September 5, 2025
The Las Vegas Raiders have made a series of back-of-roster moves, elevating third-year wide receiver
Justin Shorter to the active roster and signing veteran receiver
Phillip Dorsett to fill his spot on the practice squad. The Raiders were able to open a roster spot after moving
Amari Cooper to the Reserve/Retired list following his unheralded retirement announcement on Thursday. At 6'4" and 227 pounds, Shorter was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 2023 but spent his rookie season on injured reserve. He spent 2024 between the Raiders' active roster and practice squad as he transitioned to playing tight end. He made ten regular-season appearances without registering a stat. While the Raiders search for any depth in the wide receiver room, Shorter's signing should have no significance to fantasy managers.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Adam Schefter
September 5, 2025
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver
Darnell Mooney (shoulder) has been listed as questionable on Friday's injury report and will be a game-time decision, according to head coach Raheem Morris. Mooney missed almost all of training camp after injuring his shoulder making a diving catch during the first practice of the summer. Mooney told reporters on Thursday that he feels good, but a decision on his status won't be made until 90 minutes before kickoff. When healthy, Mooney figures to feature prominently in Zac Robinson's aggressive, downfield passing attack, but even if he does play on Sunday, the expectation should be that he will be on a pitch count of sorts after so much missed time. Fantasy managers should look for better flex options in Week 1 until they've seen a full allotment of snaps from Mooney.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Tori McElhaney
September 5, 2025
The Seattle Seahawks defense/special teams unit will draw an interesting test when the 49ers visit on Sunday. Seattle's defense had a huge turnaround over the second half of the 2024 season under head coach Mike Macdonald's tutelage. The defense has added more pieces up front with an already great secondary in place. In two games against San Francisco in 2024, the Seahawks' unit allowed 36 points and 17 points, respectively. The latter game was around the time Seattle turned around its defense. With so many injuries on offense in San Francisco, they will not carry the same firepower into Seattle that they are used to. On top of that, 49ers running back
Christian McCaffrey (calf) popped up on Thursday's injury report. With his status for Sunday up in the air, Seattle's D/ST could have an even bigger game. Keep an eye on the health of the 49ers' offensive players headed into the weekend. This unit could be playable.
--Quincy Milton III - RotoBallerSource: Seattle Seahawks
September 5, 2025
Seattle Seahawks tight end
Elijah Arroyo has a golden opportunity in front of him. With no established No. 1 tight end in the offense, Arroyo could step into that role early. Arroyo is an athletic freak whom the Seahawks selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. His usage in Week 1 should be monitored. He is not someone worth throwing into your lineup this early, but if you have an extra roster spot to play with, he is a worthy stash. His volume and subsequent fantasy value could grow as the season wears on.
--Quincy Milton III - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
September 5, 2025
Seattle Seahawks tight end
AJ Barner is not someone worth starting in Week 1. Although Barner appears to be stepping into the No. 1 tight end role in this offense, fantasy managers would be better off waiting to see how the tight end touches are split between Barner and rookie
Elijah Arroyo. Barner flashed in 2024 with 245 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Those are not eye-popping numbers, but Barner looked athletic and like he belonged on an NFL field. There is a large tight end role to fill in a Klint Kubiak-led offense that is favorable to the position. If Barner receives a lot of opportunities, he could end up being a solid streaming tight end. However, he is also a great blocker, something that Arroyo could use work on. As such, Arroyo could ultimately end up being the receiving tight end with Barner sprinkled in. The snap breakdown between the two in Week 1 will be telling.
--Quincy Milton III - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
September 5, 2025
Seattle Seahawks kicker
Jason Myers is a solid option at the position in Week 1. Myers has been relatively accurate over his last few seasons in Seattle. He only missed four field goals in 2024. When given the chance, Myers often delivers solid fantasy value. Seattle is facing off with a San Francisco 49ers defense devoid of a lot of the talent they used to have. The defense will be well coached, but they have serious question marks in the secondary that could allow the Seahawks to go up and down the field. That is a kicker's dream, as Myers should be in solid positions to kick extra points and field goals throughout the game. Kicker is one of the more variable positions in fantasy, but Myers should be a plug-and-play option in Week 1.
