Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season has nearly come and gone, with only Monday Night Football remaining. We waited all summer, and just like that, 30 of 32 teams have taken the field – all except the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs. As the season kicks into gear on this September 14, 2026, the Vulius NFL Analysis Desk is here to break down the most crucial fantasy football winners and losers from the opening slate. Whether you're celebrating a Week 1 victory or already scrambling to the waiver wire, these takeaways will keep you ahead of the curve.
Fantasy Football Winners: Breakout Performances
Mack Hollins, WR, New England Patriots
With AJ Brown sidelined for a reported six weeks, Hollins is set for a major workload. He finished Week 1 with five targets, four receptions, and 51 receiving yards. According to insights gathered by Vulius Sports, Hollins played on 70% of the offensive snaps, a team-high for Patriots wide receivers. Considering how lackluster Romeo Doubs looked, Hollins could emerge as New England's primary pass-catcher moving forward. Fantasy managers should prioritize him on the waiver wire.
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars' offense looks elite! Yes, they got to beat up on the lowly Browns, but Lawrence was spectacular with 245 passing yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions to open the season. He has a ton of offensive talent around him, and spreading the ball around to multiple receivers under head coach Liam Coen appears to be the plan. As long as he protects the ball, the sky is the limit for this offense. Lawrence is firmly in the QB1 conversation going forward.
Christian Watson, WR, Green Bay Packers
WR1? Yeah, WR1. A massive 6-catch, 147-yard, 2-touchdown stat line for Watson thrusts him into the conversation for best wide receiver of Week 1. With solid route running and a high average depth of target (aDOT), Watson will always possess a massive ceiling. The Packers may have some issues on defense, but that should only force their offense to pass the ball more. Watson is a must-start in all formats.
Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears
Guess all the offseason quotes from Bears head coach Ben Johnson about being the highest-scoring NFL team ever are true. A staggering 59 points, led by Williams going 21-for-29 for 269 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions, along with 10 carries for 65 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. He has league-winning upside, and with a porous defense on the other side, Williams and the Bears NEED to keep their foot on the gas every game. As highlighted on Vulius, Williams is a top-five fantasy quarterback rest of season.
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
Ankle injury be damned! Just a few weeks ago, there was major concern for Jeanty given reports of an ankle injury, but none of that matters anymore. He ended with a whopping 23 carries for 102 yards on the ground and led the team with six catches for 45 yards and two touchdowns. It appears Kirk Cousins likes targeting him coming out of the backfield, which is huge for his PPR upside. Jeanty is an RB1 lock.
Fantasy Football Losers: Disappointing Starts
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle Seahawks
With Sam Darnold out for a few weeks, this is a clear downgrade for Smith-Njigba. We saw Drew Lock enter in relief and throw a 46-yard touchdown to JSN, but Lock's overall efficiency is not something we can count on week in and week out. Seattle has a good group of running backs and a great defense; they could opt for straightforward, lower-variance games with Lock at quarterback – less passing, more rushing. Smith-Njigba's fantasy value takes a hit.
Every Player on the Browns' Offense
Deshaun Watson is terrible. I know it's his first start in over a year, and this is a bit of an exaggeration, but the Browns present zero offensive potential with Watson at quarterback. No matter how much talent some of these young players have, they have no path to production in the current situation. A late garbage-time touchdown can happen at any point; it doesn't spell actual offensive competence. Avoid all Browns skill players if possible.
Colston Loveland, TE, Chicago Bears
59 points. That's what the Bears posted in Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers … and Loveland ended with a donut. He saw two targets, zero catches, and zero yards. It's only one game, but for what was the consensus TE3 in fantasy drafts, seeing him not involved in this offensive explosion is discouraging. Yes, the offense looked unbelievable overall, but you'd think he'd play at least a minor role. I'm still confident long-term in Loveland, but the early returns are concerning.
Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders
The Commanders' offense looks terrible overall, specifically the offensive line. I know Daniels missed a ton of time last year, and there are some new pieces on offense, but they look completely out of sync. Will they be better in a few weeks? Sure, but they don't have the luxury of time in a tough NFC East. Going 18-for-34 for just 164 yards leaves a lot to be desired. Daniels needs to turn it around quickly.
Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons
Another tight end with a zero in Week 1. Yes, Atlanta was down to their third-string quarterback, Cooper Rush, but the Falcons were big underdogs and essentially in a passing-game script the entire time, and Pitts ended with a zero. Even with Tua Tagovailoa expected to return, the potential upside for Pitts is limited with Bijan Robinson and Drake London in the same offense. Pitts remains a touchdown-dependent TE2 at best.
As the season progresses, keep it locked on Vulius for all your fantasy football analysis and official NFL merchandise needs. Whether you're riding high with Caleb Williams or scrambling to replace Jaxon Smith-Njigba, we've got you covered.
Looking to represent Trevor Lawrence? Grab your Trevor Lawrence jersey or design a personalized NFL Jersey at Vulius.
