September 5, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver
DK Metcalf will get his first game action with the team in a Week 1 road matchup against the New York Jets. Metcalf is coming off his least productive campaign since his rookie season, though he still averaged an impressive 15 yards per catch in 2024. Now with a new contract and a new quarterback, Metcalf will hope to re-establish himself as a true WR1. This won't be an easy task, however, against a New York defense that ranked top-10 last season in receptions, yards, touchdowns, and fantasy points allowed to receivers. Still, Metcalf's potential target volume is tough to overlook given Pittsburgh's lack of depth at the position. While an explosive outing is relatively unlikely, Metcalf is a viable WR2 or flex play in most fantasy leagues this week.
--Jorden HillSource: RotoBaller
September 5, 2025
Green Bay Packers All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons (back) was listed as a limited practice participant all week and is officially questionable to make his Packers debut in the Week 1 season opener this Sunday in a divisional clash against the Detroit Lions. The Packers sent two first-rounders and run-stopper Kenny Clark to the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 28 for Parsons in a blockbuster deal that makes them legitimate Super Bowl contenders, but the 26-year-old has been dealing with a back injury that could require an injection so that he can play this weekend. It's a good sign that he practiced all week, though, and Parsons is expected to play against Detroit. Parsons will be a bit more risky as a fantasy starter in IDP lineups if he's active, though, because Green Bay could manage his snap count.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Rob Demovsky
September 5, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback
Geno Smith opens his tenure in silver and black with a favorable Week 1 matchup against the Patriots. New England's secondary is thin after releasing Jabrill Peppers and with Christian Gonzalez battling a hamstring injury, leaving exploitable holes in coverage. Smith's experience should help him move the ball, but questions remain about his supporting cast outside of second-year tight end
Brock Bowers. The Raiders are expected to lean heavily on the run game, which caps Smith's fantasy ceiling. While the matchup is intriguing, Smith remains a risky play and is best avoided as a streaming option to open the season.
--Shaun AlbinSource: Raiders.com
September 5, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Noah Brown has been managing a knee injury that he sustained back during training camp, but is all set to play in Week 1's matchup against the Giants. Brown has been receiving veteran rest days consistently throughout training camp to ensure that he is healthy for the season. He was limited in practice both Wednesday and Thursday before showing up as a DNP in practice on Friday. Head coach Dan Quinn labeled it as a rest day for the veteran receiver and said that everyone should be good to go on Sunday. Brown signed in Washington following being waived by the Texans during roster cuts last year, and then ended up signing a one-year extension in Washington after carving out a role as their second outside receiver. He led the team in total receiving yards in the two games against the Giants last season, catching nine passes for 116 yards. Brown again projects to be the team's primary outside wide receiver opposite
Terry McLaurin, but likely won't be relevant for fantasy purposes against the Giants.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
September 5, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers left tackle Tristan Wirfs (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's contest against the Atlanta Falcons. Wirfs is working his way back from offseason knee surgery and was initially expected to miss time at the start of the season. However, earlier in August, Wirfs was activated off the PUP list, which suggested he could be available for Week 1. However, the team will opt to take a cautious approach with their star lineman. Instead, fantasy managers should expect Charlie Heck to slot in as the starting left tackle on Sunday afternoon. Even though the Buccaneers will be without their top offensive lineman, they remain one of the sport's top offensive units. Quarterback
Baker Mayfield is coming off a career year and should remain a strong QB1 in this matchup.
--Andy SmithSource: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
September 5, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end
Cade Otton (groin) is off the injury report and cleared for Sunday's season opener against the Atlanta Falcons. The top tight end opened the week as a limited participant due to a groin injury on Wednesday. However, Otton was able to log back-to-back full sessions on Thursday and Friday and was able to avoid carrying a designation into the weekend. Last season, the 26-year-old enjoyed a career year in his third NFL campaign. Otton caught 59 passes for 600 yards and four touchdowns on 87 targets. With
Chris Godwin (ankle) and
Jalen McMillan (neck) not suiting up in this contest, Otton carries sneaky streaming appeal in deeper 14+ team formats and a budget play upside in DFS, as he should operate as the team's No. 3 pass-catching option alongside
Mike Evans and
Emeka Egbuka.
--Andy SmithSource: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
September 5, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Terry McLaurin is ready to roll for the season opener at home against the Giants after finally reaching an agreement with Washington on a three-year, $96 million extension. The deal was signed less than two weeks before Week 1, allowing McLaurin ample time to ramp up and get in proper conditioning for Kliff Kingsbury's up-tempo offense. He's coming off his best season as a pro, catching a franchise record 13 touchdowns. The 29-year-old receiver will immediately get back on page and make up for lost time with rising quarterback
Jayden Daniels, something the second-year signal caller isn't concerned about. "I don't think it [chemistry] ever leaves," said Daniels when asked if he is confident that his connection with Terry McLaurin can pick up where it left off. McLaurin was relatively quiet in two meetings against the Giants last season, totaling eight receptions for 41 yards, but he found the endzone twice in the second game. For his career, McLaurin has always played well against them, averaging six receptions for 75 yards and scoring five touchdowns in 11 games. He projects as a mid to high-end WR2 for Week 1, always with the potential for a long score.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
September 5, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers running back
Kaleb Johnson will make his regular-season NFL debut against the New York Jets in Week 1. A third-round pick in April's draft, Johnson has plenty of potential, especially in a Steelers offense that has ranked top-10 in rush attempts in each of the past three seasons. That said, it's unclear just how much of a role Johnson will have early on. Head coach Mike Tomlin recently labeled
Jaylen Warren the team's "featured runner", and veteran
Kenneth Gainwell currently sits ahead of Johnson on the depth chart. With Sunday's contest expected to be low-scoring, there is no reason to force Johnson into starting lineups. He should remain rostered in all formats, but fantasy managers would be wise to take a wait-and-see approach with Johnson.
