While the Commanders spread the work in the ground game last
week, it was Croskey-Merritt that got almost as many carries (10)
as Austin Ekeler (6), Jeremy McNichols (4), and Deebo Samuel (1)
combined. He was also highly effective, turning those 10 carries
into 82 yards and a score. On the other side of the matchup, we
just watched the Packers absolutely shut down the combination
of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, which is arguably the gold
standard for NFL backfields. Gibbs, in particular, is an elite
talent, and he managed just 50 yards on 19 touches (2.6 yards/per).
Green Bay’s defense has great speed at the linebacker level, and
it makes you wonder how effective Washington’s running game will
be against a group that gave up 2.1 yards per carry versus Detroit.
Don’t trust Croskey-Merritt as more than a low-end RB3 or flex.
Samuel enjoyed a strong debut with the Commanders, leading the
team in receptions (7) and receiving yards (77) while also rushing
for a 19-yard touchdown. Don’t bank on a repeat effort on Thursday
night. For starters, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the team
want to get McLaurin more involved after he had just two catches
versus New York. Beyond that, there are matchup concerns after
watching the Lions repeatedly go to quick routes in the flat,
the kind of stuff Samuel excels at, only to see the Packers swarm
the pass catcher and hold them to a short gain. Samuel remains
playable as a WR3, but manage your expectations.
WAS FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.26
WAS FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.32
WAS FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.23
WAS FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.29
It wasn’t a high-volume output from Kraft in Week 1, registering
just two catches for 16 yards, but he caught a touchdown pass
and was targeted four times, which tied for second-most on the
team behind Jayden Reed (5). While the Packers rotate through
their receivers with regularity, Kraft is close to an every-down
player -- on the team’s 47 offensive snaps, Kraft played 43 of
them; for comparison, Romeo Doubs led Green Bay’s wideouts with
30 snaps. Simply by virtue of being on the field much of the time,
Kraft is a threat. He holds appeal as a low-end TE1.
Love didn’t have huge numbers in Week 1 (188 yards, 2 TDs),
but he was efficient in completing 16 of 22 passes. That doesn’t
even matter much in this case, however, as it’s not so much
Love that I’m focused on, it’s Matt LaFleur’s
success against Dan Quinn. The last time these two coaches crossed
paths was when Quinn was defensive coordinator in Dallas. In that
playoff tilt, Love threw for 272 yards and 3 TDs with the Packers
scoring 48 points. Yes, these are different teams and different
times, but LaFleur has had Quinn’s number over the years,
and that could lead to big things on Thursday night. Anyone seeking
a high-upside play should consider giving Love a chance.
In truth, it’s not just Reed, this could apply to any of
Green Bay’s wideouts: Doubs, Matthew Golden, or Dontayvion
Wicks. It’s not a matter of talent; it’s an opportunity
issue. Reed, who had three catches and a touchdown in Week 1,
played just 18 snaps. Golden, the team’s first-round pick,
logged 22 snaps. The Packers rotate their wideouts constantly,
and Love is an equal opportunity distributor of the football with
10 different players catching a pass against the Lions. While
it’s a potential headache for defensive coordinators, it’s
also a tough situation for fantasy owners as you never know who’s
getting the ball. Even as a WR3 or flex, Reed (or Golden, or Doubs,
etc.) would be a risky choice this Thursday night.
Our first look at the 2025 Rams’ offense delivered about what
we expected. Sean McVay is going to continue riding Kyren Williams
(72% rush share) and the pass offense will flow through Puka Nacua
(39.3% tgt share) and Davante Adams. The two wideouts combined
for 19-of-21 WR targets against the Texans in Week 1. How’s that
for a condensed offense? The Titans did a respectable job against
the Broncos passing game, picking off Bo Nix twice and allowing
just 176 yards through the air. However, Puka and Davante are
different animals. Even with limited pass volume, I’d expect both
LA wideouts to post solid performances with CB L'Jarius Sneed
playing limited snaps.
Stafford has two premiere wideouts at his disposal but that didn’t
help him crack the top 20 at the QB position in Week 1. His lack
of rushing (-2 yds against HOU) makes his fantasy value hinge
on passing TDs and unless there’s a 3 in a category, it’s
going to be tough for him to crack the top 12 most weeks. That
said, 3 passing TDs is certainly in his range of outcomes, but
I’d be more comfortable predicting 2 against Tennessee given
the Rams are likely to be without two starting OL (Kevin Dotson,
Steve Avila) this week.
Higbee (zero targets) was one of three tight ends to see action
for the Rams in Week 1. Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen also saw
the field. The trio combined had 4 targets, 3 catches, 7 yards
and 1 TD. Even with Parkinson (shoulder) iffy to play against
the Titans, there are better fringe tight ends to take a stab
at than Higbee and his 58% snap share.
LAR FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.28
LAR FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.27
LAR FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.25
LAR FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.18
With backup running back Tyjae Spears (sprained ankle) on IR,
the Titans saddled up Pollard (89.5% snap share) and gave him
an 85.7% rush share in Week 1. Julius Chestnut served as the No.2
RB as saw just six snaps and 2 carries. Pollard managed 89 total
yards which is respectable against the Broncos defense and we
can expect another 18-20 touches this week against the Rams. A
trip to the endzone will likely push him into low-end RB1 territory
but realistically, we’re banking on expected volume to deliver
RB2 production – which we should get, as the Titans don’t really
have another choice.
Ridley was virtually and every-down player in Week 1, playing
94.7% of the snaps and led the team with a 32% target share –
just the kind of numbers we’re looking for in a fantasy WR1. However,
the box score didn’t reflect his usage as he caught just 4-of-8
targets for 27 scoreless yards against the Broncos. We should
expect a little more production at home this week against the
Rams… or should we? LA held Houston out of the endzone last week
and didn’t have trouble putting the clamps on Nico Collins (3-25-0).
His usage should keep him in your lineup, but Ridley feels more
like a Flex option than a solid WR2 this week.
It was unrealistic to think rookie Cam Ward was going to succeed
last week facing the tough Broncos-D. He was constantly under
pressure, took six sacks and threw for just 112 yards. The team
went 2-for-14 on third down on their way to scoring exactly zero
touchdowns. Unfortunately, it’s not going to get much better this
week facing the above-average defense of the Rams who registered
3 sacks on C.J. Stroud and kept the Texans out of the endzone
in Week 1. Even at home, Ward is going to project near the bottom
of the QB ranks this week.
