RADIO
Deshaun Watson Hard to Trust in Week 1 Return
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will make his first regular-season start in nearly two years when the Browns visit Jacksonville on Sunday. There is not much reason for fantasy managers to take the same chance. Watson missed all of 2025 after undergoing a second surgery on his right Achilles, then had an uneven preseason after returning this summer. He opened 11-for-15 for 126 yards against Chicago before completing just five of 12 passes for 36 yards with an interception against Buffalo. Jacksonville picked off 22 passes last season, so this is not an especially comfortable spot for a quarterback trying to get settled again. Cleveland also enters the opener with five new starters along the offensive line, including rookie Austin Barber replacing the injured Teven Jenkins at right guard. RotoBaller has Watson at QB32 for Week 1. He should stay on the bench in one-quarterback leagues and is only a desperation option in deeper Superflex or two-quarterback formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Titans D/ST a Top-12 Fantasy Unit Against Jets in Week 1
The Tennessee Titans defense/special teams unit is not projected to be a defense that fantasy managers will want to be starting each and every week in 2026, but in their Week 1 matchup against the New York Jets, they are squarely in the streaming conversation. New Titans head coach Robert Saleh, who comes from a defensive background, will be looking to turn Tennessee around on that side of the ball after they allowed 28.1 points per game (fifth-most in the league) and 345.1 yards per game in 2025. Respected defensive coordinator Gus Bradley should be able to help Saleh get more out of this Titans unit, which is anchored by star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. They upgraded the defense in the offseason with John Franklin-Myers, Jermaine Johnson II, and Solomon Thomas. Against the new-look Jets offense led by veteran QB Geno Smith, who threw 17 interceptions with the Raiders last year, the Titans defense has upside as a streaming sleeper out of the gate in 2026.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Andrei Iosivas Tough to Trust Despite Favorable Matchup
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas opens the year as a starter, but that still does not make him easy to trust in fantasy. Cincinnati lists him with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and Tampa Bay was vulnerable through the air last season, allowing 4,049 net passing yards and 30 passing touchdowns. The matchup is not the problem. The targets are. Iosivas saw 58 targets in 17 games last year and turned them into 33 catches for 435 yards and two touchdowns. Chase and Higgins are both on track to play, so it is hard to project much more than a handful of opportunities unless Cincinnati gets Iosivas involved near the goal line or the game turns pass-heavy. RotoBaller has him at WR81 in its Saturday update. That puts him well outside normal starting range. Managers in deeper leagues can take a shot if they need a receiver from a strong passing offense, but Iosivas is better left on the bench in most formats for Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Brian Robinson has Flex Appeal with Potential Goal-Line Work
Atlanta Falcons running back Brian Robinson will complement Bijan Robinson in the backfield for Sunday's road matchup against the Steelers. That role could be a lucrative one, as last year's RB2 in Atlanta, Tyler Allgeier, racked up eight rushing touchdowns, much to the dismay of Bijan Robinson managers. Though Robinson Jr. had a career-low 400 rushing yards in San Francisco last season, he averaged 776 rushing yards per season from 2022 to 2024 with Washington, despite playing in no more than 15 games during that time, and totaled a career-high eight rush TDs in 2024, so he has legitimate goal-scoring ability. Even so, he projects as more of a low-end flex play this week, with Atlanta (+6) having an implied point total of just 17.5 and potentially needing to lean on the pass later in the contest as they try to play catch-up. The 27-year-old ranks as a low-end flex/RB5 at RotoBaller, but is still one of the top RB handcuffs heading into Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Gunnar Helm has TE2 Streaming Potential in Season Opener Against Jets
