Week 1’s NFL All-Star offense and defense deliver a blueprint for fantasy success: Josh Allen powers the Bills’ 41-40 comeback with 394 passing yards and dual threat scores, while Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley anchor the backfield. Puka Nacua, Zay Flowers and Jaxon Smith-Njigba headline the receivers, Brock Bowers shines at TE amid a Week 1 injury, and the O-line trio Alt-Membou-Vorhees-Goncalves with Erik McCoy paves the way. Defenders Myles Garrett, Nnamdi Madubuike, Ed Oliver and Nick Bosa pace the line, with Roquan Smith, Devin White and Harold Landry at LB and a sturdy secondary led by Adebo, Wright, Love and Curl. Special teams shine in Boswell, Cooke and Dike’s performances.

Joe Alt dominated Week 1, allowing 0 sacks, 0 hurries, 0 QB hits on 43 pass-pro snaps as the Chargers toppled the Chiefs in Sao Paulo. His pristine protection gave Justin Herbert all the time he needed, igniting a confident opening win.

At 6-8, 322, Alt looks like a franchise cornerstone from Notre Dame who started 16 games as a rookie and drew early Pro Bowl chatter. If he sustains this level, fantasy managers should expect Herbert to stay protected, boosting LAC’s aerial upside and the overall offensive floor.

Herbert leads the 2025 Chargers as the offensive captain, with Bozeman and Alt forming the revamped front after Slater’s injury. Allen sits as an alternate, while James and Mack anchor the defense and Henley emerges as a rising star with Perryman as an alternate. McConkey’s presence is highlighted as a present-and-future piece alongside Allen, with ESPN’s Top 100 nods underscoring the trio of Herbert, James, and McConkey.

The piece frames leadership depth amid questions about Slater’s injury, gauging how McConkey and Allen could shape the receiving corps and how the captains’ pedigree translates to fantasy slots and value in 2025.

ESPN’s Top 100 list spotlights James Cook as a major snub, suggesting Buffalo’s focal point on offense should only grow in 2025. Cook posted 1,009 rushing yards and 16 rushing TDs in 2024, plus 32 catches for 258 and 2 receiving TDs, earning a Pro Bowl nod. Buffalo rewarded him with a four-year, $48M extension. Analysts praise his versatility and its fit with Buffalo’s scheme, noting the snubs list includes DeVonta Smith and Jalen Ramsey, while Dawkins and Allen remain entrenched Bills.

Cook’s prime age (25) and the commitment from Buffalo imply increased priority in fantasy lineups, especially in PPR formats where his passing game production could rise with more targets in a high-octane offense. The discussion around Cook underscores how ADP might shift upward as 2025 approaches, even among skeptics who viewed him as just a committee back a year ago.