--Quincy Milton III - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
September 5, 2025
Seattle Seahawks running back
Zach Charbonnet will enter the season backing up
Kenneth Walker III. However, Charbonnet should have stand-alone fantasy value given how much he has impressed the coaching staff. Charbonnet and the Seahawks draw a solid matchup for running backs in Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2024. With how highly Seattle's coaching staff has spoken of Charbonnet this offseason, a few extra carries and targets could go a long way in Week 1. Additionally, if Charbonnet continues to play at a high level, he could eat more and more into Walker's workload. It is difficult to get a feel for the split in this backfield, but reports suggest close to a 60/40 split in Walker's favor to begin the season. That split could approach 50/50 as the season wears on. You likely drafted Charbonnet as a bench player, but he should see enough work to merit flex consideration in Week 1 in a pinch.
--Quincy Milton III - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
September 5, 2025
Seattle Seahawks quarterback
Sam Darnold is not worth starting in Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers project to have a solid defense with coordinator Robert Saleh back in the fold, and it remains to be seen if Darnold's breakout season in 2024 was a mirage. However, Darnold's level of play is worth monitoring in Week 1. He is joining an offense coordinated by Klint Kubiak with ties back to Darnold's year in San Francisco as a backup quarterback. The offense is going to play to Darnold's strengths, and he could very well succeed at a high level this season. Darnold is coming off a season in which he was the QB9 in Minnesota. While we certainly do not expect that of Darnold without wide receiver
Justin Jefferson in 2025, he could still be an excellent streamer or QB2. Watch Darnold closely in Week 1. Even solid success against the 49ers' defense would suggest that we are in for another season of fantasy fun with the eight-year veteran.
--Quincy Milton III - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
September 5, 2025
Seattle Seahawks running back
Kenneth Walker III will open the season as the starter against the San Francisco 49ers. Walker is coming off a season in which he performed as an RB1 when healthy. Walker's targets were way up, which helped provide him with a solid baseline in fantasy. He draws a solid matchup in Week 1 against a 49ers team that allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2024. That number figures to improve with Robert Saleh back as the team's defensive coordinator, but Walker should have lanes to run through. The Seahawks' offensive line is improved, and the team's offensive coaching staff changes suggest a serious commitment to the run. Walker may cede some work to backup
Zach Charbonnet, who has made huge strides as a player, but Walker's big-play ability should keep him among the league's best options at the position if he can stay healthy. As such, Walker is an RB2 with RB1 upside in Week 1.
--Quincy Milton III - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
September 5, 2025
In breaking down his predictions for the 2025 season, Jacksonville Jaguars beat writer John Shipley believes that first-round pick
Travis Hunter will play close to 80% of his team's offensive snaps and 60-70% on defense. Hunter's unique talents have been on display throughout his college career, pre-draft process, and training camp. The largest question mark on him has been about his usage as he begins his NFL career. Arguably the most talented rookie in this year's class, the Jaguars paid a heavy price on draft night to move up three spots and select him with the number two overall pick. Listed on the team's unofficial depth chart as a starting receiver and backup cornerback, these predicted snap totals suggest that Hunter could feature prominently in the Jaguars' passing attack. Should he find himself on the field for the majority of passing downs, Hunter could pay early dividends to those who were brave enough to draft him.
--Patrick McGrathSource: John Shipley
September 5, 2025
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver
Tory Horton is not on the fantasy radar in Week 1 when Seattle hosts the San Francisco 49ers. However, Horton's usage is one to watch as the 2025 fifth-round pick won the Seahawks' No. 3 wide receiver job this offseason. It may be difficult for a run-heavy team to support fantasy relevance from three wide receivers, but if Horton is constantly on the field and running routes, that would suggest he has a chance to take on a huge role as the season progresses. If you have an extra roster spot due to a player being on IR, Horton is a worthy stash from waivers. If the Seahawks take a top-heavy approach at wide receiver with
Jaxon Smith-Njigba and
Cooper Kupp, then Horton can likely be dropped. If the split is more even, Horton is a solid hold throughout the season.