--Jorden HillSource: RotoBaller
September 5, 2025
New York Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas (foot) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's contest against the Washington Commanders. Thomas opened the week as a limited participant but was downgraded on Thursday to a non-participant. However, the former fourth overall pick was able to practice in a limited capacity on Friday, which keeps the door open for him to potentially play on Sunday. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he plays a lead role on the Giants' offensive line. If he were to sit out, James Hudson would likely move up the depth chart to the top role. Without Thomas, fantasy managers should expect quarterback
Russell Wilson to take a step back in this contest, potentially. However, his top wideout,
Malik Nabers, would still carry an elite ceiling and remains a top WR in all formats.
--Andy SmithSource: Tom Pelissero
September 5, 2025
Detroit Lions rookie wide receiver
Isaac TeSlaa (illness) does not carry an injury designation into their Week 1 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. The rookie wideout was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday and Thursday. However, he was able to log a full session on Friday and avoid a questionable tag into the weekend. TeSlaa was selected in the third round (70th overall) in this year's NFL Draft out of Arkansas. During the preseason, TeSlaa flashed immense potential and made a strong case to open the season in a prominent role. Earlier in August, the Lions opted to trade veteran wideout
Tim Patrick to the Jacksonville Jaguars, which opened the No. 3 spot for either TeSlaa or
Kalif Raymond. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on his workload in the opener, as he could be worth adding in deeper 3-WR leagues if he were to carve out a significant role. However, for the time being, he is best to keep out of starting lineups, playing in a crowded offense.
--Andy SmithSource: Detroit Lions
September 5, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers running back
Jaylen Warren will begin his first campaign as the team's featured ballcarrier in a road bout with the New York Jets. Warren thrived in a complementary role through his first three seasons, averaging 4.8 yards per tote while adding 127 receptions. Although he is expected to lead Pittsburgh's backfield ahead of rookie
Kaleb Johnson, Warren will be tested by a solid New York defense. The Jets shut down running backs in the passing game and held the position to the fifth-fewest yards per carry in 2024. This is expected to be a low-scoring affair, so while Warren doesn't offer extreme upside, he can be started as a volume-based RB2 or flex option in Week 1.
--Jorden HillSource: RotoBaller
September 5, 2025
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Jauan Jennings (calf) is off the injury report and will suit up in their Week 1 contest against the Seattle Seahawks. Earlier on Friday, head coach Kyle Shanahan said that regarding Jennings's status, he is "really confident" and that he's "gotten better and better throughout the week", and "I'm excited to see him out there Sunday." The 28-year-old wideout was diagnosed with a calf injury and was also expressing interest in signing a new contract. Jennings was able to not only move past his injury but also ink a new contract with the club that grants him incentives based on playing time in the upcoming season. In 2024, Jennings enjoyed a breakout campaign, totaling 975 yards and six touchdowns. Fantasy managers should expect him to operate as
Brock Purdy's go-to option in the passing attack and carry high-end WR3 value facing the Seahawks.
--Andy SmithSource: Cam Inman
September 5, 2025
Detroit Lions wide receiver
Kalif Raymond is entering his fifth season in Detroit and appears to be the team's WR4 behind
Amon-Ra St. Brown,
Jameson Williams, and
Isaac TeSlaa. Still, the 31-year-old brings a vertical element to the offense with his speed and has consistently found the field in his time in Detroit, albeit in a limited capacity. In eight career games against the Packers, Raymond has recorded 20 catches for 302 yards and a touchdown. He may eat into the Week 1 snap share of TeSlaa, who is playing on Sunday, but was limited in practice early in the week with an illness. Raymond should not be on the radar of fantasy managers, but he should be expected to see some work in Week 1 against Green Bay.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
September 5, 2025
Green Bay Packers running back
Chris Brooks looks to maintain some of his preseason momentum as the Packers welcome the Detroit Lions in Week 1. Brooks played well in Green Bay's preseason games, notably ahead of fellow back
Emanuel Wilson. However, it's Wilson that is listed ahead of Brooks on the Packers' official depth chart heading into the season opener against the Lions. That said, Brooks could have a situational role on third downs for the Packers at the outset of the season. Despite that role, Brooks would need multiple injuries to
Josh Jacobs and Wilson for fantasy relevance. Keep Brooks on waivers for Week 1.
--Kevin TompkinsSource: RotoBaller
September 5, 2025
Washington Commanders quarterback
Jayden Daniels is set to begin his sophomore season in Week 1 against the Giants after winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award and leading his team to the NFC Championship game. Daniels typically comes off the board as QB3 in the third-to-fourth round of fantasy drafts, behind perennial MVP candidates
Lamar Jackson and
Josh Allen. He is viewed in high esteem for good reason after the season he had. The LSU product joined 2024 Lamar Jackson as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to throw for at least 3,500 yards and rush for at least 800 yards in a season. With significant additions to the offense like Laremy Tunsil and
Deebo Samuel Sr., and another year with the same offensive coaching staff, Jayden Daniels is primed to ascend even higher in 2025 and has the ability to break fantasy. Last season, the Giants' defense ranked middle of the pack in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks. The defense projects to be much better this season with an incredibly stout defensive line after drafting Abdul Carter third overall, as well as an improved secondary after signing veterans Jevon Holland and Paulson Adebo in free agency. Daniels is an obvious must-start in the season opener.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
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