Week 1 of the NFL season is always a whirlwind of surprises, heartbreaks, and breakout moments that can make or break your fantasy football roster before the dust even settles. It’s time to dissect the risers, those hidden gems who exploded onto the scene with monster stat lines, and the fallers, whose disappointing debuts have fantasy managers scrambling for the waiver wire. In this edition of Risers and Fallers, we’ll break down the biggest movers, from rookie sensations to veteran busts, to help you navigate the chaos and fine-tune your squad for the weeks ahead.
Risers
Emeka Egbuka
Emeka Egbuka’s impressive rookie debut in the Buccaneers‘ narrow 23-20 victory over the Falcons showcased his potential as a fantasy asset, hauling in both of Tampa Bay’s passing touchdowns on efficient usage amid a balanced game script that kept the offense aggressive throughout. The Falcons’ secondary, featuring rookie nickel Billy Bowman Jr., provided exploitable matchups, allowing Egbuka to convert short targets into scores, though the overall passing volume was moderate due to Baker Mayfield’s 18 completions. This performance has boosted his stock in an offense that could lean more on young talent if Godwin’s role diminishes.
Travis Etienne Jr.
Travis Etienne Jr. rebounded from a disappointing 2024 with a dominant ground attack in the Jaguars’ 26-10 rout of the Panthers, where a positive game script allowed Jacksonville to control the clock with 38 rushing attempts overall, boosting Etienne’s efficiency (8.9 yards per carry) against Carolina’s suspect run defense. The offense under Liam Coen emphasized the run early, limiting pass attempts and preserving Etienne’s workload without taxing his receiving role. This explosion has alleviated concerns about his shoulder history and backfield depth.
Harold Fannin
Harold Fannin Jr. made an immediate impact as a rookie tight end in the Browns’ heartbreaker 17-16 loss to the Bengals, emerging as Cleveland’s top target magnet in a pass-heavy script driven by Joe Flacco’s 28 attempts amid a close game that demanded check-downs and play-action. The offense’s lack of depth at receiver forced reliance on the TE position, with Fannin seeing versatile usage, including a gadget carry, highlighting his athleticism despite Njoku’s established role. This debut has positioned him as a surprise volume hog in Kevin Stefanski’s scheme.
Daniel Jones
Daniel Jones dazzled in his Colts debut during a 33-8 demolition of the Dolphins, leveraging Indianapolis’ improved offensive line and Shane Steichen’s scheme to post a clean stat line with three total scores, including opportunistic rushing TDs that capitalized on Miami’s aggressive pass rush in a blowout script that mixed run-pass balance effectively. The game allowed Jones to avoid sacks (only 1) and distribute to Michael Pittman Jr. while scrambling for chunk gains, signaling a resurgence after his Giants tenure. This outing has transformed him from a late-round dart throw to a legitimate streamer.
Fallers
Chuba Hubbard
Chuba Hubbard’s Week 1 performance was underwhelming despite solid volume, as the Panthers fell into a deep hole early against the Jaguars, leading to a pass-heavy second half and limiting his rushing efficiency (3.6 yards per carry). The offense struggled overall with Bryce Young under pressure, often resulting in just 10 points scored, which capped Hubbard’s opportunities in a trailing script. This inefficiency has continued to raise concerns about his floor as a lead back, especially with Carolina’s offensive line issues persisting from 2024. His RB2 could become a vulture given the struggles by Chuba in Week 1.
De’Von Achane
De’Von Achane’s limited touches came in a disastrous 33-8 loss to the Colts, where Miami’s offense collapsed early, leading to a negative game script that favored passing attempts over runs and kept the total snaps low (under 50 offensive plays). Despite his explosive potential (7.9 yards per carry), the Dolphins’ offensive line was overmatched, and Tua Tagovailoa faced constant pressure, reducing backfield involvement. No new injuries for Achane, but the usage split hints at a committee approach. Including the surgery to fellow RB Jaylen Wright, Achane must now keep rookie RB Ollie Gordon from going off.
Jaylen Waddle
Jaylen Waddle’s quiet outing stemmed from the Dolphins’ blowout loss to the Colts, where poor protection led to just 22 pass attempts from Tua Tagovailoa and a focus on short throws amid a negative script, leaving Waddle with inefficient usage despite solid snaps. Miami’s offense managed only 235 total yards, exacerbating competition from Hill and emerging tight ends. This low-target game (his fewest since Week 1 of 2024) has sparked concerns about his role in Mike McDaniel’s scheme. Waddle also fell on his shoulder when taking down a football, so this is something to monitor.
Kaleb Johnson
Kaleb Johnson’s negligible role in the Steelers‘ 34-32 thriller over the Jets highlighted his low spot in Pittsburgh’s RB hierarchy, where Jaylen Warren dominated early-down and receiving work while Kenneth Gainwell handled passing situations, leaving the rookie with no real opportunity despite the game’s pace (over 120 plays). The offense leaned on Aaron Rodgers’ passing in a comeback, reducing run volume overall. This debut has dashed early hype for the Iowa product. Kaleb was previously a decent ADP so teams that relied on him for RB1 or RB2 are suffering this morning.
