September 7, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Nick Herbig (hamstring) has been ruled inactive for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday versus the New York Jets. Herbig was listed as questionable for the season opener on Friday after putting in three limited practices during the week. The 23-year-old isn't quite ready to take the field after injuring his hamstring on Aug. 16 in a preseason game, but his involvement in practices this week is a good sign that he will be able to make his 2025 debut in Week 2 versus the Seattle Seahawks. Herbig's absence is not good news for the Steelers defense, but their defense/special teams unit should still be started in Week 1 against the new-look Jets offense. With Herbig out, expect Jack Sawyer to see the field more often as a rotational linebacker for Pittsburgh.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pittsburgh Steelers
September 7, 2025
Per ESPN's Mike Reiss, New England Patriots rookie second-round running back
TreVeyon Henderson is expected to be "very involved" in the Week 1 season opener on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. "While Henderson is almost guaranteed to be on the field on third down in a pass-catching role that has been a staple in Josh McDaniels' offense, he is also expected to be given a chance on early downs as well," Reiss writes. Fifth-year back
Rhamondre Stevenson is going to get the "start," but Henderson could very well lead the Pats' backfield in touches and scrimmage yards. McDaniels said Henderson's skill set is "unlike anything the Patriots have had at the position since at least the turn of the century." Henderson is a lethal threat to score anytime he touches the ball and should be in starting fantasy lineups in Week 1 for those that drafted him.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN Boston - Mike Reiss
September 7, 2025
Houston Texans wide receiver
Xavier Hutchinson is expected to get starter's snaps in the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The former sixth-rounder has impressed under the radar for the Texans going into the 2025 regular season and has an opportunity to make some noise with
Christian Kirk (hamstring) ruled out for the season opener. The 25-year-old is certainly a player to watch as a fantasy sleeper early in the year, especially if Kirk misses more than one game, but it's hard to recommend him as a flex play in Week 1 in 12-team leagues with rookies
Jaylin Noel and
Jayden Higgins also having bigger roles behind
Nico Collins with Kirk out this weekend. Hutchinson caught 12 of 26 targets for 117 yards in 16 regular-season games (three starts) for Houston in 2024 in his second year in the NFL.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
September 7, 2025
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Cleveland Browns rookie second-round running back
Quinshon Judkins could be facing a multi-game suspension from the league after dealing with a domestic-violence case this summer. Judkins didn't sign his rookie deal until Saturday because of his off-the-field issues this summer. The Browns were granted a two-game roster exemption for the 21-year-old on Saturday, and reports earlier on Sunday suggested that it was likely that Judkins would make his NFL debut in Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens. Fantasy managers may want to pump the brakes on Judkins' availability now, though, as he could be suspended multiple games despite the domestic-violence charges against him being dropped. For now,
Jerome Ford will act as Cleveland's starter, but rookie
Dylan Sampson will also be involved. Judkins needs to remain stashed in all fantasy formats.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
September 7, 2025
Seattle Seahawks running back
Zach Charbonnet is expected to get more work on Sunday than he has in previous seasons, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. After plenty of speculation about the roles that
Kenneth Walker III and Charbonnet would have this season, it appears that we have some additional clarity heading into the season opener. The Seahawks will likely adopt a run-heavy offensive approach this season, leaving both Walker and Charbonnet with standalone fantasy value in any given week. Not only is Charbonnet going to have a larger role than in previous years, but Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times recently reported that he could even start over Walker in Week 1. The increase in touches is well-deserved for Charbonnet, who averaged 72.2 rushing yards, 28.2 receiving yards, and one touchdown during his six games as a starter last year. As Week 1 gets underway, he is worth inserting into lineups as a strong RB3/FLEX option with RB2 upside.
--Andersen PickardSource: Adam Schefter
September 7, 2025
New England Patriots rookie wide receiver
Efton Chism III is a healthy inactive for the team's Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. Chism had a very strong training camp and preseason for the Patriots despite going undrafted back in April. The 23-year-old is certainly worth stashing for the long term in dynasty/keeper formats, but he belongs on the waiver wire for now in all single-year formats. With Chism being a healthy scratch in the first game of the year for the Patriots, they will roll with
Stefon Diggs,
DeMario Douglas,
Kayshon Boutte,
Mack Hollins and
Kyle Williams in their wideout corps in quarterback
Drake Maye's first full season as the starter under center.
--Keith HernandezSource: New England Patriots
September 7, 2025
Carolina Panthers wide receiver
Jimmy Horn Jr. (coach's decision) is a healthy scratch for Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Panthers' sixth-round pick was rumored to be an up-and-coming piece in the Carolina offense, with some speculation that he could have an immediate role in Week 1. Instead, his NFL debut will have to wait at least one more week.
Dalevon Campbell is also inactive on Sunday, leaving the Panthers with five active receivers on gameday.
--Andersen PickardSource: Joe Person
September 7, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders running back
Raheem Mostert is inactive for Week 1 of the 2025 regular season on Sunday against the New England Patriots. Mostert is healthy heading into the regular-season opener, so this is a bad sign for his potential involvement in the Raiders' backfield this year in his first year with the team. The Raiders drafted rookie
Ashton Jeanty in the first round in April, and he's fully expected to lead Vegas' backfield in his first year in the NFL. The oft-injured Mostert has now been bumped down the depth chart and will open the year as the RB4 behind Jeanty,
Zamir White and
Dylan Laube. The 33-year-old veteran can be dumped if you were rostering him as a handcuff for Jeanty in redraft leagues. Mostert led the league with 18 rushing touchdowns in 2023 in Miami but played in 13 games last year and fell to just two TDs.
