RADIO
AJ Barner Limited to Two Receptions in Week 1
Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (oblique) caught two passes for 13 yards in Week 1 against the New England Patriots. Barner was kept in check all night, with the Seahawks' offense struggling to move the ball at times. Barner entered the season with a path to a serious breakout after scoring six touchdowns and finishing as the TE14 in 2025. That path still exists and should begin to unfold as the Seahawks' offense finds its footing. With quarterback Sam Darnold (hip) sidelined in Week 1, it is unclear who will be under center next week. However, quarterback Drew Lock is a capable backup, and he should not affect Barner's ability to produce. For now, Barner is still best viewed as a TE. He can still emerge as the season wears on, but we will need to monitor his usage, particularly in the red zone. Expect better production when Seattle visits Arizona in Week 2.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
George Holani Keeps Pace With Jadarian Price For Carries in Week 1
Seattle Seahawks running back George Holani was relatively involved in Seattle's Week 1 win over the New England Patriots. Rookie running back Jadarian Price drew the start, but Holani entered the game on the first drive, played 46% of the snaps, and recorded eight carries to Price's 10. Holani did not catch his only target of the game. Although Holani received a fair number of touches relative to Price, he was far less explosive. Price averaged 5.2 yards per carry to Holani's 3.6. However, it is clear that the Seahawks would like to work at least two running backs into the offense. As the offense improves, so too should the effectiveness of both backs. If Holani's yards per carry increase and he catches a couple of targets per game, he may garner flex appeal as long as Zach Charbonnet (knee) is out. Holani was also active when the Seahawks were near the goal line, suggesting that he possesses potential touchdown upside. He is worth rostering to see what happens over the next couple of weeks.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Cooper Kupp Has Touchdown Called Back in Week 1
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp caught two passes for 35 yards in Seattle's Week 1 win against the New England Patriots. Kupp also had a touchdown called back due to an illegal shift. The game was sloppy as a whole, with both offenses just getting their legs back under them. However, the Seahawks' usage of their pass catchers looked very similar to 2025. Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the team with 11 targets while Kupp was tied for second place with just three. Kupp was targeted on got-to-have-it downs as a veteran presence, but it does appear that this is shaping up to be another quiet fantasy season for him. As the Seahawks' offense continues to improve, it is worth keeping an eye on Kupp's usage. However, for now, it is clear that he should not be in your lineup.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Terrance Ferguson Still a Riskier Play Despite Favorable Matchup
Los Angeles Rams tight end Terrance Ferguson is trending up in fantasy football. As he continues to work his way toward the No. 1 spot on the depth chart, Ferguson has emerged as the Rams tight end to roster in redraft leagues. However, that doesn't mean he's a no-brainer fantasy option for Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers. Ferguson finished his rookie season on a high note with five catches and two touchdowns across two games, but other than that, we haven't seen him maintain a consistent fantasy-relevant role. It's fair to say that he could remain dependent on touchdowns, and he's certainly not a lock to find the end zone within an offense that also includes Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. The good news for Ferguson is that he gets a softer matchup, as the Niners allowed the eighth-most fantasy points and sixth-most touchdowns to tight ends last year. Still, until Ferguson proves that he can handle a large workload every week, he's a riskier fantasy option. He ranks as the TE20 in RotoBaller's Week 1 fantasy football rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Davante Adams a Touchdown-Dependent WR1 for Season Opener in Australia
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams has WR1 upside if he's able to find the end zone during Thursday's Week 1 contest against the San Francisco 49ers. If he's unable to score a touchdown, he'll still be worth starting, but he'll likely end up closer to the low-end WR2 range. Touchdowns were a key theme for Adams last year, as he caught a modest (by his standards) 60 passes for 789 yards but still managed to cross the goal line 14 times, tying his highest total since 2020. The 49ers' pass defense looks similar to last year, when they allowed the 14th-most fantasy points to wide receivers. They also ranked near the league median in terms of limiting scoring; they allowed the 15th-fewest touchdowns to wide receivers. Adams found success in this divisional matchup last year, totaling 11 catches, 145 yards, and one touchdown across two games against the Niners.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Puka Nacua's Quest to Defend WR1 Title Begins Thursday in Australia
