Kinlaw and Goldman anchored Washington's front, delivering a career-day run-stuffing effort while teeing off Russell Wilson with steady pressure. The Commanders’ four-man disruptors flashed depth, and Miller contributed in the run game as Washington topped the Week 1 charts on run defense. In Houston, Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter and Sheldon Rankins formed a menacing pass rush that piled up pressures and kept Matthew Stafford on edge. Minnesota’s night was highlighted by a flood of quarterback pressure, and Dallas’ front held the Eagles’ run game in check, even with Parsons sidelined.

Week 1 underscored how elite fronts can swing game tempo: Washington’s interior duo and their edge mates set a physical tone in both run and pass, while the Texans’ trio showed the rest-of-season fantasy upside for hedge defenses. The Vikings and Cowboys also showed the value of relentless pressure and stout run defense, signaling which lines to monitor for streaming and matchup plays as the season unfolds.