Week 1's fantasy football playbook
The latest fantasy football news, rankings, start/sit advice, and more to help you avoid misery on Sunday.
Thanks again for being a loyal reader and subscriber! Keep reading for the latest fantasy football rankings, news, and analysis from the 5th Down Fantasy team and around the web. Best of luck in Week 1!
📰 Week 1 news you can use
Who is trending up and down heading into Sunday’s action…
🙌 Terry McLaurin missed much of the preseason due to an injury to his toe, and his Week 1 status was hung in the air. After logging a full practice on Thursday, McLaurin is on the right track and will play Sunday. It’s unclear if the injury will hamper him any, but the Commanders have a favorable matchup against a weak Cardinals defense.
🤞 Darren Waller’s hamstring injury is not believed to be serious. He will be monitored throughout the weekend, with hopes that the tight end will be able to suit up in the Week 1 Sunday night matchup between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys.
👍 J.K. Dobbins will have no limitations for the Baltimore Ravens in the team’s Week 1 contest against the Houston Texans. Dobbins will look to capitalize on an extremely favorable Week 1 matchup a full year recovered from ACL surgery. The running back will likely receive a majority of the backfield touches.
🫤 Zack Moss (forearm) has been downgraded to doubtful for the Indianapolis Colts. Fantasy owners will likely be left with Deon Jackson and Evan Hull splitting the backfield touches for head coach Shane Steichen against the Jaguars.
🤷 Jerry Jeudy suffered a hamstring injury in a joint practice a couple of weeks ago that will leave him questionable for Sunday’s game. His recovery is going quicker than most expected, and he’ll now have a chance to suit up for the team’s home opener against the Raiders. If he is inactive, expect rookie Marvin Mims to get more work in his absence.
❌ Christian Watson will miss the team’s opener against Chicago due to a hamstring injury. In Jordan Love’s first opening day start, he will now have to turn to lesser-known options, especially if Romeo Doubs (hamstring), who is questionable, cannot go. Given the circumstances, second-round rookie Jayden Reed could see a significant increase in targets, as well as rookie TE Luke Musgrave.
View the latest FantasyPros player news on 5thDownFantasy.com.
📋 Week 1 rankings update
Insights on key fantasy matchups from the 5th Down team and my favorite experts from around the web, and a fresh update on my player rankings below…
📈 3 guys up
Rachaad White (RB, TB at MIN) — “White should be looking at a hefty workload in Week 1 at Minnesota as he starts his sophomore campaign as the lead running back in Tampa Bay. And when he got a lot of work as a rookie he was successful. There were five games in 2022 when White had at least 15 total touches, and he averaged 13.6 PPR points per game over that span. Minnesota has a new-look defense this season under coordinator Brian Flores, but last year the Vikings struggled with pass-catching running backs like White. I like White as a must-start running back in PPR and 0.5-PPR leagues and a flex in non-PPR this week.” – Jamey Eisenberg, CBS Sports
Jahan Dotson (WR, WAS vs. ARI) — “Arizona is following up finishing 24th in yards allowed and 28th in touchdowns allowed against the pass by losing their top pass rushers in JJ Watt and Markus Golden. The shakiest group on this defense is arguably the secondary, and that’s even considering the group is led by Budda Baker. Kei’Trel Clark was just drafted in the sixth round, Garrett Williams is coming off an ACL tear and then there’s Marco Wilson. Isaiah Simmons was just traded to New York. They allowed the highest success rate in 2022 and look to continue that trend this year.” — Matt New, 5th Down Fantasy
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