--Quincy Milton III - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
September 5, 2025
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver
Cooper Kupp is checking in as a flex option in Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers. Kupp is coming off a season with the Rams that began very auspiciously but finished horrendously. Kupp was a clear-cut WR1 over the first half of the season, but he was completely phased out of the offense towards the end. He only earned nine targets over his final three games, and he moved on from the Rams this offseason. Kupp did not show any signs of slowing down when he was given opportunities in 2024. This is certainly not the same player who took the league by storm in 2021, but Kupp should present solid value out of the slot in Seattle. He is going to be where quarterback
Sam Darnold needs him to be at all times. San Francisco presents a tough matchup in Week 1, but they will need to focus their energy on stopping wide receiver
Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Kupp's role in the slot is more immune to tough matchups than outside wide receivers, giving him flex value with solid WR2 upside in Week 1.
--Quincy Milton III - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
September 5, 2025
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is entering his first season as the unquestioned No. 1 wide receiver in Seattle's offense. Smith-Njigba broke out over the second half of the 2024 season en route to 1,130 receiving yards and six touchdowns. He enters the 2025 season with a new quarterback in
Sam Darnold and a new play caller in Klint Kubiak. Darnold supported excellent fantasy seasons for wide receivers
Justin Jefferson and
Jordan Addison in Minnesota in 2024. JSN is going to be a target hog in a rebuilt Seahawks offense tailor-made for Darnold's strengths. In Week 1, Smith-Njigba will draw a relatively tough matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers were No. 5 in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers in 2024. Although San Francisco lost a couple of defensive pieces, they re-signed defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who is a master of shutting down opposing offenses. Still, volume alone should help Smith-Njigba overcome any challenges the 49ers may present. You can safely deploy him as a WR2 in Week 1.
--Quincy Milton III - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
September 5, 2025
Buffalo Bills kicker
Tyler Bass (hip, groin) was fairly reliable over his first five seasons, but his sixth year in the NFL is off to an injury-riddled start. After Bass missed most of training camp and all but one preseason game with pelvic soreness, his status for Week 1 is in question because of hip and groin issues. Bass did not practice on Thursday and will not practice on Friday, which could set the stage for just-signed veteran
Matt Prater to kick against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. The big-legged Prater, 41, has had a quality career. However, Prater will be hard to count on for the Bills and fantasy managers after he missed most of last season with a torn meniscus as a member of the Arizona Cardinals. Bass is RotoBaller's 10th-ranked kicker going into the season, but even if he does play Sunday, he's a high-risk option because of his injury troubles.
--Connor ByrneSource: Buffalo Bills
September 5, 2025
Although the Buffalo Bills put most of their offseason focus into improving their defense, the group is banged up going into a Week 1 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens' elite offense this Sunday. Injured first-round cornerback Maxwell Hairston (knee) won't play. Fellow corner and ex-Raven Tre'Davious White (groin) is also trending toward sitting out, which would leave either Ja'Marcus Ingram or sixth-round rookie Dorian Strong to start opposite No. 1 CB Christian Benford (groin). While Benford is also dealing with an injury, indications are that he'll play. Even with Benford, the Bills' issues in the secondary could spell trouble going into a meeting with the Ravens'
Lamar Jackson-led passing attack. As if that's not enough, the Bills will also have to try to contain the two-headed monster of Jackson and
Derrick Henry in the running game. All of that is to say fantasy managers seeking DST help shouldn't have trouble finding a safer option than Buffalo in Week 1.
--Connor ByrneSource: ESPN
RADIO