Sometimes, Week 1 answers questions. Other times, it creates
them. Such is the case with Seattle’s backfield as the presumptive
lead back Walker ran 10 times for 20 yards against the 49ers,
while Charbonnet had 12 carries for 47 yards and a score. Walker
was involved in the passing game a little, posting three receptions,
though they only went for four yards. So, where do we go from
here? It’s hard to say. The belief in the lead up to the
season was that the Seahawks valued Walker’s toughness and
explosiveness, and though they wanted to work Charbonnet into
the mix more it sounded like he’d still be a complementary
piece. We should get a better read on it after Week 2, but that
level of uncertainty creates a difficult decision for fantasy
owners. For now, consider both backs to be in that RB3/flex range
with clear risk/reward potential.
The NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2021, Kupp’s numbers
have dipped considerably in the three years since, leading to
his release this offseason. Seattle believed he still had enough
left as a route runner to be a solid No. 2 option alongside JSN.
In Week 1, that was not the case with the veteran catching two
passes for 15 yards. If you go back to the end of last season,
you’ll see that Kupp finished with less than 30 yards in
four of his final five games. That’s a disturbing trend.
If you invested a draft pick on Kupp, it’s too early to
pull the plug. You should absolutely keep him out of your lineup
for the time being, however.
SEA FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.13
SEA FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.2
SEA FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.28
SEA FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.1
After three years working behind Najee Harris, Warren is the
lead back, logging 13 touches, 59 yards, and a touchdown against
the Jets. Kenneth Gainwell has slipped into Warren’s old role
as complementary back, and he saw 10 touches in Week 1, so there
wasn’t a lot of daylight between them in terms of usage. Warren
was far more productive, though, and the Steelers could look to
use him in similar fashion to what the Niners did with Christian
McCaffrey, who had 22 carries and nine receptions against Seattle
in the opener. Obviously, Warren is unlikely to match that level
of involvement, but Aaron Rodgers could use him in the passing
game as a checkdown option the way Brock Purdy did with CMC. As
a strong RB3, Warren is a solid choice.
Smith tied for second on the team in targets (6) in Week 1, and
though his five catches netted only 15 yards, he did find the
end zone. Smith and Pat Freiermuth do serve to undercut each other
to a degree, but the tight end position gave the Seahawks trouble
against San Francisco with both George Kittle and Jake Tonges
catching touchdown passes last Sunday. Smith is far from a sure
thing, but this feels like a game where Rodgers will want to get
the ball out of his hands quickly to avoid the same kind of pounding
Purdy took. That could play to Smith’s strengths.
Anyone who knows Rodgers as a competitor knows he holds a grudge
and uses slights to motivate himself. In the offseason, the Jets
basically told the future Hall-of-Famer he was no longer welcome
in Gotham. Rodgers took that personally, turning back the hands
of time to throw four touchdown passes against his former team.
Expect the 41-year-old to come back to Earth in Week 2 against
a physical Seahawks defense that some expect will be among the
NFL’s best in 2025. Despite the big Week 1 effort, Rodgers
is better off on your bench this weekend.
While he’s technically had bigger fantasy games before,
James Cook’s Week 1 performance should make fantasy managers
more confident that they made the right decision by drafting him.
Cook played nearly 60 percent of the Bills’ offensive snaps
in their come-from-behind victory over the Ravens while running
routes on over half of the team’s passing plays. His 3.4
yards per carry are nothing to write home about, but he made up
for it with a 5-58-0 receiving line, and picked up where he left
off after a strong 2024 by getting into the end zone.
Cook now faces a Jets defense that held the Steelers’ backs
to just 54 yards on the ground on 19 carries in Week 1. However,
assuming the underlying usage continues, Cook is one of the more
game script-independent backs in the league right now. If he’s
not getting it done on the ground then the team will just figure
out ways to get him the ball in the passing game, and perhaps
most importantly, they seem to prioritize getting him the ball
near the goal line. All of this adds to his excellent floor/ceiling
combination, making him a strong RB1 play even in this difficult
on-paper matchup.
It’s true that the touchdown he scored in Week 1 was more
of a fluke than anything as the ball bounced off of a teammate’s
hands prior to him securing it for a touchdown, but managers who
took a late-round flier on Keon Coleman have to be happy with
what they saw from him to start the 2025 season. Coleman was extremely
close to getting a second score and he also saw a team-high 11
passes come his way against the Ravens.
Will the Jets opt to shadow cover him with Sauce Gardner? Gardner
is an elite-level lockdown corner that has terrorized opposing
WR1s for years now, and with Coleman clearly establishing himself
as the top target in Buffalo, it would be surprising if Gardner
didn’t line up against him on most plays. This makes Coleman
more of a speculative WR3/Flex play here in Week 2, but keep an
eye on his usage because if he’s able to generate targets
in this situation then a full-on breakout season could be on the
table for him in 2025.
Fantasy managers who punted the tight end position were happy
as late-round fantasy selection Dalton Kincaid came through with
a solid performance in Week 1, catching four passes for 48 yards
and a touchdown against the Ravens.
This type of production would be ideal if we were able to get
it every week, but the underlying usage numbers are a bit concerning
for Kincaid. He ran routes on just 62 percent of the Bills’
passing plays and he secured just a 9 percent target. It would
be great if we could rely on him as a regular contributor in the
touchdown column, but his Week 1 score was just Kincaid’s
fifth touchdown in 30 career regular season games. The Bills’
offense is good enough that they’ll score plenty of points
this year which means Kincaid should have some opportunities,
but it appears if he’s the third or fourth option in the
passing game at the moment. That’s just not enough to be
excited about as a fantasy TE1.
BUF FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.4
BUF FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.1
BUF FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.3
BUF FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.31
We said it coming into the season and it came to fruition in
Week 1: Justin Fields might just be this season’s best value
as a fantasy quarterback.
Fields passes for just 218 yards against the Steelers, but he
managed to complete 16 of the 22 passes he attempted, including
a touchdown. More importantly, he got it done on the ground as
he ran the ball 12 times for 48 yards, including two additional
scores. This performance made Fields an elite scorer at the position
- at least for one week - and it highlighted the reality that
he provides both an excellent ceiling as well as a reasonably
strong floor, which is something that can’t be said for
any other late-round quarterback from this draft season.
