The 2025-26 NFL season kicked off this past weekend, and with it the fantasy football season. As a lifelong football fan and fantasy football player, I want to share weekly insights and picks that might help anyone facing a tough start/sit decision, or uncertainty about what to do with an individual player. Additionally, I will aim to not just pick the obvious starts (or else Derrick Henry would be on this list every week), but will look for players whose outlook may be a bit more uncertain.
With that being said, what follows are my starts of the week for each position, besides kickers, since in my experience they are usually week-to-week dart throws (all point totals referenced are in PPR scoring).
Quarterback
Dak Prescott, DAL (vs. New York Giants, Sun. at 1 p.m.)
Fantasy owners who started Dak in week one were likely disappointed; he only put up 7.8 fantasy points and finished as the QB28. But, overall, the Cowboys offense looked good against one of the league’s top defenses in the Eagles. Prescott was a few plays away from having a good fantasy performance. He had some great throws that were dropped, and both touchdown opportunities were vultured by RB Javonte Williams. This week, against a struggling Giants team that just allowed 432 total yards to Washington, I expect much better from Dak and the ‘Boys.
Wide Receiver
A.J. Brown, PHI (at Kansas City, Sun. at 4:25 p.m.)
I can understand the hesitation with starting Brown this week after only drawing one target last week against the Cowboys. But other great receivers had poor outings last week, and people aren’t worried about them. Ja’Marr Chase, Nico Collins, and Amon-Ra St. Brown all underperformed last week, but they are all must-starts again week two. Not only that, but the Eagles play the Chiefs this week, who just allowed 318 passing yards to Justin Herbert and allowed great games for receivers Quentin Johnston, Ladd McConkey, and aging Keenan Allen. Don’t worry about Brown.
Kayshon Boutte/Stefon Diggs/Demario Douglas, NE (at Miami, Sun. at 1 p.m.)
Bear with me here… I know I’ve listed three names here, and on a team that scored only 13 points last week no less. But despite scoring only 13 points against Las Vegas, Drake Maye still had 287 passing yards on 46 attempts. That’s a lot of targets for wide receivers. And this week they play the Dolphins, who just gave up 33 points to Daniel Jones and the Colts. Boutte will be the top waiver priority with his six receptions for 103 yards, and Diggs is probably already rostered (he had six catches for 57 yards). But Douglas had the most intriguing stat line of them all. He had seven targets (just as much as Diggs), but only two catches for -2 yards and a touchdown. The seven targets are promising, and something to keep your eye on moving forward. Maybe don’t start Douglas this week, but pick him up and monitor things…
Running Back
James Conner, ARI (vs. Carolina, Sun. at 4:05 p.m.)
Conner had 12 rushes and four receptions last week against the Saints, racking up 14.4 fantasy points. He wasn’t very efficient with his touches, but the Cardinals offense was inexplicably struggling against a bad Saints defense. I’m willing to chalk it up to first week jitters and a potential Kyler Murray illness, and I’m betting on Conner in week two. Carolina just allowed a monster game to Jaguars’ Travis Etienne (18.6 points without a touchdown), and I guarantee Conner is capable of a game like that in week two.
Javonte Williams, DAL (vs. New York Giants, Sun. at 1.p.m.)
I am all for Williams for the same reasons I am for Dak Prescott. Williams is the clear lead back for the Cowboys. Rookie Jaydon Blue was a healthy scratch last week, and Miles Sanders didn’t look effective at all (and had a fumble). This week, going up against the Giants who just allowed 220 rushing yards to the Redskins (including 82 yards and a touchdown to rookie RB Bill Croskey), Javonte Williams should be undoubtedly in starting lineups.
TreVeyon Henderson, NE (vs. Miami, Sun. at 1 p.m.)
Last week, Henderson showed that he is clearly the best back in New England. He was way more efficient with his carries, despite only getting five, and caught all six of his targets for 24 yards. This week, he faces off against Miami who just allowed great games to virtually everyone on the Colts, including RB Jonathan Taylor. I expect Henderson to keep his receiving targets and increase his rushing attempts after proving his effectiveness. His trajectory only points up after week one. Get him in your lineups.
Tight End
Kyle Pitts, ATL (at Minnesota, Sun. at 8:20 p.m.)
Turns out that the meme of the fantasy football world is actually an exceptionally talented football player! Last week vs. the Bucs, he hauled in seven of eight targets for 59 yards, and looked quick and athletic with the ball in his hands. This week, with star wideout Drake London banged up, Pitts figures to be a prime, go-to option for young QB Michael Penix, Jr. The matchup against Minnesota is likely neither great nor terrible, but I’m willing to bet that Pitts has a great performance in primetime Sunday Night Football.
Defense
Los Angeles Rams (at Tennessee, Sun. at 1 p.m.)
The Rams defense had a heck of a game last week against a Texans team that has been excellent ever since C.J. Stroud became QB. They scored the third highest points of any defense last week, and now go up against the Titans, who just gave the Denver Broncos the highest scoring defense of week one. If the Rams can contain Stroud and Nico Collins, they shouldn’t have a problem with rookie Cam Ward and the struggling Titans offense.