Week 1 of the 2025 fantasy soccer season featured slightly little bit of every little thing, from large scores by rookies to surprisingly quiet video games from a number of the high gamers within the NFL.
Who had been the large winners and losers?
Matt Bowen and Tristan H. Cockcroft supply their evaluation.
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Rating winners | Rating losers
Greatest accidents and what’s subsequent
1. Emeka Egbuka, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A well-liked preseason sleeper, his ADP in ESPN leagues bettering by greater than three rounds over the previous months, Egbuka was as much as his billing in his NFL debut. His 23.6 PPR fantasy factors had been essentially the most by a large receiver in his first profession sport since Hollywood Brown’s 30.7 in 2019, and he caught the game-winning landing with 59 seconds remaining. Egbuka lined up equally from the slot as outdoors, although he was rather more profitable within the latter alignment (14.8 of his factors). He has a more durable Week 2 matchup within the Houston Texans however is a possible WR2 for as long as Chris Godwin Jr. is sidelined. — Cockcroft
2. Justin Fields, QB and Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets: Each Fields and Wilson scored 20-plus factors in a tricky Week 1 draw versus the Pittsburgh protection. Fields (29.52 factors) seemed actually snug within the Jets’ passing sport, finishing 16-of-22 for 218 yards and rating, whereas he additionally produced on designed carries and scramble makes an attempt, speeding for 48 yards and two touchdowns. Wilson (22.5 factors) caught seven of a team-high 9 targets for 95 yards, which included a 33 yard landing seize. Given Fields’ dual-threat utilization within the Jets sport plan, he’ll be in my QB1 ranks for the Week 2 house matchup towards the Payments, whereas Wilson’s goal share bumps him up into the upper-tier WR2 vary. — Bowen
3. Daniel Jones, QB, Indianapolis Colts: Jones’ 29.48 factors within the Colts’ blowout win over the Dolphins ranked second amongst all gamers within the Week 1 early window. Jones was actually environment friendly throwing the ball (22 of 29 for 272 yards and a rating), plus he added 26 yards speeding and two touchdowns on QB sneaks. With a tricky Week 2 matchup at house versus the Broncos protection, Jones will stay within the QB2 ranks. Nevertheless, in case you play in a 2QB Superflex format, Jones suits right here as a starter given the Colts passing construction, and he’s at present obtainable in 95.1% of ESPN leagues. — Bowen
4. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers: If he’s to writer a comeback marketing campaign on the age of 41, he’s off to an amazing begin. In his return to the Meadowlands towards his 2023-24 workforce, the New York Jets, Rodgers scored 25.66 fantasy factors, finishing passes to seven totally different receivers and totaling 4 touchdowns. He was notably profitable on intermediate throws to Calvin Austin III, who totaled 15.9 of his 17.0 PPR fantasy factors when matched up with Jets CB Brandon Stephens. Rodgers’ Week 1 success, coupled together with his Steelers’ working sport struggles, make him a viable No. 2 possibility for two-quarterback and superflex leagues. — Cockcroft
5. Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers: He was the star of the Chargers’ upset of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in Friday’s sport at Sao Paulo, Brazil, scoring 27.92 fantasy factors. He tried 34 passes, a threshold he reached on solely six events in Jim Harbaugh’s first yr as head coach, a promising signal particularly after Herbert’s passing workload ramped up late final season. Herbert’s accuracy can prop him up as a potential top-10 positional possibility if that pattern sticks. Deal with him as one for his Week 2 matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders. — Cockcroft
6. Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers: Seeing McCaffrey on the damage report (calf) this previous week created some actual concern for managers. Nevertheless, within the Week 1 win over Seattle, McCaffrey totaled 31 touches and completed with 23.2 factors. McCaffrey didn’t have nice numbers on the bottom, averaging 3.1 YPC on 22 makes an attempt, however he led the workforce with 10 targets, catching 9 for 73 yards. When McCaffrey is wholesome and will get the quantity, he’s nonetheless the league’s premier dual-threat again. — Bowen