Of course, there’s always the concern that Fields turns
in a total garbage performance that tanks the week, but a matchup
against the Bills - who allowed 40 points to the Ravens in Week
1 - looks like an opportunity for more fantasy production.
We had our concerns about Breece Hall heading into Week 1 and
while he still managed to produce the fantasy production necessary
to make his managers happy, the underlying numbers are a bit concerning.
Hall conceded a goal line touchdown to Braelon Allen and he ran
routes on just 32 percent of the Jets’ passing plays, resulting
in just two catches.
In a game against a Bills team that could put up a ton of points,
fantasy managers need to be careful about viewing Hall as more
than an RB2 - at least for now. If he can still produce even in
a potential negative game script then we can feel much more confident
about his prospects going forward, but for now the concern has
to be there that we could still see some duds from Hall like we
did in 2024.
While he got into the end zone on a goal line rush attempt, it
didn’t appear that the Jets were necessarily pulling Breece
Hall out specifically to give Allen an easy touchdown. Allen saw
just six total touches in a game that was a surprising, competitive
shootout in Week 1, and he contributed precisely nothing in the
passing game. With Buffalo on the docket and a potential pass-heavy
game script for the New York offense, Allen is best served sitting
on your fantasy team’s bench for now.
Life under Ben Johnson got off to a fast start with Williams
leading the Bears on a 10-play, 61-yard touchdown drive. After
that... not so much. Some of the same problems we saw with Williams
as a rookie -- holding the ball too long, inconsistent accuracy
-- were on display even while he flashed his athleticism to extend
plays and scramble for a team-high 58 yards and a touchdown. His
next test will be against Johnson’s former club, and the
question here is who has the advantage tactically? The Lions,
which worked against a Johnson-coached offense for years in practice,
or the Bears, which can lean on Johnson’s knowledge of Detroit’s
personnel and tendencies. It’s hard to say. One thing you
should be cautious about is reading too much into Williams’
statistical success against the Lions in 2024 as both meetings
came late in the season at a time that Detroit was dealing with
massive injuries defensively. The safe play here is to keep Williams
on the virtual sidelines, but a case can be mind to roll the dice
on the USC product with a motivated Ben Johnson calling the plays.
Loveland entered the season with Sam LaPorta 2.0 hype. On Monday
night, it failed to materialize. The rookie was targeted just
twice, catching both for 12 yards, while Cole Kmet was targeted
four times, turning his lone reception into 31 yards. Although
the Lions did allow Tucker Kraft to score the first touchdown
of the day in Week 1, Green Bay’s tight ends collectively managed
a 4-22-1 line. It’s certainly far too soon to sour on Loveland’s
outlook for 2025 -- LaPorta had 39 yards on five catches in his
NFL debut -- though putting him in your starting lineup feels
overly aggressive as well.
CHI FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.12
CHI FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.8
CHI FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.27
CHI FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.27
Johnson’s debut with the Bears meant a new offensive coordinator
in Detroit, and John Morton’s first week on the job did not go
according to plan. The Lions were dominated by the Packers in
a game they trailed 27-6, needing a spectacular fourth-down catch
from Isaac TeSlaa to prevent their first game without a touchdown
since Oct. 23, 2022. Montgomery was not immune, turning 11 carries
into just 25 yards; he added 18 more yards on four catches. Suffice
to say, Detroit will need more from its ground game. In Week 1,
Minnesota found better results with the physical half of its backfield
against the Bears, and in his lone matchup with Chicago a year
ago, Montgomery racked up 124 total yards. He should remain in
your lineup as an RB3/flex.
With the Packers able to apply consistent pressure with just four
rushers, Detroit’s downfield passing attack was nonexistent. In
fact, nearly everything was close to the line of scrimmage. Williams,
who just inked a contract extension, saw his four receptions cover
a measly 23 yards. In comparison, he averaged 17.3 yards per catch
in 2024. No doubt the team will be looking to get the offense
rolling again in Week 2, so expect to see some vertical shots
to Williams, who torched the Bears for five receptions, 143 yards,
and a touchdown the last time they faced off. To their credit,
Chicago did a nice job of slowing Justin Jefferson and company
on Monday night, though, so Williams does carry some downside
as a WR3.
Last Sunday against the Packers, Goff averaged 5.8 yards per
attempt. A season ago, he averaged 8.4 yards per attempt in two
wins over the Bears. Of course, that was with Ben Johnson designing
the offense, and, fair or not, Goff’s track record when
not paired with his former OC or former head coach Sean McVay
is not good. Perhaps Week 1 was just a blip, and the tandem of
Morton and Goff will hit their stride this week in a performance
right out of last season. Perhaps not. It’s valid to take
a wait-and-see approach with Goff for the time being, provided
you have a decent alternative at the position.
Robinson saw eight targets in Week 1, catching six for 55 yards.
We’ve seen flashes like this before, but he’s struggled
to string them together into sustained production.
Dallas just shut down the Eagles’ receivers, so Robinson
will need to find soft spots in the Cowboys’ coverage to
matter. He’s not a start in normal-sized leagues, but his
usage makes him an intriguing stash and possible bye-week filler
if it sticks.
The Giants were one of the most interesting backfield situations
this offseason as the team brought in rookie Cam Skattebo to compete
with 2024 rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. Tracy is still the locked-in
starter but managed just 24 rushing yards on 10 carries last week,
while Skattebo was bottled up for -3 yards on the ground and added
only two short receptions.
Facing a Cowboys defense that held Saquon Barkley to 3.3 YPC
last week, there’s little hope for either back to be fantasy-relevant
here. Until someone clearly separates, this is a situation to
avoid.
NYG FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.14
NYG FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.6
NYG FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.7
NYG FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.15
The Cowboys made it clear in the preseason that Javonte Williams
was their lead back, and Week 1 confirmed it. He played on 80%
of snaps, handled all the key situations (passing downs, red zone
work), and essentially never left the field. While he only caught
two passes, his snap share on passing downs signals both a higher
ceiling and a safer floor than most expected.
Now he faces a Giants defense that just gave up 164 yards and
a touchdown to Washington’s RB trio of Croskey-Merritt,
Ekeler, and McNichols. Dallas’ offensive line looked strong
in Week 1, even if it was against an Eagles team missing Jalen
Carter. Williams is set up nicely for another productive outing.
