Week 1 fantasy football kicker rankings have a clear tier of steady, high-floor options and a handful of swing-potential plays. Injuries and domed venues shape Week 1 values, with Tyler Bass on IR and several veterans entering the slate in favorable spots. Jake Bates, Ka'imi Fairbairn, Cam Little, Tyler Loop, Graham Gano, and Jake Elliott anchor the top risk-adjusted starts, while streaming candidates such as McLaughlin and McManus enter play as upside adds.

Ka'imi Fairbairn opens the season as a strong kicking option for Houston, Bates faces a tough Lambeau test but has proven late-season carryover, and Loop gets guaranteed opportunities under Harbaugh as Baltimore moves the ball. Gano and Elliott project in higher-scoring setups, but weather and early drives still matter. Moody sits firmly on the waiver radar after Week 1 concerns.

Dallas opened the season with a gut-check loss as Lamb’s hands betrayed him in crunch time. Four drops would have kept drives alive, stalling a 110‑yard night and forcing Dak Prescott to play clock‑control football against Philadelphia.

Lamb took the blame, vowed better, and the Cowboys leaned on a defensive hold in the second half while Parsons battled an absence that underscored the margin for error. The path to a big year hinges on Lamb answering the moment and a handful of teammates delivering when it counts.

Dallas’ Week 1 showing under Brian Schottenheimer offers renewed fantasy optimism. Prescott returned to form, the run game clicked behind Javonte Williams’ two rushing TDs, and Dallas’ defense locked Philadelphia down in the second half. Lamb’s four drops were costly late, but the offense flashed motion, play-action, and a balanced ground attack that bodes well for fantasy floors if the this pace continues. The lightning delay became a quirky detour, but Schottenheimer’s debut suggested a higher ceiling for the Cowboys’ skill players and a path to real weekly upside.

The win-or-lose swing was tight, with Dallas drawing fewer penalties and staying disciplined. If this efficiency sticks, Prescott’s fantasy profile stays high, Williams becomes a true RB2/3 with upside, and Lamb remains a must-play target despite late drops. The defense’s late surge adds a tangible weekly floor for a team that could surprise in a crowded NFC landscape.