RADIO
Baker Mayfield Still a High-Upside Target Despite Week 1 Dip
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield had four turnovers in Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals, leading to an apparent decline in his fantasy stock. However, fantasy managers shouldn't overreact to one bad week, especially when Mayfield has had games like this before. The 31-year-old plays with a level of recklessness, and although it led to three fumbles on Sunday, he's just as capable of harnessing that playing style and dropping three or four touchdowns. He's a high-ceiling, low-floor fantasy quarterback, and he's worth rostering in most leagues simply due to his talent, track record, and strong supporting cast. Dropping a dud game against a subpar Bengals defense is far from ideal, but he should bounce back against an even worse Browns squad in Week 2. He continues to rank as a mid-range QB2 with QB1 upside depending on the matchup. There's rest-of-season appeal here, but he's also a very intriguing short-term streamer.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Elijah Sarratt Ready to Contribute for Ravens
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Elijah Sarratt was a healthy scratch in Week 1, but the rookie could quickly get onto the fantasy radar for Week 2 and beyond. The Ravens' receiver corps was dealt a couple of major injuries on Sunday, headlined by rookie Ja'Kobi Lane suffering a wrist fracture. Star receiver Zay Flowers also picked up a hamstring injury, but he's day-to-day. Regardless of whether Flowers plays in Week 2, Sarratt should be active with Lane sidelined. The Indiana product has an opportunity to produce right away, as Rashod Bateman, LaJohntay Wester, and Devontez Walker leave a lot to be desired in the passing game. Sarratt could easily out-produce any or all of them with just one good game, and he'd quickly find himself second in the wide receiver pecking order behind Flowers. Simply based on upside and potential opportunity alone, Sarratt is an intriguing player to target on the waiver wire in 14+ team leagues, especially for managers who drafted one of Flowers or Lane.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Demarcus Robinson Set to Take Over as No. 3 Receiver
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Demarcus Robinson will jump to No. 3 on the depth chart after teammate De'Zhaun Stribling suffered an ankle sprain. Robinson didn't initially have any fantasy relevance to start the season, but he's suddenly on the fantasy radar after catching two passes for 50 yards and a touchdown when Stribling exited last Thursday. The veteran pass-catcher has never been worth drafting in fantasy leagues, but he has consistently carved out small stints of fantasy relevance because of his reliability as a depth option in the passing game. Being third on the depth chart might not translate to consistent fantasy dominance, but this offense can definitely support him as a low-end WR3/flex on a weekly basis in deeper leagues. Managers in 14+ team leagues should look to add Robinson off waivers, and he even has some appeal in 12+ team formats, especially for managers who drafted Stribling.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Bo Nix Looks Lost in Week 1 Blowout Loss to Chiefs
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix did not look good at all in his first regular-season action since fracturing his ankle in the team's overtime victory over the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round back in January. In the Broncos' 31-10 loss in Kansas City to the division-rival Chiefs in Week 1 on Monday night, Nix struggled to get anything going on offense, going 17-for-28 passing for 131 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He was sacked four times for a loss of 16 yards and ran the ball three times for only two yards gained. This definitely was not how the 26-year-old wanted to get his third year in the NFL started, and it will not get any easier the next two weeks against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2 and the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3. As long as Nix is healthy, though, he will surely bounce back in an offense surrounded by weapons on the ground and through the air. But after his poor Week 1 performance against the Chiefs, fantasy managers will not be in a hurry to use him as a starter in single-QB leagues in Week 2 against the Jags.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Jaylen Waddle a Bust in Broncos Debut, Catches Just One Pass
Denver Broncos prized offseason acquisition, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, fell flat in the team's season-opening loss to the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night in a 31-10 blowout, catching just one of three targets for two yards on the night. Denver's offense, managed by first-time play-caller Davis Webb, looked lost on Monday on the road, with quarterback Bo Nix going 17-for-28 passing for only 131 yards, one touchdown, and an interception. The 27-year-old dropped one of his three targets on a third down that would have been converted had he hung onto the ball. The Broncos will surely be looking to get the 27-year-old former sixth overall pick in 2021 the ball early and often as they look to bounce back in another tough matchup in Week 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Despite the tough showing in his Broncos debut, fantasy managers should be keeping Waddle in their starting lineups this week in what could turn into a shootout. Savvy fantasy managers will want to consider buying low on Waddle after his Week 1 dud.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Travis Kelce Leads Kansas City Pass-Catchers In Week 1 Win