Ferguson saw encouraging usage as he drew six targets, catching
five for 25 yards in Week 1. While the yardage wasn’t there,
the involvement was — especially compared to last year’s
inconsistency.
The Giants just gave up a touchdown to Zach Ertz, and with New
York’s pass rush forcing quick throws, Ferguson could again serve
as Dak Prescott’s safety valve. He’s not a locked-in starter yet,
but he’s firmly in the streaming/TE1 mix this week.
Dallas’ big offseason acquisition drew just four targets
in Week 1, catching three for 30 yards. While Dak looked his way
on some deep shots, Pickens wasn’t a major part of the game
plan.
The Giants held Terry McLaurin to 27 yards on four targets last
week, and Pickens fits a similar downfield-dependent profile.
He can still make splash plays, but until we see more consistent
usage, managers should temper expectations. Not a must-bench,
but more of a volatile WR3/Flex than a reliable starter.
Njoku loses his no-brainer status for at least a week after being
overshadowed in the season opener by rookie Harold Fannin Jr.,
who had more targets (9) than Njoku (6), more receptions (7 to
3), and more yards (63 to 37). While I wouldn’t necessarily call
it a fluke -- the team reportedly thinks it has something in Fannin
-- it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see a veteran QB like Joe
Flacco make it a point to get Njoku more involved this Sunday.
In his lone matchup with the Ravens last season, the tight end
hauled in five passes for 61 yards and a touchdown, and Baltimore
had their issues with Dalton Kincaid on Sunday night. You can
insert Njoku into your starting lineup.
It was hard to know what direction Cleveland’s running game would
go in Week 1. As it turned out, it was Sampson, and not Jerome
Ford, that got the lion’s share of the work, carrying the ball
12 times for 29 yards and adding eight receptions for 64 more.
That doesn’t solve the mystery heading into Week 2, though, as
fellow rookie Quinshon Judkins finally signed his contract, and
he could be in uniform this weekend. Ford is around as well, and
you never know when the team will decide he needs a dozen carries
in a given week. Further muddying the waters is Rocket Sanders,
who got the goal line work versus Cincinnati and scored a touchdown.
Sampson is probably the best option for fantasy owners this Sunday,
but he’d still be best viewed as a flex.
A third-round pick in this year’s draft, Fannin announced
his presence with authority in Week 1, posting a 7-63-0 line against
the Bengals. He even ran the ball once, and the Browns like his
versatility. His long-term outlook is very intriguing. For this
Sunday, though, you wonder how he’ll follow up his best
game. The Ravens won’t be caught unaware the way Cincinnati
was, and as mentioned above, this feels like a game where Cleveland
might course correct to feature Njoku, their longtime star at
the position. It’d be risky to rely on Fannin based on such
a small sample size.
CLE FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.29
CLE FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.24
CLE FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.32
CLE FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.9
Like Njoku, Andrews tumbles from the ranks of the no brainers
after one game. The veteran was targeted just once for a five-yard
gain, giving PTSD to Andrews owners that went through a brutal
September a year ago that featured two games without a single
reception. He eventually turned it around, scoring 11 times in
the final 12 games, but it’s still a tough way to kick off a new
season. Andrews did score in both meetings with the Browns last
year, and Cleveland allowed Noah Fant to score Cincinnati’s only
passing TD of Week 1, so TE1 upside is present. There’s just some
downside as well.
If you only caught the highlights, you might’ve seen Hopkins
haul in a beautiful 29-yard touchdown grab and think to yourself,
“he’s back!” Don’t be fooled. Hopkins
is, at best, a tertiary option in the passing game, and outside
of that TD he had one catch for six yards on Sunday night. He’s
one of those guys with enough name recognition that some might
talk themselves into rolling the dice on him, but there are loads
of higher ceiling options out there to try your luck with.
After being the most injured team in 2024, the 49ers are at it
again. Funny, be it seems like McCaffrey (31 touches in Week 1)
is the healthiest of the bunch! After placing TE George Kittle
on IR with a hamstring injury, it turns out the man at the controls
is going to spend some time on the sideline too. Brock Purdy’s
expected multi-week absence with toe and shoulder injuries is
going to cause some disruption in the offense. Pearsall led the
wideouts in snap share last week (84.2%) but can we trust Mac
Jones to deliver behind a weak 49ers offensive line? Jones had
some success late last year targeting Brian Thomas Jr. who racked
up 593 yards and 4 TDs over his final five games of 2024 so there
is some hope Jones can keep Pearsall fantasy relevant.
Jauan Jennings is another story. After missing most of camp with
calf, contract issues he left Week 1 in the 3rd quarter with shoulder
problem and didn’t return. MRI results this week showed
no significant damage so it seems like he’ll be out there
this week but his health gives me pause. The gameplan against
the Saints is going to look similar to Week 1 - a lot of McCaffrey
- and that’s not going to leave much for second San Fracisco
wideout. If you’re considering one of these two, start Pearsall
and keep Jennings on the bench.
Do-everything tight end for the 49ers George Kittle is out multiple
weeks with a hamstring injury. Next up is Luke Farrell (57.9%)
who played more snaps than Tonges (39.5%) last week but in reality,
neither of backup 49ers tight ends are recommended fantasy plays
in Week 2 against the Saints. I wouldn’t be surprised if FB Kyle
Juszczyk gets more involved in the passing game now that Shanahan
has a week to gameplan. Despite his TD last week, leave Tonges
on the waiver wire for now.
SF FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.31
SF FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.23
SF FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.22
SF FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.30
The Saints got off 75 plays last week (league average 64) so it’s
a little concerning that Kamara had just 13 touches and only 2
targets when QB Spencer Rattler dropped back 46 times. Kamara
was on the field plenty (78.7% snap share) so I’m willing to give
him a pass and trust he’ll be more involved against the 49ers
in Week 2. Given all the injuries in San Fracisco, I’m not expecting
them to dominate this game which should keep Kamara involved until
the clock strikes zero. 18 to 20 touches is a realistic expectation
at home in projected low-scoring affair.
Guess who led all tight ends in snap share last week? That’s
right, Juwan Johnson at 98.7%. Guess who led the position in targets
(11) last week? If you guessed Juwan Johnson you’re right
again! That kind of usage can’t be ignored. He should’ve
been the top tight end added off the waiver wire in your league
and should be a strong consideration for your lineup in Week 2.
