Week 1 NFL football is the most hectic, glorious, aggressive, humbling week of the entire year.  Since the last whistle was blown in the Super Bowl, we’ve all calculated and speculated for months on end and now we get to see real football bring that off-season hype to a grinding halt.

And because of that, week 1 provides the most actionable data and the greatest opportunity via waivers or trades than any other week of the season.  So what I’m going to do here is highlight some of the situations that I believe are uncertain going into this first week for each game and what is the most important thing to look for.  If you find yourself with these games on the television, the results of the scenarios below could help you add or trade for a player that wins your league.  Or sell your player high to save yourself from disaster.

*All times below are Eastern Standard Time*

Cowboys @ Buccaneers - Thursday 8:20 PM

Cowboys - It’s funny that this would be the first matchup because I’m actually looking at the same thing from BOTH teams.  Both teams now have two healthy tight ends and there WILL be a couple multi-tight end sets.  With each team having three wide receivers, there is one glaring question: which WR comes out for the extra tight end?  Last year it was CeeDee Lamb (he played 94% of his snaps in the slot but only 64% of the overall snaps as he was coming out of the game.  Michael Gallup played 87.53% of the snaps).  If the Cowboys use 2 TE or 2 RBs at any point, who is the odd man out this year?

Buccaneers - As I mentioned, same exact question.  The Buccaneers have Gronk, OJ Howard, Brate as well as multiple RBs.  Which two WRs will play in two wide sets? Your brain may immediately jump to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin as the two wideouts but Tom Brady's heart has a soft spot for Antonio Brown - especially in the red zone.

Seahawks @ Colts - Sunday 1:00 PM

Seahawks - We expect the top two targets to be DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.  The Seahawks spent a second round pick on Dwayne Eskridge (an older, polished prospect) but offensive coordinator Shane Waldron also brought over tight end Gerald Everett with him from the Rams.  Can one of them capture a decent target share?

Colts - Last year Jonathan Taylor broke out but the one sore spot was his pass blocking.  He graded out as RB144 or 154 in pass blocking per PFF which was abysmal.  That is in large part why Nyheim Hines carved out such a big role on passing downs.  Is Jonathan Taylor unleashed this year or is this still a split backfield?  Has he learned to protect the quarterback?

Jaguars @ Texans - Sunday 1:00 PM

Jaguars - Urban Meyer's offense going back to guys like Percy Harvin in college has utilized a gadget player of sorts that primarily lines up at WR but also mixes in carries, sweeps etc.  Travis Etienne was pegged for this role but he’s now out for the season.  There may not be enough targets for three different receivers but perhaps Laviska Shenault can capture these touches?  Curtis Samuel was able to be fantasy relevant as the third WR on the Panthers in large part to the 40 carries he received.

Texans - Brandin Cooks is easily the best pass catcher on the team.  After that there is a void.  Can rookie Nico Collins claim that second target share? Will veteran TE Jordan Akins get a lot of looks?  Or maybe the rookie TE Jordan Brevin can carve out a role?

Eagles @ Falcons - Sunday 1:00 PM

Eagles - Last year Miles Sanders led all running backs in both drops (8) and drop percentage (22%).  This year the Eagles decided to draft Kenneth Gainwell, a pass catching specialist.  Does Gainwell cut into the pass work for Sanders or will Sanders have three down potential?

Falcons - While all eyes are on Kyle Pitts, mine will be on Russell Gage.  Last year the Russel Gage was averaging 35+ slot snaps per game in the games with Julio Jones active.  With Julio out weeks 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17 however, his role changed and he averaged 35 snaps out wide.  In two of those games, Gage was targeted 10 times.  Will Gage have a better role with Julio gone or will Kyle Pitts essentially be the WR2 in Atlanta?

Chargers @ Football Team - Sunday 1:00 PM

Chargers - The last time Joe Lombardi was calling plays for a team was the 2014 Lions and he threw 150 passes to the running backs.  So those passes will be there.  But rumors have swirled that they may use bigger backs for short yardage including goal line.  Would love to see a pass interference in the end zone or something so we can get an answer there.

Football Team  - This situation is similar to the Colts above.  Antonio Gibson is a talented runner but graded out as RB142 of 154 in pass blocking.  JD McKissic had 100+ targets working those downs.  If Gibson gets a bigger workload in the pass game, he could be the next big thing.  But McKissic is still there making that a big “if”.

Steelers @ Bills - Sunday 1:00 PM

Steelers - This one all comes down to Chase Claypool for me.  Last year it was Diontae Johnson and JuJu Smith-Schuster in two WR sets with the rookie splitting time.  With Chase Claypool’s size, if he can take a step forward and be an every down split end, his time could be here.  Otherwise, it might be more of the same. 

Bills - This is a POTENT offense and this week we finally get the answer to the Devin Singletary vs. Zach Moss coin flip. The answer might be that the coin falls in the couch and they both split the work evenly.  But someone who drafted one of them could be a big winner. 

49ers @ Lions - Sunday 1:00 PM

49ers - The battle between Raheem Mostert and Trey Sermon is interesting but all eyes have to be on Jimmy Garoppolo.  The Lions are an easy opponent but he cannot give critics ANYTHING here with Trey Lance over his shoulder.

Lions - The targets are WIDE open here.  TJ Hockenson feels like a good bet. Amon Ra St. Brown is a hot rookie pick but he might be just a slot guy who comes out for two WR sets.  I will be very interested to see who is playing opposite Tyrell Williams - whether it’s ARSB or someone like Quintez Cephus. 
Vikings @ Bengals - Sunday 1:00 PM

Vikings - It’s all about the third pass catcher for the Vikings.  The top two are locked in.  Dalvin is locked in.  Do they target the tight ends in Herndon and Conklin? Or do they transition to more three WR sets with Dede Westbrook and Ihmir Smith-Marsette?  Will be interesting. 

