Dallas finished last season giving up the most fantasy points to
quarterbacks and 2025 doesn’t get any easier with the recent trade
of Michah Parsons. Hurts and the reigning champs open the season
at home with a chance to establish the passing game against a Dallas
secondary that will have its hands full. With a depleted threat
of an edge rush, Hurts should also be able to take advantage on
the ground against a defense that yielded the most rushing yards
to quarterbacks last season. Fly Eagles Fly.
Lawrence has the looks of a romance cover novel heartthrob, but
in 2024 played like the editor. In the offseason the Jags did
the right thing and made a concentrated effort to surround their
franchise investment with a new offensive minded coach (Liam Coen)
and a potent weapon (Travis Hunter). Lawrence had some strong
seasons under Doug Peterson, so I expect a big bounce-back for
the former No.1 overall pick. The Panthers also yielded the most
passing scores in the NFL last season with 35, and made few meaningful
additions to the defense in the offseason. This game has a sneaky
chance at being one of the highest scoring games of Week 1.
After sitting for 75% of the season, Penix looked good in a few
spot starts to end the season. Blessed with great physical tools,
and some of the best skill position weapons in the NFL, the second-year
QB faces a Tampa Defense that snuffed the run, but struggled mightily
to stop the pass last season. Breaking in two new offensive linemen
won’t help the run game against the Bucs, so look for Penix
and Falcons to dial up a pass-heavy gameplan built on quick hitting
slants, hitches, and screens.
After a dynamic rookie year, Stroud took a step back last season.
Granted the team went more run-heavy and his receivers missed games
with injury, but Stroud turned the ball over too frequently, and
his efficiency metrics took a hit. The Texans had a headscratcher
of an offseason, shipping their best lineman out of town and losing
their bellcow back to a mysterious foot injury. With only Nico Collins
as a reliable playmaker and a projected bottom 10 offensive line,
it’s tough to trust Stroud on the road against an aggressive Rams
front.
The young buck took the NFL by storm last season, propelling the
Commanders (and his fantasy squads) to within a whisker of the Super
Bowl. While his talent is undeniable, Daniels plays a risky brand
of ball as a runner, and this style of play was unsustainable for
Kyler Murray while under OC Cliff Kingsbury. The Giants were able
to contain him effectively with a deadly edge rush and pocket collapsing
presence from the interior in two close losses last season. With
the addition of Abdul Carter to that Giant defense, and McLaurin
missing most of camp, the Commander offense could get off to a rocky
start.
While I do believe they will get it figured out in the long run,
there is a lot going against this Detroit offense in Week 1. Sure,
they will mostly dodge Micah Parsons, but the juice he’s
going to generate for that home crown will be palpable. This has
quietly turned into a nasty NFL North rivalry, and the Lions not
only have to deal with the Lambeau faithful, but also two newcomers
on the offensive line, and a fresh voice in the headset. Goff
has also been mediocre on the road at Green Bay, as he’s
averaged less than 200 yards a game, and only thrown for two touchdowns
in his last three games.