Olave and Shaheed were the clear top two wideouts for the Saints
last week – both playing 85.3% of the snaps. However, just 1 target
for Shaheed in the first half is inexcusable. Rattler’s 85.7 completion
percentage speaks for itself but in the end, the two wideouts
combined for 22 targets and I’ll take that kind of volume in my
lineup either at the WR2 position (Olave) or WR3/Flex (Shaheed).
The 49ers did a decent job against the Seahawks passing attack
last week holding Sam Darnold to just 150 yards, but did allow
Jaxon Smith-Njigba a 9-124-0 line. I’m cautiously optimistic we
can see improvement from the Saints passing offense in Week 2.
Rookie TreVeyon Henderson split work with veteran Rhamondre Stevenson
in Week 1 and looked more efficient on his touches. The issue
is volume — as long as Stevenson is healthy, Henderson’s weekly
ceiling is capped, keeping him more of a stash or deep-league
flex than a locked-in starter.
Stefon Diggs managed seven targets despite logging just 29 snaps
(41%). If his workload ramps up in Week 2, he should reassert
himself as New England’s top option. That said, with Kayshon
Boutte and others working their way into the mix, Diggs’
target share could be less stable than fantasy managers are used
to.
One of the biggest surprises coming out of Week 1 was the surprise
emergence of Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte. Boutte turned
in the highest-target game of his career when he saw eight passes
come his way, securing six of them for 103 yards. While it’s certainly
possible that we could be seeing the emergence of a once-promising
talent at the position, especially given his success down the
stretch in 2024, the rest of his career body of work leaves much
to be desired. Boutte is an absolute “add” on waiver wires, but
he’s someone who fantasy managers should prefer to keep an eye
on from their benches in Week 2.
NE FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.15
NE FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.26
NE FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.5
NE FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.3
Miami’s offense sputtered badly in Week 1, but De’Von
Achane was the lone bright spot. He dominated backfield snaps,
rushed for 55 yards on just seven carries, and added 3-20-1 through
the air. That usage — particularly his involvement as a
receiver — suggests game-script independence, making him
a weekly RB2 with upside regardless of matchup.
The Dolphins threw the ball just 31 times despite getting blown
out on the road in Week 1. Hill drew a 19% target share but finished
with another underwhelming line, continuing a concerning trend.
He’s now been held under 40 yards in four of his last five
games dating back to 2024 and hasn’t topped 10 targets since
late 2023. His speed remains dangerous, but the volume hasn’t
matched WR1 expectations. Until Miami’s passing game finds
its footing, Hill is better valued as a WR2 with occasional spike-week
potential.
Waddle was quiet in Week 1 and looks like the clear third option
behind Achane and Hill. His role is further complicated by a nagging
shoulder injury that limited him in practice. Until he’s
healthier and the offense stabilizes, Waddle is too risky to trust
in starting lineups.
Easily Jacksonville’s best offensive player in Week 1 was Etienne,
who racked up 156 yards of total offense. The Jags then traded
his backup, Tank Bigsby, to the Eagles during the week, solidifying
Etienne’s hold on primary back duties. The Clemson product has
had his moments in the past, but his output has trended the wrong
way for years now, with his 143 yards rushing against Carolina
his first 100-plus-yard outing since the 2023 campaign. Are we
finally going to see some consistency? Perhaps. Head coach Liam
Coen got a lot of attention for his work with Baker Mayfield,
but he also oversaw a running attack that averaged 5.3 yards per
carry last season. If Coen can bring that success with him to
Jacksonville, Etienne suddenly looks like a top-20 fantasy back.
Outside of a lone interception, Lawrence played a clean, efficient
game against the Panthers this past Sunday, passing for 178 yards
and a TD in a 16-point win. He had trouble connecting with Thomas,
though, completing just one of seven targeted balls to his stud
wideout for 11 yards. Much hyped rookie Travis Hunter was busier,
hauling in six passes, but he averaged only 5.5 yards per grab.
Cincy had their issues with Joe Flacco and a fairly anonymous
group of pass catchers last Sunday, so there’s some interesting
upside for Lawrence, who could be asked to do more if the Bengals’
offense gets on track and forces the Jags to keep pace. He offers
low-end QB1 upside.
As noted above, Hunter had six receptions in his NFL debut, which
led the team, but they only covered 33 yards. While the Jaguars
could certainly lean more heavily on their passing attack in Week
2, you know the team would like to get Thomas more involved, and
Cleveland found a lot of success targeting the tight ends, which
could mean more opportunities for the team’s leading receiver
in Week 1, Brenton Strange (4-59-0). There’s enough potential
here to plug Hunter into a WR3 or flex slot if you’d like, but
this is also a week where you can consider leaving the rookie
on the bench.
JAC FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.20
JAC FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.14
JAC FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.29
JAC FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.26
Not much looked good with Cincinnati’s offense in Week 1, continuing
the recent trend of early season struggles for Burrow and company.
Arguably the only pleasant surprise was the play of Fant, who
led the team with four receptions (for 26 yards) and scored the
team’s only passing touchdown of the afternoon. His five targets
also matched Chase for team-high honors and were two more than
Mike Gesicki, who figured to be the primary tight end heading
into 2025. That could still happen, so while Fant fared well in
his Bengals debut, don’t be too quick to plug him into your lineup
(or even pluck him off the waiver wire).
The arrival of fellow thousand-yard rusher Rico Dowdle didn’t
slow down Chuba Hubbard in Week 1. He picked up right where he
left off last season, handling 19 touches for 89 total yards,
3 catches, and a touchdown against Jacksonville. With volume (64.0%
rush share) and red-zone work firmly on his side, Hubbard is an
easy start against Arizona.
Tetairoa McMillan’s debut went about as well as fantasy managers
could have hoped: 9 targets, 68 yards, and an 83% snap share —
all team highs among Panthers receivers. The problem is Bryce
Young. Accuracy remains an issue, especially when pressured, and
Carolina struggles to sustain drives which limits McMillan’s opportunities
in the red zone, where his 6’5 frame gives him the most upside.
The rookie has promising usage, but a shaky floor tied to Young’s
play keeps him in “wait and see” territory.
Bryce Young’s turnover-filled Week 1 (3 giveaways) was a harsh
reminder of his struggles through two seasons. Outside of 40 rushing
yards, there wasn’t much to like, and facing an improved Arizona
defense doesn’t help. He’s not on the QB2 radar right now.
