You just drafted your 2026 fantasy football team, so you must like it, right? Everything is perfect and went according to plan, so there’s nothing to see. In a perfect world, yes, that would be the case. But guess what, when it comes to fantasy football, things aren’t always ideal. There are injuries, questions about workloads, bad matchups, and just overall uncertainty. Yes, it’s a freshly drafted team, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t already looking for help. As we pivot from draft season to lineup-setting season, there are some difficult decisions that have to be made. Let’s dig into some Week 1 sneaky starts to be aware of as you set your lineups.
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Sneaky Starts for Week 1 of Fantasy football
Baker Mayfield, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
For those who waited on quarterbacks and plan to search for value and stream the position, there’s a good chance Mayfield is already rostered. That strategy is ideal for Mayfield, and not only is he healthy, but has the security of his desired contract. Yes, Mike Evans is no longer on the team, but Chris Godwin is healthy, and Emeka Embuka is back for his second season.
in a down season for Mayfield last year, he threw for 3,693 yards and 26 touchdowns. We know he’s capable of letting the ball go downfield for big plays, but Mayfield is also capable of capitalizing on whatever the defense gives me. It’s an exciting Week 1 matchup for the Buccaneers in facing the Cincinnati Bengals. That means Mayfield will have to keep up with Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense. In a game with an over/under of 50.5, Mayfield should be good for three touchdowns. Stream away here.
Jacoby Brissett, QB, Arizona Cardinals
Production that comes in garbage time counts just like any other stats. It’s not surprising that the Cardinals are 9.5 underdogs against the Los Angeles Chargers. That means Brissett will be playing a lot of catch-up, and with a 47.5 over/under, there should be enough offense for both teams.
The expected game flow should take Jeremiyah Love out of the equation, and as a rookie, it’s unclear what we can expect from him. That means the Arizona offense will fall on Brissett. With Trey McBride, Michael Wilson, and Marvin Harrison, we can’t say that Brissett doesn’t have weapons to work with. Beginning in Week 6 last year, Brissett had a stretch of nine straight games in which he threw for at least 249 yards. I’ll take those garbage time points as the Cardinals play from behind.
Rico Dowdle, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Yes, Jaylen Warren is going to get the passing game work, but that doesn’t mean Dowdle won’t be in business. While he’s on his third team in as many years, we shouldn’t allow Warren to cloud our judgment. In Pittsburgh, Dowdle gets to reunite with a previous coach in Mike McCarthy, and it’s clear the latter knows what he has.
In each of the last two seasons, Dowdle averaged 4.6 yards per carry while breaking the 1,000-yard mark. Entering the season, Dowdle is a borderline flex option each week, but he has more certainty in his role than other players in his tier.
Tony Pollard, RB, Tennessee Titans
It figures to be a close game between the Titans and New York Jets. Cam Ward still hasn’t established himself under center, and Tyjae Spears isn’t a true drain on Pollard’s playing time to this point. Pollard might not be the most exciting option, but the production is still consistent.
New offensive coordinator Brian Daboll will likely lean on the run game, and Pollard has proven to be up to the task. He rushed for 1,082 yards and five touchdowns last year, and Pollard should continue on a similar path this season.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 1 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!
Tre Tucker, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders begin the 2026 season without Brock Bowers, once again, so that means their receiver options are limited. Last season, in Bowers absence, Michael Meyer didn’t show the ability to consistently step up. That means we can look to Tucker to carry the load for the Raiders from a receiving perspective.
From an offensive line standpoint, the Raiders are better equipped offensively than they were a year ago to generate production. Tucker caught 57 passes for 696 yards last season, and he’s back for another year as the Raiders’ number one receiver.
Josh Downs, WR, Indianapolis Colts
Alec Pierce is on the Injury Report with a heel injury, and he’s been hobbled all summer. What we get out of him to begin the season is unclear, and with Michael Pittman in Pittsburgh, someone has to pick up the receiving load. Yes, Tyler Warren will get plenty, but there’s going to be a receiver that steps up.
That brings us to Downs, who caught 58 passes for 566 yards last season. He’s not on the Injury Report this week, and while he’s likely best left for deeper leagues, Downs could be a sneaky option.
Juwan Johnson, TE, New Orleans Saints
Much has been made about Tyler Shough taking the next steps this season, and he’s going to have to pass the ball to someone. Rookie Jordyn Tyson begins the season on Injured Reserve, so the Saints are thin as far as receiving options. We’ve already seen what Johnson can do after he caught 77 passes for 889 yards last season. The opportunity is once again there, so why wouldn’t we expect Johnson to be busy once again?
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