By Winsto (09/09/2025)
Um… so as much as we “think” we “know,” we really do not Know. That’s my reaction to Week 01. I thought the Jets offense, including Justin Fields (QB), Breece Hall (RB), and Garrett Wilson (WR), would struggle. I was incorrect. I did not envision Aaron Rodgers (QB-Pit) being a top 10 QB for the week in Arthur Smith’s (OC-Pit) offense. Wrong again. I believed the Colts offense under Daniel Jones (QB) would be anemic, thus making players like Michael Pittman (WR) and Tyler Warren (TE) weak fantasy options. Erroneous assumptions again! So, what do we do with this new information? First off, let’s try not to overreact to Week 01. It is one week. I still think there are going to be issues for these players as the season progresses. At the same time, while we do not want to overreact, we do want to act. Thus, here are some players that can help your fantasy line-up:
NOTE: These are players rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues.
QUARTERBACK
Michael Penix Jr. (Atl)–I would double-check on the status of Drake London (WR), as he missed the last drive of the game due to a shoulder injury. If London is okay, Penix Jr. had a solid game in Week 01, going for throwing for 298 and 1 TD while also rushing for 21 yards and another TD.
Aaron Rodgers (Pit)–Apparently, he still has some left in the tank, throwing for 244 and 4 TDs. He was efficient, going for 8.1 yards per attempt. We have seen the occasional game like this from him the last few years, but I would like to see more before I throw him into my starting line-up. For 2 QB leagues, you may consider rolling the dice.
Deeper league add--Jaxson Dart (NYG)–I believe Dart is inevitable. It is just a matter of when. If you have the space and weak QB options, he’s worth a speculative add.
RUNNING BACK
Quinshon Jenkins (Cle)–the 36th overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, is rostered in 55%. He would be the first add here, as he is now signed and should become the main RB of this team’s group within a few weeks.
Trey Benson (Ari)–He saw 9 touches in Week 1, with 69 yards rushing and 6 yards receiving. He played 33% of the snaps. James Conner is still the lead back, but Benson has some flex appeal in the right match-up and is a top tier handcuff.
Kareem Hunt (KC)-Hunt is not the same player as he once was, but while he has lost burst, he has not lost his vision. He does look like the preferred short-yardage option for KC. In TD heavy leagues, there is value here. He did play 38% of the snaps, going 5 rushes for 16 yards and 2 receptions for 10.
Deeper league add—Brashard Smith (KC)–The theme here is that while Isiah Pacheco is a solid RB, his vision and potential for explosive plays seem to have limitations. The 7th round rookie may also have vision limitations, but he is also more explosive and better at catching the ball. For PPR leagues, he is worth a look if you have space. He is someone who may work his way into significant playing time here, though his ceiling may be limited with little use in short-yardage situations.
WIDE RECEIVER
Cedric Tillman (Cle)–I mentioned him in my article over the weekend (along with some of the things I got wrong). He tied for 2nd on the team in targets (8), caught 5 for 52 receiving yards and 1 TD, and tied with Jerry Jeudy (WR) in snap count percentage (88%).
Quinton Johnston (LAC)–When someone goes for 5 catches, 79 yards receiving, and 2 TDs on 7 targets, we have to take notice. The question is this: Was Justin Herbert (QB) throwing 34 times, compared to the team having only 18 designed runs, game specific or a trend of things to come? We also should note that Johnston was still 3rd in targets on the team, behind Ladd McConkey (9) and Keenan Allen (10). Johnston has burned fantasy managers in the past, but he still a worthwhile bench option to see how this plays out.
Hollywood Brown (KC)–I mentioned this over the weekend, but I will restate it here. Brown had 16 targets of Patrick Mahomes’s 39 attempts. He still did not reach 100 yards Be careful here, as even if Worthy misses time, Jalen Royals (WR), the rookie 4th rounder, was inactive due to tendonitis. They like Royals in KC, from what I hear. Brown is worth a speculative add, especially in PPR leagues, if you have the space, but this may feel like chasing points.
Deeper League Add–Isaac TeSlaa (Det)–I also mentioned TeSlaa over the weekend. He only saw 3 snaps in a game out of reach, but he showed off his potential with an amazing TD grab. Yes, there are many mouths to feed in this offense. The logic suggests he simply is not going to get enough looks to be fantasy relevant. Still, I think there is something there.
TIGHT END
Harold Fannin Jr. (Cle)–I have been wrong many times, but on this one, I am going to brag. I have been higher than most regarding his fantasy potential. The rookie BGSU product is a bit of a unicorn, and Cleveland has recognized it, as the team has lined him up not only at TE but also in the slot, at RB, and even at QB. He played 72% of the snaps, which was 4th among the team’s WR/TE/ RB players. He saw a team high 9 targets, catching 7 for 63 yards. He even had 1 carry for 3 yards. I love the potential here and envision a top 8 finish among TEs for the season.
Juwan Johnson (NO)–I am not going to lie. I have fallen for the Juwan Johnson hype in the past, and it did not turn out well. That said, in Week 01, he led the team in receptions (8) and yards (76), and he finished 2nd in targets (11). A tight end who sees 11 targets needs to be rostered. How long this lasts, considering a switch at QB may impact this trend, I do not know. Until then, he at least needs to be on your team.
Brenton Strange (Jax)-Strange finished tied for 3rd in targets, behind Brian Thomas Jr. (WR) and Travis Hunter (WR), with 4, and he caught all four for 59 yards. However, those 59 yards led the team in receiving. I would expect that target pecking order will remain about the same as the season continues, and I would envision him having about a 40-60 yards receiving average per game.
Jonnu Smith (Pit)-Smith actually had the most receptions from Aaron Rodgers (QB) in Week 1 with 5. He was tied for 2nd most targets on the team (6). And, he finished the day with (double checks notes) 15 yards? More importantly, he scored a TD. Most importantly, OC Arthur Smith loves Jonnu Smith. Whether its a same name thing or something else, I don’t see Smith going anywhere.
Deeper League Add—Mason Taylor (NYJ)–I still think there is limited upside for him in this passing offense, but as mentioned before, he has the DNA of two Hall of Fame NFL players. He is good, and he will see more targets than his 1 in Week 01.