The Yahoo Fantasy team is fully confident that these players will perform remarkably in your Week 1 fantasy football lineups.
Yes, Taysom Hill will make his presence felt in the opening week
Taysom Hill ran the ball nine times for 75 yards in his only game against Carolina last season, caught one pass and completed another. It’s very likely he’ll find the end zone at least once in the opening game against the Panthers. Hill is eligible to play as a TE, but he’s probably more of a running back. He’ll almost certainly get goal-line opportunities for this perpetually odd team. Cheer him on in a favorable matchup. — Andy Behrens
Jared Goff wants to triumph against his former team
Jared Goff has averaged 277.2 passing yards (7.9 YPA) with 44 touchdowns in 17 games in Detroit over the past two seasons. He lacks the fantasy potential of dual-threat QBs who run, but Goff is strong in home games. The Rams allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks last season and will now be without Aaron Donald. The Lions have the NFL’s highest implied team point total in a Week 1 matchup that should produce plenty of points. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs is a bit banged up, while Detroit’s receivers enter Week 1 fully healthy, with Jameson Williams a real threat to breakout this season. Goff throws for 300 yards and three scores in a great performance Sunday night. — Dalton Del Don
Bengals D/ST could win the week
I’m giving you this tip not just for Cincinnati on Sunday, but as a guideline going forward. If you’re trying to fill the DST slot, you want the biggest favorite possible, you want to pick off suspect opposing offenses, you want to pair up against a questionable offensive line. This matchup checks all the boxes. I don’t know how crisp the Cincinnati offense will be, but the defense can control this game. — Scott Pianoski
A wonderful fight for a young running back
Cook has as good a matchup as any in Week 1 against the Cardinals. Arizona may have the worst defensive line in football to start the year. Cook rushed for nearly 1,600 yards last season and now gets to face a defensive line that would likely be a backup on most teams.
The Bills are six-point favorites and are expected to score 27 points this week. That’s a great environment for a running back to perform. Expect 16+ touches for Cook and a top-10 finish at the position in Week 1. — Salt Glass
Chris Godwin recovers
Chris Godwin is expected to return to his usual slot rates from 2019-2022, when he ran between 60-73% of his routes inside. That’s a big and necessary change from the 37% he had in 2023, according to Pro Football Focus. That alone is a reason to give Godwin, who was productive last season anyway, a stock. We’re just looking for more big plays and touchdowns. Playing inside should help.
This Week 1 matchup with a Washington secondary that allowed over 80 yards per game to slot receivers last year makes it even better. The Commanders have new leadership on the defensive coaching staff and have brought in a bevy of new players, but it might take some time for everyone to come together. Mike Evans will get his chance, but Chris Godwin should be in the mix as the WR3 in Week 1. — Matt Harmon
Kenneth Walker lands in the top 10
Targeting the Broncos’ run defense is an easy task, and Kenneth Walker is ready to revel in it! Walker’s performance has been consistent over the past two years, but it always felt like he was playing below his maximum. Walker has faced the stigma of lacking job security since the Seahawks drafted Zach Charbonnet, but Walker has remained the clear RB1.
Because he lacks the passing game, Walker’s potential depends on high-volume matchups. He begins his 2024 season with a nice matchup against one of the league’s worst run defenses and best pass defenses. The Seahawks should rely on their running game this week, move the ball well, and give Walker plenty of opportunities at the goal line. I think Walker could easily go in the top 10 this week. — Tera Roberts
