We made it. Week 1 of the NFL season is finally here. I’m not going to take too much more of your time before diving into the plays, but before I do, have you guys TRIED Yahoo! Fantasy yet?! If the answer is no….
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Now, onto the value plays!
Quarterback
Jalen Hurts, PHI vs. ATL ($26) - I know it’s chalky, I know everyone is looking forward to playing Hurts this week against Atlanta, but it’s hard to ignore him at just $26 here. Atlanta allowed more passing yards than anybody else last season and they were 19th in pass DVOA as well. Something also of note is that Atlanta allowed the ninth most rushing yards to opposing quarterbacks, which we know is obviously in the cards for Hurts. Hurts started four games last year, had 60+ rushing yards in three and also had two games of 300+ passing yards. He has the upside to win us a tournament and in this spot, in this game, it’s one of those times.
Running Back
Myles Gaskin, MIA vs. NE ($17) - For about one week, we were worried about Myles Gaskin’s fantasy upside because Malcolm Brown was getting first-team reps in a preseason game. Everyone has seemingly left him out for dead and we’d be silly to do that in this spot. Gaskin is a dual threat option out of the backfield going up against a defense that ranked 32nd in run DVOA a year ago. I mentioned Gaskin’s ability to be a dual threat option, he averaged 18.3 touches per game in 2020 and all we ever talk about is the lack of running backs that see hefty workloads. He didn’t start three of those games. Yes Brown is here to take *some* of the third-down work, but Brown played more than 50% of the snaps in LA just five times in 16 games last year and that was with Cam Akers not seeing the field to start the year. There isn’t great value at RB this week, but Gaskin provides you with a safe floor combined with upside as well.
Wide Receiver
Robby Anderson, CAR vs. NYJ ($14) - With all of the attention on DJ Moore’s potential breakout and the return of Christian McCaffrey, each and everyday Robby Anderson clocks in and out of work without a lick of notoriety. Do you know how many pass catchers saw more targets than Anderson last year? NINE. Do you know how many pass catchers had more receptions last year? NINE. Do you know how many pass catchers commanded a higher target share? FOUR. Inject all of that into our bloodstream and pair it with the fact he already has a rapport with Panthers QB Sam Darnold from their time in New York. The Panthers 24 implied points is the 10th highest mark on the slate and they get a Jets defense that ranked 28th in pass DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) last year. The Jets are projected to start undrafted Isiah Dunn and Bryce Hall, the 67th ranked corner according to PFF, at CB in Week 1. Exploit this match-up at all costs.
DeVonta Smith, PHI vs. ATL ($17) - We love stacking our quarterbacks and receivers, so let’s take a look at DeVonta Smith and get him before his price skyrockets to a stratosphere that we’re not sure we can get to. The Falcons ranked 19th in pass DVOA last year and aren’t much improved in the secondary this year unless last year's first-round pick, AJ Terrell, takes the next step. Smith played all 26 of his preseason snaps out wide, so expect that to continue here and as previously mentioned, the Falcons outside corners are dust. Smith’s ability to stretch the field -- averaged 16.9 YPC in college -- can bite ATL here and we don’t want to miss the home run upside at this price point.
Tight End
Anthony Firkser, TEN vs. ARI ($11) - What we should know about the Tennessee tight end room is that Firkser is going to run a lot of routes and Geoff Swaim is going to block most of the time we see him on the field. He blocked on 43% of his pass snaps last year and Firkser blocked on THREE total passing downs in 2020. This game has shoot out written all over it and with the pace Arizona plays at, it only benefits Tennessee’s offensive opportunities. In four of the six games Firkser played 40+ percent of the snaps last year, he saw at least five targets. We all want to jam Henry, Brown, and Jones into our lineups, but here’s cheap exposure to add to your stack.
Player News
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reports Vikings WRs Jordan Addison and Tai Felton will have “no issues going forward” after suffering arm injuries in Wednesday’s practice.
Seifert earlier reported that Addison and Felton had left with “what looked like hand/arm injuries.” Neither resumed practicing for Wednesday, but seem to be fine moving forward, according to Seifert. The Vikings avoid a major injury with Addison, but he is still set to miss the first three games of the season. Felton is the team’s third-round rookie and in line to compete with Jalen Nailor for the WR3 role this season. Both are still on track for Week 1, but with Nailor (hand) currently week-to-week, the Vikings may still look to acquire a veteran receiver.
49ers acquired WR Skyy Moore from the Chiefs in exchange for swapping 2027 sixth and seventh-round picks.
Moore was a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, but could never really stick with the Chiefs’ receiving corps. He caught 43 passes for 494 yards and a touchdown over his first two seasons, while failing to catch any of his three targets last season. Moore adds value as a returner, recently returning a punt for a touchdown in the Chiefs’ preseason Week 2 game. The 49ers’ receiver group has been decimated by injuries and the recent suspension to Demarcus Robinson. They now add Moore, who is a shot in the dark at some production from the receiver spot. He is unlikely to hold fantasy relevance heading into the season.
Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said, “the more opportunities [RB Jarquez Hunter] gets, the better it’s going to be.”
The Rams drafted the 22-year-old Hunter in the fourth-round of April’s draft. He brings pass-catching upside to the Rams backfield and has received praise from the Rams’ coaching staff throughout camp. This spells bad news for Blake Corum, who did not carve out a sizeable role last season. Kyren Williams is still slated to take the vast majority of backfield touches, but Hunter can mix in on passing downs and earn handcuff value for fantasy purposes.
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer believes EDGE Micah Parsons will play Week 1 against the Eagles.
Schottenheimer said, “I feel good that Micah will be out there against the Philadelphia Eagles.” Parsons and the Cowboys are still at a contract impasse, with little to no progress being made on a new deal. The 26-year-old has also reportedly been dealing with back tightness while he holds out. Schottenheimer’s vote of confidence doesn’t have much substance behind it in terms of Parsons’ progression back to practice, but things can change quickly.
Saints acquired WR Devaughn Vele from the Broncos in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick and 2027 seventh-round pick.
Vele heads to the Saints after a productive rookie season with the Broncos in 2025. He was a 26-year-old rookie, posting 41 receptions for 475 yards and three touchdowns while primarily working out of the slot. An offseason knee procedure limited Vele in camp, while the emergence of second-year receiver Troy Franklin and rookie Pat Bryant made him more expendable. The Saints add Vele’s 6-foot-5 frame to a receiver room in need of reinforcement behind Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. Vele has some value as a late-round dart throw in fantasy drafts.
Jets acquired DT Harrison Phillips and a 2027 seventh-round pick from the Vikings in exchange for 2026 and 2027 sixth-round picks.
The Jets added their second defensive lineman of the day, acquiring Phillips from the Vikings after getting Jowon Briggs from the Browns. Phillips is a seven-year veteran who has split time with the Bills and Vikings. He started all 51 games for Minnesota over the last three seasons and tallied two sacks, 56 combined tackles, and a forced fumble last season. The Jets beef up their defensive line heading into year one under defensive-minded head coach Aaron Glenn.