Tennessee Titans quarterback Cameron Ward opens his NFL career on the road against the Denver Broncos in Week 1. This matchup would have an unfavorable outlook for any quarterback, and that's especially true with a rookie who has not yet played a regular-season snap. While Ward did show that he can handle tough matchups in college, a Broncos defense led by Patrick Surtain II and Nik Bonitto is a whole different beast. Fantasy managers should expect that Denver will implement a game plan intended to rattle Ward early. Whether that game plan is effective remains to be seen, but with such a difficult matchup waiting for him, Ward can be left on the bench in most fantasy leagues this week.

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Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa starts the season healthy and with a good group of pass-catchers as he leads his team to Indianapolis to take on the Colts. Since he doesn't run very much at all, the 27-year-old has limited upside. No quarterback in the NFL had a lower air yards per attempt (5.8) than Tua in 2024, and he averaged just over 260 passing yards per game while throwing 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 11 games. The Colts were a slightly above-average matchup for quarterbacks last year, and Tagovailoa always has the potential for a big day if his playmakers find space. He typically focuses on short, accurate passes, though, rather than taking deep shots. He is the QB21 this week, making him a low-end starter in two-quarterback leagues in Week 1 even though his offense appears to be healthy.

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Indianapolis Colts running back Tyler Goodson (elbow) will hope to take the field against the Miami Dolphins at home in Week 1. Goodson is listed as questionable for the game as he is still recovering from an elbow injury he suffered during the preseason. He has been practicing on a limited basis this week, giving him a chance to suit up. Goodson is listed as the RB2 in Indy behind Jonathan Taylor, which gives him some fantasy value as a handcuff. That being said, rookie DJ Giddens is also lurking as the RB3 and could potentially overtake Goodson if his injury lingers. For now, Goodson is worth a stash in deep fantasy leagues as the backup in case Taylor misses time.

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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. will open the 2025 season with a home matchup against the Miami Dolphins. Pittman draws a matchup against a Miami defense that was tough on opposing receivers last season, as they allowed the third-fewest fantasy points per game to the position. That being said, secondary is a weakness for Miami this year, which will benefit the Indy pass-catchers. Pittman played through a back injury in 2024 which limited his production, but he is fully healthy heading into 2025. That being said, he will have to fight for targets alongside Josh Downs, Adonai Mitchell, Alec Pierce, and first-round rookie Tyler Warren. It still remains to be seen how the targets shake out with new quarterback Daniel Jones under center. For now, Pittman can be used as a middling flex option heading into Week 1.

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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones will make his debut with his new team against the Miami Dolphins at home in Week 1. Jones won a close training camp battle with Anthony Richardson Sr. to be the team's starting quarterback heading into the regular season. He draws a matchup against a Miami defense that was tough on fantasy quarterbacks in 2024 as they allowed the second-fewest fantasy points per game to the position. Jones brings some upside on the ground and has several weapons around him to target, but he remains a low-end QB2 for fantasy purposes until he proves otherwise.

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Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor will open his 2025 season with a home matchup against the Miami Dolphins. Taylor finished his 2024 season on a tear, scoring six touchdowns over the final three games of the year. He will look to get off to a fast start this season against a Miami defense that allowed the 18th-most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. Thanks to the Colts' decision to go with Daniel Jones over Anthony Richardson Sr. at quarterback, Taylor should see more targets and more carries at the goal line than he would if Richardson were available. Taylor checks in as a top-six, must-start fantasy option heading into the first week of games.

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Indianapolis Colts running back DJ Giddens will make his NFL debut at home against the Miami Dolphins in Week 1. While still listed as the RB3 in Indy, Giddens could see some work as the backup to Jonathan Taylor thanks to Tyler Goodson's (elbow) questionable status heading into Sunday. With a decent showing, Giddens could overtake Goodson as the RB2 for the Colts, which would give him plenty of fantasy value as the handcuff to Taylor. For now, Giddens is just a bench stash in deeper leagues, but he should be monitored on Sunday in case he's able to break off a few long runs.

