Ten Things We Learned From Week 1 (Fantasy Football)
It’s time to glean as much knowledge as possible from the first taste of real, regular-season football. While looking through a fantasy lens, we must attempt to react appropriately after just one game. Some things are quite revealing, and others require further inspection to know the truth.
The Fantasy Footballers are here to help guide you along the meandering path that is the NFL season.
Here are ten things we learned in Week 1:
JSN is QB-Proof
Sam Darnold limped off the field after just the fifth play of the NFL’s season opener Wednesday. This should be disastrous for JSN. However, Drew Lock hyper-targeted the reigning OPOY, and the two displayed a strong connection. Smith-Njigba managed an astounding 36% target share in 2025, which screamed regression heading into 2026. So what was his target share in Week 1? 46%. If he’s on your team, you’re feeling warm and fuzzy about your first pick right now. Darnold’s week two status is doubtful, but it might not matter for JSN.
Kaelon Black Cuts Into CMC’s Touches
If you drafted CMC in the first round, you were not pleased with the timeshare in Week 1. The rookie RB outcarried McCaffrey 14 to 10 in Australia. Luckily, CMC will always be utilized a ton in the passing game, which provides more fantasy points per touch. He came away with five catches for 20 yards on eight targets, while Black caught his only target for five yards. CMC will be just fine, but at age 30 and with an extensive injury history, the 49ers will likely continue to manage his touches by mixing in the third-round rookie between the tackles.
Could Be a Boat in Miami
One of the big offseason questions was who, if anyone, would step up at WR for the Dolphins. Returning WR Malik Washington led the way with 8 targets, but rookie Caleb Douglas was the most explosive of the bunch, with five catches on seven targets for 94 yards. Fellow rookie Chris Bell played just 51% of snaps as he ramps back up from his ACL surgery. Keep an eye on his snap share in the coming weeks. Achane disappointed versus expectations, and TE Greg Dulcich was a non-factor with just two targets. The question remains if Malik Willis and the Dolphins offense can produce viable fantasy pass-catchers. But if you believe it’s possible, Douglas should be a priority waiver add this week.
Parker Washington Picked Up Where He Left Off
Trevor Lawrence has plenty of fantasy points to give, and can support multiple starters. But Washington is unquestionably his favorite target. Lawrence spread the ball around on Sunday, connecting with Washington, Jakobi Meyers, Brenton Strange, and Josh Cameron for TDs. Brian Thomas Jr. caught all three of his targets for 40 yards. The Jags didn’t need to pass much against the Browns (just 23 attempts), but Washington started the year with a healthy 26% target share and an acrobatic grab for Jacksonville’s first TD of the season.
Ben Johnson is Not Messing Around
Chicago head coach Ben Johnson made headlines this summer by boldly stating his goal to break the all-time single-season scoring record. The current record of 606 points was set back in 2013 by the Denver Broncos, who averaged 37.9 points per game in 16 games. After putting up 59 in Week 1, the Bears are on pace for 1,003 points. Their victory over the Panthers also turned into the highest-scoring Week 1 contest in NFL history, for a combined total of 96 points.
Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
If someone had told you that in Week 1 Kalif Raymond would have more receptions than Luther Burden, Rome Odunze, and Colston Loveland combined, where would you have told them to go? As D’andre Swift, Kyle Monangai, and Caleb Williams ran all over the Panthers (to the tune of 291 yards and six rushing TDs), it was 32-year-old Raymond who led the way through the air. Targets are an earned stat, and he recorded nine for eight catches and 84 yards. This could very well be Raymond’s most productive game of the year and Loveland’s least. But it does show that even in a record-breaking shootout, Mr. Loveland can put up a goose egg.
Ambiguous Backfields Show Clarity
Some of the biggest questions going into the season were RB splits on certain teams. The Panthers RB1 to start the season is clearly Chuba Hubbard, with Jonathan Brooks and AJ Dillon mixing in behind him, even though Brooks had surpassed Hubbard in ADP by the end of draft season.
Bucky Irving shined in the passing game for Tampa Bay. Kenny Gainwell was expected to take most of the passing work from Irving, but Bucky caught all seven of his targets compared to one for Gainwell. Irving looked healthy and fast against the Bengals.
Marshawn Lloyd got the start for Green Bay with Jacobs out, only managing 2.8 yards/carry on 13 rushes. He shared the backfield with Chris Brooks, who was the more productive of the two with 4.1 yards/carry on seven attempts. Neither Packer RB caught a pass. Over in Pittsburgh, Jaylen Warren was much more efficient on his 15 touches versus Rico Dowdle on his 10.
Henry Is Still The King
Derrick Henry has not fallen off the age cliff just yet. He broke out for 144 yards and three TDs on 24 carries as the Ravens trounced the Colts. He still has plenty of tread on the tires and was well worth the second-round pick in your fantasy draft. He moved to third on the all-time TD list, behind only LaDainian Tomlinson and Emmett Smith. Imagine how good he’ll be when it starts snowing in Vermont.
Scoring is Back
Defenses are generally clicking better than offenses in the early weeks of the NFL season, leading to more lower-scoring games. On Sunday, however, nine of 13 games hit the over. The Ravens look like an offensive juggernaut under new OC Declan Doyle, putting up 41 on the Colts. The Bears and Panthers set a record for most points in Week 1. With just the Monday night game to play, every team has scored double-digit points except the Super Bowl favorite Rams. Even the Browns eked out ten points in garbage time. More points = more fun.
The Cardinals Might Be Better Than We Thought
Or, the Chargers just underachieved again. I guess two things can be true at once. Jacoby Brissett picked apart the Chargers’ defense, peppering Trey McBride with targets. Michael Wilson got his share as well, and veteran Kendrick Bourne shined with eight catches for 75 yards. Marvin Harrison Jr. seemed to be the only one missing from the party, hauling in just one catch for 33 yards on three targets (although it was a beautiful grab). Jeremiyah Love took 11 carries for 41 yards and a TD, while backup Tyler Allgeier was fed 17 times for 61 yards. The rookie has been dealing with an injury and wasn’t even a lock to play in Week 1, but he was clearly the more explosive option. Allgeier will get work throughout the season, but the market share will surely flip as Love’s health improves. And who knows, maybe the Cardinals are good?
Shouldn’t Doubt Shough
Tyler Shough put up a juicy 56 pass attempts and 410 yards against Detroit. That’s 14 more passes than the next highest, Jordan Love. Chris Olave was the main recipient with 10 catches for 182 yards on 13 targets, with Devaughn Vele the only non-TE to find the end zone through the air. The Lions and Saints were 13-13-1 going into Sunday’s contest, so a one-point game in OT was fitting. While overtime helped inflate the numbers, we can expect more massive games from Shough, Olave, and the Saints this year.