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Week 1 Quarterback Preview: Trevor Lawrence, Drake Maye Crack the Top-12

Top Fantasy QBs for Week 1

Let's review the key usage notes and matchups that are driving our Week 1 QB Rankings.

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs

Mahomes will be without WR Rashee Rice for Friday night's opener in Brazil. But he will have WR Xavier Worthy, WR Marquise Brown, a skinny TE Travis Kelce, and a bolstered offensive line. The matchup is on the tougher side against a Chargers defense that ranked 10th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs last year. They limited Mahomes to 245-1-1 and 210-1-0 passing lines last year.

Justin Herbert, Chargers

Herbert opens his 2025 campaign in Brazil against a Chiefs defense that's given him trouble lately. His passing lines in three games vs. Kansas City over the last two seasons: 259-1-2, 179-1-0, and 213-1-0.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons

Baker Mayfield, Bucs

Mayfield will play without WR Chris Godwin and LT Tristan Wirfs, limiting some of the appeal here. But it’s clear from last year that Mike Evans is still an effective No. 1 WR. And rookie Emeka Egbuka drew praise throughout camp as a pro-ready pass-catcher. The Atlanta matchup looks fine on paper, even after they added a pair of rookie edge rushers in James Pearce Jr. and Jalon Walker. Atlanta might also rely heavily on two rookies in the secondary (CB Billy Bowman Jr. and S Xavier Watts). 

Michael Penix, Falcons

Penix displayed an attacking approach last year, which figures to supply both a low floor and a moderate ceiling against Tampa Bay. Just note: WR Darnell Mooney is iffy for this one with a shoulder, while RT Kaleb McGary will sit out with a knee. Mix in a lack of rushing upside, and the young passer is best left as a superflex option.

Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns

Joe Burrow, Bengals

Generally a slow starter, Burrow enters 2025 fully healthy and looking every bit of the top-tier option he is. Burrow had modest numbers against Cleveland last season, averaging 217 yards and totaling 5 touchdowns in 2 games. But with his strong preseason showing, we don't expect Burrow to get off to a slow start in 2025. 

Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts

Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins

Tua faces a Colts defense that’s thin in the secondary. Indy will likely start 32-year-old former Dolphin Xavien Howard at CB, despite joining the team in mid-August. We’ll see if TE Darren Waller (hip) is healthy enough to play after signing in mid-summer. But Tyreek Hill should be a full-go alongside Jaylen Waddle.

Daniel Jones, Colts

The Fins lost CB Jalen Ramsey and S Jevon Holland over the offseason and failed to add proven replacements. Now, it’s still tough to get excited about Jones’ passing output, as the Colts should lean on the run. But Jones can contribute in that area as well; last year, he hit 20 rushing yards in seven of ten games. The former Giant ultimately makes for a deep-league spot-starter or superflex option.

Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars

Trevor Lawrence, Jags

Lawrence lands inside our top 12 for Week 1 in a game tied for the sixth-highest projected game total. The Jaguars carry the league's sixth-highest implied team total as well. And the Carolina defense proved second-friendliest in the league to QB scoring last season (behind only Jacksonville).

Bryce Young, Panthers

Young opens with a defense that was friendliest in the league to QB scoring last year. Jacksonville has made coaching and personnel changes to address that, but this should still be a positive spot for Young's upside. That's not enough to make him attractive for 1-QB leagues. But he works as a superflex play, and perhaps even a cheap play for DFS cash games.

Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots

Drake Maye, Patriots

Maye showed promise as a rookie, finishing QB7 in fantasy points in his full games. The Patriots retooled their OL and invested in a WR and pass-catching RB in Stefon Diggs and TreVeyon Henderson. Maye’s 409 rushing yards last year after becoming the starter ranked fourth in that timeframe behind Jayden Daniels, Lamar Jackson, and Jalen Hurts. His rushing upside and a potentially good Week 1 match-up make Maye a low-end QB1 this week. 

Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints

Kyler Murray, Cardinals

Kyler Murray opens in a dome against a Saints defense that looks soft, particularly in the secondary. Arizona's 25-point implied total is tied for sixth-highest on the week. Murray is a nice QB1 start in season-long leagues and squarely in play in DFS.

Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Jets

Justin Fields, Jets

Fields has produced for fantasy with starting snaps. He was QB6 and QB13 in points per game in his final two full seasons with the Bears. Last year, Fields was QB8 in points per game with the Steelers before being benched. But he draws a tough match-up against his old team for Week 1. The rushing potential gives Fields a high floor, even if he performs poorly as a passer. He should be a high-end QB2 this week.

New York Giants at Washington Commanders

Jayden Daniels, Commanders

Washington opens the 2025 slate with the fourth-most implied points, setting up Jayden Daniels for another strong showing. The Giants did a respectable job defending Daniels as a passer last season, but he did average 39.5 yards on the ground. The addition of Deebo Samuel gives Kliff Kingsbury another weapon and assures that Daniels remains an elite start. 

Tennessee Titans at Denver Broncos

Bo Nix, Broncos

Nix finished last season with at least 19 fantasy points in each of his final seven games. The year of experience and the addition of TE Evan Engram add appeal to Nix’s 2025 value. And for Week 1, there’s no reason to fear Tennessee’s secondary. While the Titans will have CB L'Jarius Sneed, he's coming off knee surgery and missed most of training camp.

San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks

Brock Purdy, 49ers

Purdy threw for 255 yards and 3 TDs in last year's visit to Seattle. This year's WR crew will look quite a bit different vs. that game. But there's plenty of upside in WR Ricky Pearsall, TE George Kittle, and RB Christian McCaffrey (assuming the calf's OK) to support low-end starter status for the QB.

Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers

Jordan Love, Packers

Love dealt with multiple injuries last season, which led to him finishing as QB19 in points per game. He had thumb surgery this offseason on his non-throwing hand, but that should be healed and ready for this week. With the addition of first-round rookie Matthew Golden, the Packers could trend to a higher pass rate this season. Love is a high-end QB2 in a match-up that could become a shootout.

Jared Goff, Lions

Goff had the best completion percentage of his career last year at 72.4% leading the Lions to 15 wins. He does lose OC Ben Johnson, and the offense as a whole could take a step back after losing multiple OL this offseason. With an upgraded Packers defense and Goff offering no rushing upside, he is a volatile QB2 this week.

Houston Texans at Los Angeles Rams

C.J. Stroud, Texans

Stroud's offensive line remains a big question mark heading into 2025, and it gets a tough test in Week 1 against a talented Rams pass rush. Stroud will also be without WR Christian Kirk, leaving Xavier Hutchinson and rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel behind Nico Collins. The Texans are implied for just 20.25 points in this one. Stroud is only an option in 2-QB and superflex leagues.

Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills

Lamar Jackson, Ravens

Jackson’s 41 passing TDs were the highest of his career while still picking up four additional TDs on the ground. His 915 yards rushing were his most since 2020. With the Ravens bringing back the same offensive core, Jackson should continue rolling this year in a potential shootout with the Bills. 

Josh Allen, Bills

Allen’s 3,731 passing yards were his lowest since 2019, but he made up for the lack of passing with his rushing. Allen had 531 yards on the ground with 12 TDs. The Bills' offense appeared to settle on utilizing Allen’s legs in short-yardage situations, so he should be in line for more rushing TDs this year. In a potential shootout with the Ravens, Allen is a must-start.

Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears

Caleb Williams, Bears

Williams' first game under HC Ben Johnson comes against the Vikings and blitz-happy DC Brian Flores. Williams ranked 12th among 43 qualifying QBs in Pro Football Focus passing grade when blitzed last year, completing 59% of his passes with seven TDs vs. one INT. He posted a 340-2-0 passing line in his first meeting with Minnesota last year but just 191-1-0 in the second. Johnson's Lions had no trouble with the Vikings last year, with QB Jared Goff averaging 8.4 yards per attempt with five TDs across their two matchups. Williams is ultimately a risk/reward Week 1 fantasy play.

J.J. McCarthy, Vikings

This is a brutal spot for McCarthy's NFL debut: On the road against a Bears defense that ranked first in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs last year. Chicago was much more generous against the run, so expect the Vikings to lean on RBs Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason on Monday night.

Next Up

Week 1 Tight End Preview: David Njoku And Others Set To Smash

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Kevin English, Senior Analyst

Kevin brings 15+ years of experience as a fantasy analyst and mid-stakes competitor across various formats (redraft, best ball, dynasty, DFS). He finished 1st in FantasyPros Draft Accuracy competition in 2024. Kevin's work has been featured in The Mercury News, NBC Sports/Rotoworld, and FantasyPros.