Start 'Em-Sit 'Em: Week 1 Fantasy Football
- Fans Only Sportz Network
- 23 hours ago
- 8 min read
By Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen 9/4/2025 Sportz Nation
Start 'Em (Matt)
Quarterbacks
Michael Penix Jr vs TB
Coming into his second year in the NFL, 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. has a great opportunity to come out strong. Tampa Bay's passing defense was not good last year (3rd worst), and it did not add any significant pieces to its secondary. With weapons galore in Atlanta, Penix needs to start on your fantasy team in Week 1.
Bryce Young vs JAX
Bryce Young was fantastic to end the 2024 season, building a sense of confidence and belief that will carry into 2025. With new weapons and a potential star in Tetairoa McMillan, Young could be in line for a strong season, especially in Week 1 against a Jags team that will likely be among the worst-ranked passing defenses in football.
Tua Tagovailoa @ IND
As long as he is healthy, Tua Tagovailoa has elite fantasy upside no matter who he plays. If Miami can fix its offensive issues from last year, which from the looks of it will likely happen, Tua is a must-start against a bad Colts defense. He has flown under the radar due to injuries, but as of right now, Tua is reported to be healthy. Start him in Week 1.
Running Backs
De'Andre Swift vs MIN
Swift is another guy who has flown under people's radar. I think, especially while the offense is figuring out an identity, the Bears' offense will run through Swift. Plus, in a Ben Johnson offense Swift can finally be utilized as a pass catcher and a runner effectively. The Vikings also had one of the worst rushing defenses in football last year and among the highest fantasy points allowed to running backs. Swift is a no-brainer to start Week 1.
James Connor @ NO
James Connor may be my start of the week. This matchup is a gimme for him, to say the least. As Arizona's clear RB1, Connor is primed for a huge game against the Saints who will likely be a bottom-three team in the NFL. Connor also has not shown any sign of slowing down production-wise, even with him going into his 30s. Connor may be one of the best fantasy producers of the week.
Kenneth Walker III vs SF
Kenneth Walker III is in a peculiar situation; he may be one injury away from losing his sole starting position to Zach Charbonet. However, until that injury occurs Walker III will still be primed for elite upside. The 49ers' defense was average at best at stopping the run plus with a new QB at the helm for Seattle in Sam Darnold, Walker III might be relied upon even more in Week 1.
Wide Receivers
Xavier Worthy vs LAC
Coming off a record-setting performance in last year's Super Bowl, Xavier Worthy is bound to take that elite step forward that we have been hoping for. This could be the year Worthy steps into that Tyreek-Hill role in KC's offense, especially as the current WR1 with Rashee Rice suspended 6 games. With the Chargers' secondary likely to struggle, Worthy is a must-start Week 1 without a doubt.
Jaylen Waddle @ IND
I think most people are forgetting how lethal Miami's offense can be when their guys are fully healthy. It was not that long ago that Miami was one of the best offenses in football. For Waddle, injuries plagued his entire 2025 campaign which hindered his numbers and fantasy value significantly. People are forgetting how important Waddle is to the success of this offense. I think Waddle starts the 2025 season off strong, producing numbers we expect a guy of his talent level to produce. Besides, what better matchup than against one of the worst secondaries in football, in the Colts?
Matthew Golden vs DET
I think Matthew Golden will be the fantasy player this year to break onto the scene right away, becoming one of the best WR options in any league. With Christian Watson out for the season and Jayden Reed already battling injuries and the rest of the field 3rd options at best, gunslinger QB Jordan Love will have a field day throwing the ball to Golden early and often. I predict Golden to start his career off with a bang against a below-average Lions secondary, making him a confident start in Week 1.
Tight Ends
David Njoku vs CIN
Njoku could be a home run of a start this week against the Bengals. Cincy will likely have another bottom-5 defense in football this year, with their linebacking corps in shambles. Njoku was also a top-3 fantasy TE while Joe Flacco was his QB. The Browns will likely be playing from behind for most of this game, giving all the more reason to target Njoku throughout. Start him this week.
Hunter Henry vs LV
Hunter Henry may not be the flashiest of Tight Ends, but his best season was with OC Josh McDaniels. With McDaniels back this season as OC, I feel as though Henry will be involved in the offense more than people may think. Henry also faces a bad Vegas linebacking corps, which gave up the third most fantasy points per game to TEs. Until New England gains an offensive identity, Henry is a must-start for this week.
