Washington and Green Bay kick off Thursday night after commanding Week 1 wins, each cashing a profitable cover. Washington’s defense snapped back to form with a top-eight PFF run-grade, stifling Giants on the ground (34 yards on 17 designed runs). Offensively, Daniels’ rookie-season momentum carried into Week 1 as EPA per play climbed into the top tier, providing a dynamic rushing/receiving threat. Green Bay countered with a sharp pass rush, totaling four sacks behind a disruptive front led by Parsons-like pressure that freed teammates. Jacobs’ rushing-yard line sits under 80.5, a value play if Green Bay can’t sustain the split-blocks.

Vikings leaned on the run to flip a Monday thriller in the second half, churning out enough efficiency (0.40 EPA per carry) to erase a double-digit hole and seal a 27-24 win over Chicago. The late surge came as J.J. McCarthy steadied the offense, but the real difference was Minnesota's ground game sustaining drives while the Bears’ attack struggled to string together scoring sequences.

Caleb Williams flashed value with his legs and arm, yet Chicago’s passing unit never found rhythm, dampening fantasy upside for Bears pass-catchers. Rome Odunze emerged as Chicago’s most-targeted receiver, while Justin Jefferson posted parellel receiving yardage with Aaron Jones, underscoring a Week 1 ugliness-to-hope swing for fantasy managers. Overall, the win rested on a run-first identity and timely defense, with clear fantasy takeaways for Week 2.

Vikings vs Bears kicks off Week 1 Monday Night Football with Caleb Williams and J.J. McCarthy leading the top offenses. Williams is priced as a heavy captain option for Bears DFS, while Jefferson provides a solid floor play for Minnesota. McCarthy, Jones, and Mason anchor the MNF lineup with a mix of high-floor and upside plays. Loveland and Thielen slot in as value plays, giving fantasy managers multiple paths to cash in Week 1.

Williams’ upside hinges on Johnson’s new Bears scheme, Jefferson’s volume remains elite, and McCarthy’s efficiency could set a pace that lines up with Jones’ workhorse role and Mason’s handcuff potential. The Value Plays—Loveland and Thielen—offer savings with meaningful target shares early in the season, helping managers build balanced rosters for MNF slate success.

Ricky Pearsall’s life-or-death moment last year fueling a formal comeback, he reframes the shooting with a focus on growth and positivity. He returned to the field in 50 days and finished his rookie season strong, positioning himself for a de facto No. 1 role in San Francisco as injuries bite Aiyuk and Jennings. Offseason work with Purdy sharpened timing and route discipline, while Pearsall contemplates forgiveness and a potential face-to-face with the shooter someday.

As the Niners brace for Seattle, Pearsall’s improved camp and chemistry with Purdy suggest a real ceiling. The offense demands precision and timing, and Pearsall has made himself the embodiment of resilience and progress, a beacon for fantasy managers eyeing a late-career breakout.

Green Bay's offseason pivots dramatically from conventional to blockbuster. Kenny Clark was traded to Dallas for Micah Parsons, plus two first-round picks, with Parsons signing a four-year, $188 million extension. Matthew Golden lands at No. 23, breaking a long-held Round 1 WR drought. The Packers also ink Aaron Banks and Nate Hobbs, hinting at urgency from Ed Policy’s new leadership to chase a first title under this regime. The defense, led by a reinvigorated rush, now carries serious fantasy upside.

This shift repositions the entire roster and rosters around the defense, elevating Parsons’ fantasy ceiling while putting Golden on the fast track as a rookie receiver. Gutekunst’s tenure is under scrutiny as the franchise squares up to maximize its Super Bowl window, leveraging aggressive moves to accelerate contention this season.