Bengals - Most people are going to tune in here to see what Ja’Marr Chase looks like with his old pal from college Joe Burrow.  I’ll be looking at the run game.  Does Joe Mixon get a full workload? Or does the rookie Chris Evans steal some pass work?  How does Frank Pollak’s revamped O-line look?

Jets @ Panthers - Sunday 1:00 PM

Jets - Anytime you have a new coach, new OC, and new QB, EVERYTHING is a storyline.  Which RB gets the most work? Which WRs are playing the most snaps?  Jamison Crowder is OUT with COVID so anyone can claim themselves a workload. Will Tyler Kroft be a thing (spoiler alert - no).  This one is a movie you are walking into without really knowing what it’s all about.

Panthers - It’s all about Sam Darnold here.  We have a pretty good idea what they want to do with the rest of the offense.  How does Darnold fare in this story book matchap vs. his old team?  The pressure is going to be heavy. 

Cardinals @ Titans - Sunday 1:00 PM

Cardinals - This is a straight slot showdown.  Larry Fitzberald is finally gone and Christian Kirk should start in a role he has always been pegged to play.  But the Cardinals bring in rookie Rondale Moore to be the second slot in four WR sets and light a fire under him.  If Moore is good enough, Kirk could be pushed to the way-side.

Titans - Derrick Henry has never caught more than 20 balls.  There has been much ado made this off-season about his potentially improved pass catching.  Him stepping up in that regard is the only thing preventing him from entering the truly elite echelons of fantasy running back. 

Browns @ Chiefs - Sunday 4:25 PM

Browns - Odell Beckham Jr. is arguably the most polarizing player in fantasy football.  The upside is elite but the downside is also terrifying.  Does he shake the rust off in his first game back since a devastating knee injury?

Chiefs - Sammy Watkins may not have killed it in the box score but he typically did in the snap share department.  Is Mecole Hardman going to claim that spot opposite Tyreek Hill?  Or do they replace Sammy Watkins’s elite blocking with bigger players like Byron Pringle or Demarcus Robinson?  Hardman has flashed but he needs to be an every down player to be consistent.  

Dolphins @ Patriots - Sunday 4:25 PM

Dolphins - Last year Chan Gailey was a big proponent of “big slot” which allowed Mike Gesicki to finish as TE7.  Now Gailey is gone and they added Jaylen Waddle and Will Fuller (suspended week 1) to go along with DeVante Parker.  Gesicki needs to prove this week that he belongs in this pass attack before the rookie gets up to speed and Fuller returns. 

Patriots - The Mac Jones era has begun which is exciting in itself but we have a huge unresolved question here - will Jonnu Smith or Hunter Henry be more fantasy relevant?  They could both be startable in your leagues but in the end one will likely outplay the other in some fashion.  Their deployment will be interesting to see. 

Broncos @ Giants - Sunday 4:25 PM

Broncos - The vast majority of teams have two fantasy relevant pass catchers at most - it’s rare that teams have three guys all get 100+ targets.  This team has Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, and Noah Fant who all have fantasy gamers claiming stake in them.  The target distribution with the typically shallow throwing Bridgewater will be interesting to see.

Giants - This one is too obvious for everyone.  How much will Saquon Barkley play?  Will his snaps be limited?

Packers @ Saints - Sunday 4:25 PM

Packers - There never really was a true “number two” pass catcher.  Aaron Jones and Marquez Valdes Scantling technically had the second most targets after Davante Adams.  But Allen Lazard had the most targets per game - he just got hurt.  While Robert Tonyan got the least but was fantasy relevant.  Meanwhile Rodgers brings over his buddy Randall Cobb to go with a rookie they drafted in Amari Rodgers? It could be too thin but if someone wins this battle it’s a jackpot playing with the reigning MVP.

Saints - I will have my eyes glued to one player - Juwan Johnson.  Many of us thought Adam Trautman would earn that Jared Cook role in the offense but, in the offseason, it appeared to be Juwan Johnson.  His usage this week will mean everything for the converted WR.

Bears @ Rams - Sunday 8:20 PM

Bears - Andy Dalton was named the starter awhile ago so I don’t care much about that.  I care first about which TE is playing the better pass catching role  - Cole Kmet or Jimmy Graham.  After that, I care about whether they can possibly get more targets than Darnell Mooney.  With Allen Robinson there, only one of those three players really has a shot at relevance.  If and when Fields becomes the QB, we’ll have to reassess HIS favorite targets. 

Rams - The Rams initially treated Darrell Henderson as the undisputed starter after the Cam Akers injury, holding him out of preseason action.  But then they went out and traded real assets for Sony Michel.  This could be a split backfield but, if one of them can run away with it, they would be operating in an offense that should score a LOT of points. 

Ravens @ Raiders - Monday 8:15 PM

Ravens - Near identical question to the Rams - except in reverse.  The early down, short yardage guy is the incumbent in Gus Edwards.  Ty’Son Williams has emerged as the threat in space and in the passing game.  One of these players could be a fantasy stud at their ADP.

Raiders - The split between Josh Jacobs and Kenyan Drake is a scary proposition but the real upside comes at WR.  Darren Waller is the top target.  That leaves room for one more pass catcher potentially.  Henry Ruggs is the smaller speedster at flanker and Bryan Edwards is the bigger, stronger split end.  Can either of them capture a consistent target share?