NFL Player News

This one is as bad as it looks, as Andrews got soundly out-produced by his position group mate Isaiah Likely, who posted new career highs in receptions (nine) and yards (111). Likely also gathered momentum as the game went on, clearly becoming Lamar Jackson’s first read. Pro Football Focus’ Nathan Jahnke charted Likely as overtaking Andrews in 11 personnel as the Ravens got deeper into the second half. For his part, Andrews fell down on what should have a long gain in the fourth quarter. It’s just one game that might say more about Likely than Andrews, but you’re allowed to be concerned. Andrews will still obviously remain a high-end TE1 for Week 2 against the Raiders as we let more data points roll in. This might be the rare offense where two pass-catching tight ends are fantasy viable.

Pollard’s reception was by far the biggest play of the day for a moribund Titans offense. He handled 18 of 20 running backs carries for the Titans, even if it didn’t amount to a whole lot against a stiff Denver front seven.

Charbonnet entered the game on the Seahawks’ second drive and began grinding out tough yards en route to a one-yard touchdown run against the 49ers’ talented defense. Charbonnet finished with zero targets, but the box score belies his passing game involvement. It was Charbonnet, not Walker, who initially took the field with the Seahawks’ two-minute offense on the final drive. Walker eventually subbed in and critically remained on the field in the red zone, but it would be unsurprising to see Charbonnet earn a target or two against the Steelers next week. He is an RB3/FLEX for the occasion.

Ridley struggled to get open with Patrick Surtain shadowing him for much of the contest. Seeing a team-leading 28 percent target share, Ridley could have salvaged his statistical day on two four quarter targets that he dropped, dooming the Titans’ last-minute comeback attempt against the heavily favored Broncos. Ridley accounted for 25 percent of the Titans’ air yards; Elic Ayomanor led the team with a 48 percent air yards share. Ridley will see far more favorable matchups this season, starting with Week 2 against the Rams. Fantasy managers should stick with Ridley as a flex option despite the rough start to 2025.

Jared Goff faced plenty of pressure from Micah Parsons and the Packers’ pass-rush in this game, leading to a check-down-first approach. As the team’s primary deep threat, that spelled certain doom for Williams. He amassed a measly 13 percent target share and watched rookie Isaac TeSlaa score the team’s only touchdown of the day late in the fourth quarter. Better days will be ahead for Williams when Goff has more time in the pocket, but the Lions are working with multiple new starters on the offensive line and face a strong Chicago pass-rush next week. Williams will be a boom/bust WR3 for Week 2.

The 49ers’ defense deserves credit, but Walker was simply outplayed by backfield-mate Zach Charbonnet. Walker was on the field for the Seahawks’ first drive. Charbonnet was featured on the second. Curiously, Walker out-targeted Charbonnet three-to-zero, but it was Charbonnet who first took the field on the Seahawks’ final drive, as Seattle’s two-minute offense attempted to generate a comeback. Walker subbed in once the unit entered the red zone but a fumble lost by Sam Darnold ended that brief sequence unceremoniously. Ultimately, Walker totaled just 21 offensive snaps to Charbonnet’s 30. Walker is best viewed as an RB3/FLEX option against the Steelers next week.

We don’t know the severity of Andrews’ injury, but the third-year center was carted off the field in the third quarter and did not return to the field. Andrews was claimed off waivers by the Texans earlier this offseason and earned the starting job in training camp. Andrews appeared on 45 snaps in his Week 1 outing against the Rams, earning a blocking grade of 72.7 on the day, per PFF.

The Lions’ offense was in a funk from the start of this contest and spiraled downward as the quarters passed. Jared Goff was under pressure often and looked to his running back Jhamyr Gibbs more often than not. He peppered Gibbs with a team-high 10 targets. Because all of the check-downs were going to Gibbs, there wasn’t much meat left on the bone for St. Brown. Things should improve as the Lions settle in under first-year coordinator John Morton, but St. Brown could fall a few spots in the wide receiver ranks if that doesn’t happen soon. He will look to rebound versus the Bears in Week 2.

His red zone play-action catch was the only receiving score for the Rams against a tough Texans defense. Tyler Higbee handily outsnapped Allen 35 to 22, but Higbee was held without a target. There’s probably not enough oxygen here for any non-Puka/Adams receiver to flourish in fantasy football.

Atwell and Xavier Smith (1/36 on his only target and snap) were the only non-Puka Nacua and Davante Adams receivers to have a catch in Week 1. Jordan Whittington was third on the team amongst receivers in snaps with 30, while Atwell had 25. Atwell is on pace to earn $580,000 per target on his one-year, $10 million contract. He’s not on pace to be fantasy relevant barring injuries ahead of him in the pecking order.

Adams played 55 of 60 snaps and hauled in some vintage Davante Adams receptions despite a lack on-field training with Matthew Stafford in training camp. The Rams pooled 19 of their 28 targets between Adams and Puka Nacua. We don’t know if the Rams can actually create two fantasy WR1s this year, but they sure seem to be trying. We’d prefer Adams on the WR2 line against the Titans, but it’s a good spot regardless.