Sit/Start 2025 Week 1: Reviewing All Fantasy Relevant Players in Every Game

Sit or Start recommendations for EVERY fantasy-relevant player in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season!

Game Info

 

Kickoff: Sunday, September 7th, 2025, 4:05 ET

Location: Lumen Field, Seattle, WA

Network: FOX

 

San Francisco 49ers

 

Quarterback

Brock Purdy: START, QB1

Regardless of whether Jauan Jennings can suit up Week 1 for the Niners, Brock Purdy is a borderline QB1 with a safe floor. His assortment of weapons, dynamic offense, and respectable rushing floor make him a solid play against any opponent. He’s startable in all formats.

 

Running Back

Christian McCaffrey: START, RB1
Brian Robinson Jr.: SIT
Isaac Guerendo: SIT

If Christian McCaffrey is active, he’s an RB1. Period. Brian Robinson Jr. resides in handcuff land for now, but if he’s involved even a smidge more than we anticipate, he’ll bump to FLEX viability. But don’t expect that to happen after only being with the team for a couple of weeks.

 

Wide Receiver

Ricky Pearsall: START, WR3
Jauan Jennings: START, WR3
Marquez Valdes-Scantling: SIT

With Jauan Jennings returning to practice and the Niners adding performance-based incentives to his contract, Jennings is in line to potentially play Week 1 versus Seattle. Great news for the 49ers, not so great news for Ricky Pearsall truthers. Pearsall is still a start, but his ceiling his capped if Jennings plays. Still, Jennings likely won’t get a full workload in this first week, meaning Pearsall’s upside is higher in this matchup than most.

 

Tight End

George Kittle: START, TE1

You don’t need me to tell you to start George Kittle. Did you know his well-known touchdown celebration is an homage to WWE superstar Penta?

Seattle Seahawks

 

Quarterback

Sam Darnold: SIT

Sam Darnold‘s success in Seattle depends on what sort of pressure the revamped O-line can afford him. Things looked fine in the preseason, but it’s the preseason. I’m not trusting Darnold or Seattle’s offensive line until I see them maintain the success in games that actually matter.

 

Running Back

Kenneth Walker III: START, RB2
Zach Charbonnet: FLEX, RB3

My darkhorse RB1 overall contender, Kenneth Walker III, will benefit bigly from the offensive system implemented by new OC Klint Kubiak. Seattle will have a much more balanced attack, and Walker produced when given the chance last season. San Francisco is a difficult matchup, but Walker is a weekly fantasy starter. Zach Charbonnet proved he can handle the load as the top back, but remains a resident of FLEX-ville unless Walker misses time.

 

Wide Receiver

Jaxon Smith-Njigba: START, WR2
Cooper Kupp: FLEX, WR4
Tory Horton: SIT

Jaxon Smith-Njigba likely remains the top pass catcher in Seattle even with the addition of Cooper Kupp, but both could fail to meet expectations if Darnold starts seeing ghosts and the passing volume takes a significant dip with Kubiak in town. Tory Horton is a deep, deep sleeper to watch, but not startable.

 

Tight End

Elijah Arroyo: SIT

No Seahawks tight end is on the fantasy radar. Yet.