10 BOLD Predictions for Week 1 of Fantasy Football

Brock Bowers is identified as the most likely TE1 candidate alongside Kyle Laporta; the source notes that Bowers could potentially break fantasy, positioning him as a skeleton key for fantasy football success. Bowers is described as operating as the wide receiver one out of the tight end position with huge target share and huge target volume in the Raiders offense.

Bold prediction: Godwin will score 20+ PPR points in Bengals-Buccaneers Week 1 game. Training camp reports are encouraging on his health; he achieved 20+ PPR once last year (Week 17 vs. Miami). The source believes this is a good individual matchup for Godwin because the Bengals allowed the highest yards after contact in the league on wide receiver targets last year, playing to Godwin's strength of bullying defenders with the ball in his hands. Godwin's 2024 performance with Baker Mayfield (19.6 PPR per game) supports massive value potential if Iuka is eased in or unavailable. The source will aggressively target him for DFS purposes. Potential for even higher scoring if he gets 1–2 touchdowns in what could be a shootout.

RotoWire identifies Olave as in a favorable spot against Detroit's defense, which uses less cover-three than league average. The source notes that when not facing cover-three last year, Jawan Johnson had 581 yards compared to 667 for Olave—nearly 1A/1B production. Cover-three typically targets perimeter wide receiver ones at high rates, which benefits Olave. RotoWire is 'starting him with confidence' in this matchup.

The source identifies Darren Waller as operating as the wide receiver one out of the tight end position in the Raiders offense, with huge target share and huge target volume. This role context positions Waller as the primary receiving option from the tight end spot, with Trey Tucker receiving secondary high-value deep looks.

RotoWire projects Wilson for 11 catches on 14 targets, 125 yards, and 1 TD vs. Tennessee in Week 1. The source cites Wilson's WR1 status over the first month of last season, Gino Smith's hyperargeting in training camp, and the Titans' seventh-most catches allowed to opposing WRs. RotoWire ranks Wilson ahead of Jaylen Waddle and AJ Brown despite being down on the Jets' overall offensive upside ceiling, describing him as a 'rock solid start this week.'

Bold Week 1 prediction: 120 yards (career high), ranked TE7 overall vs. Dallas. The source projects Likely to exceed his career high in yards, expecting 8–14 targets. Likely has two games over 100 yards in his career with 12–13 targets in those games; the source expects similar volume here. Dallas allowed the highest yard-per-target rate on middle-of-field throws and second-highest on first-read targets, creating a perfect matchup for Likely's role. Expected to play the Rashee Rice role in Matt Nagel's Giants offense, serving as the focal point of the passing game early on alongside Neighbors, with potential for 8–10–12–14 targets if the Giants fall behind early. The source has personal conviction in Likely's value, referring to 'my Isaiah Likely bags.'

RotoWire makes bold Week 1 projection: 11 catches, 145 yards, 1 TD on 16 targets vs. Buccaneers. The source cites Chase's career history of 11 games with 15+ targets and expects him to reach 12 such games immediately. RotoWire also makes a season-long bold prediction that Chase will set the NFL record with 210 targets, surpassing Marvin Harrison Sr.'s 205 (2002), Calvin Johnson's 204 (2012), and Julio Jones' 203 (2015). The Buccaneers-Bengals game is projected as a high-scoring, fantasy-friendly environment with Joe Burrow back healthy.

Panthers WR ranked high for Week 1 flex consideration vs. Bears. Source wants to attack Bears defense through the air given Panthers' likely negative game script and Coker's role in that passing attack.

The source projects Jameson Williams will catch a touchdown pass from Jared Goff in Week 1 vs. Saints as part of Goff's quad-box prediction (Goff projected for 4 TDs total, Lions 35+ points). However, Williams is severely limited in red zone target share with only 12% over the past two seasons; when the Lions get into the red zone, they focus on Sun God, Jamir Gibbs, and Kyle Laporta, leaving Williams to accumulate value primarily on long touchdowns rather than consistent red zone opportunities.

Bold Week 1 prediction: Goff will throw four touchdown passes vs. Saints, hitting the quad box with TDs to Jameson Williams, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jamir Gibbs, and Sam Laporta; Lions projected to score 35+ and win. The source frames this as 'greatest show on turf part two' and notes David Montgomery's departure opens up more downfield shots; everything setting up for Goff to get off to a red-hot start. The source also projects Goff to throw 40+ touchdown passes this season, positioning him as a massive season candidate.

Bengals QB expected to have a big Week 1 game vs. Buccaneers in a high-scoring, fantasy-friendly environment. The source notes Burrow's return to the lineup and projects the Buccaneers-Bengals matchup as must-see TV with potential for a 70+ combined points between the two teams.

RotoWire notes Johnson has been 'steaming up draft boards rightfully so' and predicts he will 'clearly be the second highest targeted player in New Orleans at the beginning of the year.' Against Detroit's defense, which allows high first-read target rates and ranks 27th in time to pressure, Johnson should see significant volume. The source projects him as a top-five finisher this week. Johnson operates as a move tight end and de facto wide receiver with no Jordan Tyson, accumulating 100+ targets last year. Against non-cover-three defenses, Johnson produced 581 yards last year compared to Chris Olave's 667 yards in the same coverage scenarios, establishing near-parity with a top-tier receiver.

Ranked higher than usual for Week 1 with Tua Tagovailoa starting for Miami. The source suggests Tua's return to the lineup could unlock a strong Pitts game, implying elevated expectations for the tight end's Week 1 performance compared to typical rankings.

Bold Week 1 prediction: 50+ rushing yards vs. Indianapolis Colts with Ravens winning by a field goal. Last year Jackson averaged 26.8 rushing yards per game (lowest of his career), but in 2024 he averaged 53.8 rushing yards per game. The source expects him to return closer to 2024 levels with designed runs and opportunistic scrambling, providing relief for dynasty managers concerned about his 2025 production after a banged-up 2025 season.

The source has Andrews ranked higher than desired, suggesting concern about his ADP or draft value relative to expected production in Week 1.

Referenced in comparison to another player's role discussion; the source invoked Rice's role context with Matt Naggie in relation to a current Ravens player's opportunity.

The source makes a bold prediction that Trey Tucker gets off to a hot start in Week 1, scoring on a long touchdown catch. Tucker is positioned in a 2024 Rasheed Shahed role under Kubiak in Las Vegas, operating as a deep threat while Brock Bowers functions as the primary wide receiver out of the tight end position. The source projects Tucker for 14.5 points in Week 1 with one coming on a long TD catch; positioned as a very low-rostered wide receiver with upside. Tucker is expected to receive high-value deep looks over the top and connect with Kirk Cousins with the Raiders favored in the matchup.

Trey McBride belongs in the TE1 discussion and could have a similar run to Kyle Laporta. The source notes that the Cardinals could see garbage time points in Week 1, and McBride's coordinator connection (now with Laporta's team) previously achieved historically high route totals for McBride in Arizona.