SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 08: Christian Gonzalez #0 of the New England Patriots breaks up a pass intended for for Rashid Shaheed #22 of the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium on February 08, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
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It’s Week 1 of the NFL season, and we are not only giddy with anticipation but also playing with stats and hope. It’s Week 1, and you are going to play your studs; the only reason to sit a stud in Week 1 is injury.
So, let’s see how the studs on your roster will potentially stack up against their opponents and who could be your saving grace.
Stats for positional ranking courtesy of FantasyPros.com. Stats from last season’s fantasy points are courtesy of Pro-Football Reference and team stats are from TeamRankings.com.
Remember, this first week begins on a Wednesday, so this article will be about the first two games; come back next Thursday for the Sunday games!
New England Patriots @ Seattle Seahawks -3.5, 44.5 o/u
First thing to remember: remove your studs from any flex position that you have; this is a Wednesday night game.
FOXBOROUGH, MA – JULY 27: Drake Maye #10 of the New England Patriots spots A.J. Brown #1 of the New England Patriots during New England Patriots Training Camp on July 27, 2026, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Stud: WR, Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR4
Stud: WR4; A.J. Brown, WR9
Dud: RB, Rhamondre Stevenson
Dud: RB Jadarian Price
The Why:
Although the Patriots got gashed by Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker when we last saw them in the Super Bowl, the in-season Patriots were the third-best team against the run, allowing only 14.1 fantasy points per game. And oh yeah, Walker is no longer in Seattle.
Veteran Zach Charbonnet is on the PUP list to start the season, so the Seahawks will be utilizing rookie Jadarian Price as the starter. But the biggest loss for the Seahawks may be offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.
And then there were the losses in the secondary for the Seahawks; gone are Riq Woolen, who had one interception but 12 passes defended. Safety Coby Bryant had four interceptions and seven passes defended, and on the line, Boye Mafe was responsible for 40 pressures and two quarterback hits.
Drake Maye, when last seen, didn’t look like the runner-up for MVP. He finished the Super Bowl with three turnovers, two interceptions, and was sacked six times. The Patriots did acquire Alijah Vera-Tucker to help relieve some pressure.
The Patriots’ additions exceeded their losses with not only Vera-Tucker, but also the receivers Brown and Romeo Doubs. On the defensive line, they acquired Dre’Mont Jones, and in the secondary, Kevin Byard.
Could-Be: QB, Drake Maye
San Francisco Niners @ Los Angeles Rams -4.0, 48.5 o/u
This game will be played in Melbourne, Australia. It is also on a Thursday night, so keep your studs out of the flex position.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 20: Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams leads the team out to the field prior to facing the New York Jets at SoFi Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
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Stud: Puka Nuka, WR2
Stud: Christian McCaffrey, RB3
Dud: WR, Mike Evans
The Why
This line has moved 1.5 points in favor of the Rams. Aaron Donald has returned. Myles Garrett was acquired. And the Rams are the odds-on Super Bowl favorite.
On defense, against the Niners in 18 meetings, Donald has 12.5 sacks. Last year, per Sharp Football Analysis, the Rams defensive line had an overall pressure rate of 41.6% and 40.8% on plays when they did not blitz.
Garrett last season had a pressure rate of 17.89% and a pass-rush win rate of 24.6%, which was the first among edge rushers.
However, according to Pro Football Focus, Brock Purdy leads quarterbacks who turn the lowest percentage of pressured dropbacks into sacks at 5.9%. He will get the ball out, but on dump-offs against the relentless pressure we are expecting from the Rams.
Could-Be: QB, Brock Purdy
NFL Opening Season
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 11: Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers catches a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the fourth quarter in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
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Playing anyone on a Wednesday or Thursday is a nail-biting proposition, unless you are absolutely sure of the outcome (which we never are) or your options are severely limited (which will be the case in Week 1).
Out of these four teams, you have three players who went in the top-5 for their position and Brown, who went in the top-10. It’s Week 1, play them!
The season begins on September 9, 2026, with the Super Bowl rematch. A couple of things to remember: in early games (wait, have you heard this already?) you want to get your studs out of your flex spot, and to start the season, the NFL is giving you the gift of Wednesday and Thursday games right off the kick.
It’s here. Let’s dominate.
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