendo in Week 1?
BALLER MOVE: Start in 12+ team leagues (if Christian McCaffrey is ruled out)
POSITIONAL VALUE: High-end RB3/flex (if Christian McCaffrey is ruled out)
ANALYSIS: As a rookie, Isaac Guerendo had a limited role but showed promise when on the field. In the four games in which Guerendo logged over 30 offensive snaps, the former fourth-round pick averaged an impressive 17.9 PPR points per game. During this four-game stretch, Guerendo averaged 4.7 YPC and punched in three touchdowns.
With star running back Christian McCaffrey (calf) now carrying a questionable tag into Sunday's contest against the Seahawks, Guerendo has re-emerged on the fantasy radar. While the young running back was dealing with a minor injury himself, he was able to log full practices, suggesting he won't face any limitations in the contest.
Unfortunately, the 49ers acquired Brian Robinson Jr. from the Washington Commanders, and the coaching staff has expressed that he is their "RB2." Despite this, given Guerendo 's experience in the system, he could still be given an ample workload if McCaffrey were to sit out, despite slotting in as the No. 2 option behind Robinson.
Fantasy managers should view Guerendo as a viable RB3 in deep 12+ team leagues if McCaffrey were to sit out. However, if McCaffrey were to turn the corner, Guerendo would become a must-sit in all formats.
Christian McCaffrey Listed as Questionable for Season Opener With Calf Issuehttps://t.co/VmIZaZDZFn
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) September 5, 2025
Should I Start Rashod Bateman in Week 1?
BALLER MOVE: Start 12+ team, 3-WR leagues
POSITIONAL VALUE: WR3 with risk
ANALYSIS: Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman is coming off the best season of his career. In 2024, Bateman totaled 756 yards on 45 catches. He found the back of the end zone nine times. It was only the second time in his career that he eclipsed 500 yards in a single campaign.
In the offseason, the Ravens rewarded Bateman for his play by signing him to a three-year contract extension, which will keep him in Baltimore and tied to Lamar Jackson for he foreseeable future.
During the offseason, the Ravens opted not to address their passing room, which will leave Bateman as the clear WR2 alongside Zay Flowers. However, given the run-first nature of the offense led by superstar Derrick Henry, Bateman will always have his upside limited.
Despite this, facing the Buffalo Bills in what could be a high-scoring affair, Bateman carries sneaky WR3 upside in all 12+ team leagues. While his inconsistent targets do give him a lower floor, he possesses high upside given his impressive 13.9 aDOT. He is worth a look as a WR3 in all 3-WR formats in the season opener.
Rashod Bateman Signs Three-Year Extension With Ravenshttps://t.co/e6b4HFdQtr
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) June 5, 2025
Should I Start Deebo Samuel Sr. in Week 1?
BALLER MOVE: Start in 12+ team leagues
POSITIONAL VALUE: High-end WR3/flex
ANALYSIS: One of the most impactful moves the Washington Commanders made on the offensive side of the ball in the offseason was acquiring wideout Deebo Samuel Sr. from the San Francisco 49ers. Samuel had an ineffective 2024 campaign but was one of the sport's top playmakers in 2023.
During the 2023 season, Samuel totaled 892 receiving yards with seven touchdowns. On the ground, Samuel added 225 yards with an additional five touchdowns. However, this past season, Samuel battled numerous injuries which limited him ot just 670 receiving yards and scored just four touchdowns.
Now joining a potent Washington offense led by breakout quarterback Jayden Daniels, Samuel should return to his elite fantasy potential. Even though he will now serve as the No. 2 option in the offense to Terry McLaurin, Samuel should maintain a high ceiling weekly due to his offensive environment.
He should be started in all 3-WR leagues and viewed as a strong flex in all standard formats.
Deebo Samuel Sr. Ready to Make Impact in Washington Debut https://t.co/fpDA4A1NBH
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) September 5, 2025
Who Should I Start Tool
Not sure who to start? Check out the Who Should I Start tool:
Compare up to four players and we'll tell you who to start...
Who Should I Start? Who Should I Sit? Some common Week 1 fantasy football lineup decisions are regarding players like Isaac Guerendo, Rashod Bateman, and Deebo Samuel Sr.. 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 - Isaac Guerendo, Rashod Bateman, and Deebo Samuel Sr. 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 name. In the second box, search for the second player 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 circle), 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 Isaac Guerendo, Rashod Bateman, and Deebo Samuel Sr. compared to others:
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