Fantasy Football Lineup Advice Week 1: Will Christian McCaffrey play? Start-Sit decisions, Sunday Inactives, live top news tips

Tim Heaney

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Griffin Missant

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Fantasy Football Lineup Advice Week 1: Will Christian McCaffrey play? Start-Sit decisions, Sunday Inactives, live top news tips image

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Every weekend during the NFL season, fantasy football players must stay on top of the latest news. This especially matters on Sundays, when the league releases the injury and inactive reports for every game.

We're starting our running, live tracker of the latest fantasy news you need to know each Sunday morning, leading into 1 p.m. ET NFL game kickoffs.

Watch for updates on these major fantasy football players for Week 1:

  • We have a major update on Christian McCaffrey's status for fantasy lineups with his calf injury. Unfortunately, he's a 4:25 p.m. ET game start, so plan accordingly for ACTIVE and INACTIVE scenarios. 
  • What will two-way rookie Travis Hunter's role be in the opener? The Jacksonville Jaguars plan to play him on both sides to some extent.
  • After a legal issue off the field, Quinshon Judkins signed his rookie contract with the Cleveland Browns, but the running back will not play at least the first week of the season as he ramps up. The NFL is also still looking into disciplinary action and will interview the Ohio State alum.

Scroll down for our latest news updates and strategy tips to help you set your fantasy lineups.

WEEK 1 FANTASY TIPS: Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em | Sleepers | Busts

    Top Week 1 fantasy news for Sunday

    Christian McCaffrey (calf) expected to play Week 1

    After experiencing a scare with a "did not practice" on Friday's report, the San Francisco 49ers star is expected to play in the 4 p.m. window NFC West clash with the Seattle Seahawks, per Adam Schefter:

    While Brian Robinson Jr. and Isaac Guerendo still could pass as flex plays for needy fantasy managers, they'll only be expected to handle complementary duties.

    CMC retains his fantasy RB1 status as his drafters seemingly can breathe now.

    Travis Hunter set for 'every-down WR' Week 1 role, but will it be permanent?

    Per Adam Schefter, the Jacksonville Jaguars are rolling with the rookie WR/CB as an 'every-down' offensive player -- at least for the opener:

    This season-long uncertainty was likely already priced into Hunter's fantasy draft value, which may in the end have provided a rational expectation of weekly WR3 production -- with of course the upside for more in favorable matchups and game scripts.

    That's his value for Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers, too.

    Jayden Reed (foot) expected to play in Week 1

    The Green Bay Packers wideout looks set for the 4 p.m. window clash versus the Detroit Lions:

    Xavier Worthy likely out at least a few games

    The Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver suffered what turned out to be a dislocated shoulder during the Friday game in Brazil. Worthy is aiming to return wearing a shoulder brace later this season but is going to miss at least a few contests. Hollywood Brown will be a hot Week 2 fantasy pickup.

    Kyler Murray hits injury report but expected to play

    K1 has come down with an illness but is scheduled to start under center in a tasty matchup at the New Orleans Saints.

    Jaxson Dart to debut for Giants in Week 1?

    Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, New York is ready to use a package of plays with the rookie -- perhaps as they get close to the goal line, to enlist his enticing rushing ability. 

    NFL Fantasy Week 1 Inactives & Actives

    Inactive fantasy players: Remove from Week 1 lineups

    Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 p.m. ET)

    Hardly a surprise, but his ankle injury further complicated his recovery timetable after his devastating ankle dislocation last year.

    With Jalen McMillan (neck) on injured reserve, Emeka Egbuka is a strong WR3 with upside. 🚀🚀🚀

    Quinshon Judkins, RB, Cleveland Browns (1 p.m. ET)

    See above; he won't see a playing field until at least Week 2.

    Chris Rodriguez Jr., RB, Washington Commanders (1 p.m. ET)

    Not an entirely surprising development, which more so impacts the complementary work for the No. 3 back that now likely will go to Jeremy McNichols.

    Fantasy players should still expect a split between Jacory "Bill" Croskey-Merritt and Austin Ekeler, planting both firmly in the fantasy flex tier.

    JCM gets a boost in non-PPRs, and Ekeler likely gets the edge in PPRs.

    Isaiah Likely (8:20 p.m. ET SNF)

    Just in case you drafted with a tight end streaming strategy earlier this offseason and forgot to replace Mark Andrews' colleague. You can find plenty of replacements still available with our TE Week 1 rankings.

    More inactive fantasy players to bench or drop:

    • Jaylen Wright (knee), RB, Miami Dolphins
    • Tyjae Spears (ankle), RB, Tennessee Titans (IR-R)

    NFL Weather Week 1: Fantasy updates and players affected

    Read our full NFL fantasy weather report Week 1.

    NEW - FANTASY TOOLS: Fantasy News | NFL Player Stats | NFL Transactions | NFL Depth Charts | Fantasy Injury Reports

    Who should I start in fantasy football today?