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was the leader of the team's passing attack in Monday night's win over the Denver Broncos. The veteran tight end finished with three catches for 71 yards, most of which came on a 59-yard reception. Kelce showed he still has the explosiveness to break off a big play in the open field when given the chance. It should be noted that Patrick Mahomes only completed 15 passes, and none of the Chiefs' pass-catchers had more than three receptions in the game. Despite the low passing volume, the Kansas City offense still put up 31 points against the tough Broncos defense, which is a testament to the team's revamped run game led by Kenneth Walker. If Kansas City can lean on their run game and defense, the team's overall passing volume could decrease. Less volume would mean fewer opportunities for Kelce to produce, but it may lead to increased efficiency. Kelce will look to keep rolling heading into his Week 2 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts defense is not a unit to shy away from, so Kelce should have no issues producing with his opportunities against them. Fantasy managers could continue to view Kelce as a low-end TE1 option heading into Week 2.
Source: NFL - Twitter
Source: NFL - Twitter
Rashee Rice Finds The End Zone Against Denver
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice caught two passes for 19 yards and a touchdown in the 31-10 win over the Denver Broncos. It was hardly the WR1 performance we've grown accustomed to seeing from Rice, but the dynamic of the Chiefs offense has changed, and Rice himself is returning from an injury. Kansas City ran the ball 38 times compared to 27 pass attempts from Patrick Mahomes. The acquisition of running back Kenneth Walker appears to have shifted the offensive game plan for Kansas City, which could affect Rice's upside moving forward. The fact that the Chiefs were able to have the offensive performance they did against the Broncos defense could mean that leaning run-heavy is a viable option for the team. Despite finding pay dirt, Rice also finished tied for fourth on the team in targets. The 26-year-old will look to bounce back in Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts. The Indianapolis defense just allowed 41 points to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1, so it may not be a tough matchup for Rice. Fantasy managers should feel cautiously optimistic about placing Rice back into their lineups for Week 2.
Source: NFL - Twitter
Source: NFL - Twitter
Kenneth Walker Explodes For 191 Yards In Week 1 Victory
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker put up a historic performance in his Kansas City debut. Walker handled 23 carries for 173 yards and a score in the 31-10 win over the Denver Broncos. The star back also caught three passes for 18 yards and another touchdown. Walker accounted for 191 total yards of offense in the Monday night rout. The Broncos offense totaled 176 yards on the night, so Walker was able to outgain them all on his own. It was a perfect debut for his new team as Walker broke off several breakaway runs, including a 60-yard score. All this production came against one of the strongest defensive units in the NFL, so it remains to be seen what kind of stat lines he'll put up against lesser squads. Walker will look to repeat this performance next week against the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts' defense was middle-of-the-pack in points allowed last season, so the Chiefs should have no trouble moving the ball. Walker should be viewed as a rock solid RB1 heading into Week 2 after this impressive game.
Source: NFL - Twitter
Source: NFL - Twitter
Patrick Mahomes Proves Doubters Wrong In Week 1
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed 15 of 27 pass attempts (56%) for 184 yards and two touchdowns in the 31-10 blowout win over the Denver Broncos. Mahomes also took two sacks and threw one interception in the contest. The storyline surrounding Mahomes has been his knee returning from an ACL injury, but he put those doubts to rest early. Mahomes scrambled for a 15-yard touchdown in the first quarter for the first score of the game. The star QB finished the game with seven rushes for 23 yards, but that stat line is skewed due to several kneel-downs in the final minutes of the game. Mahomes finished the week as a top-10 QB for fantasy, so he could be a reliable option moving forward. The 30-year-old will take on the Indianapolis Colts at home in Week 2. The Colts defense allowed the 12th-most points to opposing offenses in 2025, and the Chiefs just mowed down the touted Broncos defense, so Mahomes could be in for another good fantasy performance next week. Fantasy managers should be excited about the prospect of a healthy Mahomes for the 2026 season.
