Everyone. It’s here. It’s finally here!
Football is back! Now all of the in-season analysis and “we told you to draft and not to draft” threads can stop, right?
The Philadelphia Eagles look to start their Super Bowl defense strong with a visit from bitter-rival Dallas Cowboys, and all eyes will be on Saquon Barkley to see if he can provide the same electricity in 2025.
Will Dak Prescott and the Cowboys near regime under Brian Schottenheimer put a damper on the Eagles banner ceremony? Honestly, who cares! We’re here for the fantasy points!
Can you trust George Pickens or will the mighty Eagles defense cause problems for Prescott in the pocket all night long? As for the other 15 games, who can you start? Who can you sit? Roto Street has the answers!
Quarterback Starts
Drake Maye vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Trot out ol’ boy Maye and the new look New England Patriots and do so with confidence!
Maye offers some sneaky high rushing upside (4.5 rush attempts per game) and some scintillating new pass catchers in TreVeyon Henderson and the immortal Stefon Diggs.
While Mike Vrabel loves to run his teams primarily on the ground (pun intended), we all remember not that long ago when Ryan Tannehill was a fantasy star, feasting in play action and QB scrambles.
The Raiders don’t project to pose much resistance either, ranking 26th against opposing QBs in 2024. Let’s set the over under on how many touchdowns Maye scores vs. how many packs of gum Pete Carroll chews in the game.
Trevor Lawrence vs. Carolina Panthers
Doug Pederson is no longer darkening the doorway of the Jaguars offense any longer. Liam Coen is now bringing his high-octane pass attack to Jacksonville and Lawrence may finally be in a position to flourish.
Whether it’s Brian Thomas Jr. streaking down the sidelines past opposing defenses or rookie Travis Hunter manhandling defenders, Lawrence has weapons to spare!
With Travis Etienne being a swiss army knife in the backfield and Tank Bigsby continuing to angry run into opposing defenses, Lawrence should have much higher TD equity in 2025.
Last season, Coen’s offense targeted the RB on 21% of of its passes (4th in NFL). The Panthers defense will have to stay honest and defend the line of scrimmage rather than just sitting back in coverage.
Speaking of the Panthers, their defense ranked just below hapless in 2024. They were dead last against opposing QBs and Lawrence is in a position to feast this week.
Other starts and streams: Kyler Murray vs. NO, Michael Penix Jr. vs. TB
Quarterback Sits
Caleb Williams vs. Minnesota Vikings
In an early season divisional showdown, it’s a coin-toss whether the Bears and Ben Johnson get it going early.
In 2024, Williams went for 30+ against the Vikings and then scored fewer than 14 a couple weeks later.
A true boom-bust QB as a rookie, are we expecting him to suddenly have a seamless grasp on Johnson’s precise, timing-driven aerial attack?
He threw for one or fewer TDs in 10 of his games last season and Minnesota ranked 4th against QBs last season. It’s best to play things safe if possible and start your season out 1-0.
Justin Fields vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
There will be no revenge game narrative for Fields. Not unless he breaks loose on the ground and dances in paydirt.
In 2024, the Steelers ranked 4th in fewest rush yards to opposing QBs.
With a pivotal injury to Alijah Vera-Tucker, Fields projects to have even less time to navigate the pocket. In what projects to be a low-scoring ugly affair, fade Fields week one!
Other QB sits: CJ Stroud vs. LAR, Jared Goff vs. GB
Running Back Starts
Tony Pollard vs. Denver Broncos
No Tyjae Spears. Check. Volume? Check.
Pollard checks off the two main boxes. Don’t be rattled by the name on the jersey opposite Pollard. The Broncos allowed around 4.5 yards per carry in 2024.
In four games without Spears last season, Pollard’s opportunity earned him neary 20 xFP/g and he played on almost 90% of the team’s snaps.
Oh and he’s pretty good at catching the ball too. He’s caught neary 40 passes in four straight seasons. He’s a great RB2/flex option.
Jerome Ford vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Has Quinshon Judkins signed yet? Well until that question is a definitive yes and he is acclimated with the team, Ford is a more than adequate replacement.
Ford shouldered the load in 2024 against the Bengals in the fantasy playoffs and he showed out. He caught all five of his targets for 39 yards and shouldered 11 carries for 92 yards and a score.
