What You Need To Know From Week 1

Dallas @ Philadelphia

• Dak Prescott played much better than his stats indicate. The touchdowns went to Javonte Williams, and CeeDee Lamb let Prescott down at times. He's worth holding even if you don't want to start him against the Giants.
• Javonte Williams was the clear lead back and ran with a renewed sense of determination. He was better than his yards per carry indicates, and the offensive line was getting push against an Eagles defense that was missing its best defensive tackle, Jalen Carter, who was ejected before the game in a spitting incident. Miles Sanders had a long run, but also fumbled in the red zone. Williams is an RB2/Flex play going forward.
• George Pickens drew a long pass interference, but otherwise was quiet, although his usage in the short passing game was up from his role in Pittsburgh. He also showed middling effort on run plays. This high-visibility game was bad for his perceived value.
• Lamb was getting open at will and looks primed for a big year. There was a massive fantasy game there for the taking if Lamb was more consistent.
• Jake Ferguson was the clear #1 tight end and racked up enough catches to not be a bust, but he doesn't add value to his targets, so he's touchdown-dependent and better suited to be bye/injury depth, i.e., not an essential hold.
• New offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo didn't have much up his sleeve in his debut as the playcaller. The Eagles did lead throughout, but the pass offense was hyperconservative, while the running game wasn't that effective. This against a Cowboys defense that just traded away their best defensive player.
• Jalen Hurts scored twice on the ground and remains a strong QB1 even if this offense remains run-heavy and not that creative.
• We were seeing more of Will Shipley than expected early in the game, and he looked good before leaving with a rib injury. The Eagles traded for Tank Bigsby on Monday, but that was reportedly more about their kickoff returner job. Once Shipley is healthy, he'll be the injury upside backup to stash in case of a Saquon Barkley injury.
• A.J. Brown wasn't getting open and was only targeted once. He did have some hamstring issues in camp and might not be 100%. If he doesn't do much against the Chiefs, it's time to bench him. Likewise, with DeVonta Smith, who was the victim of the game plan and execution. 
• Dallas Goedert was the primary target after he said this offseason that he was excited about how Patullo planned to use him. He's a solid TE1 going into Week 2.

Kansas City @ LA Chargers - Brazil

• Xavier Worthy left with a dislocated shoulder after colliding with Travis Kelce. He will reportedly play through the injury with a harness. His Week 2 status is unknown.
• Patrick Mahomes II was forced to carry the offense with the running game barely used in the opener. He added more value as a runner than usual, including a touchdown. The passing game should improve if they can ever get everyone on the field at the same time, and there's increasing buzz that Tyreek Hill could return to Kansas City this season.
• Isiah Pacheco gave way to Kareem Hunt more than expected, and the Chiefs abandoned the run. There's no reliable play in this backfield, and if rookie Brashard Smith's role increases, Pacheco may become a drop.
• Marquise Brown dominated targets with Rice and Worthy out. He'll have WR3/Flex value in PPR leagues until further notice.
• Travis Kelce caught an easy long score on a misdirection play that confused the Chargers defense, but otherwise was a non-factor. He probably won't be a reliable start once the Chiefs' pass offense gets Worthy and/or Rice back.
• Justin Herbert returned to the top 5 fantasy quarterback form he once displayed, and offensive coordinator Greg Roman was willing to trust him over the running game, even when the Chargers led. Herbert is a solid QB1 against the Raiders and could be one of the best picks at quarterback this year.
• Omarion Hampton wasn't that effective, and his limitations as a linear power back with burst were on display. Najee Harris's snap count should increase to incorporate his more experienced approach, which would lower Hampton's ceiling. Hampton could still be decent for fantasy if he's the goal-line back in an improved offense.
• Herbert was able to support the value of his top three receivers in a matchup that gave him trouble last year. Keenan Allen looks like the money down option and has added PPR value, Quentin Johnston is being used in a way to amplify the value of his size/speed combination, and Ladd McConkey is uncoverable at times. Both Johnston and Allen are immediate pickups if available and good WR3/Flex plays in Week 2.

