Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens is set to make his first appearance with his new team this Thursday against the Philadelphia Eagles. Pickens arrived in Dallas after an offseason trade, and he's expected to have a sizable role in an offense that should lean heavily on the passing attack this year. The 24-year-old has eclipsed 800 yards in each of his three pro seasons, and he could soar even higher this year if opposing defenses commit most of their attention to covering CeeDee Lamb. Plus, we expect Dallas to be playing from behind in a potential shootout against the Philadelphia Eagles, which means that Lamb, Pickens, and other Cowboys pass catchers could be peppered with targets. All in all, managers should trust Pickens as a low-end WR3/FLEX option in 12-team leagues this week.

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Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey should be inserted into fantasy managers' starting lineups despite a difficult matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1. Kicking on the road isn't easy, especially when the venue doesn't have a roof. However, Aubrey has repeatedly shown that he can nail long kicks in difficult conditions. Although he went 0-for-1 on field goals in Philadelphia last year, that came during a rough period of time when Dak Prescott was sidelined. He looked better when the Cowboys hosted the Eagles, going 2-for-2 on field goals with a successful 46-yarder. The biggest reason why you should start Aubrey, though, is his track record. He has been either K1 or K2 in each of his two NFL seasons, and Aubrey in an unfavorable venue is still better than many kickers in the serenity of a dome. Philadelphia's defense may limit Dallas' red-zone opportunities, but the Cowboys' kicker should still have several opportunities to add points via field goals. Start him with confidence in Week 1.

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Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson has the potential to be a big-time contributor in fantasy football this season, but Week 1 might not be the week to start him. On one hand, there's merit behind the idea that Ferguson could benefit from the Cowboys throwing the football a lot, assuming they fall behind early. However, he still faces an uphill battle to produce against an Eagles defense that shut down the tight end position last year. Through 17 games in 2024, Philadelphia's defense allowed the fewest receiving yards, third-fewest catches, and third-fewest fantasy points to tight ends. Ferguson likely doesn't have the top-tier talent that's required to buck that trend. After all, in his two games against the Eagles last year, he totaled seven catches for a measly 42 yards. Additionally, each of his two fumbles last season came against Philadelphia. He ranks outside the top 12 at his position this week.

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb should be started in all fantasy leagues despite having a tough Week 1 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. The 26-year-old is coming off a strong year in which he caught 101 passes for 1,194 yards and six touchdowns despite missing two games. Yet, those numbers represented a step down from his final statistics in both 2022 and 2023, so we know that Lamb has the potential to be even better. A big factor toward Lamb's success is the availability of Dak Prescott, who has a clean bill of health to open the 2025 season. With his talented quarterback healthy and the Cowboys expected to be trailing in several shootouts this year, Lamb has tremendous upside. This week's matchup against a well-rounded Eagles defense isn't great, but managers should still confidently deploy him as a mid-range WR1 in fantasy football.

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Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams will likely lead the team in rushing attempts against the Philadelphia Eagles. Purely by volume, he warrants consideration as a mid-range RB3/FLEX option in most fantasy leagues. In addition to rushing the football, he could carve out some targets, especially as the Cowboys wait to fully phase in Jaydon Blue. While Williams' volume and receiving upside are exciting, his matchup is not as glamorous. The Eagles allowed the seventh-fewest rushing yards, second-fewest rushing touchdowns, and the fewest fantasy points to running backs in 2024. While some of last year's Eagles defense have departed, the team also brought in new faces to stop the run, including rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell. Not only could Williams' efficiency suffer as a result, but the Cowboys might also fall into an early deficit and feel more pressure to throw the ball downfield. Purely based on volume, Williams is a fringe fantasy starter in 12-team leagues, but the matchup is nothing to get excited about.

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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is making his big return from injury this Thursday against the Philadelphia Eagles. The veteran signal-caller missed nine games last year, but he's now healthy and possesses significant fantasy upside. Most of the excitement around Prescott stems from concerns about the Cowboys' defense and running back room. If Dallas' defense struggles as much as expected, the offense will need to play catch-up and score a lot of points. However, without much star power in the backfield, most of Dallas' offensive attack will need to come through the air. Prescott could easily be asked to throw the football 600 times this year, and his career 66.8 percent completion rate, 5.1 percent touchdown rate, and 2.0 percent interception rate are all very appealing. This week, he faces off against a very strong Eagles defense. This unit allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks last year, and they only got slightly worse during the offseason. As 8.5-point underdogs, Prescott and the Cowboys could have some solid garbage-time stats, but it seems somewhat unlikely the quarterback lights the world on fire against a very tough opponent. Fantasy managers should feel comfortable with Prescott's floor, but refrain from expressing much optimism about his ceiling. He's merely a low-end QB1 this week.

