RADIO
Jake Ferguson A Risky Start In Week 1
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson was one of the best in the NFL last season in the games that his teammate, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, missed due to injury. This year, Ferguson is the third option, at best, in a passing offense that features two elite wideouts -- Lamb and teammate George Pickens. Those two deserve at least 10 targets a game between them, depending on who you ask. Additionally, WR Ryan Flournoy has drawn praise from film reviewers, and played quite well last season. He could carve out a bigger role in this offense. Ferguson may be the odd man out, and in fantasy football, upside wins championships. From Week 8 onward in 2025, Ferguson averaged under 7.0 PPR fantasy points per game. The New York Giants tend to allow a lot of fantasy points to opposing pass-catchers, but outside of dynasty TE-premium leagues, Ferguson is a risky player to start.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
CeeDee Lamb A Mid-To-Low-End WR1 In Week 1
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb has only finished as a WR7 or higher once in his career in the NFL. He's one of the NFL's best route-runners, especially on short and intermediate length routes, but the presence of another elite wideout on the team, George Pickens, nerfs his upside. Lamb should still be heavily targeted, but it's reasonable to temper expectations. Lamb scored just three touchdowns in 14 games last season while Pickens hauled in nine in his 17 games. Some TD regression is reasonable, though. In his last fully healthy season, No. 88 caught 12 TD passes. He may need a lot of targets to get to that point, though, and with Pickens on the field, Lamb probably won't reach his target numbers from seasons past. Still, a matchup with a soft New York Giants coming up, Lamb should produce well now that he's fully healthy. Start him in all leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
George Pickens A Borderline WR1 In Week 1
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens proved he was one of the best overall wideouts in the NFL in 2025. His production certainly benefited from the injury to elite WR teammate CeeDee Lamb, but even when both were on the field, Pickens clearly looked like and produced like the better receiver. This season, Lamb should be fully healthy from his ankle sprain last season, so perhaps he presents more of a challenge to Pickens' dominance. Still, the Cowboys have one of the best passing offenses in the NFL, and it's capable of supporting two high-end fantasy football producers. Pickens is healthy, and has been monstrously difficult to defend in contested catch situations and downfield targets. He has fantastic hands and top-tier concentration and strength at the catch point. Pickens is a must-start in all fantasy leagues for Week 1 against the New York Giants, who have had trouble with their pass defense for many seasons now.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kyle Pitts Sr. Looking Like a Risky Low-End TE1 in Week 1
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. had a fantastic 2025 campaign in which he set career highs in targets (118), receptions (88), and touchdowns (five) while totaling 928 receiving yards, finishing as the TE2 overall despite the likes of Michael Penix Jr. (knee) and Kirk Cousins at the helm. This Sunday, with both Penix and Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) sitting out, Cooper Rush will be under center, so expectations for the former first-rounder should be tempered. The Falcons will take on the Steelers on the road this Sunday, and if Pittsburgh had a glaring vulnerability in 2025, it was against opposing TEs, yielding 11 touchdowns to them, which was second-most in the NFL. Still, even though Pitts figures to be the second or third option in the passing attack, with the downgrade at quarterback, the 25-year-old looks like a low-ceiling, low-floor TE1 this week.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Justice Hill To Have Limited Role In Week 1
Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill won the backup running back job to Derrick Henry, but his role will be limited with Henry starting the season healthy in Week 1. Hill has shown nice change of pace in the backfield in the past and can catch passes out of the backfield, but with Henry healthy, the bellcow should have a stranglehold on carries in the Ravens' backfield. Hill has big-play explosiveness but he just isn't likely to get a heavy share of carries or targets out of the backfield early on in the season. He is more than capable as a backup back and is worth holding onto in fantasy leagues as a down-the-road target but during the time that Henry is healthy, Hill should have little-to-no consistent role in the offense.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Odell Beckham Jr. to Have Opportunities in Giants Homecoming
