Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass (groin) was placed on the injured reserve on Friday. Bass has been dealing with a lingering groin issue throughout training camp. He was only able to practice in a limited capacity once throughout the whole week leading up to Week 1. The Bills have decided to place Bass on the IR which means he'll miss the first four weeks of the regular season. That being said, Matt Prater will take over as the active roster for the Week 1 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. The Bills offense is strong enough to make Prater an attractive streaming option while Bass is out.

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Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery is expected to cede touches this year to some degree to his superstar backfield mate, Jahmyr Gibbs. However, history suggests that Montgomery could see a workhorse role in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. In four games against the Packers since joining the Lions in 2022, Montgomery has averaged 22 touches, 98 yards from scrimmage, and 1.25 touchdowns per game. Those numbers are even better at Lambeau Field, where he's logged 49 carries for 194 yards and three scores in his last two games. The Packers recently made their pass-rush significantly better by acquiring star edge rusher Micah Parsons (back), who is questionable for Week 1 with a back injury but expected to play. If the Lions want to win the physical battle in the trenches and run the ball between the tackles, they will likely rely on Montgomery. The 28-year-old projects as a low-end fantasy RB2/high-end flex in Week 1.

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Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff put up the best numbers of his career in 2024, posting career highs in yards per pass attempt (8.6), passing touchdowns (37), and quarterback rating (111.8). Goff profiles as a fringe QB1 in fantasy this season, but there may be reason to believe that his road matchup in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers won't be his best game. In the four games he's played at Lambeau Field with the Lions, Goff has averaged just 206.5 passing yards and one touchdown per contest. Additionally, the Packers just acquired All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons (back) from the Dallas Cowboys, trading away run-stuffing defensive tackle Kenny Clark in the process. Parsons is battling a back injury but is expected to play, so the Lions could be motivated to try and pound the ball between the tackles rather than having Goff drop back and face the Green Bay pass rush. Goff is worth starting as a QB2 in Superflex leagues, but managers in single-QB formats may want to look elsewhere.

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Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane (calf) is without an injury designation and is "good to go" heading into his team's Week 1 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Achane was limited in practice earlier this week with a calf injury that he suffered at the end of training camp, but it appears he'll be able to play on Sunday. It's possible that Miami limits Achane's snaps to some degree in Week 1, but he's one of the Dolphins' best offensive weapons as both a rusher and receiver, and the team needs him on the field. Achane profiles as a must-start fantasy running back in the season opener in Indianapolis.

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San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (calf) is working on the side field, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. The star running back was limited during Thursday's practice due to a calf injury after not being listed on the report on Wednesday. Maiocco noted that McCaffrey was not with his teammates as they went through a "pre-practice" routine. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during Friday's practice, as he may carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Seahawks if he cannot turn the corner. Last season, McCaffrey missed time due to Achilles tendinitis and would eventually suffer a further setback, which only allowed him to appear in four games. If McCaffrey were to miss Sunday's game, fantasy managers should expect Brian Robinson Jr. to lead the backfield with Isaac Guerendo serving as the No. 2 option.

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Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed (foot) is "hobbling in every video we see from practice," according to Peter Bukowski of Locked on Packers. Reed is reportedly dealing with a Jones fracture in his foot that he plans to play through. After not practicing on Wednesday, Reed reportedly practiced on both Thursday and Friday and is expected to play in Week 1 against the Detroit Lions. The 25-year-old may see a limited snap share on Sunday as the team manages the injury, so he's a difficult player to project for fantasy managers. Most likely, Reed is a boom/bust WR4/flex option who will finish behind fellow Packers' wideouts Matthew Golden and Romeo Doubs in targets this week.

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Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward would not commit to playing in Week 1 against the New York Jets when asked by reporters on Friday. Heyward responded that he's "preparing" but "we'll see" when questioned directly on his status for Sunday. Heyward's participation in training camp was limited as he seeks to re-negotiate his current contract, and the star defensive lineman has repeatedly threatened to sit out regular-season games. The 36-year-old Heyward collected eight sacks in 2024 and was named a first-team All-Pro. Pittsburgh will be without rookie defensive lineman Derrick Harmon (knee) on Sunday, so losing Heyward as well could hurt their ability to stop the Jets' run game. If Heyward indeed sits out, the fantasy profiles for Jets quarterback Justin Fields, as well as running backs Breece Hall and Braelon Allen, would see a slight boost.