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San Francisco 49ers kicker Jake Moody's 2024 season should have fantasy managers looking elsewhere to fill the position on their rosters to start the season this weekend. Moody converted 24 of his 34 field goal attempts last year, giving him the second-worst conversion rate (70.6%) among kickers with at least 20 tries in 2024. Moody did put on a good show in the preseason, concentrated in the 49ers meeting with the Raiders, when he went 5-for-6, including a 59-yarder as time expired. Moody is a volatile option at an already volatile position and should be avoided until he can provide more stable results.

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The San Francisco 49ers promoted wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the active roster ahead of their season opener against the Seattle Seahawks. Valdes-Scantling was signed to the team's practice squad on August 28. Last season, the 30-year-old spent six games with the Bills before being released and then signing with the injury-plagued Saints. MVS made waves in his second game with New Orleans, catching three passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns. He finished 2024 with a 19-411-4 line. Valdes-Scantling is a depth piece who will be competing for field time with Skyy Moore and not targets with Ricky Pearsall or Jauan Jennings (calf). He can be ignored for fantasy purposes in Week 1.

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Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall is poised for a strong start to his sophomore season in a Week 1 matchup against the Seahawks. With Deebo Samuel now gone, Brandon Aiyuk (knee) on the PUP list, and Jauan Jennings (calf) having spent most of the preseason nursing an injury and engaged in a contract dispute, Pearsall is now a key player on the 49ers' offense. Over the last two weeks of the 2024 season, Pearsall showed us what he is capable of when he is featured, catching 14 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns. Pearsall is projected as a borderline WR3/4, but Christian McCaffrey's (calf) status might force San Francisco to rely more on their pass game, which could further benefit Pearsall's production.

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Second-year running back Isaac Guerendo opens the season third on the 49ers' depth chart, though he may already see more action than originally anticipated. Christian McCaffrey (calf) popped up on the team's injury report this week and is tagged as questionable for San Francisco's Week 1 matchup against the Seahawks. Guerendo's only route to fantasy relevance relies on CMC sitting. If that does happen, then he can be seen as a deep-league flex candidate. Brian Robinson Jr. will likely draw the start, but Guerendo made his mark in 2024 in similar circumstances and is a potential RB4/5 pending McCaffrey's status.

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Rookie running back Jordan James (finger) is listed as doubtful for the 49ers' season opener against the Seattle Seahawks after being a limited participant in practice all week. The fifth-rounder out of Oregon suffered a broken finger in early August, which precluded him from playing at all in the preseason. Early in camp, James was thought to be a valid challenger to Isaac Guerendo to back up Christian McCaffrey (calf), a competition rendered moot with the acquisition of Brian Robinson Jr.. Even with McCaffrey listed as questionable for Week 1, an injured James has no place on fantasy rosters.

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Brian Robinson Jr.'s fantasy stock took a hit when he was sent from the Commanders to the 49ers in August, going from presumed starter to second-stringer overnight. However, with Christian McCaffrey (calf) landing on the team's injury report just days before San Francisco's season opener, Robinson may already be in the spotlight again. McCaffrey is questionable for Week 1 after following a limited practice on Thursday with a DNP on Friday. Should CMC sit, Robinson will be first in line for the start, and thus viable for fantasy purposes. Even if that is the case, it is hard to envision anything higher than a borderline RB2/3 finish for Robinson as he is still learning the system and would likely be splitting work with second-year back Isaac Guerendo.

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Brock Purdy opens the 2025 season against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. In two starts against his division rival last season, Purdy was 39-for-56 (70% completion rate) for 414 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. In five career starts against Seattle, Purdy has nine touchdowns to three interceptions and has averaged 241.6 passing yards per game. With running back Christian McCaffrey (calf) drawing a questionable tag for the season opener, there may be increased reliance on Purdy's arm. Fortunately, wide receiver Jauan Jennings (calf) has been cleared for the game and will join George Kittle and Ricky Pearsall as Purdy's top targets downfield. Fantasy football managers can start Purdy as he still has enough support around him to finish as a low-end QB1.

