New England hosts Carolina in Week 4 as two 1-2 clubs meet in a game that could shape early-season narratives. Bryce Young’s development remains uneven, flashing high-end decision-making but occasional turnover risk that worries fantasy managers. Carolina’s passing attack hinges on Tetairoa McMillan when healthy, with Xavier Legette stepping in as a complementary playmaker. Derrick Brown anchors a formidable Panthers front, while New England will lean on the ground game to control tempo.

Expect a grind-it-out, clock-minting affair where the Patriots must win the trenches and protect the ball, and Carolina must avoid self-inflicted mistakes while popping for big plays when opportunities arise. The 5.5-point spread suggests a tight finish rather than a blowout, with fantasy upside hinging on McMillan’s availability, Brown’s interior disruption, and the Patriots’ ability to polarize Young with pressure.

Late drama at NRG Stadium: Baker Mayfield escaped pressure on a fourth-and-10 at the Texans’ 32, scrambling 15 yards to keep Tampa Bay alive. Six plays later, Rachaad White capped the drive with a 2-yard TD with six seconds left to seal a 20-19 comeback win. Houston had four sacks on Mayfield but couldn’t close out the drive, raising questions about late-game defense and execution for upcoming fantasy lineups.

Puka Nacua stole the spotlight in a 14-9 win, returning from stitches and a quick concussion evaluation to post 10 catches for 130 yards, signaling he’s become a cornerstone in the Rams’ revamped passing attack. Davante Adams, shadowed by Derek Stingley Jr., still drew plenty of targets, highlighting the Rams’ new WR room after Cooper Kupp’s offseason departure. The opener underscored Nacua’s rising role and the need for the Rams to lean into physical, yards-after-catch mode as they build 2025 chemistry.

The win also showed how crucial Nacua’s presence will be to unlock this offense, with Stafford delivering when the moment called and the offense showing signs of rhythm as the unit copes with the adjustments of a post-Kupp era. Rams’ coaching and players framed Nacua’s toughness and playmaking as a defining trait that could carry the offense through 2025.

Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season highlighted Alabama alums making impact plays across the league. Derrick Henry ripped for 169 yards and 2 TDs on 18 carries for Baltimore, with a long 49-yard run and a 13-yard catch. Jalen Hurts produced 62 rushing yards and 2 rushing TDs while going 19-for-23 for 152 yards. Jordan Battle led Cincinnati with 12 tackles, 5 solo, plus an interception. Will Anderson Jr. and Henry To'oTo'o each stood out for Houston with multi-stat contributions, including a sack and several TFLs.

Henry’s big day signals a thunderous early-season workload, Hurts’ dual-threat value remains elite, Battle’s IDP ceiling is clear, and the Texans flashed a disruptive front seven with Anderson and To'oTo'o providing pressure and run-stopping bursts. Week 1 affirmed Alabama’s continued NFL imprint, with multiple teammates delivering meaningful fantasy and DFS implications.

Fantasy takeaway: lean on high-volume backs like Henry, chase Hurts’ ceiling, monitor Battle’s tackle and turnover upside, and value Will Anderson and To'oTo'o for sack and tackle upside in IDP formats as the weeks unfold.

Week 1 spotlighted Utah ties across the NFL, with Puka Nacua delivering a high-volume, clutch performance for the Rams after a scary forehead cut and return from concussion protocol. Dalton Kincaid opened Buffalo’s season with the Bills’ first TD and four catches, while Jackson Hawes nabbed his first NFL grab in a late-drive moment. Jordan Love dazzled for Green Bay with two first-half TDs, and Jaylen Warren helped Pittsburgh spark late with a receiving score. Zach Charbonnet and a standout Bills pass-game trio added big-play potential, while Henry To’oTo’o’s tackle highlight showed the Texans’ risk-reward on blitzes. This slate underscored how Utah-bred talents can anchor late-season fantasy value and unsettled Week 1 narratives across the league.

From Nacua’s resilience to Kincaid’s immediate red-zone looks and Love’s efficient start, Week 1 leaned into volume, flow, and situational usage. Bills’ Hawes and Flowers fed on volume and explode-ability, while Warren’s early contribution signaled a larger role in Pittsburgh’s offense. Seahawks’ Charbonnet flashed as a big-play threat, and To’oTo’o’s hit-and-recover moment illustrated how Week 1 themes can quickly reshape shallow fantasy benches into week-to-week advantages.