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
September 6, 2025
Second-year running back
Isaac Guerendo opens the season third on the 49ers' depth chart, though he may already see more action than originally anticipated.
Christian McCaffrey (calf) popped up on the team's injury report this week and is tagged as questionable for San Francisco's Week 1 matchup against the Seahawks. Guerendo's only route to fantasy relevance relies on CMC sitting. If that does happen, then he can be seen as a deep-league flex candidate.
Brian Robinson Jr. will likely draw the start, but Guerendo made his mark in 2024 in similar circumstances and is a potential RB4/5 pending McCaffrey's status.
--Dan StephensSource: NFL.com
September 6, 2025
San Francisco 49ers running back
Brian Robinson Jr.'s fantasy stock took a hit when he was sent from the Commanders to the 49ers in August, going from presumed starter to second-stringer overnight. However, with
Christian McCaffrey (calf) landing on the team's injury report just days before San Francisco's season opener, Robinson may already be in the spotlight again. McCaffrey is questionable for Week 1 after following a limited practice on Thursday with a DNP on Friday. Should CMC sit, Robinson will be first in line for the start, and thus viable for fantasy purposes. Even if that is the case, it is hard to envision anything higher than a borderline RB2/3 finish for Robinson as he is still learning the system and would likely be splitting work with second-year back
Isaac Guerendo.
--Dan StephensSource: NFL.com
September 6, 2025
San Francisco 49ers quarterback
Brock Purdy opens the 2025 season against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. In two starts against his division rival last season, Purdy was 39-for-56 (70% completion rate) for 414 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. In five career starts against Seattle, Purdy has nine touchdowns to three interceptions and has averaged 241.6 passing yards per game. With running back
Christian McCaffrey (calf) drawing a questionable tag for the season opener, there may be increased reliance on Purdy's arm. Fortunately, wide receiver
Jauan Jennings (calf) has been cleared for the game and will join tight end
George Kittle and receiver
Ricky Pearsall as Purdy's top targets downfield. Fantasy football managers can start Purdy, as he still has enough support around him to finish as a low-end QB1.
--Dan StephensSource: NFL.com
September 6, 2025
New York Giants defense may be a sneaky good fantasy play for Week 1 despite the team's struggles last season. While the Giants' overall defense ranked 24th in 2024, they were tied for ninth in the league with 45 sacks and added rookie Abdul Carter, the third overall pick, to their formidable pass rush. The Commanders offense was a fantasy gold mine for opposing defenses last season, allowing 50 sacks in 2024. This presents a prime opportunity for the Giants' defensive line to wreak havoc on quarterback
Jayden Daniels. The combination of a strong pass rush, a new veteran cornerback in Paulson Adebo, and a favorable matchup make the Giants defense a solid streaming option for Week 1.
--Danny BoilySource: NFL.com
September 6, 2025
New York Giants kicker
Graham Gano is a difficult fantasy start for Week 1, given his recent injury history and the unknown offensive output of the team. Gano has missed significant time over the last two seasons due to injury and saw his field goal percentage drop to 73.25% over the past two seasons. While he did show a positive sign by making both of his 50+ yard attempts, his overall inconsistency is a major concern. The Giants' offense is expected to be a work in progress with a new quarterback, which could limit scoring opportunities. While the Commanders' defense wasn't particularly stingy against kickers last year, Gano's recent struggles make him a high-risk, low-reward option to start the season.
--Danny BoilySource: NFL.com
September 6, 2025
New York Giants tight end
Theo Johnson is a high-upside fantasy option entering his second season as the unquestioned top tight end. As a rookie in 2024, Johnson averaged 4.47 fantasy points per game and showcased his potential with 331 receiving yards. The matchup against the Washington Commanders is a difficult one, as they were the 8th-ranked fantasy defense against tight ends in 2024, allowing an average of only 9.16 points per game to the position. However, Johnson's athletic profile and newfound role as a top target for quarterback
Russell Wilson make him an intriguing play with a higher ceiling than many might expect. He is a talented TE to watch out for each week.
--Danny BoilySource: NFL.com
September 6, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Jeremy McNichols is back for his second season with the team after earning a spot on the final roster. McNichols was a valuable player in pass protection and special teams last season, in addition to showing versatility as a runner and receiver when needed. He averaged 4.7 yards per carry and scored five touchdowns, including two in Week 4 against Arizona last season and one against Detroit in the playoffs. The 29-year-old has bounced around multiple teams before Washington, but has carved out a nice role on special teams and as a stout pass protector, where the coaches rave about him. McNichols won't be relevant for fantasy purposes in Week 1, but will likely be on the field for some snaps.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
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