    Fantasy lineup Week 1 questions answered:

    Must-start Week 1 players

    QB: Josh Allen, Bills (vs. BAL), Lamar Jackson, Ravens (at BUF), Jayden Daniels, Commanders (vs. NYG), Joe Burrow, Bengals (at CLE), Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers (at ATL)

    RB: Bijan Robinson, Falcons (vs. TB), Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions (at GB), Bucky Irving, Buccaneers (at ATL), Derrick Henry, Ravens (at BUF), Christian McCaffrey, 49ers (at SEA), Ashton Jeanty, Raiders (at NE), Jonathan Taylor, Colts (vs. MiA), Chase Brown, Bengals (at CLE), De'Von Achane, Dolphins (at IND), Josh Jacobs, Packers (vs DET), Kyren Williams, Rams (vs. HOU), Chuba Hubbard, Panthers (at JAX), James Conner, Cardinals (at NO), Alvin Kamara, Saints (vs. ARI), Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks (vs. SF), James Cook, Bills (vs. BAL), Aaron Jones, Vikings (vs. CHI), Tony Pollard, Titans (at DEN), David Montgomery, Lions (at GB), D'Andre Swift, Bears (at MIN), Breece Hall, Jets (vs. PIT)

    WR: Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals (at CLE), Justin Jefferson, Vikings (vs. CHI), Nico Collins, Texans (at LAR), Malik Nabers, Giants (at WAS), Brian Thomas Jr., Jaguars (vs. CAR), Puka Nacua, Rams (vs. HOU), Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions (at GB), Tee Higgins, Bengals (at CLE), Mike Evans, Buccaneers (vs. ATL), Drake London, Falcons (vs. TB), Marvin Harrison Jr., Cardinals (at NO), Davante Adams, Rams (vs. HOU), Tyreek Hill, Dolphins (at IND), Jaxson Smith-Njigba, Seahawks (vs. SF), Garrett Wilson, Jets (vs. PIT), Terry McLaurin, Commanders (vs. NYG), Courtland Sutton, Broncos (vs. TEN), Tetairoa McMillan, Panthers (at JAX), DJ Moore, Bears (at MIN), DK Metcalf, Steelers (vs. NYJ), Jameson Williams, Lions (at GB)

    TE: Brock Bowers, Raiders (at NE), George Kittle, 49ers (at SEA), Trey McBride, Cardinals (at NO), Sam LaPorta, Lions (at GB), David Njoku, Browns (vs. CIN), Tyler Warren, Colts (vs. MIA), T.J. Hockenson, Vikings (vs. CHI), Mark Andrews, Ravens (at BUF), Evan Engram, Broncos (vs. TEN)

    D/ST: Broncos (vs. TEN), Steelers (at NYJ), Cardinals (at NO), Vikings (vs. CHI), Commanders (vs. NYG), Rams (vs. HOU), 49ers (at SEA), Jets (vs. PIT), Texans (at LAR)

    Sit these Week 1 players

    QB: Caleb Williams, Bears (at MIN), Justin Fields, Jets (vs. PIT), Jared Goff, Lions (at GB), Jordan Love, Packers (vs. DET), C.J. Stroud, Texans (at LAR)

    RB: Kaleb Johnson & Jaylen Warren, Steelers, Nick Chubb, Texans (at LAR), Jerome Ford, Browns (vs. CIN), Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots (vs. LV)

    WR: Zay Flowers, Ravens (at BUF), Calvin Ridley, Titans (at DEN), Jakobi Meyers, Raiders (at NE), Chris Olave, Saints (vs. ARI), Cooper Kupp, Seahawks (vs. SF), Deebo Samuel, Commanders (vs.NYG), Michael Pittman Jr., Colts (vs. MIA), Christian Kirk, Texans (at LAR)

    TE: Zach Ertz, Commanders (at NYG), Tucker Kraft, Packers (vs. DET), Dalton Kincaid, Bills (vs. BAL), Colston Loveland, Bears (vs. MIN)

    Week 1 fantasy rankings

    Based on full-point PPR scoring:

    QB Week 1 rankings

    Click for full Week 1 quarterback rankings.

    RB Week 1 rankings

    Click for full Week 1 running back rankings.

    WR Week 1 rankings

    Click for full Week 1 wide receiver rankings.

    TE Week 1 rankings

    Click for full Week 1 tight end rankings.

    D/ST Week 1 rankings

    Click for full Week 1 fantasy defense rankings.

    PK Week 1 rankings

    Click for full Week 1 kicker rankings.

    Tim Heaney

    Tim Heaney joined The Sporting News in 2025 as Fantasy Football Editor. For nearly 20 years, the FSWA award winner has created fantasy NFL and MLB rankings, podcasts, and analysis for sites including ESPN, USA Today/Sports Weekly, KFFL, RotoWire, and RotoBaller. The Boston University alum hopes he’s helped a few followers win their leagues, even when he’s a year too early on breakout players.

    Griffin Missant

    Griffin Missant joined The Sporting News in 2025 as a fantasy football intern. He graduated from Grand Valley State University, where he covered the Lakers football program. He has also worked for Sleeper and the Fantasy Trade Room. He has played fantasy for over a decade, and has been passionate about fantasy football ever since.