We are finally back! Welcome to real NFL football this week – Andy, Mike, and Jason are here to get us ready. Remember to listen to The Fantasy Footballers podcast, available wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Tuesday – Week 1 Hype + Changing Opinions, Undrafted Gems
Undrafted Gems
Alright, Footclan, time to talk undrafted gems that could smash Week 1. Mike is a believer in Romeo Doubs. With Reed’s foot broken and rookies still ramping up, Doubs could open as Green Bay’s WR1. It’s not a sexy pick, but Green Bay has great early matchups and an unknown WR room. Jason’s guy is Hunter Henry, aka the most forgotten TE alive, but with the easiest opening schedule and a history of hot Week 1 starts. Andy throws in Adam Thielen. Think short-term play with Addison out and a MNF revenge game.
News
Jaylen Warren got the bag, a 2-year, $12M deal with guaranteed money, and he’s locked in as the Week 1 starter. Warren’s going late in drafts, but the value’s too good. Now, Jason’s also pounding the table for rookie Kaleb Johnson, saying he’ll eventually take over the backfield entirely, including passing work. Mike ain’t buying it, calling Johnson’s tape “meh” and reminding us: Pittsburgh has a long history of feature backs.
Meanwhile, news is flying: Quinshon Judkins might sign and join the Browns soon, but he’ll likely face a 3–6 game suspension under the NFL’s personal conduct policy. If he gets going midseason, he could be huge. Elsewhere, Coker’s out with a quad strain (IR), opening the door for Hunter Renfrow, and Jauan Jennings is back for the 49ers.
Wednesday – Week 1 Start/Sit + TNF Preview, Super Bowl Predictions
News
It’s Week 1, which means it’s time for Depth Chart Overreaction Season. First up, Bill Croskey shows up as RB4 for Washington, but don’t panic! It’s alphabetical, and low-drafted rookies typically start low on depth charts. If you believe in the talent, you’re still in.TreVeyon Henderson is RB3 in New England. It’s only a matter of time before he surpasses Rhamondre Stevenson for the top spot. The Broncos backfield is heating up – Dobbins is listed as the starter, but RJ Harvey has jumped to RB2. Jason’s rolling Dobbins for the safety, but Harvey’s got that boom potential.
Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby listed as co-starters? Cute. Mike’s still on Team Bigsby, while Jason’s on Etienne for pass-catching. Both could be viable in 2025 under OC Liam Coen. Jaylen Warren is locked in as Pittsburgh’s RB1. Kaleb Johnson truthers need to be patient. Titans rookie Elic Ayomanor jumps Van Jefferson on the depth chart, and rookie D’onte Thornton is starting in Vegas.
Thursday Night Breakdown
Here we go! Jason can barely contain his excitement for the first real game of the NFL season. It kicks off with a bang as the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles host the Cowboys, who are now Micah Parsons-less thanks to Jerry Jones’s wild offseason. Vegas has Philly at -8.5, and that line moved after the trade.
This is a statement game opportunity for Dallas, but the Eagles’ defense was elite last year, ranking top 5 against QBs, RBs, WRs, and TEs. That’s all the positions. So if you went in on Dak, CeeDee, or George, you could have a rough start. The Ballers love them season-long, but the early schedule is brutal. You might want to stream a Week 1 QB like Trevor Lawrence, if you can wait til Sunday. Javonte Williams is the starter, but barely startable in fantasy until we are convinced otherwise. Jake Ferguson should probably stay on your bench in this one. Meanwhile, fire up all your Eagles. Hurts, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Saquon.
Super Bowl Predictions
Andy went with Philadelphia over Baltimore. Jason is calling Baltimore over Green Bay, and Mike thinks it will be Denver over Detroit.
Start/Sit Decisions
Now it’s time for decision-making. Emeka Egbuka vs. Tetairoa McMillan? All three ballers chose McMillan. Egbuka vs Jameson Williams? Andy and Jason chose Egbuka; Mike went with Williams. Jerome Ford or Tyrone Tracy? Andy picks Tyrone Tracy “by a lot.” This surprises Jason, as he and Mike go with Jerome Ford (if he is, in fact, the starter over Dylan Sampson). Who to stash, Ollie Gordon or Braelen Allen? Andy elects Allen, while Jason and Mike go with Gordon. Finally, who to target behind DeAndre Swift in the Chicago backfield? The consensus pick is rookie Kyle Monongai.
Thursday – Starts of the Week & It’s Football Time!
