Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco will take on the Cincinnati Bengals at home to kick off the 2025 season. The Bengals struggled against the pass last season as they allowed the sixth-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. There isn't much expectation for the Cincinnati defense to be improved heading into the upcoming 2025 campaign, giving the veteran signal-caller a plus matchup to kick off the year. That being said, Flacco did not play well in limited starts with the Indianapolis Colts last year, and it is unclear just how much the 40-year-old has left in the tank. Flacco checks in as Rotoballer's QB30 heading into Week 1 and is not a recommended starter outside of deep two-quarterback formats.

From RotoBaller

Three-time Pro Bowl pass-rusher Za'Darius Smith signed an undisclosed one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday, sources told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Smith spent the 2024 season with the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions and finished with nine sacks, 35 tackles (22 solo), nine tackles for loss and 17 QB hits in 17 regular-season games (16 starts). The 32-year-old was released by the Lions in March and will now head to the NFC East to add depth to an already stout Eagles defensive line, although they could be bracing for a suspension for defensive tackle Jalen Carter after he was ejected on Thursday night for spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. The veteran Smith still has something left in the tank and has 69 sacks in his 10 NFL seasons. With Philly, he will probably be in a rotational role, limiting his appeal in IDP fantasy formats.

From RotoBaller

New Orleans Saints offensive lineman Trevor Penning (toe) was unable to practice all week and has officially been ruled out for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. In addition to Penning, the Saints will also be missing defensive end Chase Young (calf) and defensive tackle Alontae Taylor (groin). With Penning out to open the year, the Saints will likely roll with Dillon Radunz and Cesar Ruiz at the two guard spots in the Big Easy against the visiting Cardinals on Sunday. With Young out, the Saints will look to mix and match off the edge with players like Carl Granderson, Cameron Jordan and Chris Rumph as they look to get pressure on quarterback Kyler Murray.

From RotoBaller

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers returns in 2025 after a career-best season in which he topped 1,000 yards for the first time. Despite offseason contract uncertainty, he remains a vital piece of the Raiders' passing attack, working as a trusted complement to tight end Brock Bowers. With rookies Dont'e Thornton Jr. and Jack Bech still acclimating to the NFL, Meyers' veteran presence will be leaned on heavily to stabilize the offense early in the year. The Raiders are expected to emphasize the run in Week 1, but Meyers' ability to create separation and operate effectively out of the slot makes him a strong flex option with steady volume potential.

From RotoBaller

Washington Commanders veteran tight end Zach Ertz returns for a second season with the team, looking to remain a reliable target for young quarterback Jayden Daniels in Week 1 against the Giants. Ertz turned back the clock a bit in his age-34 season, racking up 66 catches for 654 yards and scoring seven touchdowns. His efficiency in particular rebounded significantly, with his 7.2 yards per target being the highest in a season since 2018. He served as a safety blanket for his young quarterback, consistently getting open in the red zone and on third downs. Ertz has spoken incredibly highly of Daniels since they've been together, comparing him to his former Stanford teammate, Andrew Luck. The ceiling isn't very high for Ertz in fantasy this season, but he is a safe and projectable option to pair with an upside bet at tight end late in drafts. He should be viewed as a low-end TE1 for the season opener on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Tennessee Titans rookie running back Kalel Mullings (ankle) popped up on the Week 1 injury report on Friday and is now questionable to make his NFL debut this Sunday on the road in Denver against the Broncos. Mullings was listed as a limited participant in Friday's practice. Mullings had been dealing with an ankle injury before and appears to have aggravated it at Friday's practice. Mid-week additions to the injury report are usually never a good sign, especially on a Friday, so the 22-year-old might have to wait until Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams to make his NFL debut. Tyjae Spears (ankle) is starting the year on Injured Reserve, so Tennessee's backfield behind starter Tony Pollard will be very thin on Sunday if Mullings is ruled out. Julius Chestnut is lined up for a backup role behind Pollard, even if Mullings is active.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth will kick off the fifth season of his career on the road against the New York Jets. Freiermuth quietly finished as a top-10 fantasy option in 2024 and should benefit from improved QB play this season, but he will now share opportunities with Pro-Bowler Jonnu Smith in what is expected to be a run-heavy offense. The Jets were stingy against opposing tight ends last year, and Sunday's contest has the lowest-projected point total of the week. As a result, Freiermuth should be avoided in all but the deepest of fantasy formats in Week 1.

