Week 1 D/ST Sits and Busts drive lineup strategy. Broncos, Steelers, Ravens, and Eagles sit at the top of the Week 1 board, offering clear upside with favorable matchups and playmaking defenses. The article layers tiered defenses from top-tier units to mid-tier and streaming options, highlighting the risk of jumping on Jets, Panthers, or other risky Week 1 defenses. A robust ranking framework plus the Who Should I Draft tool sits at the center of week-one decisions, with reminders to consider scoring formats and bye weeks when constructing rosters.

RotoBaller's 2025 fantasy football rookie wide receiver rankings get September updates, with Tetairoa McMillan atop the rookie WR list for Carolina after the Thielen move, followed by Travis Hunter, Emeka Egbuka, Tre Harris, Kyle Williams and Jalin Noel. The piece highlights sleepers like Elic Ayomanor and Dont'e Thornton Jr. for dynasty and redraft leagues.

Team context drives the outlook: McMillan could see a larger target share early, Hunter carries a rare dual role for Jacksonville, Egbuka is pegged for immediate work in TB, and Ayomanor and Thornton Jr. offer Week 1 upside behind the vets in Titans and Raiders.

Chuba Hubbard exploded in 2024, posting 1,195 rushing yards and 11 total TDs (10 rushing) with 171 receiving yards, earning an extension despite missing two games and playing behind a thin supporting cast. Yet The Sporting News ranking him No. 22 sparked debate about whether he’s truly undervalued or just out of step with the league’s upper echelon. The takeaway for fantasy managers: Hubbard is a rock-solid, efficient grinder whose value hinges on red-zone work and continued volume in Carolina.

Carolina’s offense figures to lean on Hubbard again in 2025. If he replicates or surpasses last season, a jump in draft cost is plausible, potentially pushing him toward the mid-to-upper teens in standard early-RB rankings. The piece also notes Kaleb Johnson and TreVeyon Henderson as rookies who could complicate Hubbard’s ceiling, underscoring how a favorable offensive line and red-zone usage could unlock more fantasy-friendly games for Hubbard.

Bottom line: Hubbard isn’t labeled elite, but he maximizes yardage behind blocking and red-zone finisher ability. If Carolina’s blockers improve and Hubbard stays healthy, fantasy managers should anticipate a robust, reliable RB2 with real RB1 upside in the right weeks.

Derrick Brown’s climb from a pressure-filled top-10 pick to a Pro Bowl interior disruptor has reshaped Carolina’s defense and fantasy outlook. After mustering early jitters in his rookie year, the Panthers stalwart refocused on reliability and team impact, a mindset sharpened by family responsibilities. A knee injury in Week 1 of 2024 paused the ascent, but Brown’s return has Carolina’s front seven looking sturdier and more capable of funneling carries and tackles to him in 2025.

Tetairoa McMillan’s emergence behind Carolina’s top receivers adds a sleeper thread for fantasy managers. If his reps grow, he could land as a depth-flex option in deeper leagues, especially in games that push quick throws and yards after the catch. With Brown driving the run defense and McMillan expanding the passing game, the Panthers’ fantasy footprint tightens around a more balanced, opportunistic defense and passing attack.

Brown and McMillan symbolize a Panthers retooling shift—one anchored by a veteran DL anchor and a rookie who could lift the receiving corps. For fantasy players, tracking Brown’s health ramp and McMillan’s role growth will be key for weekly lineups and late-draft value.