Tennessee Titans second-year tight end Gunnar Helm is not going to be considered a TE1 yet in any fantasy football leagues as he begins his second year in the NFL, but there is intriguing potential with the former fourth-rounder from the University of Texas now that Chig Okonkwo is no longer in town in 2026. In 16 games with the Titans as a rookie in 2025 while sharing snaps and targets with Okonkwo, Helm caught 44 of 55 targets for 357 yards and two touchdowns. The 24-year-old will be looking to build on those numbers as a sophomore in a new offense led by coordinator Brian Daboll. The 6-foot-5, 241-pounder gradually took over as Tennessee's primary tight end late last year and has a path to a much bigger year under Daboll, especially if second-year QB Cam Ward can take the necessary steps towards improvement in his second season. In a Week 1 matchup against the New York Jets on Sunday, fantasy managers in deeper two-TE leagues can absolutely use Helm in a starting spot as he looks to get his second season started on the right foot.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Ryan Flournoy A Bench Stash For Week 1
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ryan Flournoy flashed serious potential last season, especially when his teammate, WR CeeDee Lamb, was out with an ankle injury. Aside from a few big games, though, he didn't produce much, as the target competition was simply too fierce. Lamb shares the field with wide receiver George Pickens, one of the best in the NFL, and tight end Jake Ferguson, who's capable of playing well in any given week. Flournoy is more likely the odd man out, though he could see a few games here and there with nice production. It's simply impossible to predict when these might happen, even in good schematic matchups on paper. The New York Giants will face Dallas in Week 1, and their soft pass defense should allow Dallas' receivers plenty of space to get open and make catches. But it will likely be Lamb and Pickens absorbing most of the productive targets for fantasy football. Flournoy is an intriguing start in very deep dynasty leagues, but in typical redraft leagues, it's tough to trust him in starting lineups. He's a bench stash for now.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Brenton Strange Limited to TE2 Status Against Browns
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange may struggle to produce much in fantasy this season, starting with a Week 1 matchup against the Cleveland Browns. Strange has shown signs of being a solid tight end, which the Jaguars also believe, signing him to a three-year contract extension back in June. However, the 25-year-old tight end has lots of target competition from his fellow wide receivers. Parker Washington, Brian Thomas Jr., and Jakobi Meyers all should be heavily involved, and even Travis Hunter, who will primarily be playing cornerback, could be involved a bit as well. Fantasy tight ends need volume to thrive, so things will be difficult for Strange barring injuries. The Jaguars offense provides Strange with some opportunity to produce in fantasy, but in Week 1, he should be viewed as a low-upside TE2 that should only be started in deep TE-premium formats.
Source: Brenton Strange RotoBaller
Source: Brenton Strange RotoBaller
Brandon Aubrey An Elite Fantasy Football Kicker Option For Week 1
Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey is one of the best kickers in the NFL playing on one of the best offenses in the NFL. He was a top-3 ranked kicker in each of his three seasons in the NFL so far, and unless he severely drops off this season, he should remain as one of the best starting options at his position. He did miss a kick in the preseason, but his accuracy remains excellent in the regular season, as he boasts an 88 percent career field goal percentage. He's also made 35 field goals from 50 or more yards out, averaging over 58 fantasy points per season on those field goals alone. The kicker position isn't exactly high-scoring when compared to QB, RB, or WR, but Aubrey deserves a start in all leagues nonetheless. The Cowboys will take on the New York Giants in Week 1. Last season, when the Cowboys debuted against the Giants, Aubrey racked up 23 PPR fantasy points. The fourth-year pro is RotoBaller's No. 1 overall kicker in its half-PPR fantasy football rankings. He's set for a big day against a defense that Dallas has ran the score up on numerous times in recent years.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cam Little Among Top Fantasy Kickers Entering Week 1
Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little has a chance to pick up where he left off last season in a Week 1 matchup with the Cleveland Browns. Little finished as a top-five kicker last year and can easily do so again this season given the potential of the Jacksonville offense. While the Browns do have a solid defense even after losing Myles Garrett, the Jaguars should still have no problem scoring points and, at the very least, getting into field-goal range plenty of times. Little showed last season that field-goal range is a longer range than most after setting the record for the longest kick in NFL history. The combination of elite leg strength and a high-powered offense should make Little an elite fantasy kicker all season. He should start strong in Week 1 against the Browns.
