We’ve scooped up all the chum thrown out by the beat writers. We’ve paused, rewound, fastforwarded video. We’ve filtered the spreadsheets. Broken down the data. Projected. Prognosticated. Now it’s time to realize we know nothing!
Here are my favorite QB/WR stacks for Week 1. Football is back! Hallelujah!
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: $3.5M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st]
4. Joe Flacco ($4,900)/ Jerry Jeudy ($5,400), Browns vs. Bengals
Flacco started five games in 2023 with the Browns. In those contests, he went 123-of-204 for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He threw at least 42 passes in four of the five games and had at least two touchdowns in every contest. Yes, Flacco is now 40 years old, and the 2025 iteration of the Browns is different from the 2023 one. That said, while the Browns’ defense has performed relatively well against the Bengals’ offense recently, Cincinnati still boasts an explosive offense, so Flacco may be asked to huck and chuck over 40 times once again.
Jeudy was not with the Browns during the 2023 Flacco-Browns era, as he was still with the Denver Broncos. He did break out with the Browns last season, though, hauling in 90 of 145 targets for 1,220 yards and four touchdowns. The main receiver for Flacco in 2023 was Amari Cooper, and he garnered 14, eight, and 15 targets from Flacco in Weeks 14, 15, and 16.
3. Michael Penix Jr. ($5,600)/ Drake London ($6,500), Falcons vs. Buccaneers
Penix wasn’t great in the five appearances he made last season, starting three of those contests. His completion percentage was 58.1%, and he threw three touchdowns to three interceptions. He was a rookie, though, and while he had plenty of rookie moments, he also made some plays. Most importantly, the game didn’t look too big or fast for him. With an entire offseason preparing as the starter, he should feel more comfortable and could make that second-year leap.
London was a beast last season. The 158 targets were the third-most among all pass catchers. He finished with 109 receptions for 1,271 yards and nine touchdowns. In the three games with Penix under center, London garnered eight, 13, and 18 targets. The Falcons’ passing game should be concentrated between London and Bijan Robinson.
The game environment could be a juicy one for fantasy. Both teams struggled defending the pass last season, with Atlanta posting the fourth-highest EPA per dropback and Tampa Bay the eighth-highest. Tampa Bay also has an explosive offense, so this could be a back-and-forth affair. The O/U is 47.5, with the Falcons 1.5-point home dogs.
2. Trevor Lawrence ($5,300)/ Brian Thomas Jr. ($6,800) and Travis Hunter ($5,000), Jaguars vs. Panthers
I have a little concern that the pass volume may not be there because the Panthers were awful at stopping the run last season, giving up the second-most EPA per carry. There were injuries on the defensive line, though, and it’s a new season. For example, the Dallas Cowboys gave up the most EPA per carry last season, and the unit did a decent job limiting Saquon Barkley to 18 carries for 60 yards on Thursday night.
This game does have some sneaky shootout potential. Bryce Young showed some things at the end of last season, and the Jaguars’ pass defense gave up the most EPA per dropback, while the Panthers were second.
I’m bullish on Liam Coen and what he could do for Trevor Lawrence, especially with explosive playmakers in Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter. This game has a total of 46.5.
1. Baker Mayfield ($6,600)/ Mike Evans ($6,600) and Emeka Egbuka ($4,600), Buccaneers at Falcons
As mentioned in the Penix/London section, this game could be a back-and-forth affair. With injuries to Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan, the targets should be highly concentrated toward Mike Evans and Emeka Egbuka.
In two games against Atlanta last season, Baker Mayfield put up 23.4 and 27.3 FPTS. In Week 5, he went 19-of-24 for 180 yards and three touchdowns. Three weeks later, he went 37-of-50 for 330 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Last season, the Falcons’ pass defense allowed the fourth-most EPA per dropback. The 31 sacks were second-fewest, while the pressure rate was eighth-lowest. Atlanta does have a new defensive coordinator and spent both first-round picks on edge rushers, but it may take time for all those pieces to gel.
