C.J. Stroud directed Houston’s offense to a decisive 26-0 win over Tennessee, riding a breakthrough moment where a pre-snap read led to a 24-yard TD to Jayden Higgins. Stroud produced 233 passing yards on 22 of 28 with two scores, aided by timely route concepts and Caley’s motion-driven play calls that kept the drive communicative and on schedule.

The sequence underscored Stroud’s growing command of the offense, his willingness to adjust on the fly, and the offense’s potential if Higgins emerges as a big-play threat while Nico Collins and Dalton Schultz provide steadier targets. If this trend continues, Houston’s fantasy-friendly mix—Stroud, Higgins, Schultz, and Collins—could stabilize and even rise against tougher defenses.

Tennessee’s season spirals as rookie Cam Ward leads a high-variance offense into a 41-20 defeat to Indianapolis, with boos echoing around a frustrated crowd and a clock-management miscue amplifying the turmoil surrounding Brian Callahan. Injuries and penalties bog down the Titans, who now face a three-game road trek in search of stability. Indy’s defense and Jonathan Taylor pace the win, while K. Moore II’s pick-6 and a blocked 62-yard FG highlight a game of missed opportunities and fragile momentum for Tennessee.

Fantasy implications point to a volatile Titans offense—Ward’s poise and developing scheme remain in flux, and the supporting cast must show consistency on the road. Indy’s offense benefitted from timely plays and a stingy defense, setting expectations for upcoming matchups against Tennessee’s attack and raising questions about Callahan’s play-calling under heavy scrutiny from owners and fans alike.

Denver signed J.K. Dobbins to bring north-south power and leadership to a retooled backfield. Week 1 vs Tennessee: 16 carries for 69 yards and a 19-yard TD, but 15 carries for 50 yards without the score, a 3.3-3.9 average that underscored inconsistency. Inside-zone runs looked productive, while outside tosses lacked burst, leaving yards on the table. The takeaway: Broncos should prioritize north-south rushing with Dobbins while using other backs for outside speed to maximize the offense and fantasy upside.

For fantasy managers, the path is clearer if Denver leans into power between the tackles and minimizes outside runs for Dobbins. His vision and stout frame are assets, but burst and tempo matter. The depth behind him—RJ Harvey, Tyler Badie, Jaleel McLaughlin—offers complementary flexibility without forcing Dobbins into every outside scheme. Monitor how Payton balances inside vs outside concepts in the coming weeks.

The Titans named seven permanent captains for 2025: Cam Ward, Calvin Ridley, Tony Pollard, Jeffery Simmons, Amani Hooker, Cody Barton and Morgan Cox. Lloyd Cushenberry was revealed as the eighth captain for Week 1 vs Denver. Cushenberry, who sat out practice late last season after an Achilles tear, returns to anchor an offensive line facing Denver’s feared pass rush with a rookie quarterback under center.

Denver’s front seven and exotic blitzes heighten Week 1 risk for Tennessee, making Cushenberry’s communication critical. Ward’s first NFL test will shape early-season fantasy value for Ridley and Pollard, while veteran anchors like Simmons and Hooker, plus Barton’s IDP floor and Cox’s special-teams reliability, provide leadership and steady production as the Titans navigate a tough opener.