We are SO back. Week 1 of the 2024 fantasy football season is finally here. In the time leading up to Week 1, there are risers and fallers in fantasy football based on roster shakeups, injuries, and other news. Each week, I’ll be identifying risers, fallers, and even a player on the hot seat for fantasy football. These risers and fallers are based on information gathered, schedules ahead, and so much more. So, before we lock in those first lineups, let’s look at the Week 1 risers, fallers, and who’s on the Week 1 hot seat.
Week 1 Risers, Fallers, and a Player on the Hot Seat
Week 1 Risers
Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
We still don’t know if Ja’Marr Chase is going to play Week 1, though he is back at practice. Chase might not play beyond Week 1 if he doesn’t get the contract extension he’s looking for. With or without Ja’Marr Chase this close to Week 1, Tee Higgins is a major riser in the rankings. He is playing under the franchise tag and has spent all summer strengthening his rapport with Joe Burrow.
In four career games with Joe Burrow but no Ja’Marr Chase, Higgins has 26 total receptions for 371 yards and two touchdowns. That includes two 100+ yard games. You’re starting Tee Higgins regardless, but his value is that much higher as Chase remains absent.
Rico Dowdle, RB, Dallas Cowboys
Heading into Week 1, Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy is instilling all of the confidence in Dowdle as the lead back. In the past week, McCarthy is on record revealing Dowdle will “have a lesser role in special teams, just because of workload focus. He’s a complete running back, plays all three downs.” Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook are the only legitimate threats to Dowdle’s touches. However, they are both 29 years old with 4,195 career touches between the two of them.
If Dowdle is somehow still out there in your league, scoop him up. He’s a priority add heading into Week 1, though I would take a “wait and see” approach and leave him on the bench against the Cleveland Browns.
Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers
We know rookie second-round pick Jonathon Brooks will miss at least the first four games on the Physically Unable to Perform List. Meanwhile, veteran Miles Sanders is now dealing with a finger injury. That makes Chuba Hubbard a fantasy football riser as a high-volume, high-floor play.
Panthers head coach, Dave Canales, is the former offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has emphasized a commitment to the run game, evident by Rachaad White’s 272 carries last season. That’s tied for second-most with Christian McCaffrey!
In six games with 20+ touches last season, Hubbard averaged 14.0 fantasy points per game. Hubbard is also tied for fifth in rushing first downs in 2023, as well, on a (likely) much worse Panthers offense. He has pass-catching upside and should see enough volume to start where appropriate in Week 1.
Jaleel McLaughlin, RB, Denver Broncos
Javonte Williams is two years removed from a season-ending ACL tear. He remains the lead back in Denver. Behind Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin and Samaje Perine combined for 227.3 fantasy points in Points Per Reception leagues from Weeks 1 through 18. The total points would rank 13th at the position. The 13.37 fantasy points per game ranked inside the top 20, as well.
Samaje Perine is no longer on the team making McLaughlin an obvious riser even with Javonte Williams in front of him. If Williams misses time for any reason, McLaughlin could be a league winner in PPR leagues on a Broncos offense that head coach Sean Payton likes targeting running backs in the passing game.
Week 1 Fallers
Christian Kirk, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Throughout the 2024 preseason, Christian Kirk takes the field on three wide receiver sets but finds himself sidelined on two wide receiver sets. It’s an extremely small sample size, but enough to proceed with caution. Despite the departure of Calvin Ridley, the Jaguars offense has arguably more threats to Christian Kirk’s target share in 2024. Gabe Davis, rookie Brian Thomas Jr., and tight end Evan Engram will all have an impact.
Kirk is a Week 1 faller simply for having the highest average draft position of this group in fantasy football drafts without the confidence of significantly leading the team in targets. The good news is the consistency of having Press Taylor back for a third season as the offensive coordinator. However, this team could be a fantasy headache that spreads the ball around more. That said, Trevor Lawrence is arguably the best value on the Jaguars for fantasy football.
Isiah Pacheco, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
I’m not one of those people who thinks bringing in Samaje Perine is a death sentence to Isiah Pacheco’s fantasy value. It is a notable signing, though, and makes Pacheco a faller, however slight, in the rankings to where he was a week or so ago. We now know Clyde Edwards-Helaire is on the Physically Unable to Perform List and will miss at least four games if not more. Perine is stepping in right away and could handle a “Jerrick McKinnon” role for this Chiefs offense.
Pacheco is still plenty capable of 20+ touches week-to-week, and on the Kansas City Chiefs, that’s a worthwhile investment. Just don’t be surprised if he loses some receiving reps on third down to Perine. Despite Pacheco being listed as a Week 1 faller, I am placing a bet on him to score the first touchdown of the 2024 NFL season on Thursday Night Football.
The Week 1 Hot Seat
The Atlanta Falcons Offense
It’s hard to pick just one player for the Week 1 hot seat. There are plenty of players who we have high expectations for, but none with more pressure on them than the key pieces of the Atlanta Falcons offense. That’s Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts. All three players are former top-eight NFL draft picks and all three required significant draft capital to land them on your 2024 fantasy football rosters.
For the entire 2023 season, there were weekly complaints about Arthur Smith as the head coach as well as the combination of Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke as the starting quarterbacks. They’re all gone now. They can’t hurt you anymore. In fact, the Falcons host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1 whose offensive coordinator is…Arthur Smith. If they don’t rise up (see what I did there?) for this game, the hot seat gets hotter.
Raheem Morris is the new head coach and Kirk Cousins is the new starting quarterback. Along with Morris comes Zac Robinson, the Falcons’ new offensive coordinator, after both coaches spent the last few seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. If you’ve watched the Rams over the last few years, then hiring coaches from the “Sean McVay coaching tree” can only be viewed as positive.
The quarterback situation is what really puts this offense on the Week 1 hot seat. Kirk Cousins is coming off of a season-ending Achilles injury. If he gets off to a slow start, not only at home in Week 1, but in prime time on the road for Monday Night Football, the alarms will sound. Then consider his backup is rookie Michael Penix Jr., also a top-eight draft pick, who ironically isn’t expected to have an immediate impact on this team, but may have to depending on Cousins’ health.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 1 Fantasy Football Rankings and analysis!