RADIO
Mike Gesicki Leads Bengals In Week 1 Win
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki caught five passes for 78 yards and a touchdown in the 33-27 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Gesicki stepped up to the plate in a big way in the season opener, finishing with the most receptions, targets, and receiving yards on the team. Despite being entrenched in a deep tight end room in Cincinnati, Gesicki was able to make his mark. Star receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins combined for fewer receiving yards than Gesicki in an outstanding Week 1 performance. Fantasy managers may want to consider adding Gesicki heading into his Week 2 matchup against the Houston Texans. The Texans are a tough matchup, but most of the defensive focus should be on the wide receivers and star running back Chase Brown. Gesicki could establish himself as a sneaky TE option moving forward, but fantasy managers may need to see some consistency out of him before plugging him into lineups.
Source: NFL - Twitter
Source: NFL - Twitter
Colston Loveland a Bust in Week 1 vs. Panthers
The Chicago Bears rallied for a 59-37 win against the Carolina Panthers in Week 1, but tight end Colston Loveland had no impact on his team's efforts to start the season with a W. The 2025 first-round draft pick was expected to have a strong outing in Sunday's season debut and shoulder a heavy workload as Chicago's TE1. However, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams targeted him just twice against Carolina, and Loveland failed to make either catch. Meanwhile, veteran tight end Cole Kmet, who is listed behind Loveland on the depth chart, caught two of three targets for 35 yards and scored a touchdown. Receivers Rome Odunze, Kalif Raymond, and Luther Burden III all factored into Sunday's victory. Loveland had 58 catches for 713 yards and six touchdowns in 2025 and was a projected TE2 heading into the new season, but his slow start in 2026 proved to be a Week 1 fantasy bust.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Joe Burrow Gets It Going On The Ground In Week 1 Win
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow completed 25 of 35 pass attempts (71.4%) for 254 yards and a touchdown in the 33-27 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Burrow was also sacked once and threw one interception in this contest. The Bengals quarterback also showed off the legs with five carries for 20 yards. That rushing total would've been a season-high for him in 2025. While fantasy managers should be excited about the prospect of some rushing upside for Burrow, he may be better suited protecting himself for his health's sake. Despite the box score showing 33 points on the board for Cincinnati, Burrow only accounted for one score. The Bengals defense found the end zone and kicker Evan McPherson accounted for 15 of the total points. Burrow will look to increase the passing volume in next week's matchup against the Houston Texans. The Texans defense is one of the toughest in the league, but the prolific Bengals offense should be able to get things done against them. Burrow should be considered a QB1 heading into Week 2 despite his diminished fantasy output against the Buccaneers.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Josh Allen's Late-Game Heroics Push Bills Past Texans
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen finished Week 1 with 334 passing yards and two touchdowns, including a deep pass with under two minutes to play that lifted his team to a 36-31 victory against the host Houston Texans. The home team took a 31-30 lead with 6:44 left to play on a 58-yard field goal by Ka'imi Fairbairn. Buffalo responded with Josh Palmer catching Allen's 34-yard pass with 1:36 left in the game. Allen, who turned 30 in the offseason, also hit DJ Moore for a 43-yard touchdown in the first half, and added two rushing touchdowns to his tally for the day. The four-time Pro Bowl selection looks to build on a 2025 campaign in which he completed a career-high 69.3% of his passes for 3,668 yards and a 25:10 TD:INT ratio. Allen remains a must-start as Buffalo starts the season in the win column.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Derrick Henry Opens Season with Three TDs vs. Colts
Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry had 24 carries for 144 yards and three touchdowns in a dominant 41-23 performance against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1. Henry gave Baltimore its first big lead of the game in the first quarter when he rushed for four yards to give the Ravens a 14-6 lead. He added to the tally with a 32-yard run with 5:04 remaining in the half to give the visitors a 28-6 advantage. The 32-year-old veteran had 307 carries for 1,595 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2025, and he remains a leader for the Ravens' offense alongside quarterback Lamar Jackson, even as the team went through significant changes in the offseason. Sunday's showdown in Indianapolis reiterates that Henry is a fantasy juggernaut week in and week out. He is a locked-in RB1 across fantasy formats.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Ja'Marr Chase Disappoints In Week 1 Win
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase had two catches for 12 yards on four targets in the 33-27 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Chase was uncharacteristically uninvolved in the offense and the Bengals still managed to snag a win. Chase was the fourth-most targeted Bengal, trailing Mike Gesicki, Tee Higgins, and Chase Brown. It may be relevant to note that despite not entering the game with an injury designation, Chase was listed DNP in Friday's practice. It remains to be seen if the knee issue had anything to do with his abnormal performance in Week 1. If all is well, Chase should be considered a massive bounce-back candidate for Week 2 against the Houston Texans. The Texans were one of the best defenses in the NFL last season, but the Buffalo Bills were able to drop 36 points against them in Week 1, so Cincinnati may be able to do the same. Chase should still be considered a must-start WR1 heading into Week 2, despite the disappointing season debut.
