Week 1 Starts

It’s my first MUST START of the year. Here are 5 guys with the best fantasy matchups this week and why you have to have them in your lineups … in two minutes or less.

QB: Jalen Hurts (PHI) vs. DAL

This game sets up perfectly for Hurts. Dallas plays at one of the fastest paces in the NFL, and when Dak is healthy, their games routinely rank top-10 in total points. That pace fuels more possessions, more red zone chances, and more total fantasy snaps for the Eagles. Philly also brings back all five starters from the #1-ranked offensive line, giving Hurts a trench advantage against a Dallas front that lost key veterans and is now relying on two tackles with consistency concerns. Combine that with Hurts’ absurd rushing role (14 TDs last year, and 51% of Philly’s inside-the-5 carries), and you get the perfect dual-threat floor in a high-tempo divisional shootout.

WR: Xavier Worthy (KC) @ LAC

The setup for Worthy in Week 1 is almost too clean. Kansas City ranked top-5 in both neutral pace and PROE last season. LA’s offense under Harbaugh is built to drain clock, ranked 28th in pace and expected to run even slower, forcing KC to be hyper-efficient with fewer possessions. That puts early targets at a premium. And with Rashee Rice suspended, Worthy’s short-area role becomes the plug-and-play fill-in. In a low-volume game where KC’s tempo is the only spark, Worthy’s mix of screens, drags, and speed gives him a real shot to pop. He’s a must-start in full and half-PPR.

WR: Tyreek Hill (MIA) @ IND

The Colts want to play fast, but their passing offense has real volatility, which could lead to more possessions for Miami if drives stall or short fields emerge. That plays straight into a Dolphins offense that stays pass-heavy with Tua, runs the most concentrated target tree in the league, and just lost Jonnu Smith, freeing up a chunk of red zone usage. Even in Miami’s slow-paced scheme, Hill’s short-area role and end zone usage make him the most dangerous player on the field in this spot. So if the Cheetah is going to rebound this season, it starts this week.

RB: TreVeyon Henderson (NE) vs. LV

New England plans to go up-tempo with Drake Maye at the helm, and Josh McDaniels has a track record of targeting running backs in the pass game. That’s Henderson’s specialty: he averaged over 10 yards per catch at Ohio State and is already being talked about as a James White-plus weapon in this offense. The Raiders, meanwhile, are expected to play fast under Chip Kelly, but they’re still soft on defense and just spent five years ranked dead last in rush EPA. You don’t need 20 carries when you can score on one… and Henderson can.

TE: Trey McBride (ARI) @ NO

The Cardinals face a Saints team expected to play fast under Kellen Moore, but with a rookie quarterback under center, Arizona may end up controlling time of possession. That sets up perfectly for McBride, who led all tight ends in target rate last season and finished second in both receptions and receiving yards. With no clear third receiver behind him and Marvin Harrison Jr., and red zone plays being drawn up specifically for him late in 2024, he’s the clear focal point in this passing attack. So don’t overthink it. This is one of the highest-floor TE starts of the week.

So that’s the list. 5 absolute must-starts in fantasy football Week 1… as promised, in 2 minutes or less.

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See you tomorrow,

-Joe