The Arizona Cardinals open the 2024 season against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. In 2023, the Cardinals allowed the second-most points in the league (455) and the third-most passing touchdowns (32). Arizona made no significant improvements in the offseason and PFF ranks each unit (defensive line, linebackers, secondary) dead last in the league. The Bills, on the other hand, feature one of the best quarterbacks in the league leading an offense that scored the fifth-most points in the league last year. Aside from likely yielding too many points to make them a viable D/ST option, Arizona also has no pass rush to speak of and with Allen's mobility, the Cardinals won't be making up any fantasy points via sacks. Any other D/ST will be a better option to start in Week 1.

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Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride is expected to pick up where he left off following his breakout last year. Drafted in 2022, McBride was hardly involved in the offense at all until Zach Ertz was placed on injured reserve halfway through the 2023 season. Once McBride had the TE1 role to himself, he took off, ending the season with the team lead in targets (106), receptions (81), and receiving yards (825). McBride was targeted on 27% of routes run in 2023, tops among tight ends, and his 2.10 yards per route run ranked second behind George Kittle. Arizona faces the Buffalo Bills in the season opener on Sunday. Despite their solid defense, McBride should be locked into starting rosters and should finish as a TE1.

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Arizona Cardinals kicker Matt Prater will begin his 18th NFL season when the team takes on the Buffalo Bills in Week 1. Prater is the active leader in career field goals with 401 and is second on the list in career extra points. Last season Prater was 28-for-33 on field goal attempts and made all but one of his 23 extra point tries. With a healthy Kyler Murray leading the way, Arizona's offense should be more effective out of the gate than it was in 2023 which will lead to more opportunities for Prater to put points on the board. Buffalo is expected to score at will against Arizona's defense on Sunday. If the Cardinals can stay competitive it will be because they engage in a shootout which, again, means more chances to score for Prater. The veteran kicker is not the best option out there but he is widely available, has a strong leg (nine FGs of 50+ yards in 2023), and will be featured in a high-scoring matchup.

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Now entering his fifth NFL season, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Greg Dortch may finally have a regular role carved out for himself in 2024. Buzz has been building around Dortch throughout the preseason as he has shown chemistry with quarterback Kyler Murray and demonstrated excellent route running ability. Lauded rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. and third-year tight end Trey McBride are the top two targets in Arizona's offense but Dortch should see a fair amount out of the slot. The Cardinals face the Bills in Week 1 and while Buffalo's secondary will be a challenge, in 2023 they gave up more fantasy points per game to receivers lined up in the slot versus out wide. Dortch projects to be in WR5 territory in Week 1. While he may be worth a flex in deeper leagues, he should be held out of lineups in 10- or 12-teamers.

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Arizona Cardinals selected Marvin Harrison Jr. is set to make his regular season debut on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. During the preseason, the former Buckeye was kept out of harm's way for the most part, seeing only three snaps in all. The fourth overall selection of the NFL Draft, Harrison is already listed as the team's WR1 and is expected to have an immediate impact. The Bills won't make it easy, as they are the only team returning three cornerbacks with coverage grades of 81.0 or higher from PFF. Still, given the combination of talent, draft capital, and the team situation, Arizona should be feeding Harrison as many targets as possible. Harrison looks like a safe WR2 with upside in Week 1.

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Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson finished the preseason with 17 carries for 64 rushing yards. The third-round pick out of Florida State was once believed to be a threat to James Conner's playing time but it appears the rookie will have to wait a while before he makes his mark on the league. In recent comments to the press, offensive coordinator Drew Petzing reaffirmed the team's commitment to using Conner as their primary running back, referring to him as the "bell cow in that room." While Benson's performance during training camp and the preseason solidified his role as Conner's direct backup, not much should be expected of the rookie out of the gate. Given Conner's injury history, Benson is certainly a worthwhile bench stash but the bench is exactly where he should be on fantasy rosters in Week 1.

