Week 1 NFL DFS leans into the Bengals as the Week 1 scoring centerpiece with a high implied total, while divisional foes and a handful of opened-up matchups offer prime stack opportunities. The piece lays out top passing and rushing matchups, notes Vegas totals, and compares FanDuel vs DraftKings pricing to spot early value and leverage. It highlights Bryce Young, Jordan Love, Tetairoa McMillan, and De'Von Achane as focal points, plus rookie sleepers who could unlock salary space for premium stacks.

Other clear angles include Panthers vs Jaguars, Packers vs Lions, and Dolphins vs Colts, with attention to how injuries, weather, and line moves might shift Week 1 lineups. The article also surfaces cheap stacks and rookie salaries to build around elite stars, aiming to help fantasy players jumpstart Week 1 rosters with data-driven conviction.

Tetairoa McMillan is pegged for a breakout rookie season in Carolina, with the bold projection of eclipsing 1,000 receiving yards. Bryce Young’s arrival could unlock a more efficient Panthers passing attack, especially if McMillan and Young click early. With Adam Thielen back in Minnesota and Jalen Coker sidelined, Xavier Legette and Hunter Renfrow stand to shoulder early targets, lifting the ceiling for the Panthers’ aerial game this year.

The Athletic’s Panthers prediction leans on pre-draft chemistry and McMillan’s Wildcats' production to fuel a revamped offense. If Young and McMillan stay on the same page, Carolina could flip from 30th in passing to a more balanced attack, boosting Renfrow and Legette’s fantasy value and giving McMillan a rookie-season ceiling near 1,000 yards.

Josh Allen tops Jeff Howe’s Week 1 NFL quarterback stock, followed by Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Jayden Daniels, Jordan Love, Jared Goff, Baker Mayfield, Jalen Hurts, and Brock Purdy. Bryce Young sits at 21 after a rocky start but finished 2024 strong, with Carolina adding weapons to help him climb. Week 1’s Eagles-Cowboys highlight the stage, while the rest of the list hints at which offenses could spark early fantasy fireworks and which risks lurk in the opening slate.

The Steelers sign Jon Rhattigan to their practice squad, adding a veteran special-teams ace and linebacker depth with NFL experience from Seattle and Carolina. Rhattigan’s versatility on coverage units and as a depth LB should bolster Pittsburgh’s depth and special-teams presence as they near the Jets season opener.

His addition signals a focus on reliable depth and coverage prowess rather than immediate 53-man impact, with fantasy relevance more likely in deeper formats or as a potential active-roster contributor if injuries strike Pittsburgh’s LB corps.