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As the NFL is set to kick off tomorrow in a fiery Super Bowl rematch, some players are questionable as to how they will perform right out of the gate. I compiled a list of three guys who are looking to break out and potentially overperform expectations, along with three guys to stay away from for you fantasy fans.

BOOMS:

1. Parker Washington, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars | BOOM!

Parker Washington played a huge role for Jacksonville last year after young co-star Brian Thomas Jr. seemingly forgot how to catch a football. Although the ADP on fantasy apps may tell you that Thomas Jr., with an average ADP of 65, is the Jaguars’ number one receiver, the stats and preseason acknowledgment from coaches tell a different story.

In fact, Brian Thomas Jr. played seven more games than Parker Washington in 2025, yet Thomas still finished 140 yards and three touchdowns behind Washington.

The Jaguars’ coaching staff, and quarterback Trevor Lawrence specifically, have pointed out Washington’s value, praising his exceptional work ethic, his connection with Lawrence, and his status as a primary offensive weapon for the Jags moving forward in the 2026 season.

The Jaguars are facing the Browns at home for their Week 1 matchup and are looking to “run it up” against an already depleted Browns defense. Washington could prove early that he has a significant role in this offense and potentially go nuclear on the stat sheet.

2. Jadarian Price, RB, Seattle Seahawks | BOOM!

For a rookie who was listed as a backup at Notre Dame last season, Price has all the makings of a future star in the NFL. Super Bowl-winning teammate and starting quarterback Sam Darnold has already given high praise to Price’s versatility.

“He’s a special player… Whether it’s catching passes out of the backfield, catching screens, running in between the tackles, outside of the tackles, he can really do it all.”

The biggest thing for Price is to hit the ground running. George Holani has also received a lot of attention and is expected to be incorporated as a long-term backup, with Zach Charbonnet still absent due to an injury suffered at the end of last postseason.

As the season kicks off with New England visiting the 12th Man, all eyes are on first-round pick Jadarian Price to become the young firecracker of an offense that is only looking to get better after winning a Super Bowl the season prior.

3. Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, Tennessee Titans | BOOM!

The Titans are an interesting team this year. Although they are definitely not a powerhouse, the Titans might be one of the biggest “trap game” teams of the 2026 season. When Tennessee added Wan’Dale Robinson, they knew exactly what they were getting.

Robinson will never be the guy to lead the league in receiving stats or dominate fantasy boards, but he’s built a career on overperforming expectations, particularly on bad teams. With the Jets coming into Nissan Stadium, he’s looking to do just that.

This offseason, the Titans hired former Jets head coach Robert Saleh. Saleh knew he needed a smart offensive mind to develop his young talent, including second-year quarterback Cam Ward and rookie Carnell Tate. Bringing in Brian Daboll to fill that role was a genius move. The offense gets a respected former head coach to develop its young talent, while Daboll gets to bring some of “his guys” over with him.

One of those guys is 2025 standout Wan’Dale Robinson.

Last season, Wan’Dale cracked 1,000 yards for the first time in his career, emerging as a standout receiver in place of an injured Malik Nabers. As Robinson adjusts to a new environment in Tennessee, I can see him picking up right where he left off last season.

There is no better time for him to do so than Week 1, as he faces what could be one of the worst defenses in the NFL this season. The New York Jets are displaying a plethora of young talent, but Robinson has an opportunity to take advantage of a defense that is still trying to find its identity.

BUSTS:

1. Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots | BUST!

Drake Maye is one of those guys who is incredibly easy to root for, but that does not mean I want him in my fantasy lineup in Week 1. After making a deep playoff run and reaching the Super Bowl last season, expectations for Maye and this Patriots offense are through the roof. Unfortunately, they have to open the season against the team that just beat them for the Lombardi Trophy.

Maye is talented enough to make plays, but fantasy managers need to remember that this is still a young quarterback entering only his third full season. The Patriots could also find themselves playing from behind, which sounds good for fantasy, but could turn into a long night if Seattle’s pass rush gets going.

The biggest thing holding Drake Maye back is his offensive line and pocket awareness. Maye was fourth in the NFL last year in quarterback sacks, taking 47 sacks throughout the season. With the Patriots acquiring a new wide receiver one in A.J. Brown, who mostly succeeds on deep routes, being fourth in sacks will not cut it for the Patriots offense this year.

2. George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers | BUST!

George Kittle is still George Kittle. When healthy, he’s one of the most dangerous tight ends in football and one of Brock Purdy’s favorite targets. But Week 1 is about as bad of a matchup as you can ask for, especially with the 49ers traveling all the way to Australia to face the Rams.

The 49ers are already dealing with some uncertainty at wide receiver, which could mean more attention on Kittle. Normally, that would make me want to start him even more. The problem is that Los Angeles knows this too.

The Rams have a talented defensive front and will have plenty of opportunities to make Purdy uncomfortable. If San Francisco can’t establish the run early, Kittle could spend a lot of the game staying in to block instead of running routes downfield.

Kittle could absolutely prove me wrong and find the end zone, because that’s just what he does. But with the international travel, the matchup, and the potential for San Francisco’s offense to struggle, I would tone down expectations for him in Week 1.

3. Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets | BUST!

Garrett Wilson is one of the easiest players in fantasy football to get excited about. The talent has never been the question. He’s an explosive route runner, has the ability to win at every level of the field, and has already shown that he can produce even when the quarterback situation around him is less than ideal.

But that’s exactly why I’m willing to fade him in Week 1.

Wilson’s name and talent are going to make him an automatic start for most fantasy managers, but I’m not convinced the overall environment is strong enough for him to return the WR1-type production many people are expecting.

The Jets travel to Tennessee for Week 1, and while the Titans aren’t a matchup I’m necessarily afraid of, this game has some serious concerns from a fantasy perspective. New York enters the season with Geno Smith under center and a strong commitment to Breece Hall in the backfield. The Jets have every reason to try to establish the run early, control the clock, and take pressure off their quarterback rather than immediately turning Wilson into a 10-to-12 target machine.

That matters because Wilson’s fantasy ceiling has historically been tied to volume.

Even if he remains the clear No. 1 receiver, there is a big difference between being the best receiver on your team and receiving the kind of target volume necessary to consistently finish as a fantasy WR1. The Jets have more weapons than they’ve had in previous seasons, with Adonai Mitchell, Isaiah Williams/Omar Cooper Jr., and tight end Mason Taylor all capable of taking targets away from Wilson.