10 Dynasty Risers & Fallers: Week 1 (2025 Fantasy Football)

Let’s look at the latest dynasty fantasy football risers and fallers from Week 1.

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Dynasty Fantasy Football Risers & Fallers

Dynasty Fantasy Football Risers

Harold Fannin Jr. (TE – CLE)

A quiet buzz around Harold Fannin Jr. began to percolate during training camp and through the preseason as word emerged that his usage would be significant. Despite the optimism, it’s difficult to project a meaningful role for a rookie fourth-round draft pick playing behind David Njoku.

Most considered Fannin a candidate to emerge later in the season, but Week 1 showed us everything we needed to see. Fannin saw a 72% snap share compared to 84% for Njoku, but it was Fannin who led the team in targets with nine. How often does a fourth-round rookie, backup tight end lead a team in targets in Week 1? Not often.

The rookie caught seven of his nine targets for 63 yards, including screen passes designed to get him the ball. With Njoku in the final year of his contract, he may become a trade candidate later this season. Either way, Fannin is going to be a factor for the Browns this season and beyond.

Travis Etienne Jr. (RB – JAX)

Between the NFL Draft and the beginning of training camp, Bhayshul Tuten was drawing the most interest in the Jaguars’ backfield. After reports surfaced that Tank Bigsby was taking most of the first-team reps, it was he who began to get the most attention.

Coming off a tough season last year, Travis Etienne was largely the forgotten man, but that was not the case on Sunday. Etienne rushed 16 times for 143 yards, catching three passes for 13 yards and tallying 18.6 PPR fantasy points. His 71-yard scamper is a reminder of his explosiveness, but even if we remove that run, Etienne ran 15 times for 72 yards, which easily would have led the backfield.

Bigsby ran five times for 12 yards while LeQuint Allen played ahead of Tuten. Things could certainly change as the season progresses, and it would be unfair to write Tuten or Bigsby off, but Etienne looks like the top option and could thrive in Liam Coen’s system.

Emeka Egbuka (WR – TB)

The dynasty community has long believed in Emeka Egbuka, but the excitement rose as Chris Godwin‘s outlook dampened. He took advantage of his first opportunity, finishing Week 1 with 23.6 fantasy points, good for the overall fantasy WR2 through Sunday’s games.

Egbuka caught four of his six targets for 64 yards and two touchdowns, adding one carry for nine yards. It’s early, and his two touchdowns carried his total this week, but Egbuka has star written all over him. Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers certainly trust him, and you should, too.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt (RB – WSH)

It’s been a meteoric rise for Jacory Croskey-Merritt over the last few weeks. From a seventh-round draft selection fighting to make the roster, to the leading ball-carrier in Week 1 following the Commanders’ trade of Brian Robinson Jr.

Dynasty managers were in a complete frenzy over Croskey-Merritt’s upside when it was reported that Washington would part with its starting running back, but with Austin Ekeler, Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr. in the backfield, we couldn’t be sure how things would shake out.

Rodriguez was a healthy scratch in Week 1, while Croskey-Merritt carried the ball 10 times for 82 yards and a touchdown. He handled 50% of the running back carries but was clearly the most explosive among the bunch. He saw just one target compared to three for Ekeler, and his outlook becomes more questionable in less desirable game scripts, but he’s primed for a big rushing workload in a terrific offense.

Keon Coleman (WR – BUF)

Some would consider Keon Coleman’s rookie season a disappointment, while others would point to his injury halting a potential breakout. His 19.2 yards per catch highlighted his big-play ability, making him the Bills receiver with true breakout potential this season.

In a Sunday night shootout, Coleman was targeted a team-high 11 times and looked the part of a go-to receiver. He caught eight of his 11 targets for 112 yards and a touchdown, tallying 25.2 fantasy points, while a shoestring tackle kept him from his second house call.

We’ll see if Coleman can carry this momentum into Week 2 and beyond, but the early returns suggest he’s the favorite to lead the Bills’ receivers this season.

Dynasty Fantasy Football Fallers

Kaleb Johnson (RB – PIT)

Given his landing spot, there was a good bit of excitement around Kaleb Johnson this season and beyond, with many assuming he would step into a large workload immediately and replace Najee Harris. Not only did Johnson play behind Jaylen Warren, but it was Kenneth Gainwell who led the backfield with 29 snaps, compared to 25 for Warren, and just two for Johnson.

The rookie took one carry for -2 yards, and it appears he has a long way to go to become a factor in the offense. The good news for Johnson is that neither Warren nor Gainwell was particularly productive, but if Aaron Rodgers trusts them, it’s a lot to overcome.

Bryce Young (QB – CAR)

Bryce Young seemed to have figured some things out last season following his benching, throwing for seven touchdowns, zero interceptions and rushing for three scores across his final three games. Week 1 was a different story as Young looked like his pre-benching self, completing just 18-of-35 passes for 154 yards.

Young threw for a touchdown in garbage time and added 40 rushing yards, but he also tossed two interceptions and fumbled once, generating just 8.16 fantasy points. In a game that had sneaky shootout potential, it was a disastrous performance from Young.

Jaydon Blue (RB – DAL)

There was some hope, and perhaps even an expectation, that Jaydon Blue would be heavily involved in the running back room from the jump.

After being made inactive in Week 1, you have to wonder if Blue can become a contributor. Perhaps it will happen, but Javonte Williams played well, and it’s not a good start for the rookie.

Miami Dolphins’ Offense

I originally had Tua Tagovailoa on my list of fallers, but the entire offense, and particularly the passing game, needs to be mentioned. Tagovailoa notched just 5.26 fantasy points with 114 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception before being removed for Zach Wilson.

The Dolphins’ offense totaled just eight points, with Tyreek Hill catching four passes for 40 yards and getting animated on the sideline, while Jaylen Waddle caught three passes for 30 yards. De’Von Achane salvaged his day with a receiving touchdown, catching three passes for 20 yards and rushing seven times for 55 yards, but he was the only player who was remotely productive. The vibes are not good in Miami, and at this point, it feels like a sinking ship without a life raft.

Kenneth Walker (RB – SEA)

As somebody who pounded the table for Kenneth Walker leading into the season, Week 1 was just about as disappointing as it could be. Walker ran 10 times for 20 yards, catching three passes for four yards, while Zach Charbonnet carried 12 times for 47 yards and a touchdown.

It’s unclear if this will be a timeshare moving forward, or if the nearly even split was due to Walker’s struggles, but it doesn’t matter if Walker doesn’t improve quickly. The positive for Walker is that he was involved in the passing game while Charbonnet was not, but Charbonnet saw the goal-line work. Until we see Walker break loose, his dynasty value is a major question mark.

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