Dallas Goedert vs DAL
With Dallas' defense likely to be worse than it was last year, Goedert is an intriguing start to open up the 2025 season. With the only sort of bright spot on that Dallas defense being its cornerbacks, this could open up the window of opportunity for Goedert, who can be effective in the short game and screen passing game. I think Goedert will rise to the occasion and be a big part of the Eagles' offense in their season opener. Start him this week.
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Sit 'Em (Zak)
Quarterbacks
- Patrick Mahomes @ LAC
Patrick Mahomes is a player you may see often on our "Sit 'Ems" portion of this list because he is just not a fantasy quarterback anymore. Mahomes is a winner and may be the best QB in the game as far as who you want on the field with you. As a fantasy QB, though, he's not one of the top guys anymore. In this game specifically, the Chargers' defense will get to Mahomes and either rush him or bring him down too much. Also, the game is in Brazil, so...
- Brock Purdy @ SEA
Purdy should have a better year than last year as long as the 49ers stay healthy. Unfortunately, his matchup with the Seahawks is one I can't see being unscathed and probably will lead to some turnovers. Seattle's defense is so strong in the secondary that Purdy will either not throw the ball more than 30 times or will make mistakes that will overshadow anything else he does.
- Caleb Williams vs MIN
I'm a big believer in Caleb this year in his new system, but against Minnesota's defense in Week 1, Williams will be running for his life. On Monday night, this divisional matchup will probably be a low-scoring affair, and Caleb is usually good about securing the football but will likely put up a small stat line and not threaten too much with his legs.
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Running Backs
- Derrick Henry @ BUF
Henry is another player who will NOT be on this list many times throughout the season, but against the Bills' defense, you should really consider it. As most owners' 1st-round pick, it could be hard to sit the man, but if you have good RB depth and better matchups, seriously consider it because Buffalo's defense will be game-planning for him.
- Omarion Hampton vs KC
In his first game as a pro and in Brazil, Omarion Hampton will get the start against the daunting Chiefs' defense. I like Hampton this year, especially while Najee Harris is out, but not against the Chiefs. The Chargers are also without their star left tackle, Rashawn Slater, this season, meaning the outside run will take a while to get going for them.
- Josh Jacobs vs DET
As someone who had Josh Jacobs on 2 different teams last year, he struggled against the Lions. Jacobs is a good RB this year with very high-end TD potential, but the Lions are a great run-defending team. As another top-end RB in most leagues' early Round 2, I understand most people can't bench him, but like Henry, if you have other options, you might want to use them.
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Wide Receivers
- Ceedee Lamb @ PHI
CeeDee is as iffy a Top-6 pick as there is in Fantasy Football this year with how unpredictable the Cowboys' offense will be. Couple that with his matchup in Philadelphia for Game 1 against the Eagles' defense, and I don't like it. With how deep the WR group is this year, if you drafted CeeDee, you should really BENCH him in Week 1 and then play him every other week, as crazy as that thought is.
- Garrett Wilson vs PIT
There will be a trending topic on this list for weeks to come, and that is to bench a WR who is facing Pittsburgh. Quite possibly the best defense in football added not only Jalen Ramsey but also Darius Slay this offseason. Justin Fields' injury is also a factor for this one, and I already don't love Wilson this season due to a lack of passing for the Jets this year, but ESPECIALLY against the Steelers. DO NOT start Wilson.
- Marvin Harrison Jr. @ NO
I'm a big fan of Maserati Marv, and I do believe he will cement himself as one of the best WRs in the league this year. While a matchup against the Saints is normally great in Fantasy, let it be known now that the Saints have a very good secondary. In a matchup where they will key in on Marvin with McKinstry and Justin Reid, this may be the time to bench him, or at the most, have him in your FLEX spot.
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Tight Ends
- Sam LaPorta @ GB
I am down on the Lions' offense for the most part this season without Ben Johnson, and for this matchup in particular, Sam LaPorta should not start. As a normal Top-5 TE, LaPorta will be in Green Bay against one of the best defenses against TEs in the league. Adding Micah Parsons will give Jared Goff even more fits, and I can see LaPorta getting only 3 or fewer catches on the day.
- Mark Andrews @ BUF
We all saw Mark Andrews start the 2024 season at a sluggish pace, and he'll be doing it in 2025 in Buffalo. Give him a week to see if he duplicates his 2024 season, and if he does, Andrews may be on this list until midseason again.
- Dalton Kincaid vs BAL
On the other side of the same game, Kincaid already has a lot of other receivers in Buffalo to contend with for targets. Against a Baltimore secondary that has great coverage linebackers, corners, nickels, and safeties, I would not play Kincaid in ANY scenario, regardless of whether you have any TE depth on your fantasy squad or not.
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-Z.D.
-Matt Hylen