While Dylan Sampson could muddy the waters a bit while Judkins is out, Ford should still handle a healthy load of rushes and see his share of targets.
Other RBs to start: D’Andre Swift vs. MIN, TreVeyon Henderson vs. LV
Running Back Sits
Javonte Williams vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Does Williams have the backfield all to himself? Nooooope. Oh, but he still has the juice right? After all, he’s still a young man. No? Well what does he offer? Exactly. Williams projects to be a meaty volume hog that could be a flex at best against the Eagles.
He’s a stocky back that could still fall into the end zone and give fantasy managers a serviceable game. But, without some busted plays, it’s highly unlikely Williams significantly outplays Miles Sanders and rookie Jaydon Blue against the second-ranked RB defense.
Oh, and last season, Dallas scored the second-fewest RB fantasy points per game last season. He’s fighting an uphill battle.
Isiah Pacheco vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Last season, Pacheco teased what could have been an incredible fantasy season weeks one and two. His workload earned him a sexy 19.4 xFP/g and he seemed like he was destined to be a weekly RB1.
The explosive Brashard Smith and Elijah Mitchell have both joined the backfield and there’s a good chance it’s just a muddled mess.
Last season, the Chargers allowed the fewest rushing touchdowns to RBs (4) and were a top-6 RB defense. Pacheco could still make a fine flex play, but let’s see how the clunky KC offense looks before betting the house on Pacheco.
Other RB sits: Breece Hall vs. PIT, Nick Chubb vs. LAR
Wide Receiver Starts
Tetairoa McMillan vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Tet should be ready to run in week one after being sidelined with a hamstring injury. He’s in line to see a ton of targets this week after Adam Thielen was traded back to Minnesota and Jalen Coker is out for the first four weeks.
Over the final 10 games last season, Bryce Young looked like a franchise quarterback. His TD rate flew up to 4.7%, while pacing for 3,500+ passing yards.
Meanwhile, Jacksonville yielded the thidr-most yards per game (119.3) to opposing wide receivers and surrendered the fourth-most fantasy points to the position.
Tet is in a position to smash and start his rookie year out strong.
Emeka Egbuka vs. Atlanta Falcons
No Chris Godwin, no Jalen McMillan. No worries.
The rookie is ready to thrive out the gate while lining up opposite Mike Evans. He’s no stranger to lining up opposite star wide receivers and balling out.
Future stud WR Jeremiah Smith was the belle of the Buckeye ball as a freshman, but Egbuka still put up 81 for 1,011 and 10 TDs.
In 2024, Atlanta surrendered the second-most fantasy points to WRs and Egbuka looks to be in a position to soak up a heavy target load from Baker Mayfield.
He is a strong flex play and could easily dance in the end zone celebrating the first of many touchdowns.
Other WR starts: Marvin Harrison Jr. vs. NOS, Jerry Jeudy vs. CIN
Wide Receiver Sits
Chris Olave vs. Arizona Cardinals
Perhaps it’s best to wait and see what Spencer Rattler has in his second season before we try to trot out any Saints WRs. Last season he was a sub 40 QB in terms of catchable pass rate.
While a perceived improvement in offensive scheme should elevate that, it’s still not a situation fantasy managers should want to hitch their winning wagons to right away.
The only pass catcher you shoud feel comfortable starting is Alvin Kamara.
There wasn’t much to write home about with Rattler vs. without him last season. The main takeaway is the extra three targets per game. If Rattler does a better job throwing the ball and Olave commands targets, he should be a fine flex play with upside going forward.
Garrett Wilson vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Look. The offseason narrative may have gotten a little out-of-hand for Wilson and Fields. As I continue the Buckeye bashing, it’s nothing personal.
Wilson is a freak talent that pops off the film everytime he touches the ball. He commanded a Ja’Marr Chase level 0.25 targets per route run last season. The guy is good!
The problem is Fields is just not a good passer. He’s going against a revamped and dangerous looking Steelers secondary that is pushing Wilson’s production down to flex/bench territory. That’s not what you bargained for when you drafted him.
Last season, Wilson performed fine against the Steelers, catching five balls for 61 yards.
His best prayer is that Fields just peppers him with targets and a few big plays work out in Wilson’s favor.
Other WR sits: Calvin Ridley vs. DEN, DK Metcalf vs. NYJ