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Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson has named Braxton Jones as the team's starting left tackle in Week 1, per ESPN's Courtney Cronin. Jones has started 40 games for Chicago over the past three seasons. Still, he was pushed in training camp by second-round rookie Ozzy Trapilo and former undrafted free agent Theo Benedet. The Bears remade the interior of their offensive line heading into 2025, but 2024 starting tackles Jones and Darnell Wright will remain in place. Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams took the most sacks in the NFL (68) last season. However, the second-year signal caller was to blame for a significant number of those sacks and needs to be better at reading defenses and getting the ball out quickly in 2025.

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Quarterback Sam Howell is likely to serve as the Philadelphia Eagles' QB2 behind Jalen Hurts in the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night, according to Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Eagles acquired Howell from the Minnesota Vikings in late August after projected backup quarterback Tanner McKee (thumb) went down with a fractured thumb. McKee is not expected to be ready for Week 1, but he is expected to re-take Philadelphia's QB2 role when fully healthy. If pressed into action, Howell has 18 games of starting experience in the NFL. He led the NFL in pass attempts (612) and interceptions (21) in 17 games for the Washington Commanders in 2023.

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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is expecting defensive lineman Cameron Heyward to play in Week 1 against the New York Jets, per ESPN's Brooke Pryor. Heyward was a limited participant in training camp as he seeks to re-negotiate his current contract. The 36-year-old collected eight sacks and 35 solo tackles in 17 games last season and was named a first-team All-Pro. Heyward is a huge part of the Steelers' defense, particularly against the run. With Heyward on the field, it could be a tough day for Jets quarterback Justin Fields, as well as running backs Breece Hall and Braelon Allen, in the season opener.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers have released veteran wide receiver Robert Woods from their practice squad, per an announcement from the team. Woods played in 15 games for the Houston Texans in 2024, recording 20 catches for 203 yards. The 33-year-old has been a steadily productive NFL receiver for over a decade, but he could be nearing the end of the road. Pittsburgh does not have much proven wide receiver depth behind top wideout DK Metcalf, so giving up on Woods could be telling of just how little juice the veteran has left in the tank. Even if Woods signs elsewhere, he should remain off the fantasy radar in 2025.

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The Houston Texans have signed quarterback Davis Mills to a one-year, $7 million extension, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Mills is now under contract with the team through the 2026 season. Houston drafted Mills in the third round of the 2021 draft, and he started 26 games for the team over his first two NFL seasons. He has not started a game since, serving as the team's third-string quarterback in 2023 behind C.J. Stroud and Case Keenum and the backup in 2024 behind Stroud, a role he is now likely to hold for 2025 and 2026. In 38 career games played, Mills has completed 62.6% of his passes and thrown 35 touchdowns. If Stroud were to get injured, Mills would profile as a fantasy QB3.

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The Seattle Seahawks have released rookie running back Damien Martinez from their practice squad, per John Boyle of Seahawks.com. Seattle selected Martinez in the seventh round of the 2025 draft, but he failed to make the team's 53-man roster and has now been bumped off the practice squad as well. Martinez averaged over six yards per carry in each of his three college seasons, so his track record of production could lead to him landing another practice squad deal with a different team. However, Martinez is highly unlikely to be fantasy-relevant in 2025 and does not hold much dynasty value at this point either.

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The Houston Texans restructured tight end Dalton Schultz's $36 million contract for salary cap purposes on Tuesday, a league source told Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. Schultz will make the same $11.508 million this year through a simple conversion of his $11 million base salary into a signing bonus that lowers his salary cap figure. He will be due $11 million in 2026 under the three-year extension he signed in 2024. The 29-year-old had 53 catches on 85 targets for 532 yards and only two touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (13 starts) in 2024 in his second year with the team. It was a disappointing showing for fantasy managers, especially when considering the injuries to Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell. His numbers last year were his fewest since his second year in the league in 2019 with Dallas. Schultz enters Week 1 against the Rams as a low-end TE2 in fantasy.

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The Denver Broncos' unofficial depth chart for Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans has running back J.K. Dobbins listed as the starting RB ahead of rookie second-rounder RJ Harvey, according to Zac Stevens of DNVR. Tyler Badie is the RB3, and Jaleel McLaughlin is the RB4. Dobbins was brought in as a free agent this offseason to help make up for the departure of Javonte Williams, and he's fully expected to play a big role in Denver's backfield in 2025. However, the Broncos drafted Harvey in the second round in April for a reason, and although he's starting as the RB2, fantasy managers are fully expecting Harvey to lead this backfield when all is said and done in 2025. Not only does Dobbins not have the home run ability that Harvy has, but he has a history of pretty serious leg injuries. At best, he should be considered an RB3/flex play in fantasy in Week 1 against the Titans.