From RotoBaller

Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. will make his team debut on Sunday against the Giants after spending six seasons in San Francisco. Samuel pairs up with Terry McLaurin as the team's wide receiver tandem, both players drafted on day two of the 2019 NFL Draft. Samuel is coming off a much-discussed down last season with the 49ers, catching 51 balls for 670 yards while adding 136 yards on 42 carries and scoring four total touchdowns. He wasn't quite as dominant after the catch as he had used to be and had easily his worst production as a runner. But it's also important to remember that he was diagnosed with pneumonia during Week 6 of the season. Before that, Samuel was still very productive lined up outside and from the slot. Now paired with a rising star at quarterback in Jayden Daniels and perhaps the next best offensive mind to utilize his strengths in Kliff Kingsbury, Samuel could be primed for a dynamic bounce-back season. His connection with Daniels has been on display all camp, and he could be relied on more if McLaurin takes a bit to get ramped up. Samuel should be viewed as a WR3 with upside for Week 1 against the Giants.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson was sidelined for most of his rookie season but will look to make a name for himself in year two, starting with a road matchup against the New York Jets. Wilson should see some playing time, though his role is rather uncertain despite Pittsburgh's lack of proven pass-catchers. Between Wilson, Calvin Austin III, and Scotty Miller, someone should emerge as the team's WR2 behind DK Metcalf, but it may take time for quarterback Aaron Rodgers to build chemistry with his new weapons. Austin is currently listed as a starter on the depth chart, likely delegating Wilson to a depth role to begin the campaign. He's not yet on the fantasy radar, but as a 2024 day-two pick who flashed this preseason, Wilson's usage in Week 1 is worth monitoring in deeper formats.

From RotoBaller

Kansas City Chiefs running back Elijah Mitchell is a healthy inactive for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Friday night in Brazil against the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers, according to Nate Taylor of ESPN. It's bad news for Mitchell heading into his first year with the Chiefs, as it looks like he's the RB4 to open the year, behind starter Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt and rookie Brashard Smith. The 27-year-old was getting some first-team reps early in training camp, but that was a long time ago in late July. Mitchell signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal with KC in the offseason after spending his first three NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. In his three years in the Bay Area, the former sixth-rounder in 2021 out of Louisiana averaged 4.7 yards per tote on 327 rush attempts for 1,523 yards and nine touchdowns (five in his rookie season).

From RotoBaller

Las Vegas Raiders rookie wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. enters Week 1 as one of the more intriguing sleepers of the 2025 draft class. The 6'5" playmaker earned a starting role ahead of Amari Cooper's retirement and will face a Patriots secondary that could be without cornerback Christian Gonzalez. Thornton's size and downfield ability have made him a favorite target for quarterback Geno Smith throughout camp, flashing legitimate big-play upside. While his early-season role carries promise, the Raiders are still expected to lean on their running game, limiting his immediate fantasy ceiling. Thornton should be stashed on benches with the potential to develop into a key contributor.

From RotoBaller

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker enters 2025 looking to build on a solid sophomore season in which he started 14 games and produced 47 receptions for 539 yards. With Jakobi Meyers and rookie Dont'e Thornton Jr. also in the mix, Tucker opens the season as a starter but faces an uncertain target share in a run-first offense. While his speed makes him a threat on any given play, he is shaping up as a touchdown-dependent contributor rather than a reliable fantasy option. Tucker should add value on special teams as a return man, but for Week 1, he remains well off the fantasy radar.

From RotoBaller

Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright (knee) did not practice with the team all week and has officially been ruled out for the Week 1 contest on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, according to Travis Winfield of MiamiDolphins.com. Wright had a small surgery done on his lower leg at the end of training camp, which is expected to sideline him early in the 2025 season, so fantasy managers should not expect him to return for a Week 2 divisional tilt against the New England Patriots. The good news for Miami's backfield is that RB1 De'Von Achane (calf) has been cleared and will be active in the season opener, with Ollie Gordon II backing him up. Because of Wright's injury, he was passed over in favor of Gordon in most fantasy drafts, but he could quickly retake RB2 duties in Miami's backfield behind Achane when he moves past his knee injury.

