Justin Boone offers a weekly take a look at undervalued fantasy gamers to contemplate beginning this week and potential busts you may wish to go away in your bench.
(*1*)
For the remainder of your lineup and roster selections, seek the advice of his Week 1 Rankings and Trade Value Charts.
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Starts
Baker Mayfield, QB, Buccaneers
at Falcons
Mayfield threw for three touchdowns in every of his video games in opposition to the Falcons in 2024, together with a 330-yard outing of their final encounter.
That’s not shocking because the Falcons gave up the sixth-most fantasy factors to quarterbacks a yr in the past and I don’t see sufficient adjustments on their protection to assume that’s going to enhance considerably.
The Bucs-Falcons recreation additionally has one of many larger projected level totals on the week at 47 and the Bucs have one of many highest implied level totals at 24.
With Emeka Egbuka exhibiting up and filling in for Chris Godwin, Mayfield has greater than sufficient firepower to throw it everywhere in the yard once more as a robust QB1 within the opening week.
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Other QBs to start out:
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Trevor Lawrence vs. Panthers
James Conner, RB, Cardinals
at Saints
Each offseason, I really feel the necessity to jog everybody’s reminiscence in relation to Conner being a top-15 fantasy again on a per-game foundation ever since arriving in Arizona.
Any issues concerning the 30-year-old’s sturdiness are additionally not as prevalent at first of the season, so there must be no cause to query Conner’s fantasy outlook in Week 1.
The matchup with the Saints is a pleasant one, after New Orleans was the fifth-easiest opponent for fantasy backs in 2024.
With the Cardinals getting into the sport as 6.5-point favorites, Conner ought to have loads of alternatives to rack up factors as a top-12 RB choice this week.
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Other RBs to start out:
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TreVeyon Henderson vs. Raiders
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Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Panthers
at Jaguars
Trusting rookies of their NFL debut may really feel dangerous, however it all depends upon which first-year participant you’re fascinated about beginning.
McMillan is a top-10 choose who profiles as a real No. 1 receiver within the Panthers offense. He was a big-time goal earner in faculty, with stat strains of 90-1,402-10 and 84-1,319-8 in his last two seasons.
With Adam Thielen traded away and Jalen Coker on injured reserve, there will probably be greater than sufficient quantity for McMillan to be a fantasy WR2 proper out of the gate.
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It doesn’t harm that his first opponent is the Jaguars, who’ve one of many extra suspect secondaries within the league and allowed the ninth-most fantasy factors to wideouts final season.
Other WRs to start out:
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Travis Hunter vs. Panthers
T.J. Hockenson, TE, Vikings
at Bears
Hockenson missed the primary eight weeks final season as he recovered from ACL and MCL tears suffered in 2023. When he returned to the lineup, it was clear he wasn’t fully again to kind and his manufacturing mirrored that.
Even so, Hockenson nonetheless managed a pair of robust performances in opposition to the Bears, with 12 receptions and 166 yards over their two conferences.
Jordan Addison is suspended for three video games and Thielen simply arrived again in Minnesota, so the Vikings’ passing assault will revolve round Justin Jefferson and Hockenson in Week 1.
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A wholesome Hockenson is without doubt one of the 5 finest tight ends within the NFL and he’s going to remind individuals of that reality this season.
Other TEs to start out:
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Tyler Warren vs. Dolphins
More from Justin Boone
Week 1 Fantasy Rankings (Half PPR)
QB | RB | WR | TE | FLEX | DEF | K
PPR
Sits
Jared Goff, QB, Lions
at Packers
We know Goff misplaced his star playcaller in Ben Johnson and a few key items on the inside of his offensive line with Frank Ragnow and Kevin Zeitler departing.
We also needs to bear in mind by now that Goff has typically been a way more productive quarterback when enjoying in a domed setting just like the one at Ford Field.
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Unfortunately for him, he’s heading to Green Bay, the place he’s struggled up to now. Despite all his success in recent times, Goff was held to simply 145 yards and a landing on the street in opposition to the Packers in 2024 and 210 yards, a TD and an interception in 2023. He completed exterior the top-20 fantasy QBs in each of these video games.
To make issues worse, Micah Parsons has joined the Packers’ go rush. This isn’t the week to start out Goff.
Other QBs to take a seat:
-
Justin Fields vs. Steelers
D’Andre Swift, RB, Bears
vs. Vikings
Swift held onto his beginning job in Chicago virtually by default this offseason after the Bears simply barely missed out on a number of early-round rookie working backs. In the top, they drafted Kyle Monangai late, however he confirmed sufficient in coaching camp and the preseason to earn a job.
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It may very well be a gradual first couple weeks for everybody on this backfield, given their powerful divisional video games in opposition to the Vikings and Lions, who had been backside 5 in dashing yards and fantasy factors allowed to working backs in 2024.
That makes Swift extra of a dangerous fantasy RB3 for his Week 1 matchup with Minnesota, so think about your different choices earlier than you play him. And be ready for his identify to indicate up on this listing subsequent week on the street in Detroit.
Other RBs to take a seat:
Calvin Ridley, WR, Titans
at Broncos
Ridley has plenty of issues working in his favor this season with the arrival of quarterback Cam Ward offering the largest improve for his fantasy outlook.
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The lack of goal competitors will result in large quantity that ought to make Ridley a straightforward fantasy begin most weeks — simply not this time round.
The Broncos boast among the finest defenses and their crown jewel is shutdown cornerback Pat Surtain II. Expect the reigning Defensive Player of the Year to cowl Ridley on the vast majority of his routes this week, turning the Titans’ top wideout right into a fantasy WR3.
However, you’ll be able to already pencil in Ridley’s identify as a buy-low choice previous to Week 2.
Other WRs to take a seat:
Evan Engram, TE, Broncos
vs. Titans
Engram has been a productive fantasy participant up to now, however we nonetheless don’t know what sort of ceiling his function in Denver will provide.
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When requested, Sean Payton was fast to call him a potential “Joker” in his scheme, however some chilly water was thrown on Engram’s outlook when he cut up snaps with Adam Trautman within the preseason.
This additionally doesn’t appear like a increase week for him in opposition to a Titans protection that gave up the fifth-fewest fantasy factors to tight ends final yr.
You won’t have a greater choice at a one-off place like tight finish, simply know that Engram profiles as a dangerous low-end starter for fantasy in Week 1.
Other TEs to take a seat:
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Colston Loveland vs. Vikings