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Las Vegas Raiders rookie wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. is listed as a starter on the team's unofficial depth chart heading into a Week 1 matchup against the New England Patriots this Sunday. Meanwhile, Amari Cooper is listed on the second string after signing with the team late in training camp. Cooper could eventually become a bigger part of Vegas' offense, but going into the season opener, Thornton figures to have a big role in the passing attack. He should start in three-wide sets alongside Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker. The 22-year-old fourth-rounder has emerged ahead of fellow rookie Jack Bech after a strong training camp and preseason, but it remains to be seen exactly how much he'll be targeted by quarterback Geno Smith out of the gates. But Thornton's output alone this summer makes him deserving of a roster spot for receiver depth in deeper fantasy formats.

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On the Carolina Panthers' first unofficial depth chart of the regular season, they have listed wide receiver Hunter Renfrow as a starter alongside rookie first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan. Renfrow initially did not make the 53-man roster out of training camp and was released, but that was before Carolina traded Adam Thielen to the Minnesota Vikings and placed Jalen Coker (quadriceps) on Injured Reserve. Now that the 29-year-old is back in Carolina, he could start in three-wide sets next to McMillan and Xavier Legette, but that may not equal enough targets to make him fantasy relevant in starting lineups. Renfrow will play in Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but we wouldn't recommend starting him in fantasy lineups, even in deeper leagues. He will primarily be competing for playing time with David Moore.

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The Denver Broncos released their first unofficial depth chart of the regular season on Tuesday, and rookie second-round running back RJ Harvey is listed as the RB2 behind J.K. Dobbins. Harvey was listed all the way at the bottom of the RB depth chart to kick off the preseason -- head coach Sean Payton's initial depth charts usually are always tough on rookies -- but he's now the RB2 heading into Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans. While Dobbins is going to be a key piece of the Broncos' backfield in 2025, all expectations are that Harvey will lead the team in rushing attempts and yards when all is said and done. The 24-year-old out of Central Florida saw plenty of work with the first-team offense in training camp and the preseason and has more overall upside than the oft-injured Dobbins. Harvey is an RB3/flex with upside heading into his NFL debut against the Titans.

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Los Angeles Chargers wide receivers Quentin Johnston (head) and Tre' Harris (undisclosed) are not listed on the team's Week 1 injury report and were full participants in Tuesday's practice. Johnston suffered a scary concussion in the team's second preseason game in the middle of August against the Los Angeles Rams, but he has since been cleared from the concussion protocol and is on track to play in Friday's season opener in Brazil against the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs. The 23-year-old former first-rounder has struggled with drops early in his career and now must battle for playing time with Harris, putting him off the fantasy radar in 12-team fantasy leagues, especially after Keenan Allen rejoined the team. Harris, a second-rounder in April, will play on Friday, but he figures to struggle for volume early on and should be on the bench in deeper leagues.

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Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris (eye) is listed as a full participant on the team's first official injury report of the year on Tuesday in advance of their Week 1 regular-season opener on Friday in Brazil against the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs. Harris missed most of training camp and all of the preseason after injuring his eye on the Fourth of July in a fireworks accident, but he has since been fully cleared and is on track to suit up this Friday for his team debut. The 27-year-old said his vision is fine after the injury. It's good news for fantasy managers that took a chance on Harris late in their drafts, but he's still likely to play second fiddle to rookie first-rounder Omarion Hampton on Friday. We'd recommend benching Harris in the season opener, but his presence in the backfield is a slight hit to Hampton's fantasy appeal in his NFL debut.

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Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler is listed as the team's lead back on their first unofficial depth chart for the 2025 regular season. Jeremy McNichols is listed as the No. 2, with Chris Rodriguez Jr. as the third RB and rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt as the RB4. This one is hard to pinpoint entering the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday against the division-rival New York Giants. Despite being third and fourth on the depth chart, both Rodriguez and Croskey-Merritt are expected to have big roles in this backfield. However, things are shaping up for a committee approach early on for offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, with Ekeler expected to handle the third-down role. Rodriguez and JCM could split the early downs, with Rodriguez also potentially having the leg up in short-yardage/goal-line situations. It's not an ideal situation for fantasy managers going into Week 1, with none of the RBs being any better than shaky RB3/flex plays.

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