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New York Giants kicker Graham Gano is a difficult fantasy start for Week 1, given his recent injury history and the unknown offensive output of the team. Gano has missed significant time over the last two seasons due to injury and saw his field goal percentage drop to 73.25% over the past two seasons. While he did show a positive sign by making both of his 50+ yard attempts, his overall inconsistency is a major concern. The Giants' offense is expected to be a work in progress with a new quarterback, which could limit scoring opportunities. While the Commanders' defense wasn't particularly stingy against kickers last year, Gano's recent struggles make him a high-risk, low-reward option to start the season.

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Washington Commanders running back Jeremy McNichols is back for his second season with the team after earning a spot on the final roster. McNichols was a valuable player in pass protection and special teams last season, in addition to showing versatility as a runner and receiver when needed. He averaged 4.7 yards per carry and scored five touchdowns, including two in Week 4 against Arizona last season and one against Detroit in the playoffs. The 29-year-old has bounced around multiple teams before Washington, but has carved out a nice role on special teams and as a stout pass protector, where the coaches rave about him. McNichols won't be relevant for fantasy purposes in Week 1, but will likely be on the field for some snaps.

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New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson is a high-upside fantasy option entering his second season as the unquestioned top tight end. As a rookie in 2024, Johnson averaged 4.47 fantasy points per game and showcased his potential with 331 receiving yards. The matchup against the Washington Commanders is a difficult one, as they were the 8th-ranked fantasy defense against tight ends in 2024, allowing an average of only 9.16 points per game to the position. However, Johnson's athletic profile and newfound role as a top target for quarterback Russell Wilson make him an intriguing play with a higher ceiling than many might expect. He is a talented TE to watch out for each week.

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Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. has had a strong training camp and preseason, which ultimately led to his inclusion on the final roster. Rodriguez could play a significant role as the primary early-down back in Week 1 against the Giants. He proved to be up to the task in his small sample of touches last season, leading all running backs with at least 25 rushes in Success Rate at 57%. His peripherals are all very encouraging, and then he showed up to camp after off-season training with a transformed body, looking faster and leaner. The results have been positive with him reaching 20 MPH in practice more times this year than ever before, including on a breakaway run against the Bengals in Washington's second preseason game. The backfield will be by committee, and there is a lot of uncertainty for how it will all shake out. Rodriguez is a worthwhile stash to hold through Week 1 to see what happens, but not a startable option.

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New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton is a long-shot fantasy option for Week 1 despite his speed and veteran presence. Coming off a season where he averaged 5.66 fantasy points per game, Slayton is not a recommended play for most fantasy leagues. The Washington Commanders' defense was the 8th-ranked fantasy defense against wide receivers in 2024, giving up 30.24 points per game. However, Slayton's role as a deep threat, combined with the presence of other receivers like Malik Nabers and Wan'Dale Robinson, will likely limit his target share. While his new quarterback, Russell Wilson, represents a potential upgrade, Slayton's fantasy value is too reliant on a big play to be trusted as a reliable starter.

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New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson is a risky Week 1 fantasy play despite a career-high 140 targets in 2024. He enters the season with new quarterback Russell Wilson, and he is ranked as the 57th-best fantasy wide receiver for Week 1. The matchup against the Washington Commanders does not appear favorable, as they were the 8th-ranked fantasy defense against wide receivers in 2024 by allowing an average of 30.24 points per game. Robinson's specific role as a smaller slot receiver might limit his upside. With a career-long average of just 8.2 yards per reception, his fantasy value is heavily reliant on short, high-volume passes. This makes him a risky Flex option, as his floor is dependent on receptions and his ceiling is limited by his role in the offense.

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