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For Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season (published Sept. 3, 2025), fantasy managers face several early quarterback decisions. This guide recommends starters — including Justin Fields (NYJ) and Bo Nix (DEN) — and lists quarterbacks to bench, weighing rushing upside, matchups, travel and offensive changes.
Key Takeaways
- Start Justin Fields vs. Pittsburgh for his rushing ceiling despite a tough opponent.
- Bo Nix is a Week 1 starter choice after a strong rookie finish and QB rushing value.
- Baker Mayfield is a safe, low-risk start against the Falcons’ vulnerable secondary.
- Avoid Justin Herbert in São Paulo — matchup history and travel lower his Week 1 appeal.
- Jared Goff’s new offensive play-caller and Lambeau track record make him a fade this week.
- C.J. Stroud and Jordan Love are better left on benches given pass-rush concerns and matchup history.
- Drake Maye is a viable streamer in a favorable Raiders matchup if you need upside.
Verified Facts
Justin Fields (NYJ at PIT): Fields remains valuable because of his rushing production. He recorded 178 rushing yards in a single game in 2022 and is one of three quarterbacks ever to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. New Jets OC Tanner Engstrand arrives from a Lions system that prioritized perimeter running, which should complement Fields’ outside-run strengths.
Bo Nix (DEN vs. TEN): Nix finished 2024 among the top fantasy QBs per game, throwing 29 TD passes as a rookie and adding 430 rushing yards with four rushing TDs. Tennessee allowed among the highest QB rushing yardage and rushing TD totals to opposing QBs in 2024, boosting Nix’s floor and upside for Week 1.
Baker Mayfield (TB at ATL): Mayfield posted consecutive top-10 fantasy QB seasons and delivered multiple multi-touchdown games vs. Atlanta last year. The Falcons surrendered a high number of passing TDs and finished near the top of QB fantasy points allowed in 2024, making Mayfield a steady opening-week start.
Kyler Murray (ARI at NO): Murray ended 2024 as a QB10 with strong rushing totals. New Orleans allowed large passing and rushing yardage totals last year, creating a matchup that favors Murray’s balanced floor and upside if he can improve as a passer.
Drake Maye (NE vs. LV): Maye is a recommended streaming option if you waited on a QB. The Raiders allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to QBs in 2024, and the Patriots have indicated plans to let Maye use his mobility more this year, increasing his Week 1 upside.
Matchup Table
| Player | Team | Opponent | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Fields | NYJ | PIT | High rushing ceiling; fit with OC Engstrand’s perimeter scheme |
| Bo Nix | DEN | TEN | Rushing floor; Titans gave up QB rushing yards/TDs |
| Baker Mayfield | TB | ATL | Consistent scorer; Falcons allowed many passing TDs |
| Justin Herbert | LAC | KC | Travel to São Paulo; poor recent results vs. Chiefs |
Context & Impact
Travel and timing matter in Week 1. The Chargers’ trip to São Paulo for a Friday game can affect preparation windows and practice cadence; that increases volatility for Justin Herbert. Teams that open the season overseas or on short weeks often show inconsistent early performance.
Coaching and play-caller changes also shift quarterback value. Jared Goff faces his first game without Ben Johnson as play-caller and has a limited track record at Lambeau (206 passing yards per game across four games there as a Lion), making him a questionable Week 1 start.
Rushing quarterbacks maintain a fantasy advantage early in the season because designed runs and scramble ability create a dependable points floor even when passing production is uneven. Managers who prioritized mobile QBs should lean toward starts like Fields and Nix.
Rookies and first-time starters (J.J. McCarthy, Drake Maye last year’s development) carry upside but also come with risk on national stages (Monday Night, primetime on the road). Start or sit based on roster construction: if you drafted a QB early, trust that pick; if you grabbed one late, prefer streaming matchups.
Official Statements
The Patriots’ staff previously said they wanted to limit Drake Maye’s designed runs in his rookie year to manage risk; this season coaching emphasis appears to have shifted toward more mobility usage.
Patriots coaching staff (paraphrased)
Unconfirmed
- Exact Week 1 snap counts and run-pass play splits for each offense until official gameday reports are released.
- How much travel to São Paulo will concretely affect Chargers game-planning and in-game decision-making.
- Finalized offensive roles for any late preseason depth-chart moves or injuries that occur after publication.
Bottom Line
Start QBs who bring consistent rushing upside or face clearly weak pass defenses: Justin Fields, Bo Nix, Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray are good Week 1 choices. Sit or bench QBs with travel fatigue, new play-callers, or tough historical matchups — notably Justin Herbert (São Paulo), Jared Goff (Lambeau with a new play-caller), Jordan Love, C.J. Stroud and J.J. McCarthy — unless you have no better option.