Fantasy Fallout: Week 1

By: Mike Johnson (Mjohnson86) and Tony Kneepkens (Tonytk44)

Welcome to the Monday edition of the Daily Dose newsletter, our “Fantasy Fallout” day. In this article, you will get a quick rundown of the relevant things we learned from the week’s games from Thursday through Sunday. 

We won’t talk about every single player and we usually won’t spend time on studs who go nuts (no one needs to be told to start Saquon Barkley right now!), but rather, the idea is to update you on usage trends, injuries, and other relevant things to help your decisions with your teams for the coming week and beyond.

Cowboys @ Eagles

• Jahan Dotson led the Eagles in receiving (three catches, 59 yards) on a night that his WR teammates A.J. Brown (one catch, eight yards) and DeVonta Smith (3/16/0) were unusually quiet. TE Dallas Goedert caught all seven of his targets for 44 scoreless yards. The Dallas defense played soft zone coverage and forced the Eagles to march the field. The Philly pass catchers should have better days ahead but will definitely have more duds due to game script.

• Javonte Williams dominated RB snaps and opportunities for the Cowboys and racked up 64 scrimmage yards and a pair of one-yard TDs. Williams’ Week 1 usage was very strong, handling the majority of carries, being targeted three times, and handling goal-line work. Exciting rookie RB Jaydon Blue was a healthy scratch, while Miles Sanders operated as the change-of-pace back and had one long run as well as a red-zone fumble.

• QB Dak Prescott ended with a disappointing fantasy week, passing for 188 scoreless yards, but looked the part with some terrific throws and pocket presence. Both his and CeeDee Lamb’s fantasy lines would have been much bigger if not for several drops by Lamb.

• Offseason acquisition George Pickens (3/30/0) had a quiet Cowboys debut but should have brighter days ahead against weaker secondaries.

Chiefs @ Chargers

• Justin Herbert passed for 318 yards and three TDs while adding 32 rushing yards including a game-clinching 19-yard run down the sideline. This was an impressive performance against a good defense and Herbert should be in consideration as a starter every week.

• Rookie Omarion Hampton was the Chargers’ preferred RB, handling 15 of 16 RB carries and catching both of his targets. The production wasn’t great, but with a role like this, he will have some big games this season.

• The Chargers’ top three WR options, Quentin Johnston (5/79/2), Keenan Allen (7/68/1), Ladd McConkey (6/74/0), each had a solid fantasy performance. All should be in weekly consideration going forward as the Chargers use their RBs and TEs sparingly in the passing game. 

• Chiefs’ WR speedster Xavier Worthy left the game with a shoulder injury after a collision with Travis Kelce and was ruled out after imaging/X-Rays. We will wait for news, but it doesn’t look good and Worthy owners should be considering replacements. Hollywood Brown was the primary beneficiary of the depleted WR room, getting targeted a whopping 16 times on his way to a 10-catch, 99-yard performance.

• KC RBs Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt handled five carries and had three targets each in a game that they never led in. This appears to be a backfield to avoid until we get more clarity or someone emerges.

Dolphins @ Colts

• The Dolphins looked completely inept on both sides of the ball, making the dominant performance by the Colts difficult to judge. Are the Colts that good? Are the Dolphins that bad? Likely a combination of the two. Next week should provide some clarity, as the Colts have to play the Broncos elite defense while the Dolphins return home to host the Patriots.

• Daniel Jones played a terrific game and had an instant connection with both WR Michael Pittman and exciting rookie TE Tyler Warren, targeting them eight and nine times, respectively, which accounted for 17 of his 29 pass attempts (59% combined target share). Probably pump the brakes on Jones next week against the Broncos, but Warren should be started every week until further notice.

• As expected, the Dolphins offense was almost entirely run through De’Von Achane, Jaylen Waddle, and Tyreek Hill. No other Miami skill players should be considered for your starting lineup.

Steelers @ Jets

• Just like we all expected, this was the highest-scoring game of the day with 64 points, while quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Justin Fields accounted for seven combined touchdowns. Fields should probably be in starting lineups going forward given his rushing ability and performance against a top-tier defense.

• Steelers running backs Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell operated in what amounted to an even split, with rookie Kaleb Johnson playing only two snaps. Warren and Gainwell will amount to iffy Flex plays if the split continues, but the bigger takeaway here might be that Pittsburgh will be more pass-happy than we have seen offensive coordinator Arthur Smith in the past after the Steelers averaged less than three yards per carry and passed on 58% of their plays.

• WRs DK Metcalf and Calvin Austin, along with TE Jonnu Smith, were the only players targeted more than three times for the Steelers. 

• Jets RB Breece Hall dominated the backfield work with 21 opportunities compared to only six for Braelon Allen, although Allen stole a goal-line touchdown – which was expected and will likely continue.

