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Geno Smith QB | NYJ
Jets' Geno Smith: Works as game manager in Week 1 win
Smith completed 19 of 24 passes for 215 yards while rushing six times for seven yards in Sunday's 23-10 win over the Titans.
Smith kept the offense on schedule but wasn't asked to do too much as the Jets rode their running game and defense to a convincing Week 1 win. There will likely be more pass-heavy game scripts to come, possibly as soon as Week 2 against the Packers, but Smith gave the Jets refreshingly competent quarterback play despite his modest yardage total to win the first game of his second stint with the team. Smith showed a nice connection with wide receivers Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell, connecting with them on nine of 10 targets for 139 yards.
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Jacory Croskey-Merritt RB | WAS
Commanders' Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Gets into end zone in Week 1 win
Croskey-Merritt rushed 16 times for 63 yards and a touchdown while catching his only target for a seven-yard loss in a defeat to the Eagles on Sunday.
Croskey-Merritt scored Washington's only touchdown of the first half when he plunged into the end zone for a one-yard score late in the second quarter. However, he averaged just 3.9 yards per carry and also lost a fumble, though the Commanders were able to recover. Croskey-Merritt served as Washington's clear No. 1 back in terms of totes, with Rachaad White (seven carries for 22 yards) and Kaytron Allen (four carries for 16 yards) working behind him, though White's pass-catching role did garner him 27 offensive snaps to Croskey-Merritt's 33. The Commanders will take on Dallas in a Week 2 clash next Sunday.
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Parker Washington WR | JAC
Jaguars' Parker Washington: Impressive TD grab in Week 1 win
Washington secured five of six targets for 83 yards and a touchdown in the Jaguars' 34-10 win over the Browns on Sunday. He also returned one punt for minus-5 yards.
Washington led the Jaguars in all of receptions, receiving yards and targets, and his impressive 30-yard touchdown grab in the first quarter kicked off a prolific afternoon for Jacksonville's offense. Washington, whose late-season surge in 2025 has put him in line for an extension, certainly benefits from the strong start to the new season in that regard, and he should remain a focal point despite a tough Week 2 road matchup against the Broncos next Sunday.
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Christian Watson WR | GB
Packers' Christian Watson: Racks up 147 yards, two TDs in loss
Watson caught six of eight targets for 147 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 39-22 loss to the Vikings.
Watson broke free down the sideline for an 81-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter and added a two-yard touchdown catch to give the Packers a 19-10 lead with 14 seconds left in the first half. The Vikings dominated the second half as Green Bay's offense went quiet. Jordan Love threw the ball 42 times, and Watson could benefit if the Packers continue to employ pass-heavy game plans during the indefinite absence of starting running back Josh Jacobs (personal), who is on the Commissioner's Exempt List. Watson finished second on the team in targets Sunday behind Matthew Golden (12). The Packers will try to put this second-half collapse behind them in a Week 2 road game against the Jets.
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Harold Fannin Jr. TE | CLE
Browns' Harold Fannin: Quiet in Week 1 loss
Fannin brought in two of three targets for 21 yards in the Browns' 34-10 loss to the Jaguars on Sunday.
Deshaun Watson mostly struggled against an aggressive Jaguars defense that sacked him five times and picked him off once, so Fannin's generally disappointing numbers don't look quite as bleak within that context. The talented second-year tight end still is projected to remain a critical piece in the Browns' passing game, and Fannin could see a larger role as soon as a Week 2 road matchup against the Buccaneers.
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Kenyon Sadiq TE | NYJ
Jets' Kenyon Sadiq: Creeps into No. 1 TE conversation
Sadiq caught all three of his targets for 31 yards in Sunday's 23-10 win over the Titans. He added one rush for a three-yard touchdown.
Sadiq caught one more pass than current listed No. 1 tight end Mason Taylor, and his 31 yards dwarfed Taylor's negative two. The first-round rookie also showcased his versatility when he scored a three-yard rushing touchdown on an end-around early in the first quarter. Sadiq could eventually take over as the primary big-bodied option for the Jets now that he is fully healthy and has experienced the NFL regular season.
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Cole Kmet TE | CHI
Bears' Cole Kmet: Catches touchdown in big win
Kmet caught two of his three targets for 35 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 59-37 win over the Panthers.
Kmet did not have a major role in Sunday's win through the air, mostly dominating as a run blocker for the Bears' 291 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. Despite being sent to trench warfare for most of the night, Kmet still found time to catch a touchdown early in the second quarter to preserve his dual-threat status around the league.
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DK Metcalf WR | PIT
Steelers' DK Metcalf: Inefficient with team-high target total
Metcalf secured four of 10 targets for 40 yards in the Steelers' 20-13 win over the Falcons on Sunday.
Metcalf's target total led the Steelers by a fairly comfortable margin, but the talented receiver brought in less than half of them and finished behind both Michael Pittman and Pat Freiermuth in receiving yards. The amount of attention Metcalf drew from Aaron Rodgers was nevertheless encouraging, and the valuable experience the duo garnered from working together all of last season could pay big dividends in 2026. A Week 2 road matchup against the Patriots will present less than ideal circumstances, however, as Metcalf is likely to draw plenty of coverage from shutdown cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
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Jayden Daniels QB | WAS
Commanders' Jayden Daniels: Emerges in second half of Week 1 loss
Daniels completed 18 of 34 pass attempts for 164 yards and two touchdowns while rushing five times for 31 yards Sunday in a loss to Philadelphia.
Daniels had a rough first half, completing just six of 16 passes for 43 yards. He was much better after the break, and Daniels was particularly effective in the fourth quarter, when he tossed both of his touchdown passes. This was far from a dominant performance by the third-year QB, but fantasy managers who roster him should at least be relieved that he rescued his line late in the game. Daniels draws a Week 2 matchup versus the Cowboys -- who gave up the most passing yards in the NFL last season -- next Sunday.
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Kyle Pitts TE | ATL
Falcons' Kyle Pitts: Blanked in season-opening loss
Pitts failed to bring in his only target in the Falcons' 20-13 loss to the Steelers on Sunday.
Fresh off having recorded a career-best 88 receptions a season ago, Pitts was clearly impacted by the fact the Falcons were without their top two quarterbacks due to injury. Spot starter Cooper Rush was harassed into two interceptions and took four sacks, and when has able to successfully get a pass off, it typically landed in the hands of Bijan Robinson. Pitts' outlook will brighten when either Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) or Michael Penix (knee) are under center, and that could happen as soon as a Week 2 home matchup against the Panthers next Sunday.