For most of you, your annual draft is complete.

Now, the title quest officially begins. Even if you don’t come in first, you must stave off this year’s embarrassing last-place punishment. There’s absolutely no way you’re going to spend a random Saturday next spring racking your brain over the ACT. All questions about literary analogies and long-forgotten geometrical equations can rot in eternal obscurity.

With shovel in hand, this deep thinker digs down on players largely riding the pine in 12-team leagues who, if employed, could vault willing backers to a fast start.

RB: Kenny Gainwell, TB
Matchup: at CIN
11% started in Yahoo leagues

YARRR!! Looking to score some opening week booty? This Buccaneer could prove to be a statistical treasure.

Gainwell is firmly immersed in a full-blown RBBC with Bucky Irving, but even if he generates 50% or less of the team’s opportunity share, he should churn out considerable standalone value. Last season with Pittsburgh, he became the apple of Aaron Rodgers’ eye in the short field. The established safety valve caught a sensational 85.9% of his targets while slotting No. 4 overall in yards created per touch.

With the addition of Dexter Lawrence and other key bodies, Cincinnati’s defense should be greatly improved. However, last fall, the Bengals surrendered the fourth-most receiving yards to RBs. In a contest with an expected total above 50, Cincy’s friendliness in the flat could resurface.

According to SūmerSports, Baker Mayfield only targeted his RBs 14.7% of the time last season, ranking No. 23 in the category. However, he didn’t have a shifty, sticky-fingered weapon at the position quite like Kenny G.

Employ Gainwell at the Flex or RB2 slots in deeper formats and he shouldn’t do you dirty like game officials did Western Michigan last Saturday in Ann Arbor. Start him with confidence in 12-team and deeper formats.

Fearless forecast (PPR): 7 carries, 27 rush yards, 4 receptions, 31 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 15.8 fantasy points

RB: Mike Washington, LV
Matchup: vs. MIA
2% started in Yahoo leagues

Coming off a once perceived to be devastating ankle injury, Ashton Jeanty is the great unknown for the Raiders’ Week 1 offense. Exactly how involved he’ll be is anyone’s guess. Klint Kubiak’s recent optimism about the RB1’s availability offered encouragement, but it’s anyone’s best guess how much he’ll truly be involved.
Take it slow, Ashton.

Whether in small or large doses, Washington is likely to wipe the floor with a Miami defense widely forecasted to be the dregs of the keg. A silly statement? According to PFF, Josh Uche is the only defensive lineman among the Dolphins’ projected starters who ranked top-50 in run defense grade last year. The Flippers shouldn’t exhibit much fight.

Eyeballs often popped this preseason when watching Washington. He showcased plus vision, explosiveness and break-tackle ability. On 23 rush attempts, he tallied a sensational 5.96 yards after contact per attempt and 30.4% missed tackle rate. Yes, some production was generated against future pharmaceutical salesmen, but the efficiency is difficult to ignore.

As NFL insider Ian Rapoport recently noted, Washington will indeed “be a thing.” Even if Jeanty is active and starting against the ’Fins, the second fiddle should total at least 10-12 touches. Given his standout skills, Washington could still put up an RB2 line in the opener.

Fearless forecast (w/Jeanty): 9 carries, 44 rush yards, 2 receptions, 12 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 13.6 fantasy points
Fearless forecast (w/o Jeanty): 19 carries, 86 rush yards, 4 receptions, 18 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 18.4 fantasy points

WR: Matthew Golden, GB
Matchup: at MIN
7% started in Yahoo leagues

After last year’s deflating rookie season, Golden is viewed by some gamers as the Daejon Love of fantasy. Date the supposed top-shelf pro and an unwanted fleecing is bound to occur.

Speaking as someone heavily invested in the Packer, my heart is ready to be broken. Much hyped entering Week 1 last year after a stellar camp, the then rookie continuously stepped on weekly rakes. In 14 regular season games played, he failed to score a single touchdown and finished with a very pedestrian 29 receptions for 361 yards. Painful.

Despite the uneventful surface production, Golden shone in other areas. For example, among qualifying wide receivers, he was top 10 in average separation yards per target. His 12.55 average depth of target and 0.76 expected points added (EPA) per target also ranked in the top 30 at the position. With sub-4.30 40-yard wheels and entrenched as the WR2 in 12 personnel packages, he has excellent odds of becoming a sophomore sensation.

His Week 1 matchup in Minnesota is favorable. Pro Football Focus projects the Vikes as a bottom-10 pass defense. Drill down, and you’ll find his expected primary assignment, CB Byron Murphy, allowed an appreciable 71.4% catch rate and 96.1 passer rating to his assignments in 2025.

As long as Jordan Love doesn’t overthrow him repeatedly, Golden should gash the Purple People Greeters on a play or three.

Fearless forecast (PPR): 4 receptions, 66 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 16.6 fantasy points

WR: Jalen Coker, CAR
Matchup: vs. CHI
6% started in Yahoo leagues

Maybe it’s the Malort talking, but Chicago is abuzz over the city’s beloved Bears. Sorry, Hammond, you can’t have them.

Head coach Ben Johnson may be aiming for a historically great offense, but his defense could be one thousandth that of the iconic ’85 squad. More gummies than grizzlies, the Bears will likely be overly forgiving in myriad areas — especially defending the pass. Projected to be a bottom-half unit, defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s secondary is set to surrender numerous big plays.

By all accounts, Coker was a summer standout. The somewhat popular late-round fantasy selection has plus odds of delivering on the hype. Coker finished 2025 No. 15 in EPA per pass, registering an outstanding 117.8 passer rating when targeted. That established chemistry with QB Bryce Young should lead to immediate fruitful gains.

Slated to most often face fourth-round rookie DB Malik Muhammad, Coker could provide quite the jolt in what could be one of the highest scoring contests of Week 1.

Fearless forecast (PPR): 3 receptions, 53 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 14.3 fantasy points

Flex: Juwan Johnson, NO, TE
Matchup: at DET
11% started in Yahoo leagues

With Jordyn Tyson sidelined for the next several weeks, the Sazeracs are bound to flow smoothly for Johnson backers. Alongside the Rams’ Terrance Ferguson, the Saint was criminally undervalued throughout the fantasy draft season, often slipping well into the double-digit rounds in 12-team exercises.

A season ago, Johnson boomed to minimal fanfare. Though his touchdown total was suppressed (three), he established new career bests in receptions (77) and receiving yards (889). Equally impressive, he ranked appreciably in total air yards (TE3), yards after catch (TE5) and expected fantasy points per game (TE7). Who dat?

The bubbling chemistry created with QB Tyler Shough last fall is likely to spill over into the new season. Outside of WR Chris Olave, the passer is devoid of useful weapons. With Tyson sidelined for the next several weeks, the TE could change that perception.

Down safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch, Detroit’s pass defense is already ailing. Given the impactful absences, it enters the season as a bottom-half defense. Johnson’s route variety and chunk-gain capability present a significant coverage challenge.

Throw in the Lions’ consistent offensive potency during the Jared Goff era inside Ford Field, and the odds of Johnson posting at least top-10 production at the position spike. The Saints’ deficit potential is significant.

Fly the fleur-de-lis.

Fearless forecast (PPR): 4 receptions, 56 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 15.6 fantasy points