September 6, 2025
New York Giants running back
Tyrone Tracy Jr. is a promising fantasy option for his Week 1 matchup against the Washington Commanders. Coming off a solid rookie season in which he averaged 13.48 fantasy points per game, Tracy is ranked as the 22nd-best fantasy running back for the opening week. The matchup is favorable, as the Commanders' defense ranked 24th against fantasy running backs in 2024, giving up an average of 22.72 points per game. Tracy's high-volume workload, coupled with his role in the passing game, should provide a strong floor for fantasy managers. Given the porous Commanders' run defense, Tracy is a strong RB2 or FLEX play with a high ceiling.
--Danny BoilySource: NFL.com
September 6, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Quentin Johnston converted seven targets into five catches, 79 yards, and two touchdowns during Friday's Week 1 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. The 24-year-old has struggled with drops throughout the early portion of his career, but he has still continued to flash plenty of upside, totaling 711 yards and eight touchdowns last year. After Friday's game, quarterback
Justin Herbert commended Johnston and explained how easy it is for him to trust the receiver to make a play when the ball is in his hands. These comments indicate that Johnston is one of Herbert's favorite targets, vaulting him into WR3/FLEX territory for next week's contest against the Las Vegas Raiders.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
September 6, 2025
New York Giants quarterback
Russell Wilson enters Week 1 against the Washington Commanders as a risky fantasy play. Despite a solid 2024 season with the Steelers, where he averaged 15.7 fantasy points per game, he is ranked as the 29th-best fantasy quarterback for the opening week. The Commanders' defense, which ranked 19th against fantasy quarterbacks in 2024 by allowing 15.87 points per game, presents a favorable matchup on paper. However, an injury to starting left tackle Andrew Thomas and inexperience with the other 10 starters could limit Wilson's upside. This matchup, combined with his new team and system, makes Wilson a risky play, even with a manageable defensive opponent.
--Danny BoilySource: NFL.com
September 6, 2025
Washington Commanders rookie running back
Jacory Croskey-Merritt's role in the backfield is still unclear for Week 1 against the Giants. Croskey-Merritt, or who many now refer to as "Bill," was recently listed as RB4 on the team's unofficial depth chart. It becomes a question of whether the Washington coaching staff opts to keep four running backs active on gameday.
Austin Ekeler will be in line to see most of the snaps, while
Chris Rodriguez Jr. and
Jeremy McNichols could also be in the mix for touches and play special teams. He is the most explosive and shifty runner in Washington's running back room, which should lead to some touches even if he isn't the starter right away. Croskey-Merritt has been one of the more trendy names of draft season, and he is one of the better upside picks to take. However, the usage is tough to predict for Week 1 and should likely stay on benches.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
September 6, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers running back
Omarion Hampton rushed for 48 yards on 15 carries during Friday's win over the Kansas City Chiefs. He also caught two passes for an additional 13 yards through the air. While it was promising that the Chargers trusted Hampton to handle heavy volume, his inefficiency (3.2 yards per carry) was somewhat worrisome. Going forward, it's possible that the rookie will need to score touchdowns in order to be fantasy relevant. Nevertheless, he is the clear No. 1 running back in Los Angeles, so his value will increase as he starts to face easier defenses. For example, he gets a much more favorable matchup in Week 2 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
September 6, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback
Justin Herbert completed 25 of his 34 pass attempts for 318 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions during Friday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. He also took three sacks and rushed for 32 yards. The former first-round pick started off the 2025 season on the right foot, and there's no indication that he's slowing down anytime soon. If anything, his schedule only gets easier in the short term as the Chargers take on the Las Vegas Raiders next week. Herbert has quickly asserted himself as a strong QB1 option in fantasy football.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
September 6, 2025
Washington Commanders rookie wide receiver
Jaylin Lane figures to serve as a depth option at receiver and handle punt return duties in Week 1 against the Giants. The trio of receivers ahead of Lane on the depth chart all finally seem to be healthy and present with the team for the first time all camp, with
Noah Brown off the injury report and
Terry McLaurin securing a long-term extension.
Deebo Samuel Sr. has been healthy and making plays all camp, and Lane is another guy who is dynamic with the ball in his hands and can stretch the defense vertically with his 4.34 speed. The fourth-rounder started to really emerge late in training camp and in the second preseason game, showing flexibility from the slot and outside. Lane should mix into the receiver rotation and could earn a schemed touch or two on Sunday against the Giants. He is worth putting on watch lists in redraft leagues early in the season.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
September 6, 2025
Atlanta Falcons kicker
Younghoe Koo had a rough 2024, converting just 73.5 percent of his field goal attempts last season before missing the final three games with a hip injury. However, the 31-year-old comes into 2025 healthy and made four of five field goals in the preseason, with his only miss coming from 51 yards out. With the Falcons having an implied total of 23 in their Week 1 contest against the Buccaneers, there is expected to be a decent amount of scoring. The fact that the game is a home matchup inside the dome in Atlanta means Koo will not have to deal with the elements, providing him with a pristine kicking environment. The eighth-year pro ranks as a low-end, top 12 option for Sunday's matchup, although his upside is limited given this will only be
Michael Penix Jr.'s fourth start of his career, so drives may stall quickly.