Source: NFL - Twitter
Source: NFL - Twitter
Jaylin Noel Offers Deep-League Stash Value
Houston Texans wide receiver Jaylin Noel was all over the field during Sunday's Week 1 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Noel only played 24 of 79 offensive snaps at wideout, but he was still able to make an impact. He secured both his targets for 53 yards in the loss. He also had three kickoff returns for 70 yards, but that doesn't help fantasy managers in every league. It seems that Noel is going to be the fourth wideout on this roster, which will hurt his overall value. However, Noel has the ability to make big plays when called upon, which makes him an interesting deep league stash candidate in case another wide receiver goes down with an injury.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Dylan Sampson is Expected to Miss Significant Time with Knee Injury
Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson (knee) was seen using crutches following Sunday's Week 1 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. According to Jeremy Fowler, Sampson is expected to miss significant time due to the knee injury he suffered on Sunday. Fantasy managers will likely need to wait until later in the week for a better timetable. The Browns aren't required to provide any update until the injury report is released on Wednesday. His absence will mean an uptick in value for Quinshon Judkins, while Raheim Sanders figures to handle the backup duties going forward. Fantasy managers should check back later in the week for a better timetable on Sampson.
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Brenton Strange is Gaining Steam After Scoring in Season Opener
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange is coming off a relatively quiet game in Week 1. Strange didn't do much in terms of receptions or yardage, but salvaged his fantasy value with a touchdown. He caught two of his three targets for 23 yards, including a 14-yard score in the second quarter. Strange is the clear No. 1 tight end in this high-profile passing offense, which could be good news for fantasy managers. He recorded a career-high 540 receiving yards this past season and is being slept on in fantasy leagues. Strange isn't an elite option, but he profiles as a solid TE2 on a weekly basis.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Chris Bell Could Emerge as Stash Option
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Chris Bell made his NFL debut against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. The Dolphins selected Bell in the third round during this year's draft. He's expected to be a significant part of the offense during his first year in Miami. On Sunday, Bell got off to a slow start as he didn't record his first catch until the third quarter. He finished the day, hauling in one 25-yard pass on three targets in the loss to the Raiders. The good news is that Bell played over 50 percent of the offensive snaps on Sunday. He didn't make a ton of noise in his debut, but it sounds like he's going to see steady playing time. Fantasy managers in deep leagues should consider stashing Bell for later in the season. He'll get a tough test against the San Francisco 49ers defense in Week 2.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Mansoor Delane is Questionable to Return with Shoulder Injury
Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Mansoor Delane (shoulder) is questionable to return during Monday's game against the Denver Broncos, Nate Taylor reports. Delane landed on his right shoulder after intercepting a pass during the first quarter of Monday's game. He remained on the sideline for the second drive of the game. Delane was dealing with a shoulder injury during OTAs, so he might've re-aggravated it on Monday. His absence could mean more snaps for Kristian Fulton, Nohl Williams, and Christian Roland-Wallace.
Source: Nate Taylor
Source: Nate Taylor
Drew Brees Considered Playing for Broncos in AFC Championship
Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees considered coming out of retirement in January to rejoin former head coach Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Starting QB Bo Nix (ankle) was sidelined with a fractured ankle in the overtime win over the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round, forcing backup Jarrett Stidham into action in the AFC Championship, a game that the Broncos lost 10-7 in a snowstorm. Previous offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and offensive assistant Pete Carmichael had discussions with Brees about him coming out of retirement to play in the game. Brees wanted to first work out to see how his body responded, but he quickly felt discomfort in his wrist and quickly nixed what would have been one of the most improbable returns in NFL history. Lombardi and Carmichael did not include Payton or inform him about their initial conversations with Brees. Stidham struggled in place of Nix, going 17-for-31 passing for 133 yards, one touchdown, and one interception while also losing a fumble.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
