Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, September 7th, 2025, 1:00 ET
Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
Network: CBS
Las Vegas Raiders
Quarterback
Geno Smith: SIT
Ba da ba ba ba, McDouble. (That’s a player with a “meh” floor with a limited upside. We’re working on getting a term glossary so I don’t have to explain this every time. Today is not that day.)
Running Back
Ashton Jeanty: START, RB1
Don’t let the pedestrian preseason numbers fool you. Ashton Jeanty is an elite talent who will be fed the rock like Marshawn Lynch in his prime in this Pete Carroll-led offense. He’s talented enough to finish the season as the RB1 overall and a must-start from day one.
Wide Receiver
Jakobi Meyers: FLEX, WR3
Tre Tucker: SIT
Dont’e Thornton Jr: SIT
Jakobi Meyers is the only Raiders wide receiver worthy of starting. With the likely low passing volume offense and Brock Bowers the clear alpha, Meyers’ WR1 status on the team only equates to FLEX fantasy value. Dont’e Thornton Jr. has long-term sleeper potential, but he and the rest of the Raiders’ receivers shouldn’t be anywhere near your Week 1 lineups.
Tight End
Brock Bowers: START, TE1
You don’t need me to tell you to start Brock Bowers. Did you know that his mother, DeAnna, was an All-American softball pitcher and first baseman at Utah State? She was inducted into the Utah State Hall of Fame in 2016.
New England Patriots
Quarterback
Drake Maye: START, Borderline QB1
Everyone’s favorite sophomore breakout quarterback candidate, Drake Maye, is a borderline QB1 with a great matchup. The Raiders allowed the 9th most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in 2024, but with one of the lowest implied game totals of Week 1, he could disappoint. A modest rushing floor keeps the likelihood of a dud lower than most of his peers.
Running Back
TreVeyon Henderson: START, RB2
Rhamondre Stevenson: FLEX, RB3
One of my favorite backs in all of fantasy for 2025, TreVeyon Henderson, is listed second on the Patriots’ depth chart, but he has all the tools to become the focal point of the offense. Rhamondre Stevenson is likely to be involved more than we’d like in the first few weeks of the season, which will lower Henderson’s floor. Both are startable, but Henderson has a much higher ceiling.
Wide Receiver
Stefon Diggs: START, WR3
DeMario Douglas: FLEX, WR4
Kyle Williams: SIT
Kayshon Boutte: SIT
Stefon Diggs profiles as the top pass-catching option for Maye, and DeMario Douglas showed some flashes in his sophomore season. But the Raiders gave up the 11th fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers in 2024, and considering the low projected game total, I’d much prefer to sit all Patriots receivers in Week 1 if possible.
Tight End
Hunter Henry: SIT
Hunter Henry broke the double-digit threshold in less than 50% of his games last season. He’s a desperation start at best.