Legendary New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. returns to the Big Apple as the Giants face the Dallas Cowboys. Beckham made the 53-man roster after a strong training camp and will play his first game with the Giants since 2018. In his last NFL stint in 2024, Beckham played just nine games, catching nine of 18 targets for 55 yards and no touchdowns. While he hasn't produced enough to be fantasy-relevant, Beckham will have a role in Week 1. Malik Nabers (knee) is questionable, while Darnell Mooney and rookie Malachi Fields are the only other receivers ahead of Beckham on the depth chart. He also faces a Cowboys defense that allowed the most fantasy points to wide receivers last season. While he's not a starting option for fantasy managers in Week 1, Beckham will have opportunities in his homecoming.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Isaiah Likely a Strong Starting Option Against Cowboys
New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely is set to make his debut in Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys. Likely signed a three-year, $40 million contract with the Giants this offseason, reuniting with former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh in New York. During his time in Baltimore, he had 135 receptions for 1,568 yards and 15 touchdowns in 63 games as the backup tight end behind Mark Andrews. Likely has been a key part of the Giants' offense throughout training camp, leading the team in receiving with star Malik Nabers (knee) missing most of camp. If Nabers is inactive or has a limited snap count in Week 1, Likely has a legitimate shot to be the team's leading receiver against the Cowboys' defense, which allowed the most passing yards in the NFL last season. Likely profiles as a low-end TE1 in the season opener and should be a solid starting option.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Malachi Fields a Player to Watch in Week 1
New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malachi Fields makes his NFL debut on Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys. Fields was drafted with the 74th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and has made an impact throughout training camp, including a 15-yard touchdown pass in the opening preseason game from starting quarterback Jaxson Dart. With veteran Darius Slayton released, Fields and Darnell Mooney are expected to rotate as WR2. However, with Malik Nabers (knee) questionable for Week 1, Fields could have a major role if Nabers is inactive or sees limited snaps. He faces a Cowboys secondary that allowed the most fantasy points to wide receivers in 2025. While he's too deep to start in Week 1, fantasy managers should monitor his usage, as he could be a priority Week 1 waiver add.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ja'Kobi Lane Could Make Big Plays in Ravens Offense in Week 1
Baltimore Ravens rookie wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane is poised to line up opposite Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman but he still could be very involved in the Week 1 game plan for the Ravens in their matchup against Indianapolis. He could see Colts' defensive backs Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward in matchups but the 6-foot-4, 200 pound rookie could be a matchup nightmare on the outside. The targets might not be plentiful in Week 1 for Lane but look for him to make the most of his throws from Lamar Jackson. He could work as a nice change of pace threat with Derrick Henry running the ball and Flowers using his speed on deep routes. Lane has the tools to make plays in the NFL, but Week 1 will be the first chance many get to see his big-play ability. Look for a big play or two at least in his NFL debut.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Bijan Robinson an Elite Option with Expected Heavy Workload
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson is coming off a strong 2025 campaign in which he finished as the No. 4 running back in fantasy despite seeing his rushing touchdowns go from 14 the year before to just seven last season. That is because of a major uptick in usage in the passing game, nearly doubling his receiving yardage total (820) while setting career highs in targets (103) and receptions (79); he also added four touchdown receptions. The former first-round draft pick will square off with the Pittsburgh defense on Sunday, a unit that was middle of the road in terms of yardage totals against the run in 2025, yielding 115.9 rush yards/game and 31.4 receiving yards/game to opposing running backs. However, they held opposing running backs to a league-low five rushing TDs and allowed just two receiving TDs to backs. Even so, Robinson is an elite workhorse back who should be heavily involved on Sunday, especially with third-stringer Cooper Rush under center for the Falcons. RotoBaller ranks the 24-year-old as the No. 2 running back this week, so fantasy managers are, of course, firing him up without hesitation.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Limit Expectations for Malik Nabers if Active in Week 1