Source: Cam Little RotoBaller
Source: Cam Little RotoBaller
Chris Brooks in the Mix for a Week 1 Role in Green Bay
The Green Bay Packers' backfield is in flux entering their Week 1 season-opening matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, with starting running back Josh Jacobs on the commissioner's exempt list for the foreseeable future due to legal issues. That will give Chris Brooks a bigger opportunity than usual to begin the regular season, but as the likely RB3 behind MarShawn Lloyd and Kaleb Johnson, fantasy managers in deeper leagues probably should not be too excited about using him as a flex to begin the year. The 26-year-old former undrafted free agent from BYU has not seen more than 36 carries in any of his first three seasons in the NFL, combining for 82 rushing attempts for 395 yards and only one rushing touchdown in his 41 games played (zero starts) for the Packers and Miami Dolphins (2023). The best thing going for Brooks is that he has more NFL experience than Lloyd and Johnson combined, but that will not guarantee him a fantasy-relevant role with the Packers in the absence of Jacobs. For now, he remains merely a deep-league bench stash, especially if you have Jacobs rostered as well.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Javonte Williams Set To Resume Workhorse Role In Week 1
Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams is the unquestioned workhorse RB for his team. Last season, he handled a large workload, with 252 carries and 35 receptions in 16 games played. The strength of the team's offensive line and his success with breaking tackles aided him to an RB12 overall finish despite missing one game. He doesn't have a ton of pass-catching upside, but perhaps that could change. The Cowboys released their young RB, Jaydon Blue, earlier in the offseason. And Williams' backup, Malik Davis (hip), requires surgery for an injured hip and will head to the injured reserve list to miss at least four games. RB Emari Demercado will back up Williams now. Demercado has served as a pass-catching back in previous seasons, so Williams could remain mostly in a rushing role, which will keep him as a low-end RB1 for Week 1. The New York Giants have struggled in run defense for many seasons, and while the Cowboys have injuries to starters on the offensive line, Williams' volume should make him a fine start in fantasy leagues at a position of scarcity.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cooper Rush Gets the Start in Week 1, but Tough Matchup Awaits
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush will get the starting nod on Sunday against the Steelers with Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) and Michael Penix Jr. (knee) both ruled out. Rush will have a full complement of offensive weapons at his disposal, including stars Drake London, Bijan Robinson, and Kyle Pitts Sr., but a road matchup against the Steelers could make for a rough afternoon. The Pittsburgh defense was exploitable against the pass in 2025, conceding 244.9 yards per contest, which was fourth-most in the NFL, and 30 passing touchdowns. However, the addition of Jamel Dean in the offseason should help, and a healthy T.J. Watt could make things very uncomfortable for Rush. With the Falcons owning an implied point total of 17.5, second-lowest of any Week 1 contest, the potential for the veteran QB to put up big numbers doesn't look good. With a ranking of QB31 this week at RotoBaller, the 32-year-old signal caller should be avoided in both season-long and DFS if at all possible.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jaguars D/ST Contender for Top Fantasy Unit in Week 1
The Jacksonville Jaguars defense/special teams unit has a chance to be the top option in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns. Deshaun Watson will be the starting quarterback for the Browns, whose offense consists of lots of young and unproven players. The Jaguars D/ST finished among the top in fantasy last season due to their ability to force turnovers. They have a chance to force even more turnovers to start the year in this juicy matchup. The defense was second in turnovers forced last season, while the Browns' offense was third in offensive turnovers. That huge mismatch makes for about as good a combination as you can get for a fantasy defense. The Jaguars D/ST is a must-start in Week 1 and has a clear path to finish as the top unit of the week.
Source: D/ST RotoBaller
Source: D/ST RotoBaller
Dak Prescott Set To Shine In 2026 Debut
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was one of the best draft picks to be made in two-QB and superflex leagues with six-point passing touchdown scoring rules in 2026. He's a highly productive, accurate QB in a very well-designed offense with arguably the best array of pass-catching weapons in the NFL. Wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens rank among the NFL's elite at the position, and WR Ryan Flournoy emerged as a legitimate option last season. Additionally, tight end Jake Ferguson has been productive at times. The offensive line is missing its starting right guard, Tyler Smith (thumb), for their Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants. But Dallas' offensive line has played well, so they should be fine. The Giants have a soft secondary that Prescott should be able to exploit in his season debut. He's a must-start in 2QB leagues and a solid mid-end QB1 in 1QB leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Lions Restructure Amon-Ra St. Brown's Deal
The Detroit Lions restructured the contracts of wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and left tackle Penei Sewell on Saturday to create over $30 million in salary cap space, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. With St. Brown's restructure, $26 million of his salary was converted into a signing bonus, which created $20.8 million in cap space for the next two seasons. The 26-year-old has been a Pro Bowler in each of the last four seasons with the Lions, catching a ridiculous 457 of his 623 targets for 5,340 yards and 39 touchdowns in 66 regular-season starts. He has recorded 1,000 receiving yards in the last four seasons as well, while finding the end zone double-digit times in each of the last three years. St. Brown caught 117 of his 172 targets for 1,401 yards and 11 touchdowns in 17 starts in 2025, and he is one of the safest fantasy football wideouts in the league as he enters his sixth season in 2026 with a Week 1 matchup at home against the New Orleans Saints.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
