The highly anticipated Week 1 of the NFL season is back again, which means the start of another equally-important season: fantasy football.
Especially in Week 1 you’re likely starting all your big-name guys, not super worried about matchups. And if you are looking at matchups, hopefully you’re also not looking at injury reports and replacements.
Back by popular demand this season: the top five sleepers of each week. Maybe it’s guys you haven’t heard of. Maybe they’re new to the NFL or on a new team? Maybe they’re filling in for an injury? Regardless, more times than not last season, these picks ended up on the right side of the ball.
Let’s be honest, do you really need to be told to start Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson in a likely shootout in prime time? Or to sit Chris Olave, who will see someone take snaps under center, but the football won’t get anywhere close to him?
But what you may need is that extra oomph to start someone you’re on the fence with.
You also may have taken a gamble in the draft and feel depleted at a position, looking to slyly slide someone in this week. And let’s be honest, this happens most weeks.
To help you out, this article contains my top five sleepers fantasy football Week 1, and why.
Editor’s Note: These selections rank Tier 4 or lower on The Wolf’s Week 1 Rankings.
FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 1 SLEEPERS
Joe Flacco, QB, Cleveland Browns
Vs Cincinnati Bengals
What year is it??
I don’t know, but I do know Cincinnati allowed the sixth-most points to opposing quarterbacks in 2024. Looking back at my notes, that bodes well for Joe Flacco, who had five 300-yard games for the Browns (in six tries) when he was with the team in 2023.
With Nick Chubb gone, Cleveland has even more uncertainty in the backfield. So, relying on Flacco to drop back, could be more needed than ever.
He quietly has a few targets that could handle upwards of 30-40 pass attempts. Tight end David Njoku has a steady, trustworthy rapport with Flacco, and Jerry Jeudy remains the team’s No. 1 receiver.
Three veterans in a Swiss cheese matchup? I’ll take the risk.
Flacco ranks in Tier 5 (QB21) on The Wolf’s Week 1 Rankings.
Austin Ekeler, RB, Washington Commanders
Vs New York Giants
With Brian Robinson Jr. shipped off cross-country, Austin Ekeler enters Sunday’s divisional game as the best running back in Washington. That may not hold up for the season, especially with the buzz around Jacory Croskey-Merritt and now Chris Rodriguez, but it does in Week 1.
Whether it’s pass-catching, change of pace or a bulk to show the younger backs how it’s done, Ekeler will have a prominent role in New York. The Giants enter the season 24th against the run, too, which bodes well for all Washington rushers as they work to ease into the season, even if it’s a committee approach.
I like Ekeler as a flex in all formats, with an uptick in any form of PPR. Last season against New York, Ekeler had 83 total yards and a touchdown.
Ekeler ranks in Tier 5 (RB31) on The Wolf’s Week 1 Rankings.
Ricky Pearsall, WR, San Francisco 49ers
@ Seattle Seahawks
Ricky Pearsall and George Kittle are the top receiving options in San Francisco this week – and possibly for the season. Even if Jauan Jennings plays, he’s likely not 100% after missing most of camp, but he did get a boost on this year’s contract.
Pearsall quietly spent a lot of time in the offseason working with quarterback Brock Purdy, so while I expect him to be at least a short-term big-play threat, I like him as an option all across the field.
Most people likely did not draft Pearsall to be a starter, but the Seahawks’ passing defense begins the year 21st and isn’t the unit it once was.
Christian McCaffrey – and possibly Robinson Jr. – could take some of Seattle’s defensive resources in the box. Pearsall is a little easier to lose track of than Kittle.
Pearsall ranks in Tier 6 (WR31) on The Wolf’s Week 1 Rankings.
Demario Douglas, WR, New England Patriots
Vs Las Vegas Raiders
Stefon Diggs should enter Week 1 without an injury designation, but I still like Demario Douglas out of the slot this weekend.
The Raiders are traveling cross-country for a 1 p.m. kickoff – which is historically bad – and Josh McDaniels, the former head coach of Las Vegas – is back with New England. In case it’s a secret, McDaniels likes his slot receivers.
I also can see a situation where, even if quarterback Drake Maye struggles, Douglas can be the dump off safety valve this week.
Douglas seems to be appropriately placed in The Wolf’s eighth tear after he hasn’t lived up to the hype surrounding ol ‘Pop’ in his first two years in league. I’m confident starting him in PPR this week.
Douglas ranks in Tier 8 (WR 51) on The Wolf’s Week 1 Rankings.
Charlie Kolar, TE, Baltimore Ravens
@ Buffalo Bills
Who? Exactly.
The Ravens had two tight ends on the field for 45% of their offensive plays last year, the highest rate in the NFL.
It’s a real possibility that Isaiah Likely (foot) misses the opener, and Charlie Kolar has been running with the first team in recent practices.
With both team’s defenses improving in the offseason, I think this game has the potential to see more passing scores than rushing scores despite Derrick Henry and James Cook playing. Kolar almost comes into the game as a secret weapon, someone likely not on the Bills’ radar, especially in the short game.
Kolar is unranked on The Wolf’s Week 1 Rankings.
Bonus Unit: Arizona Cardinals DST
@ New Orleans Saints
Returning readers will find this as bonus content, and you new eyes simply see the first installment of “Bonus Unit” this season without needing to work for it.
I typically stick to players, but I found myself saying “I wish I did special teams” or “what if I spiced this up with a surprise?” when researching this week. Thus, ‘Bonus Unit’, makes its debut.
This week, there is no one more obvious to me than the Cardinals defense.
But Kayla, didn’t you just say cross-country 1 p.m. starts are historically bad? I did. Thankfully, Spencer Rattler is worse.
New Orleans may have questions with the quarterback they drafted this Spring, but the worst thing it could’ve done was name winless-Spencer Rattler its starter.
Rattler is 0-7 in NFL games with a 57% completion percentage average in those games. Fans should not forget the embarrassment on national television last year when the Saints faced off against Green Bay and he completed just half of his passes (15-for-30). I’d like to say there weren’t games that mirrored that, but that also just isn’t true.
Arizona’s defense is not Green Bay’s, but we can’t dismiss Calais Campbell, Budda Baker and Josh Sweat in this unit.
If your fantasy league awards points for yards against, Arizona will succeed for you. If your fantasy league awards points for turnovers, Arizona will succeed for you. If your fantasy league awards for points against, Arizona will succeed for you. I like the Cardinals so much this week, they’re my Survivor Pool pick.
