Week 1 Fantasy Football Mailbag: Key Start-Sit Questions & More
Fantasy

Week 1 Fantasy Football Mailbag: Key Start-Sit Questions & More

Kendall Valenzuela answers your burning fantasy football questions to help you set your lineups for Week 1.

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Week 1 Fantasy Football Mailbag

Tony Martin - New Orleans: Should I start Pat Mahomes or Kyler Murray this week? Thanks love the show.

It shouldn't sound too crazy, but between these two quarterbacks it's Kyler Murray for me, and it's really not close. We know what Murray can bring on the ground and through the air when he's on his game. I believe this is a quarterback that needed to get out of Arizona and will now show us that better fantasy ceiling with weapons like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings.

Murray only played five games in 2025 before losing his job to Jacoby Brissett, but in the two prior seasons he finished as QB9 and QB12. I like our projections for him this weekend, painting a pretty nice picture with 245 passing yards, 30 rushing yards, and one total touchdown, all good for 18.9 PPR fantasy points. 

Patrick Mahomes is in a tough spot at home facing this Denver Broncos defense. More times than not, he will be a better play, but considering it's just nine months since his knee injury, I am worried about a slower start. According to ESPN, Mahomes hasn't passed 17.3 fantasy points against Denver since Week 17 of 2022. He should be on the bench for most teams, and this is certainly one of them.

Sam - CA: Who is a potential sneaky flex play that you like this weekend?

We've known him as "Scam'Dale" for a reason; he can be a PPR cheat code. Wan'Dale Robinson was brought over to Tennessee and reunited with Brian Daboll as his offensive coordinator. I think there's a strong chance he gives us some solid weeks until Carnell Tate settles into the WR1 role. According to ESPN, last season the Jets allowed a league-high 20 touchdowns, 115.6 passer rating, and 0.28 EPA per dropback on underneath throws—hint: this is where Robinson thrives. 

Matt - Illinois: Do any players really scare you this week in Guillotine Leagues?

It feels like everyone in my lineups scares me this week for Guillotine Leagues! I swear I don't even want to look at my bench because it's too sad. Anyways, I am worried about what kind of game Josh Allen might give us going against the Texans. 

Last season against Houston, Allen threw for 253 yards (no touchdowns), threw 2 interceptions, and was sacked 8 times…all good for 8.1 fantasy points. Again, there might not be much you can do, but it is a little scary starting Allen this week.

Shawn - Ohio: Would you consider starting Marshawn Lloyd over Ashton Jeanty this week? 

As of right now, it looks like we are going to get Ashton Jeanty in this matchup against the Dolphins. And this team needs him…BADLY! He was sidelined since August 23rd but returned to practice this week as a full participant. If Jeanty is starting, I am going to have a hard time sitting him on my bench unless they give us a report that he is going to be limited during the game.

There is a chance that we see more of the rookie running back Mike Washington, just to make sure that Jeanty's workload is managed. Our Fantasy Life projections still expect Jeanty to lead, but don't expect a 70% snap share. With Brock Bowers missing at least two weeks, we could actually see targets funneled through the running backs, so there are a lot of outs for Jeanty to be a decent play this weekend. 

I am truly on the fence about starting Marshawn Lloyd, but I think it all depends on where you drafted him. If you have a great running back ahead of him, so you're not in a tough spot, but the drafters that took him in the sixth or seventh rounds of drafts? That might be more difficult. We don't usually have the ability to sit someone on the bench just to see what the split is going to look like, but if you do have that option this week, I would take it. 

Mike - San Diego: I have Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey, but my opponent is starting Justin Herbert! Should I sit Johnston for another option this week? I have Tuten and Michael Wilson.

I don't pay much attention to who my opponents are starting at quarterback when making my roster decisions. I will say, this might be a spot where you do feel comfortable starting both Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey. I think it's close between QJ and Bhayshul Tuten this week, but Johnston has such a favorable matchup. 

All signs point to the Chargers dominating this game, and I believe the hot start that Johnston got off to last season will happen again here (but hopefully for the full year). According to ESPN, Los Angeles averaged 25.3 points per game in 2025 in the six games when just Joe Alt was on the field. Now they have Alt and Rashawn Slater back healthy. Sign me up!

Cool Hand Luke - Wooster, OH: Travis Kelce or Juwan Johnson?

Juwan Johnson all the way! He has a chance to start the season off so strong now that Jordyn Tyson is on IR and missing at least the next four games. Last season was a career year for Johnson. He locked down career-high marks in targets, catches, yards, and fantasy points. He's ranked as my TE9 this week, and I still might be too low!

Players Mentioned in this Article

  1. Kyler Murray
    KylerMurray
    QBMINMIN
    PPG
    16.2
    Proj
    18.3
  2. Jauan Jennings
    JauanJennings
    WRMINMIN
    PPG
    9.3
    Proj
    5.0
  3. Patrick Mahomes
    PatrickMahomesQ
    QBKCKC
    PPG
    20.4
    Proj
    15.8
  4. Wan'Dale Robinson
    Wan'DaleRobinson
    WRTENTEN
    PPG
    10.6
    Proj
    8.1

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