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When the Arizona Cardinals open their season on Sunday, it will mark running back James Conner's eighth as a pro, and his fourth with the team. Since joining the Cardinals in 2021, Conner has the eleventh-most carries in the league despite missing seven games due to injury over the last two seasons and starting only six games in 2021. Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing recently told the media that Conner is "the bell cow in that room," signaling he will maintain his role despite rookie Trey Benson's presence on the depth chart. In 2023, Conner turned in his first 1,000-yard season and finished with the third-most rushing yards per game (80.0). The Buffalo Bills have a stout defense but last season had a weakness against running backs, allowing 4.4 yards per carry (eighth-worst in the NFL) and 6.33 yards per target (fourth-worst) to the position. Conner can be started as a solid RB2 option in Week 1.

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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray won't have it easy in Week 1 when the team kicks off the 2024 season against the Buffalo Bills. Last season, the Bills limited opposing quarterbacks to just 215.2 passing yards per game and a total of 18 passing touchdowns, tied for the third-fewest in the league. However, they lost veteran safeties Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde in the offseason, leaving room for fantasy managers to be optimistic about Murray's production. There's also the fact that Murray isn't shy about using his legs to make a play. Since his rookie season in 2019, he has averaged 37.7 rushing yards per game (fourth-most in the NFL in that span). Murray has a good track record and a stable of young pass-catchers headlined by fourth-overall draft pick Marvin Harrison Jr. Despite the tough matchup, Murray should be in starting lineups on Sunday.

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The Chicago Bears defense and special teams look to continue the upward trajectory they showed toward the end of last season against the Tennessee Titans in Week 1. After acquiring defensive end Montez Sweat (toe), the Bears improved significantly, moving from 28th to 20th in points allowed, 23rd to 12th in yards allowed, and 22nd to 3rd in takeaways. It is important to note that Sweat has shown up on the injury report for Sunday's game as questionable, with a toe injury. In their Week 1 matchup, they'll face a Titans offense featuring notable playmakers like Calvin Ridley, De'Andre Hopkins, and Tyler Boyd, with second-year quarterback Will Levis at the helm. Adding head coach Brian Callahan and new talent should benefit the Titans, but the significant scheme changes may lead to some growing pains. If you have the Bears' defense on your roster, feel confident starting them this week. Additionally, having Velus Jones Jr. returning kicks could provide added value.

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Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos is a strong fantasy starter for Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans. Last season, the Titans allowed the most fantasy points to kickers, making Santos a promising option. The Bears value Santos, as evidenced by their four-year, $16 million contract extension with him last December, including $9.5 million guaranteed. Santos had an impressive season in 2023, attempting 2.2 field goals per game and converting 92.1% of his attempts. With the Bears favored in their Week 1 matchup and an implied point total of 24.75the sixth highestSantos is in a favorable position. The weather forecast is in the mid-70s and clear, making him a solid choice if you've drafted him.

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Green Bay Packers kicker Brayden Narveson made his NFL debut for the team in the Packers' 34-29 defeat at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1. Narveson made three of his four field goal attempts from 31, 23, and 26 yards. The lone miss came from 43 yards out when Narveson hit the upright. He also made both extra-point attempts on the night. With the Packers offense moving the ball solidly, Narveson did look the part in a unique environment for an NFL debut in Brazil. The Packers' rookie kicker should remain on the waiver wire in fantasy, as Narveson is still a bit risky to trust in your lineups for Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts at home. Still, his fantasy outlook going forward has brightened a bit in a pressure-packed game with a national spotlight.

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The New York Giants defense could be the surprise play of Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings. With a formidable front seven (including pass rush specialist Brian Burns, stud players Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence) and a secondary brimming with high draft picks (such as 2023 first-round pick Deonte Banks), they're poised to challenge Sam Darnold early. While facing the daunting task of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, the Giants' defense managed to create 12 interceptions last season, showing their potential if they can pressure Darnold into mistakes. With new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, the Giants could see a significant resurgence on the defensive side of the ball, offering hope to fantasy managers.

