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
September 5, 2025
Atlanta Falcons quarterback
Michael Penix Jr. will make just the fourth start of his professional career on Sunday, coming into the Week 1 contest with a 58.1 percent completion percentage and a 3:3 TD:INT. While that may not inspire confidence, the former eighth-overall draft pick has had plenty of time to prepare for the home matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team that ranked third-worst in terms of passing yards per game (245.3) and allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to opposing signal callers in 2024. However, the Bucs' pass defense will be healthier than they were last season, will have added veteran linebacker Haason Reddick, and the Falcons will be without starting right tackle Kaleb McGary and backup Storm Norton, leaving the 25-year-old's blind side to third-stringer Elijah Wilkinson. Mix in a banged-up
Darnell Mooney (shoulder), and the University of Washington product should be considered a low-end QB2 in Week 1.
--Jarod RuppSource: Pro Football Reference
September 5, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback
Joe Burrow is coming off a stellar 2024 campaign. The signal-caller finished the year by throwing for 4,918 yards and 43 touchdowns, both the highest marks in the National Football League. Without question, he had an MVP-caliber season. Unfortunately, the Bengals defense struggled, resulting in Cincinnati finishing with a 9-8 record and missing the playoffs. With a meeting with the Cleveland Browns on the horizon, Burrow and company will look to begin the year with a win. Last season, the 28-year-old played well enough against the Browns, combining for 433 yards and five touchdowns (no interceptions) off 38-for-55 passing. With that said, Burrow should remain productive in Week 1, considering he'll have
Ja'Marr Chase,
Tee Higgins, and
Chase Brown at his disposal. It's also realistic to assume he could finish as the week's top producer at the position, so he must be starting in any fantasy format imaginable.
--Dennis ClausenSource: ESPN
September 5, 2025
Houston Texans quarterback
C.J. Stroud opens the season in Los Angeles against the Rams on Sunday afternoon, as he looks to start a bounce-back season. He took a step backwards last season after throwing for 4,108 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and five interceptions in 15 games as a rookie. He finished with 3,727 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 17 games last year, while leading the Texans to a second straight AFC South title. He has a new Offensive Coordinator in Nick Caley, and the new system puts more responsibility on the quarterback at the line of scrimmage. Stroud is the QB16 this week against the Rams, who allowed the 11th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks last season. Stroud will be without
Christian Kirk (hamstring), so he'll be working with an unproven group of receivers aside from his elite receiver option,
Nico Collins. He's a strong QB2 with boom or bust upside in Week 1.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
September 5, 2025
Baltimore Ravens quarterback
Lamar Jackson is set to face off against the only guy who stood between him and a third MVP award last season. The two-time MVP is coming off a historic season where he threw for 4,172 yards, 41 touchdowns, and only four interceptions, in addition to 915 yards and four more scores on 139 carries. The Ravens have most of the offense returning this year, and Jackson was able to put up a combined 410 yards and four touchdowns through the air, with 93 yards and a touchdown on the ground in two games against the Bills last season. It goes without saying that Jackson is a set-it-and-forget-it type of fantasy asset since he's always in play for the QB1 overall.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
September 5, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback
Baker Mayfield looks to build upon his unbelievable performance from 2024. Last season, Mayfield threw for 4,500 passing yards with 41 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 17 games with the Bucs. The 30-year-old will look to keep the good times rolling against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1. The Bucs are going to be playing shorthanded at wide receiver with both
Chris Godwin (ankle) and
Jalen McMillan (neck) sidelined. However,
Mike Evans is one of the most consistent wideouts in the league. The Bucs also have
Emeka Egbuka who figures to slot right alongside Evans as the No. 2 option. There were games last season that Mayfield didn't have Godwin or Evans and still posted QB1 numbers. Fantasy managers need to keep rolling with Mayfield who should be valued as a top 7-8 quarterback coming into the season.
--Andy WebbSource: Pro Football Reference
September 5, 2025
Cleveland Browns quarterback
Joe Flacco will take on the Cincinnati Bengals at home to kick off the 2025 season. The Bengals struggled against the pass last season as they allowed the sixth-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. There isn't much expectation for the Cincinnati defense to be improved heading into the upcoming 2025 campaign, giving the veteran signal-caller a plus matchup to kick off the year. That being said, Flacco did not play well in limited starts with the Indianapolis Colts last year, and it is unclear just how much the 40-year-old has left in the tank. Flacco checks in as Rotoballer's QB30 heading into Week 1 and is not a recommended starter outside of deep two-quarterback formats.
