Sleepers at Quarterback
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay (at Cincinnati)
Is a quarterback who was a solid QB1 two years ago a sleeper already? Mayfield was QB19 in drafts, and almost no one drafted him as a starter. He should be played over many quarterbacks drafted ahead of him, even though the Bengals defense should be improved with the acquisition of Dexter Lawrence II (and Boye Mafe and Bryan Cook). Unlike most of 2025, Mayfield is healthy, his line is healthy, and his receivers are healthy-ish. He threw for 379 and two scores in a 38-35 shootout win over Seattle before everything fell apart last year, and this game could be very similar.
Tyler Shough, New Orleans (at Detroit)
Shough doesn't have Mayfield's track record, but his ceiling is just as high. If Jordyn Tyson hadn't gotten hurt, he would have been a top 5-6 play at Detroit against a Lions defense without Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph for at least the first four weeks. Shough can pad his fantasy output with scrambling ability, and it doesn't hurt to have Kellen Moore calling plays.
Malik Willis, Miami (vs Las Vegas)
Willis doesn't have much help at wide receiver or tight end, and his line isn't a strength (though it's not among the worst in the league), but he has the biggest cheat code in fantasy football (thanks, Rich Hribar): he's a running quarterback. He'll run a lot by design, and Willis will likely run a lot on passing plays too. We already saw with Justin Fields that even abysmal passing quarterbacks with a top-end rushing threat can be fun boom/bust plays week to week. He could also be this year's Jacoby Brissett, playing for an overmatched team, but fattening up his stats in garbage time against defenses that are nursing 17+ point leads in the fourth quarter. The Raiders matchup should only encourage you if you are thinking about playing Willis over Jayden Daniels, Patrick Mahomes II, or any other earliest drafted quarterback that has a worrisome outlook this week.
Geno Smith, NY Jets (at Tennessee)
Smith is going to be playing with Frank Reich, who once upon a time hung 33 and 45 points on Robert Saleh defenses with Carson Wentz as his quarterback. 2021 and 2017 might be ancient history by NFL standards, but the Titans have had a lot of changes on defense, and the Jets have a great set of talents and a young, ascending offensive line around Smith. He deserves consideration in superflex leagues as your QB2.
Jacoby Brissett, Arizona (at LA Chargers)
While most of us were lighting torches and gathering pitchforks for the Jeremiyah Love injury riot during the preseason opener, we might have missed that Mike LaFleur has spruced up the passing offense, giving Brissett more potential when the game is still competitive. Marvin Harrison Jr. has reportedly regained his confidence, Michael Wilson just got paid, and Jeremiyah Love is on track to play. The Cardinals defense was not spruced up, so this could be a very high-scoring game with the debut of Justin Herbert in a Mike McDaniel offense.
Sleepers at Running Back
Chris Rodriguez Jr., Jacksonville (vs Cleveland)
Rodriguez is a co-lead back with Bhayshul Tuten, and he's the back who is more likely to get goal-line carries and carries to salt away a win against the Browns. The Jaguars offensive line isn't a strength, but they should still be better as a run-blocking unit in year two under Liam Coen. It helps that Rodriguez thrived under Coen when they were together at Kentucky, which is a big reason Coen wanted to add him this offseason.
Chuba Hubbard, Carolina (vs Chicago)
Jonathon Brooks should play, but after Hubbard is healthier, even though he hurt his hamstring early in camp. The Bears run defense is an issue, and they are going to be without two key performers in the secondary. As long as the Panthers defense can keep Ben Johnson's offense in sight on the scoreboard, Hubbard should get a lot of work.
Rico Dowdle, Pittsburgh (vs Atlanta)
It's not clear if it would be better for the Falcons if the Steelers faced Cooper Rush, who lost 44-10 to Houston and threw three picks the last time we saw him start and finish a game or Tua Tagovailoa, who sat down in practice after aggravating a back issue and failed to finish the session Thursday. Dowdle showed last year that he gets stronger as the game goes on if you let him get in a rhythm, and head coach Mike McCarthy wanted to get him in free agency after the two were together in Dallas.
Jordan Mason, Minnesota (vs Green Bay)
Kyler Murray got all of the headlines, but installing the Frank Smith running game was the emphasis on offense during camp, and Mason fits it like a hand in a glove. Aaron Jones Sr. will split work with Mason, but Murray lowers Jones' passing-game upside, and Mason is more likely to get goal-line carries and volume as the more physical back. Brian Flores' defense should harass Jordan Love, who is playing behind a line with two starters who aren't sure things to go for Week 1.
Mike Washington Jr., Las Vegas (vs Miami)
Ashton Jeanty is going to play, but Washington should make this a committee for at least Week 1 after an impressive preseason that showed he is a good fit in Klint Kubiak's running game. The Dolphins might not be able to hang with their league-worst roster, and Washington is much more likely to get carries in the second half protecting a lead than Jeanty, who had an ankle injury scare two weeks ago and wasn't certain to play until this week.