Xavier Legette also failed to inspire confidence, managing just
1.4 yards per target. Despite decent volume, he’s topped 7.3 fantasy
points in only two of seven career games with 7+ targets. His
inability to separate keeps him off the flex radar in standard
leagues.
As for Rico Dowdle, he logged only 5 touches in the loss and
appears locked in as a mere change-of-pace option behind Hubbard.
On a team likely to play from behind often, that role offers little
fantasy appeal.
CAR FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.24
CAR FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.10
CAR FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.18
CAR FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.5
Kyler Murray looked sharp in Week 1, completing 72% of his passes
and tossing 2 touchdowns, while still providing his usual rushing
threat. Most importantly, his chemistry with Marvin Harrison Jr.
stood out (5-71-1 on 6 targets). With a more balanced supporting
cast, Murray should thrive against a Panthers defense that can
be be stretched beyond their capabilities.
James Conner also draws a dream matchup. Carolina gave up 143
yards to Travis Etienne in Week 1 after ranking among the league’s
worst run defenses in 2024. With Arizona favored, Conner should
see heavy volume and multiple red-zone opportunities. He’s
squarely in the RB1 mix.
Marvin Harrison Jr. got off to a strong start in 2025, but Week
2 brings a tougher test against cornerback Jaycee Horn, who just
shut down Brian Thomas Jr. in Week 1. Arizona will scheme ways
to get Harrison open, but there’s risk of a quieter game. That
makes him more of a flex than a locked-in WR2 this week.
Second-year back Trey Benson flashed explosiveness with a 52-yard
run en route to 75 total yards in Week 1, but he still played
only about a third of Arizona’s offensive snaps. Positive
game script could boost his role against a Panthers defense that
gave up 200 rushing yards last week. Opponent RB2's averaged 9.0
FPts/G against the Panthers in 2024, including six performances
with at least 11.6 points, making Benson an option for those short-handed
at flex.
Sutton is the alpha wideout in Denver and the one receiver of
this group that doesn’t leave the field – 94.7% snap share in
Week 1. No other Denver wideout played more than 60% of the snaps.
In addition to Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims, Sean Payton got
veteran Trent Sherfield some run (34.2% snap rate). But the main
man in this offense is Sutton. He ran a route on every Bo Nix
dropback last week and something would have to go severely wrong
here for Sutton not to see 8 to 10 targets in this game – a feat
he accomplished in eleven games last season. He’s a strong WR2
with low-end WR1 upside.
Nix had a Week 1 to forget, throwing for 176 yards with 1 TD,
2 picks, and finishing as the QB27 against the Titans. In addition,
his 8 rush attempts netted just 18 yards. The Colts defense didn’t
scare anyone last season, allowing the 10th most fantasy points
to QBs and the 13th most to WRs. However, if Week 1 is any indication,
this group under new DC Lou Anarumo has more teeth. Sure, the
Dolphins may be a dumpster fire which was a contributing factor,
and I expect less pressure on the Denver QB, an improved performance
from Nix and the passing offense, but I wouldn’t count on
him being anything more than a QB2 this week.
We somewhat expected the rookie running back to start off slow
this season and that’s exactly what we got. In Week 1, J.K.
Dobbins led the Denver backfield with 18 touches to Harvey’s
7. More troubling is the fact that Tyler Badie (6 tgts) was working
on passing downs, poisoning the fantasy values of both Dobbins
and Harvey. Harvey’s 50-yard run in the 2nd half saved a
fantasy disaster but until this backfield gets settled on a two-man
rotation, it’s difficult to trust anyone but Dobbins.
DEN FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.32
DEN FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.28
DEN FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.31
DEN FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.23
Warren was picking up steam as the fantasy draft season came to
a close and we got confirmation of his role in the Colts’ offense
in Week 1. He led the team with a 31% target share, while playing
72.6% of the snaps – not bad considering this game was a laugher
by the 4th quarter. That said, I don’t think the Colts are going
to score points on every single one of their drives this week
against Denver like they did last week against Miami. Bold, I
know. But we should expect Warren to be a focal point of the offense
especially if Daniel Jones wants to avoid DB Patrick Surtain.
Which leads me to…
Pittman enjoyed a 27.6% target share in Week 1 as the Colts offense
had no problem slicing through the Dolphins-D. This matchup against
the Broncos is a different story and the Colts aren’t likely to
run 73 plays again. Furthermore, we could see CB Patrick Surtain
shadow Pittman much like he followed Calvin Ridley last week.
That resulted in a 4-27-0 line on 8 targets for Ridley. Pittman’s
usage keeps him in the starting lineup conversation but temper
expectations.
Downs’ fantasy arrow is pointing down. Not only is TE Tyler Warren
here to take the short-to-intermediate throws in this offense,
but Downs only played 49.3% of the snaps in Week 1 (down 6% from
last year) while Alec Pierce (79.5% snap rate) worked in two-WR
sets. With the Colts focusing on Warren as their second option
in the passing game, there’s not going to be enough volume for
Downs to be anything more than a deep league Flex option.
DeVonta Smith had a quiet Week 1 with just 3 catches for 16 yards
on 3 targets, but don’t panic. In his last five games following
outings with three or fewer targets, Smith has bounced back with
an average of 13.4 fantasy points per game.
The Chiefs’ secondary looks vulnerable. While they were middling
against wideouts last year, they rarely faced elite WR groups
and were exposed in Week 1 when Justin Herbert picked them apart
for over 300 yards, heavily involving his top three receivers.
With A.J. Brown’s productivity a question mark, Smith is well-positioned
for a bounce-back WR2 performance.
You’re starting A.J. Brown, but there are valid concerns. While
he carries no injury designation, questions linger about whether
the Eagles are using him more as a decoy than a focal point. If
he doesn’t show signs of normal explosiveness against a shaky
Kansas City secondary, fantasy managers may need to consider contingency
plans.
Dallas Goedert, meanwhile, is always in the TE1 conversation when
healthy. He caught all 7 of his Week 1 targets for 44 yards, and
he draws a Chiefs defense that gave up the 6th-most fantasy points
to tight ends last season. Herbert’s TEs turned just 3 targets
into 68 yards against KC in Week 1, underscoring the opportunity.
That said, Goedert missed practice Wednesday and Thursday, leaving
his status murky. If he’s cleared, he’s a solid TE1 play — but
keep an eye on injury reports.
