Deciding not to start stud players -- or just intriguing sleeper pieces -- who you just picked in your fantasy football draft doesn't always feel comfortable.
However, don't feel beholden to exciting names, especially those who face tough opening-week matchups.
Each week during this fantasy football season, we'll recommend top names -- or commonly trusted streamers -- who are set up to underperform. They might not be total whiffs, but if your RB1 performs as an RB3, that counts, according to us!
Keep scrolling to find the first edition of our 2025 fantasy busts roundtable for Week 1 lineups. Make sure none of your players are on this list. Even if they are, we'll guide you to finding the right replacements with our fantasy rankings and, in this case, our Week 1 fantasy sleepers.
Fantasy QB Busts Week 1
Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings
Many are automatically ready to award Williams with a great season simply because Ben Johnson is the new head coach. However, learning new schemes takes time, and in Week 1, Williams takes on the unorthodox Vikings defense called by Brian Flores. On top of that, last season, Williams played in three primetime games and was held to under 10 fantasy points in all of them. - Griffin Missant
J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears
In case anyone had the temptation, I'll also recommend not starting Williams' opponent. This will be the sophomore's first NFL regular-season action following his torn knee meniscus last preseason. Justin Jefferson (hamstring) might not be 100% fit. Jordan Addison is suspended. The Vikings' passing game is not at full force, and a playmaking Bears front and secondary could welcome the "rookie" rudely in his road debut. - Tim Heaney
Justin Fields, New York Jets vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Fields will ahve some borderline QB1 value over the course of the season because of his high floor as a runner. But that cheat code can do only so much against the Steelers' nasty defense — one that knows him really well — in the opener. - Vinnie Iyer
WEEK 1 LINEUP TIPS: Fantasy Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Week 1
Fantasy RB Busts Week 1
D'Andre Swift, Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings
Overall, Swift is such an uncomfortable start this season. Because he is the starter, everyone is sort of just going with it. The Vikings have a solid defensive unit, and allowed the eighth-least amount of fantasy points per game at the running back position in 2024. - Griffin Missant
Kaleb Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Jets
Rookies always carry risk in Week 1, especially those with uncertain roles in a key situational committee. Jaylen Warren might start over Johnson after his new contract, but regardless, both backs step into a tricky spot on the road against a tough Jets' defense in what can be a slog of a game.- Vinnie Iyer
Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans at Denver Broncos
Maybe he'll make up some fantasy points with dump-offs, but expecting him to find room to run against Denver's elite front will prove tough, especially with Denver likely daring Cam Ward to beat them through the air. - Tim Heaney
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Fantasy WR Busts Week 1
Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans at Denver Broncos
Calvin Ridley is going to have a successful 2025 fantasy campaign. However, as a whole, the Titans' offense is going to struggle in Denver. Ridley surely will see an uncomfortable amount of Patrick Surtain II. - Griffin Missant
Wherever he lines up for Cam Ward, who figures to be under duress in the hostile Denver defensive environment on the road. Ridley will see plenty of regining AP Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II certain shutdown coverage, so try to find a more comfortable WR3 option. - Vinnie Iyer
Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams vs. Houston Texans
First off, we're not entirely sure Matthew Stafford (back) will play Sunday. Even if so, he might find it tough to conquer a frantic Texans pass rush. Adams might be targeted on short routes aplenty, but Houston's cornerback duo of Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter will pester the veteran. If you're pressed into starting Adams, think squarely WR3/flex, especially in anything less than full PPR. - Tim Heaney
2025 DRAFT SLEEPERS: QB | RB | WR | TE | DST | Value Picks | Deep Sleepers | 1 From Each Team
Fantasy TE Busts Week 1
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles
It's going to be a tough night overall for the Cowboys going into Philadelphia on Thursday night. The Eagles allowed just 5.1 fantasy points per game last year from the TE position. Ferguson has not had much recent success vs them either. - Griffin Missant
Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions
This might be an indication of a rough season of dropping production as the Lions can handle him well in covreage and the reboot at wide receiver also says the Packers want to be lless reliant on Kraft to pass the ball downfield. - Vinnie Iyer
Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills vs. Baltimore Ravens
Against a tough Ravens pass rush, expect Dawson Knox to see plenty of reps, which might limit how often Kincaid steps onto the field. While slot work could be in his future, Baltimore remains one of the best coverage units in the NFL. - Tim Heaney
WEEK 1 FANTASY RANKINGS: QB | Non-PPR Flex | D/ST | PK
Fantasy Team Defense Busts Week 1
Indianapolis Colts vs. Miami Dolphins
While the Colts should be an improved overall unit from last season, this matchup is scary nonetheless. The Dolphins have terrible energy around them, so everyone is down on them, but they still have more than enough firepower to score a lot of points. - Griffin Missant
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns
This is obviously trying to foce a bad defense into a great matchup but the Browns will have some success moving the ball and putting up yards and points on the Bengals to anawer Joe Burrow and his loaded offense. The Bengals do have Trey Hendrickson back to get sacks, but there will be a very modest reurn on the plays needed to come through in the top 12 at D/ST. - Vinnie Iyer
New England Patriots vs. Las Vegas Raiders
The cross-country trip and Raiders' poor recent history will make the Pats a knee-jerk D/ST and Week 1 Survivor pick. However, these Raiders have a deeper offensive pool of talent, especially adding rookie stud RB Ashton Jeanty and seasoned QB Geno Smith to a crew that already has league-best TE Brock Bowers and reliable WR Jakobi Meyers. Even if the team can notch sacks and a takeaway or two, New England may give up too many points and negate that upside -- especially if lockdown CB Christian Gonzalez (hamstring) can't suit up. - Tim Heaney