Fantasy Football Week 1: Boom Starts & Bust Sits (2025)

The NFL is finally back, which means it’s time to analyze our lineup decisions. The best way to do so is to focus on the matchup, consider the game script and compare your thoughts with FantasyPros’ expert consensus rankings (ECR).

On this page, you’ll find three booms to start and three busts to bench for Week 1. Since it’s the first week of the season, we don’t want to overthink things too much. With that in mind, let’s make those lineup decisions easier for you in Week 1.

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Fantasy Football Week 1

Fantasy Football Boom Starts

Matthew Golden (WR – GB)

Matthew Golden has had a strong camp, ascending to the top of the Packers’ wide receiver depth chart. The first-round rookie wideout has drawn praise from Jordan Love and could emerge as the new No. 1 target as soon as Week 1.

The Packers are at home to the Lions in what could be a potential shootout, even with Detroit’s defense now healthy following an injury-plagued 2024 campaign. Don’t be surprised to see Golden get loose downfield in this one. I currently have Golden at WR30 in my fantasy football rankings, which is 10 spots above consensus.

Bryce Young (QB – CAR)

Bryce Young made major strides in the second half of last season. I expect that to continue this year, as the former first overall pick is now fully comfortable in Dave Canales’ offense, set to pepper his new top wideout with targets.

Rookie first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan projects as a potential alpha No. 1 WR, which could open up this entire offense. Expect Young to take his game to the next level, starting in Week 1 in a potential high-scoring affair against an underwhelming Jaguars defense. I have Young at QB16 in my ranks, which is four spots above consensus.

Tank Bigsby (RB – JAX)

The Jaguars currently have the most ambiguous backfield in the NFL. But getting this one correct is going to help put your fantasy football team over the top. That’s because new head coach Liam Coen does a great job with running games — just look at Bucky Irving with the Buccaneers last season. However, there’s a good chance that two of these three running backs will hold value, just like Rachaad White and Irving did last year.

Tank Bigsby is the best pure runner of the group right now, coming off a season where he was among the league leaders in yards after contact. I like him to find the end zone against a vulnerable Panthers defense. Bigsby is my RB27 this week, which is seven spots above consensus on FantasyPros.

Fantasy Football Bust Sits

Travis Hunter (WR – JAX)

I came into draft season fading Travis Hunter because he was going as high as the fourth round, but his price became much more reasonable (sixth round) as we got closer to the season, so I ended up with several shares. However, this is a spot to wait and see on Hunter, even against a vulnerable Panthers defense.

Simply put, we just don’t know how he’s going to be used. While I’m in the camp that Hunter will play more at wide receiver and provide you with a few nice spike weeks this season, we need to see the route participation numbers first. I’d rather start Matthew Golden this week. Hunter is my WR40, which is four spots below consensus.

Caleb Williams (QB – CHI)

I’m hopeful we’re going to see a Year 2 leap from Caleb Williams. After all, just look at this supporting cast: A stacked group of pass-catchers with an elite play-caller. With that said, there’s a chance it will take time for Williams to acclimate to Ben Johnson’s offense.

Even without considering the roster turnover and new scheme, it’s a tough matchup against this Brian Flores blitz-happy Vikings defense this week. There’s a reasonable chance this turns into a closely-contested, low-scoring divisional game between the Bears and Vikings on Monday Night Football. Considering these circumstances, I’d sit Williams for Bryce Young in what would be considered a relatively bold move. Williams is my QB22 this week, which is four spots below consensus.

RJ Harvey (RB – DEN)

Here we have another rookie on this list in RJ Harvey. This game sets up as a positive game script with the Broncos as heavy home favorites against the Titans. However, we need to see the backfield usage before we can fully buy in.

There’s a good chance J.K. Dobbins is going to open up the year as the lead back. Simply put, I can’t trust Sean Payton in the first week of the season. Take a wait-and-see approach with Harvey, even against the Titans. I have him as my RB32 this week, which is five spots below consensus.

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