Normally we wouldn’t mention Saquon Barkley’s backup, but Tank
Bigsby’s trade to the Eagles makes it worth a note. With Will
Shipley (ribs) banged up, Bigsby is now the clear handcuff. He
shouldn’t be in lineups this week, but he’s worth stashing if
you roster Barkley.
PHI FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.30
PHI FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.3
PHI FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.17
PHI FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.25
With Rashee Rice suspended and Xavier Worthy sidelined, Marquise
Brown is suddenly the focal point of this passing attack. He saw
a massive 16 targets in Week 1, reminding fantasy managers of
his WR2 upside — and perhaps WR1 potential if this usage continues.
Even if the Eagles shade coverage his way, the sheer volume makes
Brown a must-start.
Patrick Mahomes adapted well in Week 1 after losing Worthy, leaning
on his legs (57 rushing yards and a score) to finish as the QB6.
He’s clearly adjusted to working without a dominant receiving
corps, but the Eagles’ pass rush and secondary present a tougher
test. Mahomes is still a QB1, but more on the back-end this week
unless Kansas City is forced into a shootout.
Worthy dislocated his shoulder in Week 1 but reportedly practiced
in a limited fashion on Thursday. Even if active, he’d likely
be more decoy than contributor, carrying a zero-point floor. He’s
too risky to start.
As for the backfield, Kansas City leaned heavily on Mahomes in
Week 1, leaving Pacheco and Hunt with just 5 carries apiece. Facing
an Eagles defense that allowed the fewest rushing yards per attempt
last year, neither RB projects as a viable option in what looks
like another low-volume rushing script.
Ever since topping 1,000 yards as a rookie, Pitts has teased,
and ultimately disappointed, fantasy owners with his potential.
Somehow, four seasons into his career, the 6-foot-6 tight end
has 10 touchdowns. The latest installment of “are we finally
seeing the Pitts breakout!!?!” came on opening weekend when
he finished second on the club in targets (8), receptions (7),
and receiving yards (59). Consider this a friendly reminder to
pump your brakes. In Micheal Penix, Jr.’s other three starts,
Pitts posted a combined 7-66-1 line, and the Vikings did a nice
job Monday night of limiting the tandem of Cole Kmet and Colston
Loveland to three catches and 43 yards. Maintain a healthy skepticism
of Pitts, who looks like a fringe TE1 at best.
Penix finished Week 1 with solid numbers: 298 yards passing,
21 yards rushing, 2 total touchdowns. His play was spotty, though,
and he rarely pushed the ball downfield -- his 50-yard TD pass
was a checkdown that Robinson turned into a house call. His running,
while effective, was also out of character, and watching the Houdini
acts that Caleb Williams was doing to evade pressure Monday night
should give anyone pause about how the less elusive Penix will
handle it. With Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores on
the other side, and the southpaw making just his fifth NFL start,
you’d do well to keep Penix out of your lineup.
ATL FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.11
ATL FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.21
ATL FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.4
ATL FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.32
For at least one week, Mason (15 carries, 68 yards) looked far
more effective as a runner than Jones (8 carries, 23 yards), though
the latter salvaged his night by catching a 27-yard touchdown
as part of a team-best 44 receiving yards. It wasn’t wholly unexpected
that we’d see more of a committee approach, especially given Jones’
advanced age, but the stark contrast in performance serves to
further confuse the issue. On the matchup side, the Falcons held
Tampa Bay’s backfield of Bucky Irving and Rachaad White to 51
yards on 16 carries (3.2 YPC). A week ago, you probably would’ve
considered Jones an RB2 and Mason a flex, but now, you’re best
served viewing both as RB3s.
It’s another Rorschach test for fantasy owners after watching
McCarthy struggle to do anything well for three quarters before
hulking up after Chicago’s missed field goal and leading
the Vikings to three consecutive touchdowns drives, including
sealing the game himself after keeping the ball on a read option.
So, what happened? Did we see a young quarterback mature over
the course of 45 minutes? Or did we see a Bears team missing some
key personnel fade late? It’s likely a bit of both. We’ll
get our second look at McCarthy under the lights this Sunday.
The Falcons were solid defensively in Week 1, which included limiting
Baker Mayfield to 17 of 32 for 167 yards, but they faded down
the stretch as well and gave up three passing TDs. While those
last 15 minutes were exciting, it still feels premature to trust
McCarthy in your QB1 slot.
Bucky was 12th in RB snap percentage last week (75.9%) and had
a top 12 rush share as well (60.9%). All metrics you like to see.
The box score didn’t cooperate though as his 14-37-0, 4-8-1 line
was good for a RB19 finish. Rachaad White and Sean Tucker combined
for just 16 snaps and 4 touches signaling this is Bucky’s backfield.
There are some offensive line concerns here which likely played
a big part in Bucky’s low efficiency. Do we think that’s magically
going to improve against Houston? I’d still pencil in Irving as
a low-end RB1 but we may need to reassess if the Bucs offense
struggles with efficiency in Week 2.
This is an intriguing game and it will be interesting to see how
the Bucs offense operates against a good Texans-D. Last week,
new Bucs’ OC Josh Grizzard took a lot of shots downfield
against ATL which resulted in a low completion percentage for
Mayfield (53.1%). His 3 passing TDs and 39 rushing yards saved
his fantasy day, but I wouldn’t count a repeat for Baker
against a much better pass rush from Houston. Perhaps we see more
short-area throws this week?
A shift in gameplan would probably help Egbuka’s fantasy
value as well, although we’re not going to complain about
his 4-67-2 line against the Falcons in Week 1. The rookie finished
as the WR3 on the week, playing 93.1% of the snaps but had just
a 20% target share (same as Sterling Shepard). In other words,
he certainly made the most of opportunities but that’s sustainable
week-to-week. The fact that Egbuka is going to play 90-plus percent
of the snaps with a reasonable target share is more than enough
to keep him in your lineup, but keep an eye on the Bucs passing
gameplan this week and see if they stick their downfield guns.
The 32-year-old Evans was locked into his typical role in Week
1 against the Falcons but suffered from the same efficiency problems
as the rest of the offense. His 5-51-0 line on 8 targets was good
for WR42 in Half-PPR leagues. The Texans gave up 100-plus yards
to Puca Nacua last week but were largely solid in defending the
wideout position. Evans thrives off TDs and he’ll need to
spike one against Texans in order to pay off his WR2 expectation.