--Keith HernandezSource: Las Vegas Raiders
September 7, 2025
New York Giants quarterback
Jaxson Dart is active and will operate as the team's backup for Week 1 against the Washington Commanders. Meanwhile,
Jameis Winston is inactive as the team's emergency third quarterback. This depth chart decision from the coaching staff aligns with recent rumors that indicated Dart may have earned the backup job and could even make his NFL debut in Week 1. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport recently noted that the Giants have a package of plays ready for Dart, so it's possible that he could relieve starter
Russell Wilson for a handful of snaps on Sunday afternoon. Still, Dart is merely a dynasty stash at this point, as he'd need to be inserted as the full-time starter before warranting any interest in redraft leagues. Meanwhile, Winston should be left on waivers in all leagues.
--Andersen PickardSource: Dan Salomone
September 7, 2025
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network is reporting that Houston Texans running back
Nick Chubb will start in Week 1 on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium and is expected to be the team's bell-cow back with
Joe Mixon (foot) on the Non-Football Injury list to begin the season. Chubb reportedly looked really good in training camp, and the Texans are expecting big things from him this year in his first year in Houston. The 29-year-old was a four-time Pro Bowler and was one of the better RBs in the NFL before he suffered a gruesome knee injury in 2023. When he returned for the Browns last year, Chubb did not look the same and averaged a career-worst 3.3 yards per carry. However, if he's closer to his pre-injury form in 2025, he has the opportunity to be a fantastic value pick in fantasy with plenty of volume as the clear starter ahead of
Dameon Pierce and rookie
Woody Marks.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
September 7, 2025
New York Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas (foot) and right guard Evan Neal (coach's decision) are both inactive for Sunday's season opener against the Washington Commanders. Thomas had been listed as doubtful after logging a limited practice on Friday. James Hudson III will start at left tackle in his absence. Meanwhile, Neal is a former first-round pick whose role has sharply declined due to injury and poor play. He has played in just 29 games (27 starts) over three seasons in the NFL, including just 14 over the last two years. He had already been listed as the team's backup right guard for the 2025 season, so his absence doesn't change the starting lineup. Greg Van Roten will handle the snaps at right guard, as expected.
--Andersen PickardSource: Dan Salomone
September 7, 2025
Indianapolis Colts running back
Tyler Goodson (elbow) is officially inactive for the Week 1 season opener on Sunday versus the Miami Dolphins. Goodson was limited all week during practices with his elbow injury and was listed as questionable on the final injury report on Friday. It doesn't appear to be a serious ailment for Goodson, but the Colts will keep him out for the first game of the season. His next chance to make his 2025 debut will be in Week 2 against the Denver Broncos next Sunday. With Goodson sitting in Week 1, it will give rookie
DJ Giddens the opportunity to serve as the direct backup to starter
Jonathan Taylor. Ulysses Bentley will be the RB3. The 24-year-old Goodson is off the fantasy radar for now and won't be worth a look on the waiver wire unless Taylor misses time with an injury this year.
--Keith HernandezSource: Indianapolis Colts
September 7, 2025
Carolina Panthers left tackle Ikem Ekwonu (illness) is officially inactive for Sunday's Week 1 contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 24-year-old has spent several weeks recovering from an appendectomy, and it appears he's not quite ready to return yet. His absence from Week 1 isn't necessarily unexpected, as Ekwonu missed two practices this past week and was listed as doubtful entering the weekend. Yosh Nijman and Brady Christensen are the leading candidates to start at left tackle until Ekwonu is ready to return.
--Andersen PickardSource: Joseph Person
September 7, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (coach's decision) is a healthy scratch for Sunday's Week 1 contest against the New York Giants. It's no surprise that Washington is only carrying three active running backs on Sunday, but it's a bit stunning to see that Rodriguez is the odd man out. He drew praise from the coaching staff for his ability to step into a larger role this offseason, and he showed bursts of upside last year, such as Week 13, when he rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown.
Austin Ekeler should lead the Washington backfield on Sunday while
Jacory Croskey-Merritt and
Jeremy McNichols also carve out significant roles.
--Andersen PickardSource: Washington Commanders
September 7, 2025
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver
Darnell Mooney (shoulder) is officially inactive for Sunday's Week 1 contest against the Atlanta Falcons. He had been listed as questionable after being a limited participant in three consecutive practices. The 27-year-old is looking to build on an impressive 2024 campaign in which he caught 64 passes for 992 yards and five touchdowns, and he likely would have eclipsed 1,000 yards last season if not for missing the season finale due to injury. His quest to top last season's statistics will have to wait at least one week, as Mooney isn't quite healthy enough to play in the 2025 season opener.
Drake London and Kyle Pitts project as
Michael Penix Jr.'s top options in the passing attack, while
Ray-Ray McCloud III should step up into the No. 2 wide receiver role with Mooney sidelined.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ian Rapoport
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