Miami @ Indianapolis

• The Dolphins looked like a team that has given up already on both sides of the ball.
• De'Von Achane is the only player we can trust in this offense, and his touchdown came in garbage time. He at least looked healthy after missing time with a calf injury this summer. You can drop Ollie Gordon II
• Tua Tagovailoa looked confused and couldn't generate any momentum for the offense. He's droppable.
• Tyreek Hill was contained and got frustrated on the sidelines. The rumors continue to build that he's going to get traded back to Kansas City (or to Pittsburgh).
• Jaylen Waddle did little, but hold him in case Hill is traded.
• Daniel Jones looked like a new man two years removed from his ACL tear in a Shane Steichen offense. He vultured two scores at the goal line and was very much in synch with his talented group of passcatchers. If he is competitive against the tough Broncos defense this week, we might need to consider this as a potential breakout offense and quarterback, at least against an otherwise soft first-half schedule.
• DJ Giddens is the clear #2 back behind Jonathan Taylor, and the rookie fifth-round pick should be rostered in leagues deep enough to have some backup running backs stashed on benches.
• The Colts said they were going to feature first-round pick Tyler Warren, and they did. The tight end was a focus of the passing game, and he was up to the task. He's looking like a solid to strong TE1, depending on how much of this result was the easy matchup.
• Michael Pittman Jr was the clear #1 receiver and should be an every-week WR3/Flex play.
• Josh Downs got the same number of targets as Alec Pierce (3) and was only in for slightly less than half of the snaps. He was coming off a camp hamstring injury, but even if he has room to improve, he'll be inconsistent in this role and offense, and isn't an essential hold.

Pittsburgh @ NY Jets

• Aaron Rodgers made a few mistakes, but otherwise was crisp, accurate, and on time executing Arthur Smith's playbook, which worked to a tee against the Jets defense. The Steelers offensive line gave up four sacks, but was good enough to allow Rodgers to work most of the game. Rodgers may be a spot start in bye/injury situations, but more importantly, he could improve this offense significantly simply by giving it competent quarterback play.
• Kenneth Gainwell and Jaylen Warren split the backfield work. Warren caught a touchdown, but like last season, is only a matchup flex. Gainwell is only rosterable in deep leagues. Kaleb Johnson was on the field for two snaps and is droppable in most leagues.
• Calvin Austin III caught a touchdown on a perfect play call and is the clear #2 receiver. He's a waiver pickup if bench size allows.
• DK Metcalf didn't have a big game but had a 30+ yard gain on a wide receiver screen, and Rodgers' play still improves his overall outlook.
• Jonnu Smith was on the field more than Pat Freiermuth, and he caught a touchdown on a goal-line pop pass. He's the most valuable Steelers tight end, but none are reliable for fantasy.
• Justin Fields had one of his best games as a pro, showing improvement as a passer after the play breaks down and connecting frequently with college teammate Garrett Wilson. He also scored twice on the ground to post a huge fantasy day. He's a high-ceiling QB1 against the Bills in Week 2.
• Wilson could be set up for a career year and should be considered a high ceiling WR2 and maybe on the verge of achieving the WR1 expectations he has carried since being drafted in 2022.
• Breece Hall was as explosive, strong, and shifty as ever and served as the #2 target in the passing game. His snap and touch shares should only increase. He got none of the three rushing scores, or this could have been a week-winning game in fantasy leagues. Braelon Allen scored, but was otherwise unimpressive and shouldn't be considered a priority backup running back hold.

Carolina @ Jacksonville

• Bryce Young reverted to the tentative, overwhelmed quarterback we saw for most of the first two years of his career. He's only a depth hold in superflex leagues, and we might see Andy Dalton again if he doesn't turn it around.
• Chuba Hubbard was limited by the losing game script, but scored a garbage-time touchdown and was the clear lead back.
• Tetairoa McMillan looked up to the task of being the team's #1 receiver right away, although he's not going to hit his ceiling unless Young improves.
• Xavier Legette was second on the team in targets, but did little with them. He can be dropped in redraft.
• The Jaguars' pass offense was choppy. If Trevor Lawrence and company don't smooth things out against the Bengals' "defense", we should expect some rough games in tougher matchups to come.
• Brenton Strange led the team in receiving yards and secured more downfield targets than Brian Thomas Jr. or Travis Hunter. He should be added if you need a tight end.
• Hunter and Thomas were quiet because the Jaguars led most of the game and didn't need to be aggressive in the passing game, plus Strange and Dyami Brown were strong contributors. It might be time to get worried if the dynamic duo doesn't do much against the Bengals.
• Travis Etienne Jr. was the breakout running back of Week 1, with the longest run and one of the few 100-yard games of the weekend. He's a strong RB2 against the Bengals and a clear lead back going forward.
• The Jaguars traded Tank Bigsby to the Eagles for a fifth- and sixth-round pick and signed Cody Schrader off the Rams' practice squad. Fourth-round pick Bhayshul Tuten should be the most valuable Jaguars back if Etienne goes down.

Arizona @ New Orleans