• The Jets only threw the ball 18 times and WR Garrett Wilson accounted for eight of those targets for a whopping 44% target share. No other Jets pass catcher should be considered for your starting lineups.

Panthers @ Jaguars

• A late Chuba Hubbard touchdown somewhat masked what was a putrid performance by the Panthers offense. Hubbard and rookie WR Tet McMilan are the only Panthers we should be starting right now.

• Four Jaguars running backs saw the field, but Travis Etienne was the clear leader and appears to be a massive steal for those who drafted him. He played 70% of the offensive snaps, made plays as a receiver, and broke off a 71-yard run. Start him weekly.

• The Jaguars’ passing game didn’t have to open things up thanks to the inept Panthers offense. We will have to wait to see what they are really capable of in a better game script. For what it is worth, rookie WR Travis Hunter played a near every-down offensive role while only playing sparingly on defense.

• Jaguars TE Brenton Strange had a nice game going that was cut short by the poor game script, but he should have some big games ahead and will be a streamer to keep an eye on.

Cardinals @ Saints

• As expected, the Cardinals offensive production stemmed almost entirely from three players – TE Trey McBride, WR Marvin Harrison, and RB James Conner. All three should be started every week.

• Cardinals second-year RB Trey Benson played more snaps than we saw most of 2024 and broke off a 52-yard run. He is a name to watch and would be an immediate starting RB if Conner, who is 30 years old, ever misses any time.

• Saints TE Juwan Johnson was targeted 11 times, catching eight passes for 76 yards. He was the team’s leader in targets and is in the weekly streaming conversation. If your team lost Brock Bowers or George Kittle to injury, Johnson would be near the top of the list as a replacement.

• Saints RB Alvin Kamara touched the ball 13 times and scored a touchdown, but he ceded more work to his backups than we have seen in the past. The days of Kamara as a true workhorse are likely behind us, but he still has value and should be started.

Giants @ Commanders

• Three running backs played for the Giants and none of them looked particularly good. Probably a situation to avoid for the time being.

• Giants QB Russell Wilson threw the ball to a receiver or tight end 25 times. Malik Nabers and Wan’Dale Robinson accounted for 18 of those targets. Nabers is the only player who should be started from this offense, unless you need some cheap PPR points and then Robinson may be of value to you – although that time probably doesn’t come until the bye weeks.

• Commanders RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt (“Bill”) dominated the early-down and goal-line rushes with 82 yards and a touchdown, while veteran Austin Ekeler started and played on passing downs.

• Deebo Samuel Sr. made himself right at home in Week 1, drawing 10 targets and rushing for a 19-yard touchdown. Start him weekly. 

• Terry McLaurin just missed a long touchdown as Jayden Daniels overthrew him. Don’t panic. Keep him in your lineup.

Buccaneers @ Falcons

• Welcome to the league, Emeka Egbuka!! After scoring two touchdowns in the opener, it is clear that Egbuka, Mike Evans, and Bucky Irving are locked in as starters for your fantasy teams but no one else should be in consideration. This is likely to remain a very condensed offense.

• Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney was inactive due to his shoulder injury, while Drake London suffered a shoulder injury of his own late in this game. The status of both players will need to be monitored in the coming days.

• Don’t look now, but TE Kyle Pitts looked very good in the season opener turning eight targets into a 7/59 line. He is a TE1 going forward, at the very least while the Falcons receivers continue to be banged up.

Bengals @ Browns

• The Browns offense heavily featured rookies Harold Fannin Jr. (TE) and Dylan Sampson (RB). Cleveland ran a high rate of 2-TE personnel, making Fannin a very interesting waiver addition despite the presence of David Njoku. Sampson touched the ball 20 times, but fellow rookie Quinshon Judkins may be joining the team as early as next week. 

• Cedric Tillman had a nice touchdown reception but also a brutal game-ending drop. This is likely to be a relatively low-scoring offense, with Tillman and veterans Jerry Jeudy and David Njoku likely to have ups and downs. The fact that Cleveland managed only 16 points against the Bengals defense that most experts believe will be very poor this season is not an encouraging sign.

• Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz continued to have the Bengals number and held them to only 141 total yards. Better days ahead for Cincinnati….don’t panic, start your studs.

Raiders @ Patriots

• The big news in this one is Raiders TE Brock Bowers leaving with a knee injury in the second half. He was on his way to a huge game with five receptions for 103 yards through less than three quarters. Michael Mayer will be an interesting waiver option if Bowers misses time.

• Jakobi Meyers showed up and showed out after his contract/trade demands cast doubt on his status. After an eight-reception, 97-yard performance to start the year and with Bowers’ status in question, Meyers is in line to start out 2025 hot.

