September 8, 2025
Washington Commanders rookie running back
Jacory Croskey-Merritt tallied 82 rushing yards and a score on 10 attempts in his NFL debut on Sunday afternoon against the New York Giants. The seventh-round rookie was unable to bring in his lone target. Despite sitting lower on the depth chart to open the game and throughout most of camp, Croskey-Merritt outpaced all Washington running backs in carries and yards. Veteran and presumed starter
Austin Ekeler ran the ball just six times while journeyman Jermey McNichols totaled just four attempts.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. was listed as a healthy scratch. However, Ekeler had a more important role in the passing game, seeing three targets. Even though Croskey-Merritt may see his ceiling limited due to his capped receiving upside, the team appears to already view him as their primary running back in early-down work. As a result, managers should view the Arizona product as a solid RB2 in all leagues heading into a Thursday night matchup against the Green Bay Packers.
--Andy SmithSource: ESPN.com
September 8, 2025
Cleveland Browns rookie tight end
Harold Fannin Jr. saw a team-high nine targets during their Week 1 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. On these targets, Fannin was able to catch seven of them for 63 yards. Even though Fannin opened the season as the team's No. 2 tight end behind veteran
David Njoku, the third-round rookie appears to have a significant role in the team's passing attack. Fannin's nine targets were three more than Njoku's total and one more than both top wide receivers,
Jerry Jeudy and
Cedric Tillman. Fantasy managers should continue to keep a close eye on his usage as Fannin could find a fantasy viable role despite sitting second on the depth chart. For the time being, Fannin should be viewed as a low-end TE1 in deeper 12+ team leagues heading into a Week 2 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
--Andy SmithSource: ESPN.com
September 8, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver
Calvin Austin III enjoyed a breakout game in Week 1 and emerged as the team's No. 2 option in the passing game. During the offseason, Austin was competing for the No. 2 role alongside
Roman Wilson and veterans
Scotty Miller and
Ben Skowronek. However, during the victory over the Jets on Sunday afternoon, Austin was clearly deployed as the second option to
DK Metcalf. In this game, Austin saw six targets (only one fewer than Metcalf) and was able to bring in four of them for 70 yards and a touchdown. The 26-year-old found the back of the end zone in the fourth quarter on an 18-yard pass from
Aaron Rodgers. Seeing Austin receive five more targets than Skowronek, and Wilson not receiving any, suggests that the team views Austin as their No. 2 WR. As a result, managers in 3-WR leagues should look to target him off the waiver wire as he could hold WR3/flex value going forward.
--Andy SmithSource: ESPN.com
September 8, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders running back
Ashton Jeanty's NFL career started with a victory, though his efforts had little to do with the outcome. The Boise State product had 38 rushing yards on 19 carries and two receiving yards on two catches in the Raiders' 20-13 win over the Patriots in their 2025 season opener. Despite the disappointing stat line, fantasy managers should be encouraged by Jeanty's usage. The highly-touted rookie dominated the backfield opportunities, not only taking the lion's share of rushing attempts but finishing with an 86% snap share. Fantasy managers who took a chance on the sixth-overall pick from the NFL Draft might have to wait a bit longer before their investment pays off. Jeanty has a challenging matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2.
--Dan StephensSource: NFL.com
September 8, 2025
Carolina Panthers wide receiver
Tetairoa McMillan finished his NFL regular-season debut with five catches on nine targets for 68 receiving yards in his team's 23-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. It was a modest start to his professional career, but it is worth noting that he led the team in targets, receptions, and receiving yards in Week 1. The rookie nearly pulled in a one-handed touchdown catch near the end of the third quarter, but the defender prevented McMillan from securing the ball as they went to the turf. McMillan and the Panthers will head to Arizona in Week 2 to take on the Cardinals.
--Dan StephensSource: NFL.com
September 8, 2025
Seattle Seahawks running back
Zach Charbonnet hit paydirt early in the second quarter on Sunday to put his team's first points of the 2025 season on the board. Unfortunately for the Seahawks, Charbonnet's touchdown was the only one the team scored in their 17-13 Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. ESPN's Adam Schefter suggested prior to the game that Seattle would lean on Charbonnet more frequently on Sunday than they had in his past two seasons. That was exactly what played out in Week 1, with Charbonnet outsnapping
Kenneth Walker III 30 to 21 and taking the lead in carries and rushing yards, with 12 rushes for 47 yards. Walker's injury history makes Charbonnet a top-tier handcuff, but if this new usage continues, Seattle's backfield might be the latest to produce two stand-alone fantasy producers. The Seahawks are on the road against the Steelers in Week 2.
--Dan StephensSource: NFL.com
September 8, 2025
Carolina Panthers running back
Chuba Hubbard caught the team's lone touchdown in a 23-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. With just under five minutes left in the game, quarterback
Bryce Young hit Hubbard in the flat, and after evading a shoestring tackle, he was able to race up the sideline unchallenged for the 27-yard score. Hubbard had an otherwise unremarkable game, logging 16 carries for 57 rushing yards and turning five targets into three receptions for 32 yards and the trip to the end zone. The one positive is Hubbard's dominance of the Panthers' backfield duties.
