September 6, 2025
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, the 28-year-old relies on yards after the catch to pad his stats. He'll take on a Tampa Bay defense that was porous against the pass in 2024, and with
Darnell Mooney (shoulder) a game-time decision, McCloud could see an extra target or two in this matchup, however, he'll still be the third or fourth receiving option, with running back
Bijan Robinson involved in the passing attack as well in addition to WR
Drake London and TE Kyle Pitts. Unlikely to find the end zone, the seventh-year pro sets up as no more than an option in deep PPR leagues as a WR4/5 on Sunday.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
September 6, 2025
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 appreciated. His connection with
Kyler Murray was very disjointed in that first season as well, but that seems to be changing heading into his second season. Harrison and Murray looked like they were on the same page through joint practices and training camp, and the former fourth-overall pick put on around 10 pounds of muscle. Against a lower-level defense like the New Orleans Saints in Week 1, this is Harrison's chance to start off with a bang. RotoBaller's projections have him sitting around WR20 in Week 1, but he carries some big upside if he does take that second year leap.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
September 6, 2025
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 in the fold. Hall's skill as a pass-catcher should help keep his fantasy value afloat in 2025. However, he'll be subject to Allen and even quarterback
Justin Fields vulturing goal-line opportunities. It's still possible talent wins out here, but Hall owners should expect the situation in New York to be more fluid than in years past. He's a mid-low-end RB2 ahead of Sunday's slate of action, and officially RotoBaller's PPR RB20 for Week 1.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
September 6, 2025
The Jacksonville Jaguars face the Carolina Panthers in Week 1, a team whose defense gave up fantasy points for fun last season. That means the Jaguars running game, under new head coach Liam Coen, could be in for a big day.
Travis Etienne Jr. seems like the primary option out of the backfield, but until games are played, it is tough to say any running back between Etienne Jr.,
Tank Bigsby, and rookie
Bhayshul Tuten stand out as fantasy options. The Jaguars offense as a whole should be better this year, but the running game will be especially interesting to watch given what Coen did for the Buccaneer running backs last season. Fantasy managers can do worse than Etienne Jr. at running back in Week 1.
--Seth Quinn - RotoBaller
September 6, 2025
New York Jets wide receiver
Garrett Wilson will be put to the test in Week 1 when his team squares off against the Pittsburgh Steelers at home on Sunday. Wilson is the clear-cut No. 1 option in Gang Green's passing attack and should again benefit from enormous volume in his fourth professional season. However, he'll again have a new quarterback at the helm, this time in his ex-college teammate,
Justin Fields. The former Buckeyes will hope that their collegiate chemistry spills over onto the NFL field, although that isn't a guarantee. Despite the duo's familiarity with each other, they're still essentially brand-new teammates in a new offensive system. If Fields can take a step forward in 2025, Wilson would project to have a tremendous season. As of now, he'll be a bit of a riskier option than he has been in years past. The 25-year-old is RotoBaller's PPR WR30 ahead of Sunday's slate of action.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
September 6, 2025
Miami Dolphins kicker
Riley Patterson will take the place of an injured
Jason Sanders (hip) as the team's starting kicker in Week 1 against the Colts. The journeyman is suiting up for his sixth team in the last three seasons after stints with the Browns, Jets, Jaguars, Falcons, and Lions. He was signed to the practice squad and is expected to be elevated for kicking duties in Week 1. He'll be kicking on his 26th birthday on Sunday, and the veteran is 63-for-74 (85%) on field goal attempts in his career and has made 109 of his 113 extra-point attempts. He is the K22 this week in RotoBaller's rankings, making him nothing more than a one-week desperation fill-in for fantasy until he secures a more permanent role. He is kicking indoors in a decent matchup, though, so he isn't the worst option as a one-week patch.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
September 6, 2025
New Orleans Saints running back
Kendre Miller appears locked into the backup role behind starter
Alvin Kamara. Miller came through the preseason healthy, and head coach Kellen Moore has expressed excitement about the third-year back, saying, "What we've seen has been awesome." With the Saints potentially leaning on a committee approach and Kamara entering age 30, Miller is best viewed as a deep-league stash for now, valuable only if Father Time starts catching up to Kamara.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: Pro Football Reference
September 6, 2025
It's no surprise that New Orleans Saints running back
Alvin Kamara is locked in as the Saints' lead back ahead of
Kendre Miller and rookie
Devin Neal. Despite coaching changes, offensive line struggles, and shaky quarterback play, Kamara has averaged over 1,440 total yards and 10 touchdowns per season across eight years. The Saints' offense is likely to run through him, with Kamara handling the bulk of carries and seeing heavy involvement in the passing game. At 30, he enters the "dreaded" age for running backs, and it remains to be seen if his production as a pass-catcher will start to decline. With second-year QB
Spencer Rattler under center, the offense as a whole is questionable, but Kamara profiles as a high-upside RB2 for Week 1 against the Cardinals.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: Pro Football Reference