• Patriots running backs Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson operated in essentially an even split of the backfield, with Henderson seeing more targets in the passing game and Stevenson on the field in the red zone.

• Three wide receivers (Kayshon Boutte, Stefon Diggs, and DeMario Douglas) and tight end Hunter Henry were targeted seven or eight times, as Drake Maye spread the ball around in Week 1.

49ers @ Seahawks

• TE George Kittle left the game in the second quarter with a hamstring injury and is set to undergo an MRI to assess the damage. Like Bowers, he was on his way to a strong game with four catches and a TD before the injury. Fantasy managers should be prepared to find a short-term TE replacement.

• Brock Purdy threw 60% of his passes to Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, and Ricky Pearsall. CMC showed no signs of his late-week calf issue, handling 31 touches. Pearsall caught four of seven targets for 108 yards. 

• Jauan Jennings was held to 16 yards before leaving the game with a shoulder injury. He is also in line for an MRI.

• Seattle was another team using an even split in its backfield with Kenneth Walker handling 13 touches for 24 yards and Zach Charbonnet handling 12 carries for 47 yards and a TD. Both backs are in Flex consideration in the short term, with major upside if one can take command of the backfield touches.

• Sam Darnold attempted 23 passes and 13 went to Jaxson Smith-Njigba. He’s the only Seattle pass catcher to be trusted for now, as Cooper Kupp was held to 15 yards in his team debut and no other WR or TE received more than two targets.

Titans @ Broncos

• Evan Engram is another possible TE injury casualty, leaving late in the game with an apparent calf injury. Perhaps even more alarming than the injury was the fact that Engram seemed to be in a three-man TE rotation. Managers should be considering alternative options.

• Rookie RJ Harvey had a 50-yard run but only six other touches. J.K. Dobbins handled 16 of 22 RB carries. Tyler Badie played in most passing situations and received six of Denver’s nine RB targets. It seems likely that Harvey’s role will continue to expand, but this week’s RB usage was a fantasy nightmare.

• The Broncos’ impressive defense overwhelmed rookie QB Cam Ward in his NFL debut, holding him under a 50% completion rate and sacking him six times. Titans WRs Calvin Ridley and Elic Ayomanor each commanded 25%+ target shares and will have better days ahead as Ward has more efficient games.

Lions @ Packers

• Jordan Love threw a pair of first-half TDs but only attempted 22 passes in a game the Packers led big throughout. He completed passes to five different WRs and 10 players total. TE Tucker Kraft caught one of Love’s TDs and can be started weekly. It’s tough to trust any GB WR for fantasy based on this week’s usage.

• The GB defense harassed Jared Goff, sacking him four times and forcing lots of underneath passes while they sat on their lead. Detroit’s explosive RBs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery combining for 14 catches and 49 yards was a result that only their PPR fantasy managers could love.

• The Packers D/ST looked great against a strong offense even without new pass rusher Micah Parsons playing a full complement of snaps. They look like a fantasy starter going forward.

Texans @ Rams

• Superstar WR Puka Nacua left the game bleeding after a tough hit but came back and had a huge 10/130 game that included a game-clinching 24-yard catch late in the fourth quarter. Matthew Stafford peppered Puka and Davante Adams with 19 of his 29 pass attempts for a silly 65% combined target share. No other Rams player had more than two targets.

• Nick Chubb handled 13 of Houston’s 21 RB carries while Dare Ogunbowale had two carries and acted as the pass-catching back. Veteran RB Dameon Pierce and rookie Woody Marks had three carries each. A backfield to monitor, but Chubb seems startable in favorable matchups based on this usage.

• C.J. Stroud completed passes to 10 different players, including five different WRs. No Houston player had more than 32 receiving yards. Superstar WR Nico Collins is the Texans’ only pass catcher who belongs in fantasy lineups for now.

Ravens @ Bills

• Baltimore had a lead for basically the entirety of the second and third quarters and much of the fourth. A late fumble, the only turnover of the game, cost the Ravens dearly, as they never picked up another first down and the Bills made a comeback for the ages.

• Josh Allen threw 46 passes in his comeback effort, with his top three WRs, Keon Coleman (8/112/1), Khalil Shakir (6/64), and Josh Palmer (5/61) combining for a 63% target share. The Bills also feature multiple talented TEs and RBs in the passing game, so it remains to be seen how many of their WRs will be fantasy-relevant in different game scripts. All three are worthy of being rostered in PPR leagues for now.

• Zay Flowers was featured in the Baltimore passing game, getting targeted on nine of Lamar Jackson’s 19 passes and racking up a huge 7/143/1 receiving line. DeAndre Hopkins (2/35/1) and Rashod Bateman (2/10) were the only other Ravens with multiple receptions. Similar to the Bills, we should monitor all three of these WRs for their usage in a more neutral game script.