Week 1 of the 2025 fantasy soccer season featured somewhat little bit of all the pieces, from large scores by rookies to surprisingly quiet video games from a number of the high gamers within the NFL.
Matt Bowen and Tristan H. Cockcroft supply their evaluation.
1. Emeka Egbuka, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A well-liked preseason sleeper, his ADP in ESPN leagues bettering by greater than three rounds over the previous months, Egbuka was as much as his billing in his NFL debut. His 23.6 PPR fantasy factors have been essentially the most by a large receiver in his first profession sport since Hollywood Brown's 30.7 in 2019, and he caught the game-winning landing with 59 seconds remaining. Egbuka lined up equally from the slot as outdoors, although he was way more profitable within the latter alignment (14.8 of his factors). He has a more durable Week 2 matchup within the Houston Texans however is a possible WR2 for as long as Chris Godwin Jr. is sidelined. — Cockcroft
2. Justin Fields, QB and Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets: Each Fields and Wilson scored 20-plus factors in a tricky Week 1 draw versus the Pittsburgh protection. Fields (29.52 factors) regarded actually snug within the Jets' passing sport, finishing 16-of-22 for 218 yards and rating, whereas he additionally produced on designed carries and scramble makes an attempt, dashing for 48 yards and two touchdowns. Wilson (22.5 factors) caught seven of a team-high 9 targets for 95 yards, which included a 33 yard landing seize. Given Fields' dual-threat utilization within the Jets sport plan, he'll be in my QB1 ranks for the Week 2 house matchup towards the Payments, whereas Wilson's goal share bumps him up into the upper-tier WR2 vary. — Bowen
3. Daniel Jones, QB, Indianapolis Colts: Jones' 29.48 factors within the Colts' blowout win over the Dolphins ranked second amongst all gamers within the Week 1 early window. Jones was actually environment friendly throwing the ball (22 of 29 for 272 yards and a rating), plus he added 26 yards dashing and two touchdowns on QB sneaks. With a tricky Week 2 matchup at house versus the Broncos protection, Jones will stay within the QB2 ranks. Nonetheless, should you play in a 2QB Superflex format, Jones matches right here as a starter given the Colts passing construction, and he's presently out there in 95.1% of ESPN leagues. — Bowen
4. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers: If he is to creator a comeback marketing campaign on the age of 41, he is off to an excellent begin. In his return to the Meadowlands towards his 2023-24 crew, the New York Jets, Rodgers scored 25.66 fantasy factors, finishing passes to seven totally different receivers and totaling 4 touchdowns. He was significantly profitable on intermediate throws to Calvin Austin III, who totaled 15.9 of his 17.0 PPR fantasy factors when matched up with Jets CB Brandon Stephens. Rodgers' Week 1 success, coupled together with his Steelers' operating sport struggles, make him a viable No. 2 choice for two-quarterback and superflex leagues. — Cockcroft
5. Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers: He was the star of the Chargers' upset of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in Friday's sport at Sao Paulo, Brazil, scoring 27.92 fantasy factors. He tried 34 passes, a threshold he reached on solely six events in Jim Harbaugh's first 12 months as head coach, a promising signal particularly after Herbert's passing workload ramped up late final season. Herbert's accuracy can prop him up as a potential top-10 positional choice if that pattern sticks. Deal with him as one for his Week 2 matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders. — Cockcroft
6. Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers: Seeing McCaffrey on the damage report (calf) this previous week created some actual concern for managers. Nonetheless, within the Week 1 win over Seattle, McCaffrey totaled 31 touches and completed with 23.2 factors. McCaffrey did not have nice numbers on the bottom, averaging 3.1 YPC on 22 makes an attempt, however he led the crew with 10 targets, catching 9 for 73 yards. When McCaffrey is wholesome and will get the amount, he's nonetheless the league's premier dual-threat again. — Bowen