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua finished as the overall WR1 in PPR leagues last season, and he'll look to replicate his elite campaign in 2026. He kicks off his season on Thursday in Australia against the San Francisco 49ers. We're expecting this 49ers pass defense to look somewhat similar to last year, which means Nacua should have no trouble finishing as a high-end WR1 this week. After all, the 2025 49ers allowed the 14th-most fantasy points, ninth-most catches, and 11th-most receiving yards to wide receivers. Nacua totaled 15 catches, 149 yards, and two touchdowns across his two games against the Niners last year. Potential discipline could await Nacua later in the season as the league continues to investigate his off-field conduct, but for now, he's a full-go in Week 1. He ranks as a high-end WR1 with a high ceiling and high floor.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Romeo Doubs Has Path to High Target Share Following Injury
New England Patriots wide receiver Romeo Doubs could have a great opportunity to bounce back from his disappointing Week 1 after an injury to A.J. Brown (ankle) could leave him more targets moving forward. Doubs didn't have a catch in his Patriots debut and had an ugly drop on what could have been a big gain. With Brown's departure from the game with an ankle injury that required a walking boot when he left the locker room, though, Doubs could be set for more work in the coming weeks as the team's most proven receiver. The veteran came over from the Packers as a free agent this offseason and had a strong training camp before his disappointing opener. He will have 10 days before Week 2's game against the Steelers to continue to build his rapport with Drake Maye. As both players try to erase the memory of Week 1, Doubs has the potential to step up as the team's top receiver for as long as Brown is out, making him a strong pickup from the waiver wire in almost all formats, depending on who else emerges this week.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Blake Corum Has Standalone Value Despite Tough Matchup
Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum ranks as an RB3/flex option against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1, despite his projected role as the No. 2 option behind Kyren Williams. Corum routinely carved out standalone value last year, ranking as the overall RB8 in PPR leagues from Weeks 13-16. This year, Corum is expected to take on a larger, more consistent role. That could start right away in Week 1, despite the fact that Corum has a tougher matchup. The 49ers did allow the 13th-most fantasy points to running backs last year, but a lot of that production came on receptions. Corum isn't a major receiving threat, and the 49ers ranked near the middle of the league in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns allowed. There's also a lot of mouths to feed in this offense, which features Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, in addition to Williams. Nevertheless, Corum enters Week 1 as a low-end RB3/flex.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kyle Williams Should See Full-Time Role with Top Wide Reciever Injured
New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams didn't have a target or a catch in Week 1, but he could be lined up for a much bigger role for the team going forward after an injury to A.J. Brown (ankle). Brown was seen leaving the locker room on Wednesday wearing a boot on his right foot, which could lead to the team's big offseason acquisition missing time. Williams only played 11 snaps on offense after his big preseason, when he racked up six catches for166 yards and three touchdowns. The second-year receiver is definitely a name to watch on the waiver wire in deep leagues if Brown ends up missing any time. The Patriots have 10 days until their next game in Week 2 at home against the Steelers, when they'll look to erase a tough Week 1 loss.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
A.J. Brown Seen Wearing Walking Boot on Right Foot
According to Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald, New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle) was seen leaving the locker room wearing a boot around his right foot. Brown exited his team's debut win in the third quarter with an apparent ankle injury. Prior to the exit, the star wideout had a quiet effort, catching only three of his four targets for a mere 26 yards. After the contest, Patriots wide receiver Romeo Doubs said the team has "got to have a plan moving forward" when discussing Brown's potential absence. Although head coach Mike Vrabel did not provide a concrete update after the contest, managers should watch his status, as he will likely undergo several tests over the next few days. If he were to miss an extended period of time, managers should expect Romeo Doubs, Kyle Williams, and Mack Hollins to see an uptick in targets and snaps.
Source: Andrew Callahan
Source: Andrew Callahan
Kyren Williams Possesses a Safe Floor for Week 1
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams has been a top-10 fantasy running back in PPR leagues over each of the last three seasons. Consistency has been a key theme for the Notre Dame product, who scored double-digit fantasy points in 14 of his 17 games last year. That higher-end floor should remain in place for 2026, as Williams gets ready to kick off the season against the San Francisco 49ers in Australia. The biggest storyline to watch is how the Rams split backfield touches. Williams has shown that he can be a workhorse back in the past, but the Rams made a deliberate effort to limit his workload last year so he could be healthy for a full season. If that happens again this year, Williams will remain an RB1 with touchdown upside, but Blake Corum could get onto the fantasy radar as an RB3/flex, too. Matchup-wise, the 49ers allowed the 14th-most rushing yards, 14th-most receiving yards, and 13th-most fantasy points.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Harrison Mevis Not Worth Streaming in Week 1
Los Angeles Rams kicker Harrison Mevis enters the season as an appealing fantasy option given the high-end status of his team's offense. There's definitely full-season fantasy upside here, but Mevis probably belongs on the waiver wire for Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers. First of all, this game is being played in Australia. The Melbourne Cricket Ground is at sea level, which means there will be thicker air and tougher kicking conditions. We also don't know what the kicking surface will be like in this stadium, creating some uncertainty. Additionally, this is a tougher matchup for Mevis, as the 49ers allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to kickers last year. The bright side is that the Rams should find themselves in plenty of scoring opportunities given the excellent state of their offense, but even last year, he ranked as the #13 kicker in fantasy points per game. Concerns about this matchup and the stadium environment outweigh any value gained from playing alongside a powerful offense. Mevis ranks outside the top 12 fantasy kickers for this divisional battle to open the season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rams D/ST Still a Top Fantasy Option Despite Veteran's Absence
The Los Angeles Rams D/ST enters Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers as a high-end fantasy football unit. A divisional matchup against the 49ers is never easy, but the Rams have so much talent on defense that they should deliver spectacular fantasy contributions regardless of the matchup. This unit finished eighth in fantasy points last year, and that was before they traded for future Hall of Fame defender Myles Garrett. Garrett is presumably the early favorite to lead the NFL in sacks, and he could help the Rams finish the 2026 season as the top-scoring defense in fantasy football. The rich got even richer this offseason as Los Angeles also lured Aaron Donald out of retirement, but he'll be inactive for the season opener. Even with Donald sidelined, this Garrett-led defense is locked and loaded as a top-three fantasy option for Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Matthew Stafford Begins Quest to Defend MVP Title in Australia
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford won the league MVP award last season, and he continues to play at an elite level despite being 38 years old. Of course, he has certainly had some help from one of the best wide receiver duos in recent NFL history. Puka Nacua and Davante Adams combined for 2,504 yards and 24 touchdowns last year, as both receivers finished as the WR9 or higher. This strong supporting cast will help Stafford produce in a divisional contest against the San Francisco 49ers in Australia. The 49ers represent a modest matchup, as they allowed the 13th-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks last year. The unit did get some upgrades in the form of Dre Greenlaw and Osa Odighizuwa, but that's probably not enough to slow down Stafford in fantasy football. Thanks to his strong supporting cast and the projected competitive nature of Thursday's divisional battle, Stafford remains firmly in the mix to be a top-10 fantasy quarterback for Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rhamondre Stevenson Impressive as Receiver
New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 51 yards on 18 carries during Wednesday's Week 1 loss against the Seattle Seahawks. He also caught five of his six targets for an additional 44 receiving yards. Stevenson took over as the Patriots' lead back with TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) sidelined, and while he averaged a woeful 2.8 yards per carry, he salvaged his fantasy performance with large volume and very admirable contributions in the receiving game. Ideally, Stevenson and Henderson can form a solid one-two punch when the latter is healthy, with Henderson fighting for yardage on early downs and Stevenson offering an outlet for Drake Maye in the passing game on third down. There doesn't appear to be a whole lot of rushing upside with Stevenson, so he'll need to continue producing as a receiver to stay on the radar in fantasy football leagues. If Henderson has to miss another week, Stevenson will likely remain in the high-end RB3 range, especially in PPR formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