Now we’re getting into the swing of things here at the Fantasy Footballers.
News
Jauan Jennings gets “playtime” incentives of up to three million dollars. Christian Kirk has a hamstring injury and didn’t practice. Keon Coleman showed up on groinindex.com. Jayden Reed didn’t practice, and Najee Harris is expected to play Friday night in Brazil.
Starts of the Week
Andy: QB Joe Burrow, RB J.K. (Two-Legs) Dobbins, WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and TE Tyler Warren.
Jason: QB Bo Nix, RB Kenneth Walker, WR Tetairoa McMillan, and TE Mark Andrews.
Mike: QB Jordan Love, RB James Conner, WR Drake London, and TE David Njoku.
Fantasy Forecast
KC @ LAC (KC -3, O/U 46.5)
Bonjour from Brazil! The Chargers have covered three of the last four vs. the Chiefs. KC’s backfield is a mess, but Jason’s locked on Isiah Pacheco as an RB2, due to his workload and pass-catching upside. The Chiefs are without Rashee Rice, so Xavier Worthy is a quality start with upside, and Hollywood Brown could be in the WR2 range. Newly engaged Travis Kelce could soak up those middle-of-the-field targets. The slot battle between Keenan Allen and rookie Ladd McConkey will be huge for targets; both are start-worthy.
TB @ ATL (TB -1.5, O/U 46.5)
Kyle Pitts tore TB apart last year, but Mike calls that a fluke; Andy believes he’s a great start. With Chris Godwin out and Cade Otton questionable, Mike Evans and Emeka Egbuka get volume boosts. Bucky Irving could get more targets in the passing game. On the ATL side, Drake London and Bijan Robinson are must-starts given their volume and matchup. At QB, Baker Mayfield is missing pieces, but could continue his momentum from last season.
CIN @ CLE (CLE -5.5, O/U 48.5)
Andy’s almost upset pick of the week! He’s betting on Joe Flacco having a big offensive explosion, so Jerry Jeudy and David Njoku are locks. Don’t sleep on Cedric Tillman either. Joe Burrow should be solid but historically slow out of the gate. The Browns RB room remains murky, but Jerome Ford appears to be the early starter. Overall, this game could be a shootout, so stack your top pass-catchers on both sides.
MIA @ IND (IND -1.5, O/U 47.5)
Both teams’ coaches are on the hot seat. Tua Tagovailoa is undefeated in Week 1 (4-0). Tyreek Hill’s health and motivation are major question marks. Will Miami air it out or lean heavily on checkdowns to De’Von Achane? For Indy, Daniel Jones starting over Anthony Richardson boosts the value of WRs Josh Downs and Michael Pittman, though both remain risky. Jonathan Taylor is a must-start RB, and Andy’s locking in Tyler Warren at TE as his start of the week.
LV @ NE (NE -3, O/U 43.5)
Pete Carroll will soon be the oldest coach in NFL history. He takes his new team with his old QB from Seattle, Geno Smith. Rookie RBs Ashton Jeanty and TreVeyon Henderson will be spotlighted, as both have major buzz. Stefon Diggs is a massive upgrade on paper, but is coming off a major knee injury, so temper expectations. Brock Bowers is a no-doubt TE1, and Jakobi Meyers is a reliable WR3. This game could be low scoring, so volume will matter a lot.
ARI @ NO (ARI -6.5, O/U 43.5)
Saints are expected to be a dumpster fire, but first-time Head Coach Kellen Moore could surprise in the Superdome. Spencer Rattler is starting after Derek Carr retired unexpectedly. His top weapons, Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, are NOT must-starts, but keep an eye on them. Arizona’s defense is a top streaming option. Kyler Murray’s top targets, Trey McBride and Marvin Harrison Jr., are set to break out this year, so start them with confidence. Alvin Kamara and James Conner should see plenty of touches, though watch for increased involvement from Trey Benson.
PIT @ NYJ (PIT -2.5, O/U 38.5)
Blarf! This is the lowest week one Over/Under in five years, so expect a grind. The Jets have very few weapons outside of Garrett Wilson, who’s a clear start. Mike isn’t sold on rookie RB Kaleb Johnson, currently buried on the depth chart, and Andy isn’t either. Aaron Rodgers’ health is a question mark, but if he’s sharp, DK Metcalf could shine, but he’ll be up against elite CB Sauce Gardner.