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Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert had a quiet night in Friday's win over the Packers. A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Saquon Barkley did most of the heavy lifting on the offensive end. As a result, Goedert finished with only four grabs for 31 yards. Without question, nobody is expecting the veteran to be a top fantasy tight end in 2024-25. However, fantasy managers are still hoping he'll play better than last season, especially under new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. At any rate, the Eagles will get some rest before getting ready for the Falcons in Week 2. Goedert isn't a viable starting option outside deep, multi-tight end formats. Yet, the upside is still there for those who may be desperate.

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New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers is poised for a potential fantasy breakout in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings. Following an impressive preseason, the rookie has demonstrated his big-play potential and ability to stretch the field, which aligns well with the Vikings' vulnerability to passing yards. Nabers' speed and route-running could exploit this weakness, with the Giants likely to target him frequently to showcase his explosive plays. Nabers is a flex option at the very least, especially in deeper leagues, making him a player to watch this week.

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Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft had a pretty quiet night in the stat sheet in the Packers' 34-29 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Sao Paulo on Friday night. Kraft caught 2-of-3 targets for 37 yards, but the story is that Kraft was the TE1 in snaps and routes well over presumptive starter Luke Musgrave. Per Nathan Jahnke of PFF, Kraft dominated routes per dropback 30-8 and also in snaps as Kraft ran all but three snaps. Even if Kraft's utilization going forward remains as it was in Week 1, Kraft is still a streaming option if you need a tight end, not as somebody you need to plug into fantasy lineups immediately. Of course, there's the Jordan Love aspect, as Love left the game with an undisclosed lower-body injury. If Love plays in Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts, Kraft is a mid-range fantasy TE2 with volume-based upside.

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New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson has a chance to make noise in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings. Robinson's versatility and knack for making plays in space as the slot receiver will be crucial for an offense that looks to exploit a vulnerable Vikings secondary. While Robinson is returning from injury, his target share in the Giants' short passing game should give him a decent PPR floor in deeper leagues. With Minnesota's secondary giving up an average of 234 passing yards per game last season, Robinson may be a sneaky flex option.

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New York Giants wide receiver Jalin Hyatt has the potential to be a boom-or-bust flex option in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings. Hyatt, who showcased his game-breaking speed as a rookie last season, could see a breakout opportunity this week. His deep-threat ability could be a nightmare for Minnesota's shaky cornerbacks, especially with Daniel Jones showing increasing trust in the young wideout downfield. With the Vikings struggling in pass coverage and the Giants' offense poised for more vertical attacks, Hyatt is a sneaky flex option in deeper leagues this week.

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New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton lead the team in receiving yards for the fourth time in five years in 2023. Barring injury, that should change in 2024 as he heads into a Week 1 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday. With rookie phenom Malik Nabers now on the team and recent draft picks Jalin Hyatt and Wan'Dale Robinson pushing for more playing time, Slayton may see the least amount of snaps in his career. That being said, though he posted an inconsistent 2023 season, he still averaged 15.4 yards per catch and is the most veteran presence in the receiver room. Slayton could surprise all of the doubters once again, but at this time, Slayton is better left on the waiver wire.

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New York Giants kicker Graham Gano enters Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings as a sneaky yet reliable fantasy option. Despite only playing eight games last season, Gano is healthy again and has a career average field goal percentage of 83.7%, including an impressive 43-for-64 from 50+ yards. With the Giants offense projected to struggle to move the ball effectively, Gano could see few field goal opportunities on Sunday. Look elsewhere on the waiver wire until we get more answers about the Giants offense.

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New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is set to exploit a favorable matchup in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings, who ranked 24th in defense against the pass in 2023, allowed an average of 234 passing yards and over 21.3 points per game. This sets the stage for Jones to build on his dual-threat success from 2022. Despite a challenging 2023 season due to injuries, Jones is now healthy and ready to return to fantasy relevance. With the Vikings' secondary still in question, Jones could capitalize on their weaknesses, offering fantasy managers a reliable QB2 option this week.

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