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Who should I start for Week 1? Fantasy football outlooks for Jaylen Warren, RJ Harvey, TreVeyon Henderson. Our expert fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks.
Fantasy football draft season is just about over. That means it's time to turn our attention to Week 1.
Start/sit decisions are never fun, but getting them right is crucial to weekly success. That is especially true at the running back position. Several players fantasy managers must figure out how to deploy this week are Jaylen Warren, RJ Harvey, and TreVeyon Henderson. Since there are questions about each player’s role to begin the year, managers face a tough decision with each one right out of the gate.
So, how should gamers deploy these three players in Week 1? Let’s discuss what managers should do with Jaylen Warren, RJ Harvey, and TreVeyon Henderson this week.
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Should I Start Jaylen Warren in Week 1?
After letting Najee Harris walk in free agency, Warren is set to begin the 2025 season as Pittsburgh’s RB1. Warren has always been an efficient rusher and has a career 4.8 yards per carry.
Jaylen Warren goes 74 yards!
📺: #PITvsCLE on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/jckqnJwdb2 pic.twitter.com/mo99RyYIFK— NFL (@NFL) November 19, 2023
Volume has always been an issue for Warren, and he was never able to beat out Harris for the RB1 job. Pittsburgh recently signed Warren to a two-year extension, and he will get his chance to prove his worth starting in Week 1 against the New York Jets.
New York has a new head coach this year after hiring former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn this offseason. The Jets defense struggled to defend the ground game at times in 2024. New York ranked 20th in defensive rushing DVOA last year, per FTN Fantasy. It did allow over 121 rushing yards per game, but was very effective at limiting big plays. Per Fantasy Points Data Suite, New York allowed the second-fewest percentage of opposing teams’ runs to go for 15+ yards.
We’ll have to see what kind of impact Glenn’s arrival has on the Jets defense, but we should expect to see better overall results while still limiting big plays. That means Pittsburgh’s offense, and Warren by proxy, could have a hard time finding running room on Sunday. Warren’s rushing totals may not be great, but with Aaron Rodgers as the team's new QB1, he should still see plenty of short-area targets and checkdown looks.
That would make Warren a better play in PPR leagues than standard scoring ones. Gamers should consider Warren a sit in non-PPR leagues and a viable flex play in half- and full-PPR formats.
Should I Start RJ Harvey in Week 1?
Harvey was Denver’s second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and his selection caused quite a stir as he was not expected to go in Round 2. He and the Broncos draw a matchup with the Tennessee Titans in Week 1. Tennessee ranked middle of the road in defensive rush efficiency in 2024, but ranked 26th in rushing yards allowed per game. The Titans also allowed nearly 134 rushing yards per game to opponents last year.
Denver has one of the best offensive lines in the league and is an eight-point favorite at some sportsbooks. That means there should be plenty of opportunities for Harvey on the ground.
The main issue is that we don’t know exactly how Broncos head coach Sean Payton plans to distribute touches. Denver also has veteran J.K. Dobbins on the roster, and there have been multiple reports that he will function as the team’s lead back to begin the season. Dobbins is also the superior pass protector, and that will give him an edge over Harvey for pass-catching duties as well.
This is a plus matchup, and Harvey is an explosive player. However, it might be wise to temper our expectations for Week 1. Gamers should consider Harvey a back-end RB2 or flex play and deploy him as such.
Should I Start TreVeyon Henderson in Week 1?
Henderson steamed up draft boards as the summer progressed, and for good reason. He is a big-play machine and is exactly what this Patriots offense needed.
THE FIRST TIME HE TOUCHED THE BALL IN THE NFL!!!!@TreVeyonH4 | @NFL
📺: WBZ pic.twitter.com/NcT2a635nx
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) August 8, 2025
New England reportedly believes Henderson has a three-down skill set and can eventually be an every-down back. The Patriots' Week 1 opponent, the Las Vegas Raiders, were middle of the road in various defensive rushing metrics last year. The addition of Pete Carroll as head coach should mean we see the Raiders remain the same in these areas, with the possibility of slight improvement across the board.
We may not see gaudy rushing totals from Henderson in this game, but his pass-catching abilities should give him a safe floor. We should also expect veteran Rhamondre Stevenson to begin the season as the team’s RB1 with Henderson nipping at his heels for more work. Henderson is clearly a more explosive player, though, and could have a large role as a pass-catcher in New England’s offense.
Gamers can start Henderson as a solid RB2 play in PPR formats and a flex in non-PPR leagues.
Who Should I Start Tool
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Who Should I Start? Who Should I Sit? Some common Week 1 fantasy football lineup decisions are regarding players like Jaylen Warren, RJ Harvey, and TreVeyon Henderson. But not to worry, we are here to help make these decisions and build winning lineups in Week 1. Set your optimal fantasy football lineups for Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season. Our free Who Should I Start? tool will help make your fantasy football lineup decisions. Compare up to four NFL players, and we tell you who to start ... all free! Get your winning lineups set, and make the right decisions.
Week 1 Player Decisions. Today's focus is on specific players -- Jaylen Warren, RJ Harvey, and TreVeyon Henderson. These are some of the most common searches for fantasy football lineups in Week 1.
Using The Tool. This is a simple tool but very powerful. The first step is to enter the player names that you want to compare. In the first box, search for the first player's name. In the second box, search for the second player's name. Compare up to four NFL players at once, and then click the Who To Start? button to see who the recommended starts are based on weekly fantasy football matchups.
Improvements For Who Should I Start? You may have noticed that our Who Should I Start? tool has gotten an overhaul. We've added lots of great features for you to give you as much information as possible to win your fantasy football matchups each week. You'll see NFL player tiles with headshots and bye weeks, enhanced search results with data to compare, and a slick new interface. We hope you enjoy!
How It Works. Each week, our RotoBaller staff puts together their weekly fantasy football rankings and projections based on their research. That information is the core data that is powering the decision-making in this tool. When you search for player names, you will only see those players who are ranked. If someone is out for the week, they will not appear in the search results.
Scoring Formats. Fantasy football managers play in various types of leagues, and this tool allows you to choose whether it's PPR scoring, half-PPR scoring, or standard (non-PPR) scoring. The second thing you want to do is to select the scoring format. There are three small radio buttons (small circles), so click on the scoring format you prefer. The results may vary based on the scoring format you select.
Popular Week 1 Searches. Curious to see some tough lineup decisions for Week 1 (2025)? Below you will find a list of some popular Who Should I Start? searches that RotoBaller readers are looking at this week. Click any of the links to see the result and recommendation.
Popular Week 1 Searches - Start/Sit Player Comparisons
Below are some popular Week 1 searches and comparisons from our 'Who To Start' tool for Jaylen Warren, RJ Harvey, and TreVeyon Henderson compared to others:
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