NYG @ WAS (WAS -6, O/U 45.5)
Andy loves the Giants’ defensive line. They dominated last year and could frustrate Washington’s offense again. Jayden Daniels had a tough time vs. NYG in 2024, so expect a bounce-back from him with the addition of Deebo Samuel. Bill Croskey-Merritt could get some looks as Ekeler’s backup. Malik Nabers and rookie TE Theo Johnson could see sneaky week one usage for the Giants.
Friday – Week 1 Matchups + CMC Panic, TNF Reactions
News
Is it already time to panic with CMC? He popped up on the injury report with a calf injury. Early reports say that this is a new calf strain, not related to the Achilles tendonitis from last year. Amari Cooper announced his retirement after signing a one-year contract with the Raiders. D’onte Thornton Jr. has a clearer path to fantasy relevance. Cade Otton is off groinindex.com, and is expected to play. Christian Kirk will not play on Sunday, opening up targets for Jayden Higgins and possibly fellow rookie Jaylin Noel in the slot. Roschon Johnson did not practice yesterday, so pick up Kyle Monongai if he is available.
Fantasy Forecast
CAR at JAX (JAX -3.5, O/U 46.5)
Both defenses were bad last year, so expect lots of scoring. The RB1 in Jacksonville is a big question mark. Chuba Hubbard is likely to get volume, and Brian Thomas Jr. is a must-start. How many snaps will Travis Hunter play on offense? Bryce Young looks to start hot with new top target Tetairoa McMillan. Jason has been excited about this game for months.
TEN at DEN (DEN -8.5, O/U 42.5)
Sean Payton’s system thrives on RB pass-game work, so which RB gets targets early will be important. WR Courtland Sutton and TE Evan Engram are safe plays. Rookie Elic Ayomanor is a wild card with upside. Tony Pollard is a solid RB start against a vulnerable defense.
SF at SEA (SF -1.5, O/U 43.5)
The Ballers are surprised the 49ers are favored, given their injuries. If healthy, start CMC. If not, Brian Robinson gets the work and is a strong flex. Targets will focus heavily on George Kittle, Ricky Pearsall, and Jauan Jennings. For Seattle, Kenneth Walker and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are must-starts. Beyond that, Cooper Kupp is risky but may still have juice.
DET at GB (GB -2.5, O/U 47.5)
Micah Parsons could debut for Green Bay, adding defensive hype. Rookie Mathew Golden is Jordan Love’s top target early, especially with Jayden Reed dealing with injuries. Detroit’s offense has fantasy gold across the board. Start them all in a potential shootout.
HOU at LAR (LAR -3, O/U 43.5)
Jason’s avoiding Houston RBs Mike and Andy back Nick Chubb if necessary. Nico Collins is Houston’s clear WR1. With Christian Kirk out, someone else will be important – likely Jayden Higgins and/or Jaylin Noel. Rams have auto-starts in Kyren Williams, Puka Nacua, and Davante Adams. Watch rookie TE Terrence Ferguson’s involvement relative to Tyler Higbee’s.
BAL at BUF (BAL -1.5, O/U 50.5)
The line started with the Bills favored, then flipped to Baltimore, signaling a close game. Locks include Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and James Cook. Zay Flowers is a safe WR start. Keon Coleman is dealing with a groin injury but is expected to play. Keep tabs on Dalton Kincaid and Keaton Mitchell, who could see key touches.
MIN at CHI (MIN -1.5, O/U 43.5)
The Vikings’ RB touches split between Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason will be key to monitor. Minnesota’s pass-funnel defense favors WRs Rome Odunze and DJ Moore. The Bears allowed tons of RB production last year, making Aaron Jones a great play here. Rookie Caleb Williams has upside with new OC Ben Johnson, but Bears fans will watch closely. Keep an eye on snap counts for Colston Loveland and TJ Hockenson, who’ll be a safety blanket with Jordan Addison suspended.
Fantasy Faceoff
The wheel of shame is back! This year, the Ballers will battle it out on Prize Picks. Correct picks get to wear a crown, incorrect picks will wear a clown wig, and if there is a standalone incorrect pick, they will spin the wheel of shame.
Jason: Ashton Jeanty Over 2.5 Receptions
Mike: James Conner Over 69.5 Rushing Yards
Andy: D.K. Metcalf Over 7 Targets
We have more football tonight! The Chiefs take on the Chargers in Brazil. Enjoy and good luck, Footclan!
from Fantasy Footballers Podcast https://ift.tt/UP41nvK
No comments: