Week 1 of the NFL season is finally here, and fantasy managers are ready to put months of drafting, mock drafts, and offseason research to the test. While it can be tempting to automatically start every player you invested in on draft day, Week 1 brings plenty of uncertainty, including difficult matchups, unclear workloads, and players who may not yet be ready to reach their full potential. In this article, we’ll break down the biggest fantasy names who should be considered must-sits in Week 1, helping you avoid costly lineup decisions and start the players with the best chance to deliver.
QB Patrick Mahomes: Chiefs Vs. Broncos
Mahomes is a must-sit in Week 1. He’s returning from a major knee injury and immediately faces a Broncos defense that ranked second overall and first in sacks last season. With potential concerns along Kansas City’s offensive line, this is a tough spot for Mahomes to return to fantasy relevance.
QB Jayden Daniels: Commanders @ Eagles
Jayden Daniels is a must-sit in Week 1. After missing 10 games with injuries in 2025, Daniels faces a brutal opening matchup against an Eagles defense built around an elite defensive front led by Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis. Washington is also dealing with major questions along the offensive line, making this a particularly difficult spot for Daniels as he works his way back to full form.
RB Jeremiyah Love: Cardinals @ Chargers
Jeremiyah Love is a must-sit in Week 1. After missing valuable time with a high ankle sprain suffered in the preseason, Love enters his NFL debut with limited reps and plenty of uncertainty surrounding his workload. The presence of Tyler Allgeier, a capable veteran who can handle early-down and short-yardage work, makes Love’s volume even tougher to trust. Against a Chargers defense that could make running room hard to come by, fantasy managers should take a wait-and-see approach with Love in Week 1.
RB RJ Harvey: Broncos @ Chiefs
RJ Harvey is a must-sit in Week 1, and the biggest concern is simply his lack of expected usage. With J.K. Dobbins healthy, Harvey is likely to operate in a committee rather than receive a consistent lead-back workload. That limited volume makes him a risky fantasy option, especially against the Chiefs, where opportunities could be difficult to come by behind both Dobbins and Coleman. Until Harvey establishes a larger role, fantasy managers should consider leaving him on the bench in Week 1.
WR Rashee Rice: Chiefs Vs. Broncos
Rashee Rice is a must-sit in Week 1, primarily because of the uncertainty surrounding his knee and the difficult matchup against Denver. Even if Rice is active, there are concerns about his workload and effectiveness coming off the injury. Add in a Broncos defense that should make things difficult for the Chiefs’ passing game, and Rice carries too much risk to trust as a fantasy starter in Week 1.
WR DJ Moore: Bills @ Texans
DJ Moore is a must-sit in Week 1, primarily because of the difficult matchup against Houston and the uncertainty surrounding his role in Buffalo’s new-look offense. The Texans have one of the league’s more talented defensive units, making this a challenging spot for the Bills’ passing game. With Moore also entering his first season in Buffalo, it’s safer to take a wait-and-see approach until we know exactly how involved he’ll be in the offense.
TE Mark Andrews: Ravens @ Colts
Mark Andrews is a must-sit in Week 1, as his recent usage and production make him difficult to trust despite the favorable matchup against the Colts. Andrews finished as just the TE23 in fantasy points per game last season and was on the field for only 62.9% of Baltimore’s routes, raising concerns about his overall involvement in the offense. Until we see a consistent increase in his snaps and target share, fantasy managers should take a wait-and-see approach with Andrews in Week 1.
TE TJ Hockenson: Vikings Vs. Green Bay
T.J. Hockenson is a must-sit in Week 1, as his recent production and limited target volume make him difficult to trust against the Packers. Hockenson finished with just 51 catches for 438 yards and three touchdowns last season, and his role in Minnesota’s passing game has been inconsistent. With Green Bay presenting a challenging matchup and Hockenson competing for targets in a crowded offense, fantasy managers should take a wait-and-see approach before trusting him in their lineups.
Week 1 is all about making the best decisions with the information available, and sometimes that means leaving a recognizable fantasy name on your bench. A tough matchup, questionable workload, or unfavorable game environment can turn a seemingly obvious starter into a potential disappointment. That doesn’t mean these players should be dropped or written off for the season—it simply means fantasy managers should proceed with caution this week. Trust the matchups, consider the expected volume, and don’t be afraid to make the difficult call when setting your Week 1 lineup.