Fade: N/A
TB FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.10
TB FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.7
TB FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.21
TB FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.16
The Texans ran a lot of 3-WR sets last week against the Rams,
which makes sense given their issues at the running back position.
However, the results were putrid as Jayden Higgins led the team
with 32 receiving yards. Nico had 5 targets for 25 yards and the
Texans offense failed to score a touchdown. Not great. Will new
OC Nick Caley stick to similar gameplan this week against the
Bucs? Helping the weak Texans offensive line should be an area
of focus and if they’re able to make adjustments in that area,
Nico should be able to thrive. Drake London was close to a big
game last week it wouldn’t be a shock if Houston comes out of
the gate force-feeding Collins.
Despite his dismal Week 1 performance, there is some optimism
for Stroud in Week 2. The Bucs allowed a solid QB performance
to Michael Penix Jr. last week (298-1-0, 6-21-1) and a little
self-scouting should lead to adjustments that will help the offense
as a whole. Stroud added 32 rushing yards last week which would’ve
been his second-highest total during the regular season last year.
My hunch is we’re going to see more rushing from QBs likes
Herbert and Stroud this season, boosting their fantasy value.
Chubb worked as the lead RB for Houston last week, playing 50.8%
of the snaps, finishing with a 48.1% rush share. The good news
is he turned 13 carries into 60 yards which is worthy of Flex
consideration given his TD expectation. However, he’s not a receiving
threat (1 tgt, 0 yds) and the Bucs did a decent job against Bijan
on the ground (12-24-0) last week but got burned by him through
the air (6-100-1). Also, Houston played four running backs in
Week 1 including Dare Ogunbowale, Dameon Pierce, and Woody Marks.
Too many RBs in the fantasy kitchen for my taste.
Ladd McConkey’s sophomore season opened on a steady note
with a 6-74-0 line on nine targets against the Chiefs. While he
was narrowly out-targeted by Keenan Allen (10 to 9), McConkey’s
26% target share was a noticeable bump from his rookie year and
in line with his late-2024 usage. He’s one of the safer
fantasy options heading into Week 2.
Keenan Allen, meanwhile, nearly went unsigned this offseason
before the Chargers wisely brought him back — and he immediately
reminded everyone why. Reunited with Justin Herbert, Allen looked
comfortable and reliable, turning in a 7-68-1 performance.
Allen averaged 8.1 targets per game last year, and his dip in
production had far more to do with Caleb Williams’ hesitancy
throwing into tight windows than with Allen slowing down. At 33,
he’s no longer the player he once was, but in this offense,
if he continues to see anywhere close to eight targets a game,
he’s a solid flex option.
Outside of one near-mistake before halftime, Justin Herbert looked
sharp and in command against the Chiefs, distributing the ball
to all three of his receivers and piling up big plays. He finished
with 318 yards, three touchdowns, and added 32 yards on the ground.
Still, Herbert’s 37 dropbacks (not counting scrambles)
were above the usual Harbaugh/Greg Roman pace (32 per game last
year). Against the Raiders, we might see the Chargers lean more
heavily on the run. Herbert has QB1 upside with his upgraded receiving
corps, but the uncertainty around passing volume makes him more
of a borderline start in Week 2.
Quentin Johnston picked up right where he left off late in 2024
— with boom-or-bust potential. He scored twice against the
Chiefs, after also finding the end zone against them last December.
Against the Raiders in Week 2, Johnston will face a tougher test.
He torched them for 186 yards on 13 catches in Week 18 last season,
but that came with Las Vegas already out of contention. Carroll’s
defense should be a bigger challenge, making Johnston more bust
than boom this week.
Rookie Omarion Hampton had a difficult debut against one of the
league’s toughest run defenses, managing 48 yards on 15 carries
while breaking three tackles. He added just two catches for 13
yards. The rookie’s passing-game usage should grow, but losing
the Chargers’ best lineman this preseason raises questions about
their run-blocking consistency against strong fronts.
With Najee Harris possibly ramping up his involvement after limited
usage in Week 1, Hampton’s 17 touches may not be guaranteed
moving forward. He’s playable as a flex, but carries risk
against a Raiders defense that just stifled New England’s
backfield.
After missing much of the summer, Najee Harris saw the field
for just one touch in Week 1 despite a full week of practice.
His workload should expand soon, but for now, fantasy managers
should wait to see it before trusting him in lineups.
LAC FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.6
LAC FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.31
LAC FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.11
LAC FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.8
The additions of rookies Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton Jr. didn’t
cut into Jakobi Meyers’ involvement at all. He commanded a 30%
target share, catching eight passes for 97 yards. Brock Bowers
may be the most dangerous weapon in the Raiders’ offense, but
Meyers looks firmly entrenched as a 1B option. He’s a weekly WR2/flex
candidate, especially in Week 2 where Las Vegas is likely to be
chasing points late.
In the backfield, rookie Ashton Jeanty ran into predictably tough
sledding behind a struggling offensive line, managing just 38
yards on 19 carries against New England. Still, he salvaged his
day with a touchdown and two receptions (11 fantasy points). The
key takeaway: 21 touches in his first pro game. That type of volume,
paired with his talent, makes him a must-start moving forward.
Geno Smith wasted no time acclimating to his new team, throwing
for 362 yards in Week 1 while spreading the ball to eight different
receivers. He looked comfortable in Pete Carroll’s offense.
Still, Ashton Jeanty profiles as the Raiders’ go-to red
zone option, and Geno has just 42 touchdowns in his last 33 games.
Averaging 252 passing yards and 16 rushing yards since 2022, he
offers a steady floor but limited ceiling. Against a solid Chargers
defense, he’s more of a QB2 than a safe QB1 play.
Fade: Other Raiders Receivers
Dont’e
Thornton Jr. flashed with a 36-yard catch, finishing 2-45-0
on four targets. Fellow rookie Jack
Bech had just one catch (23 yards) in his debut, while veteran
Tre Tucker
made the most of his three targets, posting a 2-54-1 day.
One of these players may pop for flex value in a given week,
but predicting who it will be is a guessing game while Bowers
and Meyers dominate targets — and with Jeanty expected to
grow as a receiving option. Thornton and Bech are fine deep-league
stashes, but not trustworthy fantasy starters just yet.
