September 6, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver
Tyquan Thornton was given a larger opportunity on Friday evening during their contest against the Chargers, following the injury to top wideout
Xavier Worthy. Worthy suffered a shoulder injury in the opening quarter, which paved the way for Thornton to have a significant role in the season opener. Quarterback
Patrick Mahomes looked his way four times, but he was only able to bring in two of them for 41 yards. His longest catch of the evening came on a 38-yard pass. While Mahomes looked his way downfield, Thornton was unable to connect consistently. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Worthy's status, as Thornton could emerge as the team's primary deep threat if he were to miss an extended period of time. However, he will be tough to trust in most formats as he will likely slot in as the No. 3 WR in the offense, behind
Marquise Brown and
JuJu Smith-Schuster.
--Andy SmithSource: ESPN.com
September 6, 2025
Tennessee Titans running back
Tony Pollard opens the 2025 season with a difficult Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos. Pollard averaged 67.4 rushing yards per game last season, and he's facing a Broncos defense that allowed the fifth-fewest rushing yards and fourth-fewest rushing touchdowns to opposing running backs last year. While Denver did show some susceptibility against pass-catching backs, Pollard will likely need to touch the ball around 20 times (or score a touchdown) to make him a meaningful fantasy starter. Managers should treat him as an RB3/FLEX option heading into this weekend.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
September 6, 2025
Tennessee Titans quarterback
Cameron Ward opens his NFL career on the road against the Denver Broncos in Week 1. This matchup would have an unfavorable outlook for any quarterback, and that's especially true with a rookie who has not yet played a regular-season snap. While Ward did show that he can handle tough matchups in college, a Broncos defense led by Patrick Surtain II and Nik Bonitto is a whole different beast. Fantasy managers should expect that Denver will implement a game plan intended to rattle Ward early. Whether that game plan is effective remains to be seen, but with such a difficult matchup waiting for him, Ward can be left on the bench in most fantasy leagues this week.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
September 6, 2025
Miami Dolphins quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa starts the season healthy and with a good group of pass-catchers as he leads his team to Indianapolis to take on the Colts. Since he doesn't run very much at all, the 27-year-old has limited upside. No quarterback in the NFL had a lower air yards per attempt (5.8) than Tua in 2024, and he averaged just over 260 passing yards per game while throwing 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 11 games. The Colts were a slightly above-average matchup for quarterbacks last year, and Tagovailoa always has the potential for a big day if his playmakers find space. He typically focuses on short, accurate passes, though, rather than taking deep shots. He is the QB21 this week, making him a low-end starter in two-quarterback leagues in Week 1 even though his offense appears to be healthy.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
September 6, 2025
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Michael Pittman Jr. will open the 2025 season with a home matchup against the Miami Dolphins. Pittman draws a matchup against a Miami defense that was tough on opposing receivers last season, as they allowed the third-fewest fantasy points per game to the position. That being said, secondary is a weakness for Miami this year, which will benefit the Indy pass-catchers. Pittman played through a back injury in 2024 which limited his production, but he is fully healthy heading into 2025. That being said, he will have to fight for targets alongside
Josh Downs,
Adonai Mitchell,
Alec Pierce, and first-round rookie
Tyler Warren. It still remains to be seen how the targets shake out with new quarterback
Daniel Jones under center. For now, Pittman can be used as a middling flex option heading into Week 1.
--Matt TerelleSource: NFL.com
September 6, 2025
Indianapolis Colts running back
Tyler Goodson (elbow) will hope to take the field against the Miami Dolphins at home in Week 1. Goodson is listed as questionable for the game as he is still recovering from an elbow injury he suffered during the preseason. He has been practicing on a limited basis this week, giving him a chance to suit up. Goodson is listed as the RB2 in Indy behind
Jonathan Taylor, which gives him some fantasy value as a handcuff. That being said, rookie
DJ Giddens is also lurking as the RB3 and could potentially overtake Goodson if his injury lingers. For now, Goodson is worth a stash in deep fantasy leagues as the backup in case Taylor misses time.
--Matt TerelleSource: NFL.com
September 6, 2025
Indianapolis Colts running back
DJ Giddens will make his NFL debut at home against the Miami Dolphins in Week 1. While still listed as the RB3 in Indy, Giddens could see some work as the backup to
Jonathan Taylor thanks to
Tyler Goodson's (elbow) questionable status heading into Sunday. With a decent showing, Giddens could overtake Goodson as the RB2 for the Colts, which would give him plenty of fantasy value as the handcuff to Taylor. For now, Giddens is just a bench stash in deeper leagues, but he should be monitored on Sunday in case he's able to break off a few long runs.