7. Deebo Samuel, WR, Washington Commanders: Samuel dropped 22.6 factors on the Giants protection within the Week 1 win, and we noticed the scheme match underneath Commanders’ coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. Samuel caught seven of a team-high 10 targets for 77 yards. In-breaking ideas right here. Catch and run. Plus, Samuel scored on a 19 yard speeding try, which caters to his ball service vison on manufactured touches. With Samuel’s alignment versatility, Kingsbury can proceed to set-up the large receiver on ideas that result in fantasy manufacturing. Maintain Samuel within the lineup as a Flex play for the Week 2 sport at Inexperienced Bay. — Bowen
8. Michael Penix Jr., QB, Atlanta Falcons: Within the Week 1 loss to the Bucs, Penix had 24.02 factors, exhibiting his potential to distribute the ball as a passer, whereas utilizing his motion abilities in essential sport conditions. Penix completed with 298 yards passing on this one, plus he added 21 yards speeding and a rating on a low pink zone scramble try. Penix will keep within the QB2 ranks for the Week 2 sport towards Brian Flores’ pressure-heavy protection in Minnesota, however he might be performed in 2QB Superflex codecs given his potential to raise an Atlanta offense that includes a number of playmakers. — Bowen
1. Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals, and his large receivers: His Bengals would possibly’ve gotten off their Week 1 schneid, snapping a three-year dropping streak within the opening week, however Burrow himself continued to ship his fantasy managers lackluster numbers, his 8.82 fantasy factors representing his third straight season scoring fewer than 10 in Week 1. For his profession, Burrow has by no means exceeded 18.64 factors in six Week 1 video games, however he has exceeded that quantity in 34 of his different 64 regular-season contests. He merely couldn’t get a lot finished deep towards Greg Newsome II, Denzel Ward and the remainder of the Cleveland Browns protection, finishing solely three of seven passes thrown a minimum of 10 yards downfield, which helps clarify the equally forgettable scores of Ja’Marr Chase (4.8 PPR FPTS) and Tee Higgins (6.3). Right here’s hoping it’s merely one week of Burrow and pals shaking the early rust, and a Jacksonville Jaguars Week 2 matchup definitely units up a probably large follow-up for all. — Cockcroft
2. Detroit Lions offense: Whereas we’ll all the time have this gorgeous, fourth-quarter Isaac TeSlaa landing catch, the Lions’ offensive efficiency in any other case by no means resembled Ben Johnson’s 2024 juggernaut, one which led the league in factors by a 39-point margin. Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown, their two most-started gamers in ESPN leagues, scored 15.0 and eight.5 PPR fantasy factors. Quarterback Jared Goff tried 39 passes in a sport his workforce trailed for all however 9 minutes, 31 seconds, however 30 of them had been quick throws or tosses behind the road of scrimmage. Queue the inevitable post-Ben Johnson midweek panic, particularly with a head-to-head assembly of those Lions and Johnson’s Chicago Bears in Week 2. The very fact stays, nonetheless, that that is nonetheless a supremely gifted workforce that was dealing with considered one of its more durable matchups of 2025, a highway sport towards a Inexperienced Bay Packers workforce that has earned some NFC Champions prediction picks. Subsequent week ought to inform us extra, however fantasy managers ought to have religion this was extra aberration than pattern. — Cockcroft
3. A.J. Brown, WR, Philadelphia Eagles: Brown was a non-factor within the Eagles’ Thursday night time win, catching his solely goal with underneath two minutes to go within the sport. One seize for eight yards (1.8 factors). That’s it. Now, Dallas did play zone protection on 85.7% of Jalen Hurts’ dropbacks, which forces the ball beneath. After watching the tape, nonetheless, the Eagles can scheme higher right here to create extra open voids for his or her No.1 large receiver. Certain, Week 1 was fairly tough in case you roster Brown. However I don’t have main issues right here after one soccer sport. Search for the Eagles to flip the script for Brown in Week 2 at Kansas Metropolis. — Bowen
4. Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins: Hill and the Miami move sport failed to indicate within the 33-8 highway loss to the Dolphins. Hill caught 4 of six targets for 40 yards (8.0 factors) on a day when quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who turned the ball over 3 times (two interceptions, one fumble misplaced), struggled to determine any sense of rhythm as a thrower. Tagovailoa completed with 114 yards passing, averaging solely 5.0 yards per try. Miami will look to bounce again within the Week 2 house sport towards a Patriots protection that simply allowed 326 yards passing to Geno Smith in Sunday’s loss to the Raiders. — Bowen
5. Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans: Put a part of the blame on C.J. Stroud and the Texans’ general offensive funk for it, however Collins’ poor fantasy rating (5.5 PPR FPTS) let down a slew of managers (98.8% begin fee, sixth-best on the place). He merely couldn’t discover open area towards Los Angeles Rams CBs Ahkello Witherspoon and Emmanuel Forbes Jr., totaling only one.4 of his factors when lined up throughout from them. Anticipate higher fortunes towards the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2. — Cockcroft
6. Trevor Lawrence, QB, and Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars: Contemplating the energy of their matchup — the opposing Carolina Panthers allowed extra factors and yards per sport than any workforce in 2024 — Lawrence’s 10.32 and Thomas’ 9.0 PPR fantasy factors had been a lot disappointing to fantasy managers. Thomas’ sport certainly raised essentially the most eyebrows, as he was held scoreless deep into the second quarter, ending his day with just one catch on seven targets regardless of 30 routes run. It’s not one thing we must always count on to see each week, and a Week 2 matchup towards the mediocre Bengals protection ought to assist each of those two get again heading in the right direction. — Cockcroft
7. Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos: A well-liked Week 1 sleeper — he was began in 74.2% of ESPN leagues, eighth-highest amongst quarterbacks — Nix scored 6.84 fantasy factors. Although he didn’t face an excessive quantity of stress general, when Nix did face it he was downright terrible, accounting for each of his interceptions and his misplaced fumble. He additionally struggled to seek out chemistry with any of his receivers moreover Courtland Sutton. Nix faces a more durable matchup in Week 2 towards the Indianapolis Colts, so think about him solely a mid-range QB2. — Cockcroft
8. Kenneth Walker III, RB, and Cooper Kupp, WR, Seattle Seahawks: I didn’t see the juice/burst with Walker within the Week 1 loss to the 49ers. Walker completed with simply 5.4 factors on 13 touches, and it was Zach Charbonnet who led the Seahawks in each carries (12) and speeding yards (47), which makes the Seahawks’ backfield one to observe shifting ahead. Kupp didn’t make an affect in his first sport with the Seahawks, catching two of three targets for 15 yards (3.5 factors). Bear in mind, Kupp’s separation pace began to say no on tape final season, and he will get the Steelers protection up subsequent in Week 2. Let’s see if the quantity will increase for the veteran large receiver. — Bowen
Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders
What we all know: He scored 15.3 PPR fantasy factors on eight targets earlier than leaving the sport late with a knee damage, from which he was unable to return.
What’s subsequent: Bowers was noticed on the sidelines throughout the fourth quarter, which a minimum of affords encouragement that it wasn’t a critical situation. He’ll however should be monitored all through the follow week. Michael Mayer, who caught all 4 of his targets for 7.8 factors, would most stand to profit if Bowers must miss additional time. — Cockcroft
George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers
What we all know: Kittle caught all 4 of his targets for 25 yards and a landing (12.5 factors) earlier than leaving the sport within the first half with a hamstring damage. He didn’t return.
What’s subsequent:If Kittle is down for the Week 2 sport, it’s potential that third yr professional Jake Tonges will get extra appears within the 49ers sport plan. Tonges caught three passes for 15 yards and the game-winning landing within the Week 1 win over the Seahawks. — Bowen
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