Source: Bengals.com
Source: Bengals.com
Ja'Kobi Lane Ruled Out With Wrist Injury in Debut vs. Colts
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane (wrist) was ruled out for the remainder of his team's Week 1 tilt against the Indianapolis Colts, Ian Rapoport reported via the X platform on Sunday. Lane had one reception for 11 yards in the first half of Sunday's game, and it is unclear exactly when he sustained the wrist injury. It's a massive blow for the 22-year-old out of USC, who is looking to climb the depth chart in Baltimore's Zay Flowers-led receiving corps. He was in line to see more targets from Lamar Jackson with Flowers also being sidelined in Week 1, but it isn't clear yet how severe his wrist injury is. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on the Ravens' receivers, as injuries appear to be mounting. RotoBaller lists Lane at WR78 in the positional rankings, and his fantasy impact remains unclear since his NFL debut was cut short.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Zay Flowers Ruled Out With Hamstring Injury
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (hamstring) has been ruled out for the remainder of the game against the Indianapolis Colts, according to Jamison Hensley. Flowers finishes with five catches for 150 yards and a touchdown, all of it coming before halftime. Baltimore is down Ja'Kobi Lane as well, leaving Rashod Bateman as the top remaining receiver. Chris Moore and LaJohntay Wester could also get more work the rest of the way.
Source: Jamison Hensley
Source: Jamison Hensley
Jalen Tolbert Inactive Ahead of Week 1 Rumble vs. Raiders
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jalen Tolbert was a healthy scratch ahead of his team's Week 1 road game against the Raiders in Las Vegas. The fifth-year wideout enters his first season with the Dolphins after spending his first four years with the Dallas Cowboys, amassing 91 receptions for 1,093 yards and 10 touchdowns. Tolbert was expected to be one of new starting quarterback Malik Willis' favorite targets ahead of training camp, but rookie Caleb Douglas surpassed him on the depth chart by the end of preseason play. Malik Washington and Chris Bell are expected to be top targets as the season gets underway, while running back De'Von Achane leads what is expected to be a run-heavy offense in 2026. Tolbert is still a stash candidate in dynasty leagues, but Sunday's healthy scratch confirms he isn't a weekly fantasy asset in redraft formats to start the season.
Source: Miami Dolphins vs. X.com
Source: Miami Dolphins vs. X.com
Treylon Burks Inactive Ahead of Week 1 Battle vs. Eagles
Washington Commanders wide receiver Treylon Burks was listed as inactive shortly before his team's Week 1 tilt against the host Philadelphia Eagles, the team reported via the X platform. The 26-year-old dealt with foot soreness during training camp, but it hasn't yet been confirmed if that is the reason he isn't playing in Sunday's game. The former first-round pick played just eight games in 2025 after fracturing his collarbone in the offseason, and finished the campaign with 10 receptions for 130 yards and one touchdown. The Commanders' receiving room has gotten crowded thanks to the addition of Stefon Diggs, who is expected to get plenty of playing time opposite Terry McLaurin this year. Burks' absence from Sunday's game in Philadelphia further reinforces that he doesn't produce enough weekly fantasy volume to be a reliable asset in redraft leagues.
Source: Washington Commanders via X.com
Source: Washington Commanders via X.com
Jeremiyah Love Active for NFL Debut
Arizona Cardinals rookie first-round running back Jeremiyah Love (ankle) is officially active against the Los Angeles Chargers. The rookie had been questionable after missing nearly a month with a high ankle sprain, but he returned to practice this week and will make his NFL debut. The bigger question is how much work Love gets right away. Tyler Allgeier is listed ahead of him on Arizona's depth chart and should remain involved, so fantasy managers may want to temper expectations for Love in his first regular-season game.
Source: Arizona Cardinals
Source: Arizona Cardinals
Omar Cooper Jr. Ruled Out With Ankle Injury
New York Jets wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. (ankle) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans. Cooper caught one pass for 30 yards before leaving with the injury. Isaiah Williams could see more work behind Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell with Cooper done for the afternoon, while Arian Smith is another option for additional snaps.
Source: Al Iannazzone
Source: Al Iannazzone
Courtland Sutton a Risky Flex for Week 1
Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton is still usable Monday night against Kansas City, but he is no longer an automatic fantasy start. Sutton caught 74 passes for 1,017 yards and seven touchdowns last season, though Denver has since added Jaylen Waddle to a receiving room that also includes a rising Pat Bryant. That makes the target split harder to trust right away. Kansas City does not make things any easier. Sutton was held to four catches in both meetings with the Chiefs last season, finishing with 59 yards in one and 40 in the other without scoring. RotoBaller has Sutton at WR38 for Week 1 and lists him as a risky start for Monday night. There is still touchdown upside, and Sutton should remain involved near the goal line, but fantasy managers with another solid WR3 or flex option can leave him on the bench. He is more of a matchup-dependent flex than a receiver who needs to be forced into lineups.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Zay Flowers Questionable to Return With Hamstring Injury
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (hamstring) is questionable to return against the Indianapolis Colts. Flowers had five catches for 150 yards and a touchdown before leaving, including a 54-yard score in the second quarter. Rashod Bateman becomes Baltimore's top healthy wideout if Flowers can't make it back, while rookie Ja'Kobi Lane could pick up additional snaps with the Ravens already thin at receiver.
Source: Ryan Mink
Source: Ryan Mink
Brian Thomas Jr. Returns After Shoulder Injury
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (shoulder) has returned to Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns. Thomas had been listed as questionable to return after leaving with a shoulder injury and heading to the locker room. He caught three passes for 40 yards before exiting and is now back on the field for Jacksonville.
Source: Lauren Brooks
Source: Lauren Brooks
