IR stashes and late-week pivots drive week one prep. Tajay Spears and Marshawn Lloyd loom as priority adds for backfields with uncertain early workloads. Jalen McMillan and Jaden Shirden offer rookie upside for those hunting cheap Week 1 upside, especially in deeper leagues. Chris Godwin’s status and Cade Otton’s role add nuance to TB’s pass game, while Roschon Johnson sits on deck for Chicago as the season opens.

In Jacksonville, Etienne and Bigsby shape a nuanced backfield dynamic, with coachspeak signaling continued usage. Brandon Ayuk and Brandon Johnson offer potential Week 1 relevance in shallow formats, and the wider WR corps in Green Bay and TB holds intriguing late-week potential as rosters settle.

Merritt rises in Washington’s backfield as the preseason chatter points to him as the lead back in DC’s committee, with electricity and goal-line chances boosting his fantasy floor.

Williams signals a potential breakout in Detroit with a more vertical attack, while Mayfield in TB leans into volume with Godwin and Evans delivering solid floors; Achane tops Miami’s backfield with Ali Gordon as late-round insurance, and Mecca Ibuka’s Jets/Packers chatter adds late-season upside in Seattle for Jaxon Smith-Njigba.