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) is questionable to play in Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys. Nabers tore his ACL in Week 4 of the 2025 season after starting the season with 271 yards and two touchdowns in the first three games. He has fully participated in practice this week and has reportedly been cleared by the medical staff, but whether he's ready to play remains up in the air. If he's active, a limited snap count is likely, complicating matters for fantasy managers who roster the third-year receiver. He faces a Cowboys secondary that ranked last in yards, touchdowns, and fantasy points allowed to wide receivers last season. This secondary has struggled against Nabers, allowing 29 receptions for 351 yards and two touchdowns in only three meetings. Despite the ideal matchup, fantasy managers should lower expectations, as a slow start is possible given the extent of his 2025 injury.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jets D/ST Carries Sack Upside in Tennessee
The New York Jets defense/special teams gets a favorable sack matchup in Sunday's opener at Tennessee. Titans quarterback Cam Ward was sacked 55 times as a rookie in 2025, giving New York a clear path to fantasy production even after the Jets finished last season with only 26 sacks. Takeaways are less certain. Ward threw just seven interceptions, while the Jets remarkably failed to record an interception of their own in 2025. New York also enters the opener without edge rusher Joseph Ossai, who has been ruled out with a foot injury. Still, the matchup against Tennessee's pass protection has pushed the Jets to D/ST10 in RotoBaller's weekend rankings. They are a viable low-end starting defense for Week 1, especially for managers streaming the position.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Drake London a Low-End WR1 After Downgrade at Quarterback
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London is the clear-cut No. 1 option in the Atlanta passing attack, as he averaged over nine targets and almost six catches per game last season, even with some pretty rough quarterback play. That will unfortunately be the case again in Week 1, with both Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) and Michael Penix Jr. (knee) ruled out for Sunday's road matchup against the Steelers, with career backup QB Cooper Rush handling starting duties. In 2025, Pittsburgh was much more vulnerable against the pass than they were against the run, allowing the fourth-most passing yards per game (244.9), but it should be an improved unit with the offseason acquisition of Jamel Dean and with a healthy T.J. Watt. Nevertheless, the Falcons could be forced to throw as they play from behind as six-point underdogs, and London should continue to get his fair share of looks, especially in the red zone. The 6-foot-4 receiver led the receiving corps with 15 red zone targets last year despite playing in only 12 of 17 games. The 25-year-old ranks as a borderline WR1 at RotoBaller this week, and fantasy managers are starting him in season-long leagues, but he makes for a risky DFS play.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Mason Taylor Faces Crowded Tight End Picture in Week 1
New York Jets tight end Mason Taylor enters his second season after catching 44 of 65 targets for 369 yards and one touchdown across 13 games as a rookie. Taylor remains in position to start, but the Jets added first-round pick Kenyon Sadiq and still have Jeremy Ruckert in the rotation. Sadiq practiced fully this week after dealing with a groin injury, giving New York another athletic option in the passing game. Garrett Wilson's return also restores the clear top target for new quarterback Geno Smith. Taylor averaged only 8.4 yards per reception last season, so he needs either more volume or more scoring opportunities to become a dependable fantasy option. RotoBaller ranks Taylor TE42 for Week 1. He is best left out of standard lineups, including most two-tight-end formats, until the Jets show how the routes and targets will be divided.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Adonai Mitchell Begins Week 1 as a Deep-League Flex
New York Jets wide receiver Adonai Mitchell opens 2026 with a starting role opposite Garrett Wilson after catching 24 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns in eight games with New York last season. Wilson's return changes the target hierarchy, but Mitchell has had a full offseason in Frank Reich's offense and now gets Geno Smith at quarterback. Tennessee allowed 30 passing touchdowns and 8.2 yards per attempt in 2025, giving Mitchell some big-play appeal even with Robert Saleh now leading the Titans. Rookie Omar Cooper Jr. adds another option to the receiver room, and Mitchell still has to show how consistently he can earn targets alongside Wilson. RotoBaller ranks him WR63 for Week 1. He is a deeper-league FLEX consideration, but standard-league managers can afford to wait for a clearer picture of his role.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
