Fantasy Football Winners For Week 1
Week 1 delivered plenty of surprises, but a handful of players stamped themselves as difference-makers right out of the gate. From breakout rookies to resurgent veterans, here’s a look at the fantasy football stars who stole the show.
1. Emeka Egbuka, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The preseason buzz wasn’t misplaced. Egbuka, whose ADP climbed more than three rounds over the summer, looked every bit the part in his NFL debut. His 23.6 PPR points were the most by a rookie wideout since Hollywood Brown’s 30.7 in 2019. Even more impressive, he hauled the game-winning touchdown with under a minute left on the clock.
Egbuka split time between the slot and the perimeter, but most of his production (14.8 points) came outside the numbers, a sign of versatility that bodes well long term. His Week 2 matchup against Houston isn’t easy, yet with Chris Godwin Jr. sidelined, he profiles as a steady WR2 with upside.
2. Justin Fields & Garrett Wilson, QB/WR, New York Jets
The Jets’ new-look offense wasted no time clicking. Fields (29.52 points) turned in one of his most balanced performances as a pro, completing 16-of-22 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown while adding 48 yards and two scores on the ground. It was a statement outing against a tough Pittsburgh defense.
Wilson was equally electric, posting 22.5 fantasy points on seven receptions for 95 yards, highlighted by a 33-yard touchdown. More important than the box score: Wilson commanded nine targets, leading the team. That volume, combined with Fields’ dual-threat design, makes Fields a firm QB1 and Wilson an ascending WR2 heading into a Week 2 showdown with Buffalo.
3. Daniel Jones, QB, Indianapolis Colts
Talk about efficiency. Jones accounted for 29.48 points in a blowout win over Miami, completing 22-of-29 passes for 272 yards and a touchdown while tacking on two rushing scores. His ability to finish drives with his legs elevated his ceiling and gave Colts fans a glimpse of the upside he flashed in New York.
Week 2 brings Denver’s stingy defense, so expectations should be tempered. Still, in superflex or 2QB leagues, Jones is a priority starter given his availability, as he remains on the wire in over 95% of ESPN leagues.
4. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
If Week 1 is any indication, Rodgers’ comeback campaign is alive and well. At age 41, the future Hall of Famer dissected his old team, the Jets, for 25.66 points, spreading four touchdowns across seven different receivers. His connection with Calvin Austin III was especially sharp, exploiting mismatches in the secondary.
With Pittsburgh’s ground game struggling, Rodgers’ arm is going to remain the focal point. That makes him a strong QB2 in superflex formats and a weekly streaming option in single-QB leagues.
5. Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers
The setting was historic, São Paulo, Brazil, and so was Herbert’s performance. He torched the Chiefs for 27.92 points, attempting 34 passes in a game that underscored a potential philosophical shift in Jim Harbaugh’s offense. If Herbert’s workload continues trending upward, his accuracy and arm talent give him top-10 positional upside on a weekly basis.
With a Week 2 tilt against the Raiders’ vulnerable secondary, fantasy managers should be confident rolling Herbert out as a locked-in QB1.