Rachaad White, Washington (at Philadelphia)
White is your "PPR scam" running back this week. The Commanders lost franchise left tackle Laremy Tunsil in the preseason, and their line hasn't had a good summer. Surely first-time play-caller David Blough will want his best pass-blocking running back in against a vicious Vic Fangio defense. There probably won't be time for downfield passing opportunities to develop, and White could be a frequent target in the second half if the Commanders are playing from behind and Jayden Daniels is trying to not get hurt.
Sleepers at Wide Receiver
Adonai Mitchell, NY Jets (at Tennessee)
Mitchell's connection with Geno Smith has been a source of buzz since the offseason, and there are signs of life for this offense. Smith is a bold downfield passer, and Mitchell has already shown that he has the juice to separate deep against NFL cornerbacks. It only takes one play to make your day if you give Mitchell a shot.
Jalen Coker, Carolina (vs Chicago)
Coker was mispriced all offseason as a back half of the draft bench pick even though he emerged as the clear #2 late in the season, finished with a 9-134-1 flourish in the thrilling wild card loss to the Rams, and then got a contract that confirmed his central role in the offense during the offseason. Chicago's secondary is depleted already, and Dennis Allen should be more concerned with Tetairoa McMillan moving around the formation than Coker, which could leave Coker in great one-on-one matchups he can win outside.
Devaughn Vele, New Orleans (at Detroit)
Vele never got out of the very late rounds of drafts even though Jordyn Tyson is out for at least the first four weeks. Vele joined the Saints during the season and was starting to come alive as a consistent target for Tyler Shough before going down late in the season with a shoulder injury. The Lions secondary is without their two best players, and this game should be high-scoring, making Vele a relatively safe play with a higher ceiling than you think.
Wan'Dale Robinson, Tennessee (vs NY Jets)
If Brian Daboll is rational, he'll be calling a lot of short passes to Robinson early against the Jets to settle Cam Ward down, playing behind one of the two or three most suspect offensive lines that a team will roll out there in Week 1. Carnell Tate could get some downfield targets to create a highlight reel play, but Robinson is likely to lead the team in targets and catches as a Week 1 "PPR Scam" play.
De'Zhaun Stribling, San Francisco (vs LA Rams - Australia) **Thursday**
Don't be afraid to play Stribling in his first NFL regular-season game. The 49ers force-fed the ball to him in the preseason. George Kittle is coming off of an Achilles tear, and Mike Evans has missed time twice already this summer with soft tissue leg injuries. The Rams defense could force the ball out of Brock Purdy's hands quickly, and that will lead to more targets to Stribling in the slot. It could be a very auspicious debut for him and anyone who believed in him in fantasy leagues.
KC Concepcion, Cleveland (at Jacksonville)
Kevin Concepcion (look it up) technically has the same initials as Keke Coutee, who set the NFL record for catches in a debut game with 11 back in 2018. His quarterback? Deshaun Watson. Concepcion also scored as a runner in the preseason, and the Browns appear to be poised to make him a point of emphasis in a passing game that will be limited by Watson's fading effectiveness, range, vision, and nerve in the pocket. Concepcion is another "PPR Scam" play for Week 1.
Sleepers at Tight End
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans (at Detroit)
Johnson was the winner of "most underrated tight end" in our Inaugural Industry Experts Poll, with 11 votes, seven more than second place (Travis Kelce). He has chemistry with Tyler Shough going back to their time together at Oregon in 2019, and he caught Shough's first career NFL touchdown pass. Jordyn Tyson's injury frees up targets that could go to Johnson in what should be the highest-scoring game of Week 1.
Brenton Strange, Jacksonville (vs Cleveland)
Strange was a high-efficiency target for Trevor Lawrence early in the season, even when the Liam Coen offense wasn't clicking. He was leading the team in catches and yards when he went out with a hip/quad injury. Strange scored three touchdowns in seven regular-season games after his return, and all signs point to his role and paycheck growing. The Browns should be able to neutralize Brian Thomas Jr. with Denzel Ward, which means Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers, and Brenton Strange should get targeted a lot in the middle of the field.
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh (vs Atlanta)
Aaron Rodgers called Freiermuth the "standout of camp", and we know how much personal relationships influence Rodgers on the field. The Falcons off ball linebacker group is inexperienced, and their two best edge rushers are out (James Pearce Jr.. - 8 week suspension, Jalon Walker - ACL tear in camp), so the Steelers can afford to have Freiermuth out there despite his lack of contributions as a blocker. The team has indicated on multiple occasions that they intend to get Freiermuth more involved than he was last year, when a late summer acquisition of Jonnu Smith kneecapped Freiermuth's role.
Michael Mayer, Las Vegas (vs Miami)
Mayer should be treated as a top 8-10 play this week with Brock Bowers sidelined by a surprise eve-of-the-season meniscus trim. He was a high second-round pick, and Mayer was productive at times when Bowers was out last year. Klint Kubiak and Kirk Cousins should keep tight end passes front and center, with Mayer more than capable of moving the chains for an offense that doesn't need to take chances to beat the shorthanded Dolphins.