--Matt TerelleSource: NFL.com
September 6, 2025
Indianapolis Colts running back
Jonathan Taylor will open his 2025 season with a home matchup against the Miami Dolphins. Taylor finished his 2024 season on a tear, scoring six touchdowns over the final three games of the year. He will look to get off to a fast start this season against a Miami defense that allowed the 18th-most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. Thanks to the Colts' decision to go with
Daniel Jones over
Anthony Richardson Sr. at quarterback, Taylor should see more targets and more carries at the goal line than he would if Richardson were available. Taylor checks in as a top-six, must-start fantasy option heading into the first week of games.
--Matt TerelleSource: NFL.com
September 6, 2025
Indianapolis Colts quarterback
Daniel Jones will make his debut with his new team against the Miami Dolphins at home in Week 1. Jones won a close training camp battle with
Anthony Richardson Sr. to be the team's starting quarterback heading into the regular season. He draws a matchup against a Miami defense that was tough on fantasy quarterbacks in 2024 as they allowed the second-fewest fantasy points per game to the position. Jones brings some upside on the ground and has several weapons around him to target, but he remains a low-end QB2 for fantasy purposes until he proves otherwise.
--Matt TerelleSource: NFL.com
September 6, 2025
After a down year in 2024, San Francisco's D/ST is in good shape for a rebound when they face the Seahawks in Week 1. For starters, former defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is returning to his former role to lead the 49ers' defensive unit. The addition of Mykel Williams and Alfred Collins via the NFL Draft should improve things up front, too. Last year, the Niners were tied with the 12th-fewest sacks and fourth-fewest tackles for losses. San Francisco should be productive on Sunday, as Seattle has one of the lowest-ranked offensive lines in the league and last year allowed the third-most sacks in the NFL. Fantasy managers who didn't reach for an elite D/ST squad in their drafts could do well to start their season with San Francisco in Week 1.
--Dan StephensSource: NFL.com
September 6, 2025
San Francisco 49ers kicker
Jake Moody's 2024 season should have fantasy managers looking elsewhere to fill the position on their rosters to start the season this weekend. Moody converted 24 of his 34 field goal attempts last year, giving him the second-worst conversion rate (70.6%) among kickers with at least 20 tries in 2024. Moody did put on a good show in the preseason, concentrated in the 49ers meeting with the Raiders, when he went 5-for-6, including a 59-yarder as time expired. Moody is a volatile option at an already volatile position and should be avoided until he can provide more stable results.
--Dan StephensSource: NFL.com
September 6, 2025
Tight end
George Kittle enters the 2025 season as one of the premier fantasy options at his position. In 2024, Kittle led the 49ers in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns with a 78-1,106-8 line. His 10.6 fantasy points per game led all tight ends last season. Kittle will again operate as one of
Brock Purdy's top pass-catching options in an attack that lost Deebo Samuel via trade and
Brandon Aiyuk (knee) to the PUP list. San Francisco opens the season against the Seahawks, against whom Kittle recorded five catches for 58 yards and two touchdowns in Week 6 last season. He is a must-start and a favorite for a top-3 finish in Week 1.
--Dan StephensSource: NFL.com
September 6, 2025
The San Francisco 49ers promoted wide receiver
Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the active roster ahead of their season opener against the Seattle Seahawks. Valdes-Scantling was signed to the team's practice squad on August 28. Last season, the 30-year-old spent six games with the Bills before being released and then signing with the injury-plagued Saints. MVS made waves in his second game with New Orleans, catching three passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns. He finished 2024 with a 19-411-4 line. Valdes-Scantling is a depth piece who will be competing for field time with
Skyy Moore and not targets with
Ricky Pearsall or
Jauan Jennings (calf). He can be ignored for fantasy purposes in Week 1.
--Dan StephensSource: NFL.com
September 6, 2025
Wide receiver
Ricky Pearsall is poised for a strong start to his sophomore season in a Week 1 matchup against the Seahawks. With Deebo Samuel now gone,
Brandon Aiyuk (knee) on the PUP list, and
Jauan Jennings (calf) having spent most of the preseason nursing an injury and engaged in a contract dispute, Pearsall is now a key player on the 49ers' offense. Over the last two weeks of the 2024 season, Pearsall showed us what he is capable of when he is featured, catching 14 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns. Pearsall is projected as a borderline WR3/4, but
Christian McCaffrey's (calf) status might force San Francisco to rely more on their pass game, which could further benefit Pearsall's production.
--Dan StephensSource: NFL.com
September 6, 2025
Rookie running back
Jordan James (finger) is listed as doubtful for the 49ers' season opener against the Seattle Seahawks after being a limited participant in practice all week. The fifth-rounder out of Oregon suffered a broken finger in early August, which precluded him from playing at all in the preseason. Early in camp, James was thought to be a valid challenger to
Isaac Guerendo to back up
Christian McCaffrey (calf), a competition rendered moot with the acquisition of
Brian Robinson Jr.. Even with McCaffrey listed as questionable for Week 1, an injured James has no place on fantasy rosters.
--Dan StephensSource: 49ers.com
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