Chase Brown Looks to Play Better Against the Browns

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown had a slow start to the 2024 campaign, at least in the first three games. However, after establishing himself as the clear No. 1 option on the depth chart, there was no looking back. He would go on to finish the year by finding the end zone 11 times […]

Adam Thielen Trained With J.J. McCarthy In Offseason

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen spent part of the offseason training with quarterback J.J. McCarthy, logging 6-8 throwing sessions together before his late-August trade back to Minnesota for a fifth-round pick. The 35-year-old veteran is eager to contribute, saying he's "excited to be a part of (McCarthy's) journey." With Jordan Addison suspended to start […]

Cardinals D/ST a Great Streaming Option in Week 1

The Arizona Cardinals defense/special teams was very inconsistent last season, which was a common theme amongst the entire squad. They were smack in the middle of the pack at 15th for points against (22.3 per game), and they ranked 20th in takeaways. This past offseason, however, the team focused on bolstering the defense in a […]

Brian Thomas Jr. Potential WR1 Overall Against Panthers

The Jacksonville Jaguars start off the season with a fantastic matchup against the Carolina Panthers, which is great news for Brian Thomas Jr. fantasy managers. The second-year receiver was stellar last year, especially down the stretch, despite catching passes from Mac Jones. With Trevor Lawrence back at QB and offensive-minded Liam Coen at head coach, […]

Allen Lazard Not in Consideration Sunday

New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard can't be trusted in fantasy for this week's home tilt with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Lazard enters his third season with the Jets, a member of the team by way of longtime ex-teammate Aaron Rodgers. He was productive early in 2024, but fell victim to a chest injury and […]

Tyler Shough Waiting in the Shadows Ahead of Week 1

New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough missed out on the starting job to second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler. Shough saw plenty of preseason action, going 36-for-54 for 333 yards with one touchdown and one interception over three games, while adding three carries for 23 yards, one touchdown, and one fumble. The 26-year-old will need to […]

Ja'Marr Chase Ready to Dominate in Week 1

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase is coming off a dominant year. Without question, the 25-year-old was a problem for opposing defenses throughout the entire 2024 campaign. In 17 regular-season contests, he amassed 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns off 127 catches, all the most in the National Football League. Chase's 295 yards after contact and […]

Saints D/ST Unrosterable Ahead of Week 1

The New Orleans Saints defense/special teams will start the season without veteran Chase Young, who was ruled out on Friday's injury report. Team captains Cameron Jordan, Demario Davis, and Justin Reid will lead the unit. The Saints recorded zero defensive touchdowns in 2024, and their only fantasy upside comes from wide receiver Rashid Shaheed on […]

Amani Hooker Signs Extension With Titans

The Tennessee Titans have signed safety Amani Hooker on a three-year, $48.6 million extension, making him the ninth-highest-paid safety in the NFL on an annual basis. Hooker started 14 games in 2024 and was a playmaker in coverage, finishing sixth in the league with five interceptions. Hooker was the only Titans player to crack the […]

Blake Grupe a Low-End Option for Week 1

New Orleans Saints kicker Blake Grupe earned a captaincy nod ahead of his third season in the Big Easy. Through his first two years, he's made 57 of 68 field goals (83.8%) and 71 of 73 extra points (97.3%). The Saints face the Cardinals in Week 1, who allowed the seventh-most points to kickers in […]

Chad Ryland a Mid-Level Play in Week 1

Arizona Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland finished in K2 territory (K18 overall) last season despite hitting 87.5% of his field goals. The Cardinals' offense stalled out in a handful of games, which hurt Ryland's overall production since he wasn't getting into field goal range all the time and wasn't bolstering his fantasy output with extra point […]

Juwan Johnson Offers Little Fantasy Value Week 1

New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson opens the season as the top option at the position ahead of rookie Moliki Matavao. Over six seasons with the team, he has averaged 11.1 yards per reception, 24.2 yards per game, and a 65.8% catch rate. With Spencer Rattler under center, the Saints may lean on the […]

Josh Reynolds a Sneaky Second Option in New York

New York Jets wide receiver Josh Reynolds is slated to make his Jets debut this Sunday when they take on the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers at MetLife Stadium. Reynolds will play for his third team in three seasons after a brief stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024, operating as the Jets' de facto WR2 behind […]

Trey McBride Eyes Another Elite Season

Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride has improved his numbers each year over the first three seasons of his career. Last season, he finished with 111 receptions for 1,146 yards and two touchdowns on 147 targets. He finished as the TE2, despite having the fewest touchdowns among the top 11 at his position. A positive […]

