Draft season may be over, but roster management never slows down. Fantasy managers are already looking for waiver wire gems and trade opportunities, as Week 1 provided our first real evidence of player usage and coaching tendencies. This weekly series on fantasy football risers and fallers will highlight the players whose stock is moving fast, helping you stay one step ahead of your league. For additional context on snap counts and roles, make sure to review the updated NFL depth charts before making your next roster decision.
Fantasy Football Risers
QUARTERBACK
Justin Herbert 
The offseason narrative said coach Greg Roman would limit Herbert's passing volume. Instead, Herbert threw 34 times in a game the Chargers controlled, showing a surprising pass-heavy approach in play-calling. He finished with 318 passing yards, three touchdowns and 32 rushing yards. Drafted as a backup in many leagues, Herbert looks locked in as a weekly top-10 starter.
RUNNING BACK
Travis Etienne 
Etienne was rumored to be part of a committee, but Week 1 told a different story. He ripped off a 71-yard run and finished with 143 rushing yards on 16 carries. He also added three receptions and played 62 percent of snaps, while Tank Bigsby and Bhayshul Tuten saw limited work. And then Bigsby was traded to the Eagles the next day. Etienne looks like a steady RB2 with the upside for more.
Breece Hall 
Talk of a split backfield with Braelon Allen quickly disappeared once Hall took the field. On 21 touches, he posted
Draft season may be over, but roster management never slows down. Fantasy managers are already looking for waiver wire gems and trade opportunities, as Week 1 provided our first real evidence of player usage and coaching tendencies. This weekly series on fantasy football risers and fallers will highlight the players whose stock is moving fast, helping you stay one step ahead of your league. For additional context on snap counts and roles, make sure to review the updated NFL depth charts before making your next roster decision.
Fantasy Football Risers
QUARTERBACK
Justin Herbert
The offseason narrative said coach Greg Roman would limit Herbert's passing volume. Instead, Herbert threw 34 times in a game the Chargers controlled, showing a surprising pass-heavy approach in play-calling. He finished with 318 passing yards, three touchdowns and 32 rushing yards. Drafted as a backup in many leagues, Herbert looks locked in as a weekly top-10 starter.
RUNNING BACK
Travis Etienne
Etienne was rumored to be part of a committee, but Week 1 told a different story. He ripped off a 71-yard run and finished with 143 rushing yards on 16 carries. He also added three receptions and played 62 percent of snaps, while Tank Bigsby and Bhayshul Tuten saw limited work. And then Bigsby was traded to the Eagles the next day. Etienne looks like a steady RB2 with the upside for more.
Breece Hall
Talk of a split backfield with Braelon Allen quickly disappeared once Hall took the field. On 21 touches, he posted 145 yards despite not scoring. Allen had just six carries for nine yards, reinforcing Hall's grip on the lead role. Healthy again, Hall looks every bit like a top-five fantasy running back.
WIDE RECEIVER
Kayshon Boutte 
Boutte flashed late in 2024 and carried that momentum into Week 1. He led New England in snaps (79 percent), hauling in six catches for 103 yards on eight targets. His chemistry with Drake Maye was evident throughout the game, as the duo built on occasional successes from 2024. Boutte should be inside the top-50 wide receivers, with upside for more.
Elic Ayomanor 
Ayomanor surprisingly earned a starting role right away, playing 78 percent of snaps. He drew seven targets, behind only to Calvin Ridley, though production was limited against Denver's defense. The rookie clearly has early trust from quarterback Cam Ward. He may be volatile, but Ayomanor is a smart bench stash with bye-week upside. He could be very productive when the matchups ease up.
TIGHT END
Juwan Johnson 
Johnson finally played a full-time role after years of being in timeshares, logging 99 percent of snaps in Week 1. He turned 11 targets into eight catches for 76 yards in a pass-heavy game script. The Saints' defense looks weak, meaning high passing volume will continue. Johnson wasn't drafted in most leagues, but he's suddenly a strong PPR streamer.
Fantasy Football Fallers
QUARTERBACK
Jared Goff 
The loss of Ben Johnson loomed large in Goff's opener. Detroit's rebuilt offensive line struggled, and new coordinator John Morton failed to adjust against Green Bay. Goff managed one garbage-time touchdown but looked overwhelmed under pressure. He'll have usable weeks, but the ceiling is much lower without Johnson's system.
RUNNING BACK
Kenneth Walker 
Walker's efficiency has dipped each season, and the opener was alarming, as he gained just 20 yards on 10 carries while Zach Charbonnet posted 47 yards and a touchdown on 12 attempts. With Sam Darnold at quarterback, defenses will continue to load the box. Walker now looks like the No. 2 in this backfield.
Isiah Pacheco 
Pacheco was expected to dominate Kansas City's rushing work, but that didn't happen. Instead, he split work evenly with Kareem Hunt, both logging five carries and three targets. The workload share makes Pacheco unreliable in fantasy lineups. Unless the backfield tilts heavily, Pacheco will struggle to maintain even flex value.
WIDE RECEIVER
Brian Thomas
Thomas thrived late in 2024 with Mac Jones, but Trevor Lawrence is a different story. Lawrence targeted him just seven times in Week 1, resulting in one catch for 11 yards. Last year, Lawrence was unable to get the most out of Thomas. Also, rookie Travis Hunter had one more target than Thomas, raising additional concerns. Unless Lawrence improves, Thomas may not recapture his late-season magic of 2024.
Matthew Golden 
Golden entered the year competing with multiple established targets in Green Bay, and he finished Week 1 with only two catches for 16 yards on limited opportunities. With Jordan Love attempting just 22 passes, volume is a major issue. Golden's role and usage suggest he'll be a frustrating fantasy option.
TIGHT END
David Njoku 
Njoku was expected to thrive with Joe Flacco, but he disappointed in Week 1, drawing just six targets while rookie TE Harold Fannin saw more involvement. Njoku managed 37 yards against a defense vulnerable to tight ends, which is concerning. While still borderline TE1, the early signs don't point to a big role.
Conclusion
Week 1 delivered major shakeups in the fantasy landscape, with several established names sliding and unexpected players breaking out. Staying ahead of the curve on fantasy football risers and fallers is key to managing rosters effectively. Keep monitoring weekly fantasy projections to help determine whether these early trends stick or fade away.
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