--Matt TerelleSource: NFL.com
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 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
September 5, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback
Aaron Rodgers will take the field for the first time in black and gold against the New York Jets in Week 1. While Rodgers will surely be motivated to face the team he spent the last two seasons with, this simply isn't a matchup to target for fantasy production. The Jets surrendered the fifth-fewest passing yards and 11th-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in 2024, and they were even tougher on the position the year prior. In addition, this contest carries the lowest-projected point total of the week. All things considered, Rodgers was solid last season, but he scored as a top-12 fantasy QB just six times. The 41-year-old should only be considered in superflex leagues as a low-end QB2 on Sunday.
--Jorden HillSource: RotoBaller
September 5, 2025
Green Bay Packers quarterback
Jordan Love (thumb) looks to start his 2025 season off on the right foot as the Packers host the Detroit Lions in their Week 1 season opener. Love had surgery to fix a ligament in his left (non-throwing) thumb early in the preseason. However, he doesn't carry an injury designation for Week 1 after logging three full practices. Love's 2024 season was uneven as he suffered a sprained MCL in Week 1 and then picked up a groin injury in the middle of the season. The Packers leaned on
Josh Jacobs and the running game, turning Love into a bit of a game manager. After Green Bay's Week 10 bye, Love was the QB18 the rest of the season with just one game over 20 fantasy points. The hope for the Packers and Love in 2025 is that they pass a bit more, and that could bear fruit for fantasy managers. For fantasy purposes, Love is a mid-tier QB2 option, best suited to start in 2QB leagues rather than single-quarterback leagues.
--Kevin TompkinsSource: RotoBaller
September 5, 2025
Detroit Lions quarterback
Jared Goff put up the best numbers of his career in 2024, posting career highs in yards per pass attempt (8.6), passing touchdowns (37), and quarterback rating (111.8). Goff profiles as a fringe QB1 in fantasy this season, but there may be reason to believe that his road matchup in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers won't be his best game. In the four games he's played at Lambeau Field with the Lions, Goff has averaged just 206.5 passing yards and one touchdown per contest. Additionally, the Packers just acquired All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons (back) from the Dallas Cowboys, trading away run-stuffing defensive tackle Kenny Clark in the process. Parsons is battling a back injury but is expected to play, so the Lions could be motivated to try and pound the ball between the tackles rather than having Goff drop back and face the Green Bay pass rush. Goff is worth starting as a QB2 in Superflex leagues, but managers in single-QB formats may want to look elsewhere.
--Will BradySource: 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
Buffalo Bills quarterback
Josh Allen is a one-man wrecking crew, but he'll face a stiff test in Sunday's season opener against the Baltimore Ravens. While the reigning MVP tormented his share of opponents in 2024, he didn't post gaudy numbers in two meetings with the Ravens - a Week 4 loss and a divisional-round win. Allen combined to go a modest 32-for-51 (63%) for 307 yards and no touchdown passes or interceptions in those contests. With 41 yards on 15 carries, the dual-threat superstar averaged under 3.0 YPC, though he did find the end zone twice in the Bills' postseason triumph. Baltimore allowed the second-most passing yards in the league last season, but its defense improved dramatically when All-Pro Kyle Hamilton shifted to a deep safety role in Week 11. The Ravens have since remade their secondary with the additions of first-round safety Malaki Starks, who will start alongside Hamilton, as well as cornerbacks Jaire Alexander (knee) and Chidobe Awuzie in free agency. With corners Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins returning, the Ravens' defensive backfield is stacked on paper. That's not ideal for Allen, yet he has made plenty of talented defenses look bad in the past. Fantasy managers will have to hope he does it again in Week 1.
--Connor ByrneSource: ESPN
September 5, 2025
Despite not picking up any playing time during the preseason, Atlanta Falcons quarterback
Michael Penix Jr. is all geared up for the team's Week 1 meeting with the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers. "I know when game day comes up, the whole game plan will be in. I'll be ready," said Penix Jr. The University of Washington alum will head into his first season as the team's starter, but will do so having only worked with the first-team offense in practice situations thus far. It's fair to expect that there may be some ramp-up time as the offense attempts to find its groove, but the team is all-in on the second-year signal-caller as their leader. Penix Jr. doesn't hold much value in single-QB leagues for now, but he's an intriguing QB2 option in superflex formats and a hold in dynasty leagues. He's RotoBaller's QB19 in the Week 1 rankings.
--Alex CiullaSource: D. Orlando Ledbetter
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