Early season fantasy schedules you need to take advantage of

Justin Boone has been aggressively adding Braelon Allen to his benches in drafts as a contingency plan for Breece Hall's groin injury, moving him up to RB52 in his latest rankings.

Breece Hall is dealing with a groin injury. Justin Boone is not overreacting yet, noting that if it is a minor strain, he could return before Week 1. Boone advises drafting safer alternatives in the third round if drafting immediately, but remains hopeful for Hall's season-long workload.

Brian Thomas Jr. is ranked WR34 by Harmon, who notes that his role as an outside receiver may lead to him facing tougher corners, potentially impacting his early-season production compared to Parker Washington.

Chase Brown faces a difficult opening-month schedule against the Buccaneers, Texans, Steelers, and Jaguars. Despite concerns that Samaje Perine could siphon receiving work, reports indicate Brown is a featured part of the Bengals' offense and should remain productive as long as Joe Burrow stays healthy.

Chris Godwin is viewed as a late-round pick, though Harmon notes he is trending toward younger players in that range of his rankings.

Chris Olave is positioned for a potentially massive early-season role, especially if Jordan Tyson's health remains a concern. If Tyson is unavailable, Olave's target share and fantasy outlook increase significantly.

Chris Olave has been bumped up to Harmon's WR12 ranking. He is considered a locked-in, reliable pick for the back of the second or early third round, especially if target consolidation increases due to Jordan Tyson's absence.

Dallas Goedert is highlighted as a reliable safety-net veteran in the Eagles' passing attack. He is a recommended target for fantasy managers who miss out on top-tier tight ends, as he is expected to have a productive season.

David Montgomery is viewed as a solid RB2 option in the fifth round, though his ceiling is capped by the potential emergence of Woody Marks. While he has a favorable early schedule against the Bills, Bengals, Colts, and Cowboys, the defensive changes on those teams make the outlook volatile. He is considered a 'yellow light' or neutral draft pick.

Devonta Smith is a proven producer who has demonstrated WR1-level performance when A.J. Brown has missed time. With a favorable early-season schedule for the Eagles' passing attack, Smith is expected to have a strong start to the season.

Garrett Wilson is expected to see significant volume early in the season due to Omar Cooper Jr. not yet emerging as a rookie. Harmon notes Wilson had a 34% target share in the first six weeks of last year and will continue to see heavy pre-snap movement and formation versatility. Harmon ranks him as WR21, slightly ahead of his ADP.

Garrett Wilson is expected to see high volume early in the season, particularly as Omar Cooper Jr. has not yet emerged as a significant factor. With a favorable early schedule against the Titans, Packers, Lions, and Bears, Wilson is a strong candidate for a productive start.

George Kittle has a favorable early-season schedule, but his availability for week one remains a concern. Harmon notes that if healthy, Kittle remains a high-end producer regardless of the matchup.

Harold Fannin Jr. has a favorable early-season schedule, but Harmon worries about target competition from young receivers like Casey Concepcion and Denzel Boston. While he acknowledges Fannin's talent, he is not drafting him heavily.

Jalen Hurts has the easiest fantasy schedule for the full season, with the Eagles' skill players also ranking first or second in schedule ease. Boone highlights favorable early matchups against the Commanders, Titans, and Bears, all of whom were in the top nine for fantasy points allowed to QBs last year.

Jalen Hurts has a favorable early-season schedule against the Commanders, Titans, and Bears, all of whom ranked in the top nine for fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks last year. Despite the transition to a new offensive scheme and the departure of AJ Brown, he remains a high-end QB1 candidate with top-overall potential. He is currently being drafted in the 6th round, and his rushing floor—bolstered by the continued use of the 'tush push'—provides a safe baseline even if passing efficiency starts slow.

James Cook faces the second-most difficult fantasy schedule for running backs this season, including tough early matchups against the Texans, Lions, Chargers, Patriots, and Rams. To counter these difficult defensive matchups, there is increased importance on Cook expanding his role as a pass-catcher.

Jeremiah Love is dealing with a high ankle sprain, which Justin Boone notes can impact running back efficiency even after returning. Boone has bumped Love down to RB14, citing potential for a slow start or missed time, and suggests he is a better trade target once he returns and potentially shows early-season struggles.

Jordan Tyson is dealing with a recurring hamstring injury that has caused him to miss time throughout 2026. Harmon expresses concern that his play style may make him prone to frequent injuries, leading to a drop in his rankings.

Josh Allen faces a difficult early-season schedule, including a tough Week 1 matchup against the Texans, who held him to 253 passing yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions last year. While he remains an elite fantasy asset, expectations should be slightly tempered for the start of the season as the Bills integrate new offensive pieces.

Juwan Johnson is highlighted as a sleeper tight end who finished as the TE14 in points per game last year with nine top-10 weekly finishes. Despite a tough early schedule, he could be a viable starter early in the year.

Kyler Murray is a prime late-round quarterback target with a favorable early schedule against the Packers, Bears, Buccaneers, and Dolphins. Three of these four opponents were among the most generous to fantasy quarterbacks last year, and the Packers' defense may struggle early without Micah Parsons. Murray has a history of being a top-12 fantasy producer and offers significant rushing upside.

Despite a tough early schedule and a recent injury, Harmon is buying into Luther Burden and the Bears' offense. He expects Burden to be back by week one or two and believes the offense will be highly productive, making him a target despite the schedule.

Makai Lemon is expected to have a slow start due to missing significant time in OTAs with a hamstring injury. However, he remains a high-upside investment who can be acquired at a discount in drafts or via trade if he underperforms early in the season.

Omar Cooper Jr. is not expected to contribute significantly early in his rookie season, though Harmon believes he will likely emerge in the second half of the year.

Matt Harmon has moved Ramondre Stevenson ahead of Travion Henderson in his rankings, citing reports that Stevenson will handle early-down and short-yardage work. While the Patriots' early-season schedule is difficult, the team historically leaned on Stevenson during tough matchups. However, there is concern about the overall productivity of the Patriots' rushing attack.

Trevor Lawrence faces a challenging early-season slate against the Browns, Broncos, and Patriots, with three of those units ranking as top-10 secondaries. While he has the fourth-easiest fantasy schedule overall, he may start slow, making him a potential buy-low candidate if he struggles in the first few weeks.

Justin Boone has moved Tyler Allgeier up in his rankings to RB44 following the injury to Jeremiah Love, noting that Allgeier may see increased work as a featured option in the interim.

Zay Flowers is a strong third-round pick with WR1 potential. He is expected to be the primary pass-catcher in the Ravens' offense, which may shift toward more 11-personnel usage. His early-season schedule against the Colts, Saints, Cowboys, and Titans is favorable for his production.