Caleb Williams’ Bears debut season redefines Chicago’s ceiling, delivering a season-saving win in Green Bay and proving the rookie quarterback ceiling is real despite a brutal sack record. Williams connected with Rome Odunze for his first career TD and linked with D.J. Moore for multiple scores, while Cairo Santos locked in a clutch kick. With new leadership and a revamped line, Williams’ fantasy appeal hinges on his rushing floor and Moore/Odunze targets, tempered by OL uncertainty.

As Williams faces the NFL grind, expectations grow while scrutiny remains. The opener sets tone for Williams’ dynasty value in Chicago, where a healthier offensive front and Johnson’s scheme could unlock a high-upside offense in a crowded fantasy landscape.

Dallas opens Week 1 at Philadelphia with a reimagined linebacker corps led by Murray and Sanborn, backed by Liufau and Overshown to adapt on the fly in Matt Eberflus’ new scheme. The trade that sent Parsons altered expectations, but the Cowboys lean on trusted veterans and versatile first-year pieces to contain Hurts and the Eagles’ attack from the jump.

The preseason exposed depth concerns, yet Dallas insists Murray and Sanborn can anchor gaps and coverage, with Liufau, Overshown, and Clark providing needed rotation. Upshaw-like looks, rapid communication, and a sharper pass rush from James Houston and Perrion Winfrey could tilt the balance early, while the offense counters with George Pickens and Javontae Williams to diversify the attack.

Dallas' 2025 53-man roster sets the table for a flexible, youth-forward offense and a deeper, veteran-heavy defensive front. Prescott anchors the QB room, with Milton as a steady, development-minded backup after a strong preseason finale. The backfield blends Javonte Williams with Miles Sanders in a veteran-rocket mix, while a five-man WR corps features Lamb at the core alongside a mix of familiar and new faces ready forWeek 1. The tight end trio, plus a young, tackle-heavy OL, signals a shift toward run-first, play-action power with contingency depth behind a banged-up Parsons-led front seven.

On defense, Dallas cobbles together versatility in the secondary and a crowded DL with Parsons’ health looming large. The Cowboys will lean on a balanced rotation, with Upside from a young nickel group at corner and a steady safety pairing. In fantasy terms, expect role clarity in Week 1: Dak remains a weekly top-5 fantasy asset, the backfield is a committee with Javonte Williams likely to lead, and Lamb remains the clear target magnet. The waiver-wire second draft will shape the rest of the roster as the season unfolds.