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New Orleans Saints defensive end Chase Young (calf) has been ruled out for his team's Week 1 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Young injured the calf in practice on Wednesday, but it's not expected to be a long-term issue. The 26-year-old recorded 5.5 sacks in 17 games with New Orleans last season and profiles as one of their best pass rushers, so the job on Sunday gets a little easier for Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray. Chris Rumph II appears to be next in line on the edge for New Orleans in Young's absence.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Zyon McCollum has signed a three-year, $48 million extension with the team that includes $35.4 million guaranteed, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. McCollum was graded by Pro Football Focus as the 54th-best corner in the NFL last season out of 222 qualified players at the position. The 26-year-old is now under contract in Tampa Bay through 2028. The Buccaneers play their division rival, the Atlanta Falcons, in Week 1, so McCollum will get a chance to earn his new money right away when matched up with star Falcons wide receiver Drake London.

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New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (back) was not given a game status on the team's final Week 1 injury report despite sitting out Friday's practice. With no injury designation, he is expected to be a full go on Sunday when the Giants open their season against the Commanders. Nabers has experienced minor ailments throughout training camp, and he missed Friday's practice due to back tightness. It appears, though, that the team is taking an extra cautious approach with their Pro Bowl receiver, and all signs point to him getting a full workload on Sunday. Nabers was electric as a rookie, making 109 catches in only 15 games, and reports out of Giants' camp indicate that he hasn't missed a beat with Russell Wilson now under center. Nabers should be started without hesitation, and he has a strong chance of being one of the week's highest scoring receivers.

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The Las Vegas Raiders have made a series of back-of-roster moves, elevating third-year wide receiver Justin Shorter to the active roster and signing veteran receiver Phillip Dorsett to fill his spot on the practice squad. The Raiders were able to open a roster spot after moving Amari Cooper to the Reserve/Retired list following his unheralded retirement announcement on Thursday. At 6'4" and 227 pounds, Shorter was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 2023 but spent his rookie season on injured reserve. He spent 2024 between the Raiders' active roster and practice squad as he transitioned to playing tight end. He made ten regular-season appearances without registering a stat. While the Raiders search for any depth in the wide receiver room, Shorter's signing should have no significance to fantasy managers.

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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (shoulder) has been listed as questionable on Friday's injury report and will be a game-time decision, according to head coach Raheem Morris. Mooney missed almost all of training camp after injuring his shoulder making a diving catch during the first practice of the summer. Mooney told reporters on Thursday that he feels good, but a decision on his status won't be made until 90 minutes before kickoff. When healthy, Mooney figures to feature prominently in Zac Robinson's aggressive, downfield passing attack, but even if he does play on Sunday, the expectation should be that he will be on a pitch count of sorts after so much missed time. Fantasy managers should look for better flex options in Week 1 until they've seen a full allotment of snaps from Mooney.

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold is not worth starting in Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers project to have a solid defense with coordinator Robert Saleh back in the fold, and it remains to be seen if Darnold's breakout season in 2024 was a mirage. However, Darnold's level of play is worth monitoring in Week 1. He is joining an offense coordinated by Klint Kubiak with ties back to Darnold's year in San Francisco as a backup quarterback. The offense is going to play to Darnold's strengths, and he could very well succeed at a high level this season. Darnold is coming off a season in which he was the QB9 in Minnesota. While we certainly do not expect that of Darnold without wide receiver Justin Jefferson in 2025, he could still be an excellent streamer or QB2. Watch Darnold closely in Week 1. Even solid success against the 49ers' defense would suggest that we are in for another season of fantasy fun with the eight-year veteran.

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Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet will enter the season backing up Kenneth Walker III. However, Charbonnet should have stand-alone fantasy value given how much he has impressed the coaching staff. Charbonnet and the Seahawks draw a solid matchup for running backs in Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2024. With how highly Seattle's coaching staff has spoken of Charbonnet this offseason, a few extra carries and targets could go a long way in Week 1. Additionally, if Charbonnet continues to play at a high level, he could eat more and more into Walker's workload. It is difficult to get a feel for the split in this backfield, but reports suggest close to a 60/40 split in Walker's favor to begin the season. That split could approach 50/50 as the season wears on. You likely drafted Charbonnet as a bench player, but he should see enough work to merit flex consideration in Week 1 in a pinch.

