Heading into tomorrow's 13-game slate, there are a lot of question marks. Some of these guys' values will spike; other values might plummet. Let's walk through the biggest fantasy pressure point for each Sunday team.
Bengals -- One of the most streamlined fantasy offenses for years, Cincinnati has two guys with historically above-average injury risks. While Joe Burrow has missed big chunks of three of his six seasons, when he's be out, managers know what to do. Rostering Tee Higgins has generated a little more chaos. Although he missed only two contests last year, he sat for five in 2024 and another five in 2023. He missed only one game in 2022, but in three others he played only 26, 10, and one offensive snaps. It was a similar story in 2020, and he also missed three contests in 2021. This is the deal managers make when they draft Higgins.
Buccaneers -- With Sean Tucker is doubtful, we need to see how Bucky Irving and Kenneth Gainwell split snaps.
Lions -- Jameson Williams scored less than seven fantasy points in seven games last year. I ranked him 25 spots ahead of his overall-57 ADP this summer. Let's see if he's capable of taking another big step forward.
Saints -- Who will be #2 in WR targets while Jordyn Tyson's sidelined? Devaughn Vele and rookies Bryce Lance and Barion Brown are all capable contenders. Lance is my favorite to break throug, although it might not matter if this is a top-heavy offense.
Titans -- Will Carnell Tate or Wan'Dale Robinson serve as Cam Ward's #1 WR . . . and just as importantly, can at least one of them serve as a reliable fantasy starter?
Jets -- Three years ago, Breece Hall was the overall RB2 with 290.5 points, thanks in part to 95 targets. That dropped to 76 looks in 2024 and only 48 last year. To return to elite or even near-elite form in this sub-par offense, he'll need a lot of targets.
Colts -- Daniel Jones's arm turned out to be irreplaceable after he was knocked out last season. Can he pick up where he left off and help elevate his talented receivers?
Ravens -- How much running will Lamar Jackson do? His elite-level preseason ADP probably hinges on it.
Steelers -- Jaylen Warren and Gainwell posted nearly identical fantasy numbers in last year's shared backfield. Now it's Warren and Rico Dowdle. How will they split the work?
Falcons -- Drake London obviously is must-start receiver, but Kyle Pitts is trickier, especially with Cooper Rush under center.
Panthers -- Chuba Hubbard vs. Jonathon Brooks. The former is coming off his worst campaign in three years. The latter has 12 NFL touches in two years. Both enter Week 1 as highly risky fantasy starts.
Bears -- Assuming Rome Odunze (questionable) is good to go, I'm curious whether he and Luther Burden can both be weekly fantasy starters.
Jaguars -- Who will lead this backfield, and will it be enough to give managers a reliable weekly streamer?
Browns -- Everyone on this team is a pressure point, at least until we see whether Deshaun Watson -- who's been deeply sub-par since playing his final snap in Houston more than five years ago -- can help move this offense.
Texans -- David Montgomery vs. Woody Marks. If you've been reading this blog or listening to my podcast, you know which one I've been betting on for three months.
Bills -- After two years of declining production, can 29-year-old D.J. Moore offer weekly startability?
Raiders -- Ashton Jeanty vs. Mike Washington Jr. The most likely outcome is that Jeanty will be a strong 1A, and Washington will mix in for 8-10 touches. But there are several other realistic scenarios.
Dolphins -- Who will be Malik Willis's #1 target, and will it be enough to make anyone (other than De'Von Achane) startable?
Vikings -- The backfield seems like the obvious pressure point. But I'll go in a different direction: Justin Jefferson vs. Jordan Addison vs. Jauan Jennings. Jefferson was ranked this summer as a no-brainer near-elite receiver, because that's what he's been (until last year, because of the QB debacle). Addison was ranked as a deeper-league streamer. But Jennings was ranked outside the overall top 200. Maybe it'll play out that way. But I strongly believe it won't.
Packers -- Can MarShawn Lloyd prove that he belongs firmly atop the depth chart while Josh Jacobs is out?
Eagles -- Makai Lemon vs. Dontayvion Wicks. Presumably Lemon will seize the #2 job sometime this season. It could happen tomorrow. Or the talented Wicks could make things difficult for managers accustomed to clarity with Philly's WRs.
Commanders -- Terry McLaurin vs. Stefon Diggs. While it's entirely possible that Jayden Daniels will shine (his preseason ADP suggested he will), his two top targets are soon turning 31 and 33. I believe one of them (McLaurin) is overvalued. We'll see if both can deliver for fantasy managers.
Chargers -- Ladd McConkey vs. Quentin Johnston vs. . . . Tre' Harris? Remember, McConkey's ADP was light years ahead of Keenan Allen's and Johnston's last summer, and Allen ended up scoring more points, while Johnston averaged more points per game. We can't assume that McConkey will dominate, and we also can't assume that Harris (WR78 ADP) will be an afterthought.
Cardinals -- The NFL's most underrated offense in my opinion. The additions of Jeremiyah Love and (to a lesser-but-important extent) Tyler Allgeier have transformed what already was a solid offense. With Love still not 100%, managers (like me) have to figure out whether to start Love, Allgeier, or both.
Giants -- A lot of pressure points, including Malik Nabers if he's a game-time decision. But my biggest one is the backfield, thanks in part to the recent arrival of Najee Harris.
Cowboys -- The NFC's version of the Bengals fantasy-wise, with slightly less injury risks. The biggest question for me is who will step up as the #2 RB in Malik Davis's absence. Today's podcast episode -- my 250th -- zooms in on the underrated, under-rostered Emari Demercado.
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* Today's FF4W podcast, episode 250: "Javonte Williams' Handcuff: Malik Davis out, Emari Demercado in?" -- podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fantasy-football-for-winners/id1800490745
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