From RotoBaller

Las Vegas Raiders running back Raheem Mostert enters Week 1 in a reserve role behind rookie Ashton Jeanty. The veteran led the league with 18 rushing touchdowns in 2023, but a sharp decline in 2024 has left him fighting for touches in a crowded backfield. Mostert's explosiveness still gives him big-play potential, yet his usage is expected to be minimal against the Patriots, likely in the range of five to ten touches. Unless Jeanty is sidelined, Mostert profiles as a change-of-pace option rather than a fantasy starter. At this stage, he should be viewed strictly as a handcuff stash rather than a viable Week 1 play.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III is off the injury report and ready to go for a Week 1 bout with the New York Jets. Austin, who missed the entire preseason with an abdominal injury, is listed as Pittsburgh's WR2 on the depth chart and should earn some opportunities in an offense that lacks proven commodities at the position outside of DK Metcalf. Austin was efficient with his targets in 2024 and should get improved QB play with Aaron Rodgers under center, but it's a stretch to consider him a fantasy option, especially in this matchup. The Jets were stout against opposing receivers last season, and this contest is expected to be a low-scoring affair. Austin's utilization will be worth keeping an eye on, but the 26-year-old is just a dynasty or deep-league bench stash for the time being.

From RotoBaller

Free-agent DE Za'Darius Smith (Lions) signed with the Philadelphia Eagles Friday, Sept. 5. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

From TheHuddle

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith opens his tenure in silver and black with a favorable Week 1 matchup against the Patriots. New England's secondary is thin after releasing Jabrill Peppers and with Christian Gonzalez battling a hamstring injury, leaving exploitable holes in coverage. Smith's experience should help him move the ball, but questions remain about his supporting cast outside of second-year tight end Brock Bowers. The Raiders are expected to lean heavily on the run game, which caps Smith's fantasy ceiling. While the matchup is intriguing, Smith remains a risky play and is best avoided as a streaming option to open the season.

From RotoBaller

Green Bay Packers All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons (back) was listed as a limited practice participant all week and is officially questionable to make his Packers debut in the Week 1 season opener this Sunday in a divisional clash against the Detroit Lions. The Packers sent two first-rounders and run-stopper Kenny Clark to the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 28 for Parsons in a blockbuster deal that makes them legitimate Super Bowl contenders, but the 26-year-old has been dealing with a back injury that could require an injection so that he can play this weekend. It's a good sign that he practiced all week, though, and Parsons is expected to play against Detroit. Parsons will be a bit more risky as a fantasy starter in IDP lineups if he's active, though, because Green Bay could manage his snap count.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf will get his first game action with the team in a Week 1 road matchup against the New York Jets. Metcalf is coming off his least productive campaign since his rookie season, though he still averaged an impressive 15 yards per catch in 2024. Now with a new contract and a new quarterback, Metcalf will hope to re-establish himself as a true WR1. This won't be an easy task, however, against a New York defense that ranked top-10 last season in receptions, yards, touchdowns, and fantasy points allowed to receivers. Still, Metcalf's potential target volume is tough to overlook given Pittsburgh's lack of depth at the position. While an explosive outing is relatively unlikely, Metcalf is a viable WR2 or flex play in most fantasy leagues this week.

From RotoBaller

Las Vegas Raiders rookie running back Ashton Jeanty enters Week 1 with momentum and sky-high expectations after being drafted as a top-15 overall player in many fantasy leagues. The versatile runner will be the centerpiece of the Raiders' offense against a Patriots unit that is sturdy up front but lacks playmakers at the second level. Expect Las Vegas to establish the run early, giving Jeanty opportunities to control the tempo and showcase his explosiveness. While New England's interior defense can present challenges, Jeanty's combination of vision, pass-catching ability, and burst should allow him to produce in multiple ways. Fantasy managers should treat him as a reliable low-end RB1 with the upside to deliver a statement debut.

From RotoBaller