Top Week 1 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Matchup Plays and Sleepers for Opening Games

The opening week can be a tricky one for fantasy managers to navigate. Bona fide fantasy stars like Ja'Marr Chase, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Brock Bowers should be in opening lineups, of course, but it's difficult to know which mid-level options are worth starting.

With flex players and streamers, it's usually best to go with the best matchups. At this point in the season, though, it's impossible to know exactly what those matchups are.

However, we can make educated guesses based on last year's results, depth charts, and projected roles. We'll do exactly that here before diving into a few sleepers to consider.

Start: Omarion Hampton, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

AP Photo/Ryan Sun

Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton showed a ton of promise when he was healthy as a rookie last season. He's healthy now, as are standout offensive tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater.

Los Angeles may open up with a pass-heavy approach just to get Justin Herbert and new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel on the same page. At some point, however, it is going to look to salt the game away with a heavy dose of Hampton against a questionable Arizona Cardinals defense.

Arizona ranked 24th in yards per carry allowed last season and surrendered 19 touchdowns on the ground. The Cardinals didn't significantly improve their defense during the offseason either, meaning Hampton should be facing an attractive matchup.

Sit: Jadarian Price, RB, Seattle Seahawks

AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann

The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots will kick off Week 1 with a rematch of Super Bowl LX. The Seahawks dominated that game, while running back Kenneth Walker III raced to MVP honors with 159 scrimmage yards.

With Walker now in Kansas City and Zach Charbonnet on injured reserve, this should be a great matchup for Seahawks rookie Jadarian Price, right? Well, perhaps not.

The Patriots ranked sixth in rushing yards allowed last season and allowed just 11 touchdowns on the ground. There's also a very good chance that returning running back George Holani sees a large amount of the third-down and receiving work early in the season.

Waiting a week to try out Price would be the prudent move for managers with other RB options.

Start: Tre Tucker, WR, Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/John Locher

While Las Vegas Raiders receiver Tre Tucker isn't a must-start for Week 1, he's a strong option for managers looking to stream a wideout in the flex. He was Las Vegas' top wide receiver a year ago (696 yards, 5 TDs) and should get a significant boost from new quarterback Kirk Cousins.

Tucker should also have a favorable matchup against a Miami Dolphins defense that could be one of the worst in the league. Miami's roster lacks overall talent, as evidenced by the fact that it added seven players off waivers during roster cuts.

The fact that Ashton Jeanty is still dealing with an ankle sprain could also prevent the Raiders from being as run-heavy as they otherwise might be against a team of the Dolphins' caliber.

Sit: D.J. Moore, WR, Buffalo Bills

AP Photo/David Richard

While Tucker remains the Raiders' top wide receiver, the Buffalo Bills have a new one in trade acquisition D.J. Moore. The former Chicago Bears standout should give Josh Allen a viable No. 1 option, though fans shouldn't expect a ton of production in Week 1.

Buffalo will open with a brutal matchup against the Houston Texans and last year's top-ranked defense. In the matchup, Moore is likely to draw a heavy dose of star Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.

While Khalil Shakir led the Bills with an impressive eight receptions and 110 yards in last year's matchup with Houston, fans shouldn't expect a similar performance out of Moore. When pressed, Allen is likely to target familiar faces like Shakir instead of his newest perimeter weapon.

Week 1 Sleepers

AP Photo/Peter Joneleit

Kyler Murray

Kyler Murray, QB, Minnesota Vikings

New Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray will get his first start against the rival Green Bay Packers. While Green Bay's defense was largely solid in 2025, it won't have star pass-rusher Micah Parsons (ACL) to open the season.

Murray will get to throw to top-tier targets like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings, and his scrambling ability should provide a high fantasy ceiling. Rostered in just 38.7 percent of fantasy leagues, he's a sneaky starting option and worth scooping up for managers in a pinch at QB.

Mike Washington Jr., RB, Las Vegas Raiders

Jeanty's injury is a big reason to consider Raiders rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. Even if Jeanty was at 100 percent, though, Washington would have flex value as a committee back in Klint Kubiak's offense.

Against a Dolphins defense that ranked 28th in yards per carry allowed last season, Washington is a strong flex option and a smart pickup if available. He's rostered in 24 percent of fantasy leagues.

Kayshon Boutte, WR, Houston Texans

The Texans acquired Kayshon Boutte in a late-summer trade, and he should quickly slot in as their No. 2 receiver. With Buffalo focusing on limiting No. 1 wideout Nico Collins, Boutte has solid sleeper value right away.

Buffalo ranked an impressive fifth in yards per pass attempt allowed last season. However, the transition to Jim Leonhard's 3-4 defense could leave some opportunities for Boutte, who is rostered in nine percent of leagues.

*Fantasy roster information from FantasyPros