Rice suspended six games, Worthy leaves early with a shoulder injury, and Hollywood Brown erupts for 99 yards on 10 catches as Mahomes works around thin options. Kelce scores late as KC battles to a 27-21 defeat to Los Angeles in Mexico‑style opener. Brown’s big night plus Kelce’s reliability tighten KC’s fantasy floor, while Rice’s absence forces more volume to the remaining pass catchers.

Mahomes’ 15‑yard, off‑schedule scramble in the third quarter—lowering his shoulder on Donte Jackson—ignited a social-media firestorm about officiating. With the league's early scrutiny, opponents will watch how refs treat sideline hits and how KC adjusts, shaping early-season fantasy and DFS projections.

Donte Jackson’s Brazil debut with the Chargers drew instant chatter after a brutal truck-stick from Patrick Mahomes late in the third quarter, a moment that dominated a relative quiet night for KC aside from that hit.

Jackson arrived in 2024 via a Carolina-to-Pittsburgh swap for Diontae Johnson, and he racked five picks last season before signing with LA. The story threads in Mahomes’ improvisation, Hollywood Brown’s presence, and the fantasy angle on a bolstered Bolts secondary as they navigate a high-powered division.

Kansas City hosts Los Angeles in Week 1 with Xavier Worthy (+185) and Tee Higgins (+135) as the most intriguing receiver TD bets of the board. Worthy peaked late in 2024 and is stepping into a bigger role as Rashee Rice’s suspension looms and Marquise Brown recovers from injury, making his +185 line a high-reward target for savvy bettors. Higgins pops at +135 in a Week 1 showdown with Cleveland, a fixture matchup where last season he showed elite production against the Browns’ defense and the Browns’ man-heavy scheme remains a vulnerability for single coverage.

Donte Jackson is highlighted as a matchup to exploit for Worthy, with Jacksonville-level coverage grades looming around him last season, while Higgins carries a history of strong numbers against Cleveland’s coverage. The new PFF Player Props Tool adds matchup data, historical hit rates, and practical notes to guide bets and fantasy decisions. A limited-time earlybird offer ($20 off PFF+ annually) backs the rollout as Week 1 angles up.

Pittsburgh’s No. 26 jersey has a new face in Brandin Echols, who signed a two-year deal in March and is making a strong case during camp and the Jaguars preseason, potentially locking in a prominent role for 2025. The countdown to Jets at MetLife frames Echols’ ascent as part of a longer No. 26 lineage in Pittsburgh.

No. 26 history on the Steelers includes Donte Jackson (2024), Anthony McFarland Jr. (2020-2023), Mark Barron (2019), and Le’Veon Bell (2013-2017). Rod Woodson stands out as the franchise’s best to wear 26, with a Hall of Fame résumé that mirrors the jersey’s legacy: ballhawk playmaking, multiple Pro Bowls, Defensive POY, and elevated status in Steelers lore.

The piece also situates this year’s No. 26 in the Jets game narrative, noting the crosshair on the defense as Pittsburgh looks to leverage Echols’ camp credibility and the No. 26 banner’s weight in a 2025 campaign that could hinge on secondary depth and big-play moments from the cornerback spot.

In a significant move, the Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly finalizing a trade to acquire All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey from the Miami Dolphins. This acquisition addresses a critical need for the Steelers, who recently lost starting cornerback Donte Jackson to the Los Angeles Chargers. The team had been exploring Ramsey's potential addition for weeks, and now they aim to bolster their already formidable defense.

Ramsey's arrival is expected to enhance the Steelers' secondary, which faced challenges following Jackson's departure. As a veteran and elite talent, Ramsey brings leadership and proven playmaking abilities to a defense that has consistently performed well. His presence could shift the dynamics within the secondary, potentially allowing the Steelers to employ more aggressive defensive strategies.