September 6, 2025
The Miami Dolphins defense will have a new look for the 2025 season going into coordinator Anthony Weaver's second season in South Florida. The Dolphins traded away star cornerback Jalen Ramsey and brought in safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to lead an extremely young secondary that includes second-year cornerback Storm Duck, rookie Jason Marshall Jr., and free-agent addition Ifeatu Melifonwu. The pass rush should also be strong with Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips, and Chop Robinson bringing heat off the edge. They'll have a good matchup to start the year against
Daniel Jones and the Colts, which is why the defense is the No. 12 D/ST in RotoBaller's Week 1 rankings. The unit is still a work in progress, but we'll get a good idea of what to expect from the new group of playmakers in Miami this year as they get the season started in Indianapolis.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
September 6, 2025
New Orleans Saints quarterback
Spencer Rattler won the starting job over rookie
Tyler Shough and will lead Kellen Moore's new-look offense against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1. In three preseason games, Rattler completed 30 of 43 passes for 295 yards with one touchdown and one interception, while adding 41 rushing yards on seven carries. He's still trying to rebound from a rough rookie year in 2024 that saw him complete just 57% of his passes with four touchdowns, five interceptions, and five fumbles. Facing an Arizona defense that allowed the fifth-fewest passing scores last season, Rattler belongs on waivers in standard leagues and is only a fringe option in deeper two-QB or superflex formats.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: Pro Football Reference
September 6, 2025
Arizona Cardinals running back
Trey Benson produced a very forgettable rookie season in 2024. He registered a total of 69 touches (63 carries, six receptions), 350 yards from scrimmage, one rushing touchdown, and one fumble. The Cardinals hope he eventually becomes the successor to
James Conner, but the veteran set career highs in yards and carries last year while Benson gave up touches to
Emari Demercado and
Michael Carter. During training camp and preseason, the team did talk about getting Benson more involved, but his upside currently revolves around whether or not Conner can stay healthy. In 12-team leagues, it's better to avoid Benson in Week 1 until we see how their game plan shakes out.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
September 6, 2025
The Jacksonville Jaguars and their new look coaching staff take on the Carolina Panthers in Week 1, who had inarguably the worst defense in football last year. That means quarterback
Trevor Lawrence, who has underwhelmed both in real football and fantasy football throughout his career, has a chance to start off the season strong. Lawrence averaged just 15.2 fantasy points per game in 2024, but with offensive guru Liam Coen now head coach of the team and a strong abundance of weapons at his disposal, the former number one pick seems like a top breakout candidate in 2025. Week 1 against the Panthers is about as good as it gets for the Jaguars to build some offensive momentum to start the season. Stream Lawrence with confidence in Week 1.
--Seth Quinn - RotoBaller
September 6, 2025
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver
Davante Adams will make his team debut against the Houston Texans on Sunday, and he carries significant value as a mid-to-low WR2 option. While
Puka Nacua is expected to be the No. 1 receiver in Los Angeles, Adams will step in as an immediate contributor alongside him. Splitting last year between the Raiders and Jets, the veteran averaged 6.1 catches, 75.9 receiving yards, and 0.6 touchdowns per game. Now, with the Rams, he gets a quarterback upgrade while playing in an offense that should find the end zone far more often. Plus, he opens the year with a favorable matchup; the Texans allowed the eighth-most fantasy points and second-most touchdowns to wide receivers in 2024.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
September 6, 2025
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver
Puka Nacua remains a must-start in fantasy football, and he could be a legitimate mid-range WR1 in his upcoming matchup against the Houston Texans. Not only is Nacua a star receiver, averaging 6.6 catches and 88 yards per game throughout his young career, but he also benefits from a favorable matchup. The Texans allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to wide receivers last year, as well as the second-most touchdowns to the position. While Nacua isn't known for being a touchdown threat, his odds to find the end zone certainly increase against this Houston defense. Start him with confidence.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
September 6, 2025
Los Angeles Rams running back
Kyren Williams has been the topic of many backfield discussions this offseason, and there was plenty of speculation that the team could look to bring in running back competition. While the presence of
Blake Corum and
Jarquez Hunter can't be ignored, there's no doubt that this backfield belongs to Williams and that he should continue to have an every-down role. That will benefit him this week against the Texans, who allowed the sixth-fewest rushing touchdowns to running backs last year. Therefore, a high-volume role is necessary to justify starting a running back against the Texans in fantasy football. Williams fits that description, and he also has a track record of scoring touchdowns against stingy defenses. He belongs in fantasy lineups this week.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
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