Mason Taylor Draws Stout Steel Curtain in NFL Debut

New York Jets tight end Mason Taylor will make his Jets debut this Sunday when his team hosts the Pittsburgh Steelers at MetLife Stadium. The 21-year-old rookie was an ascending talent during his time with LSU, garnering the role of a three-year starter. Taylor set the Tigers' single-season tight end reception record in his final […]

Bhayshul Tuten a Boom-or-Bust Flex in Week 1

The Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Carolina Panthers in what should be a run-heavy game. That is good news for rookie running back Bhaysul Tuten. Tuten was selected in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL draft, which is significant given Liam Coen took over as head coach this offseason. That means the athletic rookie […]

Brandin Cooks Off Fantasy Radars for Week 1

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks returns to the Big Easy after previously playing with the team from 2014-2016. Last year in Dallas, he caught 26 passes for 259 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games. Cooks was named one of eight team captains ahead of Week 1 against the Cardinals and is listed […]

Zay Jones Not on the Fantasy Radar in Week 1

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Zay Jones hasn't exactly been fantasy-relevant since his best season with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022. Outside of that year, he's gone for more than 600 yards once, back in 2018 with the Buffalo Bills. Last year with the Cardinals, Jones appeared in 11 games and received 11 targets, which turned […]

Rashid Shaheed a Boom-or-Bust Play vs Cardinals

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed is starting his first regular-season game since a season-ending meniscus tear in October 2024. Over his first three seasons, he's averaged 16.6 yards per reception but only 47.2 yards per game with a 62.7% catch rate. With second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler under center, Shaheed remains volatile, though he's […]

Braelon Allen an Asset to Monitor in Week 1

New York Jets running back Braelon Allen is set to work behind incumbent starter Breece Hall in the team's opening matchup with the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers. The Wisconsin alum handled a modest workload during his rookie season, combining for 482 yards and three total touchdowns on 111 touches. 2025 will be a different story, though, […]

Chris Olave May Struggle Week 1 Against the Cardinals

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave enters the season as the clear No. 1 option in the passing game, but he remains difficult to trust as a weekly fantasy starter. Now in his fourth season, Olave has already suffered four concussions, including one that sidelined him for the final eight games in 2024. Before […]

Week 1 Best NFL Bets - Expert Picks and Betting Guide for Sunday Football Games (2025)

It's time to kick off the 2025 NFL season with my Week 1 best bets. You always want to approach the first week with caution, as it can be quite unpredictable. Just think back to last season, when the Cincinnati Bengals lost at home against Jacoby Brissett and the New England Patriots. With that in […]

Eric Cross' Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups - Hitters and Pitchers (Week 24)

After a week off when I was travelling, I'm back with another set of waiver wire recommendations here on RotoBaller. We're in the final few weeks of the regular season, but the waiver wire is just as important now as it was in April and May, especially for those of you in the fantasy playoffs […]

Tank Bigsby a Decent Flex Option Against Panthers

The Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Carolina Panthers in Week 1, a team whose defense struggled to stop anyone last year. Under new head coach Liam Coen, Tank Bigsby and the Jacksonville run game should start the season strong. Travis Etienne Jr. seems like the favorite to start in the backfield, but until the season […]

Michael Wilson Nothing More Than a Dart Throw in Week 1

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson has been quite disappointing through the first two seasons of his career. He was healthier last season and suited up for three more games than his rookie year, yet he put up fewer yards and only one more touchdown with 13 more targets and nine more receptions. He's borderline […]

Justin Fields Faces Formidable Former Squad

New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields will face stiff competition in Week 1 when he squares off against his former team, the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers. New York's offense figures to take a run-centric approach this season, and that includes their new signal caller, who is capable of wondrous fantasy feats with his legs. His prowess […]

Ray-Ray McCloud III a Low-End Option in PPR Leagues Week 1

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III set new career highs in targets (87), receptions (62), and yardage (686) in 2024, sailing past his previous career marks. However, with just a single touchdown reception, the 5-foot-9 receiver was primarily only viable in PPR leagues. With a low average depth of target (aDOT) of 6.77 yards, […]

Marvin Harrison Jr. a High-End WR2 Against Saints

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. entered his rookie year in 2024 with insane expectations as his ADP in fantasy drafts was a late first-round pick. If that price tag weren't so high, a rookie year with 62 receptions, 885 yards, and eight touchdowns on 116 targets would probably have been a little more […]

Breece Hall a Volatile Week 1 Option

New York Jets running back Breece Hall draws an unfavorable matchup this weekend against the Pittsburgh Steelers in his team's home opener. The Iowa State product is an uber-talented athlete, but he's set to share a larger portion of New York's backfield touches this season with second-year pro Braelon Allen, and potentially even Isaiah Davis […]