--Jarod RuppSource: Rotoballer
September 6, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs tight end
Travis Kelce caught two of four targets for 47 yards and one touchdown during Friday's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The veteran only had one catch through the first three quarters, but he boosted his stats with a big 37-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter. While he won't continue to score a touchdown in every game going forward, he still has a good chance to replicate his 12.7-point (PPR) performance given his alpha role in the Kansas City pass-catching unit. His role should only increase going forward with
Rashee Rice suspended and
Xavier Worthy (shoulder) potentially facing an extended absence.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
September 6, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver
Marquise Brown was targeted 16 times during Friday's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. He accounted for 42 percent of the team's targets and finished the game with 10 catches for 99 yards. Brown saw an expanded role with
Rashee Rice suspended and
Xavier Worthy (shoulder) exiting in the first quarter, but even with those players absent, nobody expected Brown to have 16 targets and 10 receptions. These totals represented the second-highest marks of his career, as well as the highest since September 2022. He should be a WR3/FLEX next week and would sneak into FLEX territory if Worthy is forced to miss extended time.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
September 5, 2025
The Atlanta Falcons defense/special teams ranked in the bottom third in points allowed per game last season (24.9) and struggled to get after the quarterback, finishing with the second-fewest sacks in the NFL (31). They'll take on the Buccaneers in Week 1, a team that put up 30 points on them in Week 5 last year and 26 points in Week 8. However, on Sunday, the Bucs will be without one of their top pass catchers in
Chris Godwin and, perhaps more importantly, will be without 4x Pro Bowl offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs, which should make getting pressure on quarterback
Baker Mayfield a bit easier. Even so, with this matchup having one of the higher expected totals on the slate (47.5) and Tampa Bay as the favorites, Atlanta is not expected to shut down this offense. There are likely better options available to fantasy managers in Week 1, and the Falcons should be avoided in both season-long and DFS formats.
--Jarod RuppSource: Rotoballer
September 5, 2025
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Jordan Watkins (ankle) is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks. He didn't practice on Wednesday. While the rookie managed to log limited sessions on Thursday and Friday, it wasn't enough to avoid a doubtful tag. The 49ers injury report is already loaded, with
Christian McCaffrey (calf) listed as questionable for Week 1. In addition,
Brandon Aiyuk (knee) will remain out for the foreseeable future. Fortunately,
Jauan Jennings (calf) is good to go, which should make life easier for quarterback
Brock Purdy. With that in mind, even if Watkins somehow gets cleared to suit up, it won't mean much from a fantasy standpoint, especially since
Ricky Pearsall and
George Kittle are in the equation.
--Dennis ClausenSource: San Francisco 49ers
September 5, 2025
Chicago Bears running back
Kyle Monangai (hamstring) logged a limited practice on Friday. He carried the same designation on Thursday. While the Bears won't play until Monday night, when Chicago meets the Minnesota Vikings, the rookie's status is somewhat concerning. With
Roschon Johnson (foot) missing practice for a second-straight day, it appears there's a real chance he won't be out there in Week 1. If that's the case, Monangai will climb to the No. 2 spot on the depth chart, assuming he's cleared to suit up. All things considered, it should still be
D'Andre Swift getting most of the work out of the backfield. Although Monangai could see more involvement, it likely won't be enough to make him relevant from a fantasy standpoint. Managers can expect another injury update on Saturday.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Chicago Bears
September 5, 2025
Houston Texans kicker
Ka'imi Fairbairn and the Texans take on the Rams in Week 1, giving Fairbairn a boost since he's playing indoors at SoFi Stadium. Last year, he connected on 36 field goals in 42 attempts, the second-highest season total in his eight-year career. He set a new career best with an impressive 13 field goals from 50+ yards, with a long of 59 yards. He also added 34 extra points in 36 attempts. The Rams ranked in the middle of the pack against kickers last season, while Fairbairn ranked sixth among kickers in standard scoring. He's also the No. 6 kicker in RotoBaller's rankings for Week 1, making the 31-year-old from UCLA an excellent play in normal formats to start the season.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
September 5, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback
Patrick Mahomes completed 24 of 39 pass attempts (62%) for 258 yards and a touchdown in the 21-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Mahomes also rushed six times for 57 yards and a touchdown in the contest. The Chiefs quarterback faced an uphill battle as he lost
Xavier Worthy to injury less than two minutes into the first quarter. The 29-year-old locked in on
Marquise Brown after the injury, peppering him with 16 targets in the loss. Mahomes had a good game from an individual standpoint, totaling over 300 yards and two touchdowns, but was not able to pull out the win. The Chiefs will take on the Philadelphia Eagles for a Super Bowl rematch in Week 2. The Eagles defense was arguably the best in the league last season, so Mahomes will have his work cut out for him next week. Given his strong performance against the Chargers, Mahomes should continue to be viewed as a mid-range QB1 heading into the matchup against Philadelphia.
--Joshua CostelloSource: NFL.com
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