7. Deebo Samuel, WR, Washington Commanders: Samuel dropped 22.6 factors on the Giants protection within the Week 1 win, and we noticed the scheme match beneath Commanders' coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. Samuel caught seven of a team-high 10 targets for 77 yards. In-breaking ideas right here. Catch and run. Plus, Samuel scored on a 19 yard dashing try, which caters to his ball provider vison on manufactured touches. With Samuel's alignment versatility, Kingsbury can proceed to set-up the large receiver on ideas that result in fantasy manufacturing. Hold Samuel within the lineup as a Flex play for the Week 2 sport at Inexperienced Bay. — Bowen
8. Michael Penix Jr., QB, Atlanta Falcons: Within the Week 1 loss to the Bucs, Penix had 24.02 factors, displaying his skill to distribute the ball as a passer, whereas utilizing his motion abilities in crucial sport conditions. Penix completed with 298 yards passing on this one, plus he added 21 yards dashing and a rating on a low crimson zone scramble try. Penix will keep within the QB2 ranks for the Week 2 sport towards Brian Flores' pressure-heavy protection in Minnesota, however he will be performed in 2QB Superflex codecs given his skill to raise an Atlanta offense that includes a number of playmakers. — Bowen
Rating fantasy losers of Week 1
1. Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals, and his large receivers: His Bengals would possibly've gotten off their Week 1 schneid, snapping a three-year dropping streak within the opening week, however Burrow himself continued to ship his fantasy managers lackluster numbers, his 8.82 fantasy factors representing his third straight season scoring fewer than 10 in Week 1. For his profession, Burrow has by no means exceeded 18.64 factors in six Week 1 video games, however he has exceeded that quantity in 34 of his different 64 regular-season contests. He merely could not get a lot executed deep towards Greg Newsome II, Denzel Ward and the remainder of the Cleveland Browns protection, finishing solely three of seven passes thrown no less than 10 yards downfield, which helps clarify the equally forgettable scores of Ja'Marr Chase (4.8 PPR FPTS) and Tee Higgins (6.3). Here is hoping it is merely one week of Burrow and mates shaking the early rust, and a Jacksonville Jaguars Week 2 matchup actually units up a probably large follow-up for all. — Cockcroft
2. Detroit Lions offense: Whereas we'll at all times have this beautiful, fourth-quarter Isaac TeSlaa landing catch, the Lions' offensive efficiency in any other case on no account resembled Ben Johnson's 2024 juggernaut, one which led the league in factors by a 39-point margin. Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown, their two most-started gamers in ESPN leagues, scored 15.0 and eight.5 PPR fantasy factors. Quarterback Jared Goff tried 39 passes in a sport his crew trailed for all however 9 minutes, 31 seconds, however 30 of them have been quick throws or tosses behind the road of scrimmage. Queue the inevitable post-Ben Johnson midweek panic, particularly with a head-to-head assembly of those Lions and Johnson's Chicago Bears in Week 2. The actual fact stays, nevertheless, that that is nonetheless a supremely proficient crew that was dealing with considered one of its more durable matchups of 2025, a highway sport towards a Inexperienced Bay Packers crew that has earned some NFC Champions prediction picks. Subsequent week ought to inform us extra, however fantasy managers ought to have religion this was extra aberration than pattern. — Cockcroft
3. A.J. Brown, WR, Philadelphia Eagles: Brown was a non-factor within the Eagles' Thursday night time win, catching his solely goal with beneath two minutes to go within the sport. One seize for eight yards (1.8 factors). That is it. Now, Dallas did play zone protection on 85.7% of Jalen Hurts' dropbacks, which forces the ball beneath. After watching the tape, nevertheless, the Eagles can scheme higher right here to create extra open voids for his or her No.1 large receiver. Certain, Week 1 was fairly tough should you roster Brown. However I haven't got main considerations right here after one soccer sport. Search for the Eagles to flip the script for Brown in Week 2 at Kansas Metropolis. — Bowen
4. Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins: Hill and the Miami cross sport failed to point out within the 33-8 highway loss to the Dolphins. Hill caught 4 of six targets for 40 yards (8.0 factors) on a day when quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who turned the ball over thrice (two interceptions, one fumble misplaced), struggled to ascertain any sense of rhythm as a thrower. Tagovailoa completed with 114 yards passing, averaging solely 5.0 yards per try. Miami will look to bounce again within the Week 2 house sport towards a Patriots protection that simply allowed 326 yards passing to Geno Smith in Sunday's loss to the Raiders. — Bowen
5. Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans: Put a part of the blame on C.J. Stroud and the Texans' total offensive funk for it, however Collins' poor fantasy rating (5.5 PPR FPTS) let down a slew of managers (98.8% begin charge, sixth-best on the place). He merely couldn't discover open house towards Los Angeles Rams CBs Ahkello Witherspoon and Emmanuel Forbes Jr., totaling only one.4 of his factors when lined up throughout from them. Count on higher fortunes towards the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2. — Cockcroft
6. Trevor Lawrence, QB, and Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars: Contemplating the energy of their matchup — the opposing Carolina Panthers allowed extra factors and yards per sport than any crew in 2024 — Lawrence's 10.32 and Thomas' 9.0 PPR fantasy factors have been lots disappointing to fantasy managers. Thomas' sport absolutely raised essentially the most eyebrows, as he was held scoreless deep into the second quarter, ending his day with just one catch on seven targets regardless of 30 routes run. It is not one thing we should always count on to see each week, and a Week 2 matchup towards the mediocre Bengals protection ought to assist each of those two get again heading in the right direction. — Cockcroft
7. Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos: A well-liked Week 1 sleeper — he was began in 74.2% of ESPN leagues, eighth-highest amongst quarterbacks — Nix scored 6.84 fantasy factors. Although he did not face an excessive quantity of stress total, when Nix did face it he was downright terrible, accounting for each of his interceptions and his misplaced fumble. He additionally struggled to search out chemistry with any of his receivers moreover Courtland Sutton. Nix faces a more durable matchup in Week 2 towards the Indianapolis Colts, so contemplate him solely a mid-range QB2. — Cockcroft
8. Kenneth Walker III, RB, and Cooper Kupp, WR, Seattle Seahawks: I did not see the juice/burst with Walker within the Week 1 loss to the 49ers. Walker completed with simply 5.4 factors on 13 touches, and it was Zach Charbonnet who led the Seahawks in each carries (12) and dashing yards (47), which makes the Seahawks' backfield one to observe shifting ahead. Kupp did not make an impression in his first sport with the Seahawks, catching two of three targets for 15 yards (3.5 factors). Bear in mind, Kupp's separation pace began to say no on tape final season, and he will get the Steelers protection up subsequent in Week 2. Let's have a look at if the amount will increase for the veteran large receiver. — Bowen
Damage impression
Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders
What we all know: He scored 15.3 PPR fantasy factors on eight targets earlier than leaving the sport late with a knee damage, from which he was unable to return.
What's subsequent: Bowers was noticed on the sidelines through the fourth quarter, which no less than provides encouragement that it wasn't a severe difficulty. He'll however must be monitored all through the apply week. Michael Mayer, who caught all 4 of his targets for 7.8 factors, would most stand to profit if Bowers must miss additional time. — Cockcroft
George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers
What we all know: Kittle caught all 4 of his targets for 25 yards and a landing (12.5 factors) earlier than leaving the sport within the first half with a hamstring damage. He didn't return.
What's subsequent:If Kittle is down for the Week 2 sport, it is potential that third 12 months professional Jake Tonges will get extra appears to be like within the 49ers sport plan. Tonges caught three passes for 15 yards and the game-winning landing within the Week 1 win over the Seahawks. — Bowen