Rico Dowdle saw only three carries, and Hubbard outsnapped his new understudy at a 2-to-1 clip. Hubbard and the Panthers will take to the road to face the Cardinals in Week 2.
--Dan StephensSource: NFL.com
September 8, 2025
San Francisco 49ers quarterback
Brock Purdy completed 26 of his 35 pass attempts for 277 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in his team's 17-13 Week 1 win over the Seattle Seahawks. Purdy's first score went to tight end
George Kittle (hamstring) in the first quarter. The second went to Kittle's backup,
Jake Tonges, who secured the go-ahead touchdown with less than two minutes left in the game. Purdy made extensive use of running back
Christian McCaffrey (calf), targeting him 10 times, resulting in nine completions for 73 yards. Unfortunately, Purdy lost the services of both Kittle and
Jauan Jennings (shoulder) during the game. Both pass-catchers will undergo MRIs to determine their availability for what could be a juicy Week 2 matchup against the New Orleans Saints.
--Dan StephensSource: NFL.com
September 7, 2025
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver
Jaxon Smith-Njigba hauled in nine catches for 124 receiving yards in his team's 17-13 Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Smith-Njigba completely dominated targets in the season opener, as he was targeted 13 times by Seahawks quarterback
Sam Darnold out of 23 total pass attempts. Smith-Njigba looked like his team's clear WR1 in his first game playing alongside veteran wide receiver
Cooper Kupp, who was targeted just three times. Smith-Njigba could be on the verge of a superstar breakout and is a must-start fantasy wide receiver.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
September 7, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback
Geno Smith made a big impression in his first game under center for the team, a 20-13 road victory over the New England Patriots. Smith completed 24 of 34 pass attempts for 362 yards, throwing a touchdown and an interception as well. The 34-year-old spread the ball around as well, completing passes to seven different Raiders receivers. If there's any bad news for Smith coming out of Sunday, it's that star tight end
Brock Bowers (knee) left the game in the fourth quarter with a knee injury. Smith's fantasy outlook for his Week 2 matchup at home against the Los Angeles Chargers would be improved if Bowers can play.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
September 7, 2025
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver
Marvin Harrison Jr. recorded five catches on six targets for 71 yards and a touchdown in his team's 20-13 Week 1 victory over the New Orleans Saints. Harrison Jr. led Arizona in receiving yards, but was out-targeted by his teammate, star tight end
Trey McBride (nine). Entering his second season, Harrison Jr. is expected to take a leap after posting modest numbers (relative to expectations) as a rookie in 2024. The touchdown grab is obviously a positive sign, but Harrison Jr.'s 20.7% target share in Week 1 is lower than fantasy managers should be hoping for.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
September 7, 2025
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver
Puka Nacua led the Rams with 10 catches on 11 targets for 130 yards in his team's 14-9 win over the Houston Texans in Week 1. Nacua had an injury scare when a blow to the helmet left his face bloodied and forced him to leave the game, but he was able to return after receiving stitches and passing concussion tests. The 24-year-old led Los Angeles in targets in his first game sharing the field with veteran wide receiver
Davante Adams, who had four catches for 51 yards on eight targets. Nacua looked every bit the part of a dominant fantasy WR1 in Week 1. He'll have an easier matchup next week against the Tennessee Titans.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
September 7, 2025
Arizona Cardinals quarterback
Kyler Murray did not have his most efficient game in Week 1, but he was able to do enough to lead his team to a 20-13 victory over the New Orleans Saints. Murray was 21 of 29 for 163 yards and two touchdowns as a passer and added 38 yards on seven rush attempts. The seven rush attempts could be considered a positive sign for fantasy managers hoping Murray would use his legs more in 2025. Murray rushed more than seven times in a single game just once in 2024. The 28-year-old profiles as a low-end fantasy QB1 and has a favorable matchup next week at home against the Carolina Panthers.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
September 7, 2025
San Francisco 49ers running back
Christian McCaffrey was the central focus of his team's offense in a 17-13 49ers' win over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1. McCaffrey rushed 22 times for 69 yards and caught nine passes for 73 yards, a comforting sign for fantasy managers who might have been worried that a lingering calf issue would lead to San Francisco limiting his touches early in the season. The 49ers lost two offensive weapons in
George Kittle (groin) and
Jauan Jennings (shoulder) during the game. If Kittle and Jennings miss time going forward, San Francisco could be forced to lean on McCaffrey just as heavily in the weeks to come. As long as he's on the field, he's a must-start fantasy running back with game-breaking upside.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
September 7, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars running back
Travis Etienne Jr. had a monster game in his team's 26-10 Week 1 victory over the Carolina Panthers. Etienne Jr. rushed 16 times for 143 yards and added three catches for 13 yards as well. It wasn't clear coming into the season how Jacksonville would split backfield work between running backs Etienne Jr.,
Tank Bigsby,
Bhayshul Tuten, and
LeQuint Allen Jr. However, it was Etienne Jr. who dominated touches in Week 1. His 16 carries were almost double what Jacksonville's other three backs earned combined (nine). Allen Jr. was also the only other Jaguars running back to earn a target, so Etienne Jr. looks like he could be in line for a three-down role. As long as he continues to work in a clear lead role, Etienne Jr. could provide fantasy RB2 production going forward.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
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