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Seattle Seahawks kicker Jason Myers is a solid option at the position in Week 1. Myers has been relatively accurate over his last few seasons in Seattle. He only missed four field goals in 2024. When given the chance, Myers often delivers solid fantasy value. Seattle is facing off with a San Francisco 49ers defense devoid of a lot of the talent they used to have. The defense will be well coached, but they have serious question marks in the secondary that could allow the Seahawks to go up and down the field. That is a kicker's dream, as Myers should be in solid positions to kick extra points and field goals throughout the game. Kicker is one of the more variable positions in fantasy, but Myers should be a plug-and-play option in Week 1.

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Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner is not someone worth starting in Week 1. Although Barner appears to be stepping into the No. 1 tight end role in this offense, fantasy managers would be better off waiting to see how the tight end touches are split between Barner and rookie Elijah Arroyo. Barner flashed in 2024 with 245 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Those are not eye-popping numbers, but Barner looked athletic and like he belonged on an NFL field. There is a large tight end role to fill in a Klint Kubiak-led offense that is favorable to the position. If Barner receives a lot of opportunities, he could end up being a solid streaming tight end. However, he is also a great blocker, something that Arroyo could use work on. As such, Arroyo could ultimately end up being the receiving tight end with Barner sprinkled in. The snap breakdown between the two in Week 1 will be telling.

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Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo has a golden opportunity in front of him. With no established No. 1 tight end in the offense, Arroyo could step into that role early. Arroyo is an athletic freak whom the Seahawks selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. His usage in Week 1 should be monitored. He is not someone worth throwing into your lineup this early, but if you have an extra roster spot to play with, he is a worthy stash. His volume and subsequent fantasy value could grow as the season wears on.

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is entering his first season as the unquestioned No. 1 wide receiver in Seattle's offense. Smith-Njigba broke out over the second half of the 2024 season en route to 1,130 receiving yards and six touchdowns. He enters the 2025 season with a new quarterback in Sam Darnold and a new play caller in Klint Kubiak. Darnold supported excellent fantasy seasons for wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison in Minnesota in 2024. JSN is going to be a target hog in a rebuilt Seahawks offense tailor-made for Darnold's strengths. In Week 1, Smith-Njigba will draw a relatively tough matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers were No. 5 in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers in 2024. Although San Francisco lost a couple of defensive pieces, they re-signed defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who is a master of shutting down opposing offenses. Still, volume alone should help Smith-Njigba overcome any challenges the 49ers may present. You can safely deploy him as a WR2 in Week 1.

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp is checking in as a flex option in Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers. Kupp is coming off a season with the Rams that began very auspiciously but finished horrendously. Kupp was a clear-cut WR1 over the first half of the season, but he was completely phased out of the offense towards the end. He only earned nine targets over his final three games, and he moved on from the Rams this offseason. Kupp did not show any signs of slowing down when he was given opportunities in 2024. This is certainly not the same player who took the league by storm in 2021, but Kupp should present solid value out of the slot in Seattle. He is going to be where quarterback Sam Darnold needs him to be at all times. San Francisco presents a tough matchup in Week 1, but they will need to focus their energy on stopping wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Kupp's role in the slot is more immune to tough matchups than outside wide receivers, giving him flex value with solid WR2 upside in Week 1.

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton is not on the fantasy radar in Week 1 when Seattle hosts the San Francisco 49ers. However, Horton's usage is one to watch as the 2025 fifth-round pick won the Seahawks' No. 3 wide receiver job this offseason. It may be difficult for a run-heavy team to support fantasy relevance from three wide receivers, but if Horton is constantly on the field and running routes, that would suggest he has a chance to take on a huge role as the season progresses. If you have an extra roster spot due to a player being on IR, Horton is a worthy stash from waivers. If the Seahawks take a top-heavy approach at wide receiver with Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp, then Horton can likely be dropped. If the split is more even, Horton is a solid hold throughout the season.

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