September 8, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders tight end
Michael Mayer recorded four catches for 38 yards in his team's 20-13 Week 1 victory over the New England Patriots. The third-year tight end played 40 out of 63 (63.5%) of his team's offensive plays. Additionally, fellow Raiders tight end
Brock Bowers (knee) left the game in the fourth quarter with a knee injury, although Bowers told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero that he expects to be fine. If Bowers were to miss time, Mayer would be a clear waiver-wire target for fantasy managers. Even with Bowers healthy, it appears that Mayer will have a role in the Raiders' offense, although it's unlikely to lead to consistent fantasy relevance.
--Will BradySource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
September 8, 2025
Houston Texans wide receiver
Xavier Hutchinson recorded two catches on two targets for 30 yards in his team's 14-9 Week 1 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Notably, Hutchinson played the second-most snaps of any Texans wide receiver, behind only
Nico Collins. If veteran wideout
Christian Kirk (hamstring) remains sidelined for Houston's Week 2 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Hutchinson could be a decent waiver-wire pickup for fantasy managers this week. Still, it's worth noting that despite playing more snaps, Hutchinson was out-targeted in Week 1 by rookie wide receiver
Jayden Higgins as well as both Texans tight ends,
Dalton Schultz and
Cade Stover.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
September 8, 2025
Arizona Cardinals running back
James Conner did not have an efficient game, but did score a touchdown in his team's 20-13 Week 1 victory over the New Orleans Saints. Conner rushed for 39 yards on 12 attempts and added four catches for five yards and a touchdown as a receiver. Notably, second-year Cardinals running back
Trey Benson was much more successful as a rusher, finishing with 69 yards on eight carries. Arizona may feature Benson more heavily in 2025, especially given that Conner is now 30 years old. The veteran still figures to be his team's goal-line back, but the workload split between Conner and Benson is one for fantasy managers to monitor closely in the coming weeks.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
September 8, 2025
Denver Broncos wide receiver
Courtland Sutton recorded six catches for 61 yards and a touchdown in his team's 20-12 Week 1 victory over the Tennessee Titans. Sutton led Denver in targets with nine and looked like the clear number one option for Broncos quarterback
Bo Nix. If there's cause for concern for Sutton going forward, it's that Nix did not play well in Week 1. The second-year quarterback averaged just 4.4 yards per pass attempt and threw two picks on Sunday. Still, Sutton put up a solid fantasy day nonetheless and should be considered a fantasy WR2.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
September 8, 2025
The San Francisco 49ers have signed right tackle Colton McKivitz to a three-year, $45 million extension with $27 million guaranteed, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. McKivitz just began his sixth season with the team and took over as a starter in 2023. He is now under contract with San Francisco through 2028. Between McKivitz and second-year right guard Dominick Puni, the 49ers now have stability on the right side of their offensive line for years to come.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
September 8, 2025
Indianapolis Colts first-round tight end
Tyler Warren looked very sharp in his first career NFL game on Sunday, hauling in seven of nine targets for 76 yards and leading the Colts in targets and receptions on the afternoon. The Colts' offense looked great against the Miami Dolphins as they went on to win 33-8 in what was an absolute blowout for the Colts in their home opener. Warren appeared to have an excellent rapport with quarterback
Daniel Jones. If Week 1 is any indication of his career, fantasy managers are going to be excited that they drafted Warren later in drafts. The Colts drafted Warren 14th overall with their first-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft, and Warren should remain a reliable option in all formats, especially in PPR formats, ahead of a Week 2 matchup against the Denver Broncos.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: ESPN
September 8, 2025
Baltimore Ravens All-Pro running back
Derrick Henry was absolutely dominant in the Ravens' 41-40 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football. Henry rushed for 169 yards on 18 carries and added one reception for 13 yards. His two touchdown scores were from 30 yards out in the second quarter and 46 yards out in the fourth quarter. Henry also suffered the lowlight of Sunday's contest when he coughed up a fumble on Baltimore's second-to-last drive, allowing the Bills to score a touchdown with just under two minutes remaining to close the gap to 40-38. Most importantly for fantasy managers, the 31-year-old showed zero signs of slowing down or falling off because of his age, and he conceded three total carries to fellow running backs
Justice Hill and
Rasheen Ali. Wide receiver
Zay Flowers had a few end-arounds, and
Lamar Jackson attempted six rushes, but nothing threatening towards Henry's workload is a positive sign for fantasy managers. Up next is a date with the Cleveland Browns, who looked good defensively in Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Henry will remain an RB1 heading into Week 2.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: ESPN
September 8, 2025
Baltimore Ravens superstar quarterback
Lamar Jackson played phenomenally on Sunday night against the Buffalo Bills, completing 14 of 19 passes for 209 yardsa and two passing touchdowns while adding 70 yards on the ground on six rushing attempts and a rushing touchdown. Unfortunately for the Ravens, it wasn't enough to walk away with the victory as the Bills came from behind to win 41-40 in what was an epic battle of two AFC contenders. If
Derrick Henry hadn't broken off long runs all night and totaled 169 rushing yards, Jackson's evening could have been more productive. A handful of the Ravens' drives were just three or four-play drives where Henry scored on 30-plus-yard touchdown runs. Regardless, Jackson remains a high-end QB1 for fantasy managers, and those who paid a premium to get him are already reaping the rewards. Next up for Jackson is a home game against the Cleveland Browns, where he remains a top option at the QB position.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: ESPN
September 8, 2025
Second-year receiver for the Buffalo Bills out of Florida State,
Keon Coleman, led the Bills' receiving room in targets, receptions, and receiving yards on Sunday in the Bills' 41-40 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football. Coleman was selected by the Bills in 2024 as their 33rd overall pick and struggled a bit in his rookie season, hauling in only 29 catches on 57 targets for 556 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Sunday night, however, Coleman splashed onto the scene and will likely be one of the most popular waiver wire pickups heading into Week 2. He hauled in an impressive eight of 11 targets for 112 yards and one receiving touchdown. Although his 10-yard touchdown was a ball that was deflected into his lap, he still led a potent offense in all three major categories (targets, receptions, and yards), and Allen appeared to feel comfortable firing balls his way in crucial moments of the game. Although Coleman isn't nearing must-start territory, he is worth a look if he's on your waiver wire heading into Week 2.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: ESPN
September 8, 2025
Buffalo Bills star quarterback
Josh Allen threw on his Superman cape on Sunday night as he led the Bills to a come-from-behind win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football, leading a drive with a minute and 26 seconds on the clock to get into field-goal range to hit a walk-off field goal as time expired. Allen led the charge on Sunday in true leader fashion, going 33 of 46 for 394 yards and two passing touchdowns, while also adding 30 yards on the ground over 14 carries with two rushing touchdowns. Allen spread the wealth, targeting
Keon Coleman 11 times,
Khalil Shakir and
Josh Palmer nine times,
James Cook five times, and
Dalton Kincaid four times. Essentially, Allen made every playmaker on the Bills offense a viable fantasy option. The 2024 MVP is picking up right where he left off last year, proving to everyone in a prime-time game why the Bills are serious contenders and why he won the MVP last season. He remains a high-end QB1 that fantasy managers can rely on on a week-to-week basis.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: ESPN
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
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