Fantasy Football Week 1 Good Vibes, Bad Vibes (Who Should I Start)

Sep 04, 2025

Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

A good vibes-only trend has emerged across social media in recent years, but we need the bad vibes as a balance, a way to get in touch with our emotions and keep it real. Otherwise, things get toxic. Fantasy football is no different. It behooves us to know who just doesn’t feel right each week so that we can make the best lineup decisions for our rosters.

In the second season of this column, I’ll be dishing out the players who are giving me the best and worst vibes for the week based on matchups, usage, injuries, and, of course, the feels.

Summer vibes are always good ones, but it’s time to say goodbye and enter the fall vibes. I’m talking football, leaf peeping, brisk air, and, if you're into it, pumpkin spice.

Here are those players giving me good and bad vibes for Week 1.

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*Note: For now, we only have last year’s schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed (aFPA) numbers to go on, but by Week 4, we have a pretty good sample size to work from. The data gets even more trustworthy as the season wears on, and once we hit Week 12, we'll start using rolling 10-week data so the numbers stay relevant.

Good Vibes

Quarterbacks

Kyler Murray @ Saints

The vibes are very high surrounding the Cardinals in Week 1 as they face a Saints team that is projected to lose by six points, partly courtesy of a questionable defense. Kyler Murray, of course, has that dual-threat thing going for him as he averaged 33.7 rushing yards per contest last season, and three of the last five QBs to play New Orleans ran for at least 59 yards.

Brock Purdy @ Seahawks

Seattle is a team that Brock Purdy seems to torch, as he’s averaged 247.8 passing yards with eight total touchdowns in his last four contests against the Seahawks. He’s also had good road vibes, as Purdy scored at least 17.2 fantasy points in four of his travel contests in 2024. It appears he’ll have Jauan Jennings to throw to, which helps an already favorable situation. Purdy could sneak into the top 5 to kick off the 2025 season.

More Positive Week 1 QB Vibes:

Trevor Lawrence vs. Panthers
Drake Maye vs. Raiders
Bryce Young @ Jaguars

Running Backs

James Conner @ Saints

It may seem like I’m picking on the Saints in this article, but let’s face it, the vibes down there are not the best. James Conner should have himself a solid first outing of 2025 as the New Orleans defense was 29th in RB aFPA last year and gave up some monster performances to visiting rushers, like a 50.6 in half-PPR scoring to Saquon Barkley in Week 3 and a combined 50.2 from Sean Tucker and Bucky Irving in Week 6.

Chuba Hubbard @ Jaguars

He’s coming off an RB12 finish in half-PPR scoring on a per-game basis (14.7) and starts off with a favorable matchup in Jacksonville. Chuba Hubbard faces a Jags defense that allowed the second-most fantasy points to enemy backs last season, and even though the Panthers added Rico Dowdle, there should be plenty of volume there. Consider Hubbard a hearty choice as an RB2 this weekend.

More Positive Week 1 RB Vibes:

Jaylen Warren @ Jets
Tyrone Tracy @ Commanders
Aaron Jones @Bears
D'Andre Swift @ Vikings

Wide Receivers

Ricky Pearsall @ Seahawks

Keeping with the positive Purdy vibes, Ricky Pearsall is in a fantastic spot to start this season with a banger. Jauan Jennings will likely be in the mix, but Pearsall is tracking to be the team’s WR1 and should see plenty of balls in this NFC West matchup. Pearsall gives fantasy WR3 vibes this week with a shot at WR2 numbers.

Tetairoa McMillan @ Jaguars

It should be a monster volume day for Tetairoa McMillan against the Jaguars. Adam Thielen is gone, and Jalen Coker is sidelined, and it doesn’t hurt that Jacksonville allowed the third-most fantasy points to the WR position in 2024, with little offseason improvements to their defense. T-Mac is a solid fantasy WR2 in his NFL debut.

More Positive Week 1 WR Vibes:

Emeka Egbuka @ Falcons
Jaylen Waddle @ Colts
Jerry Jeudy @ Bengals

Tight Ends

Most managers don’t have the luxury of sitting or even deciding on their TE, so I’m keeping it brief with these positive vibers.

David Njoku vs. Bengals
Brenton Strange vs. Panthers
Hunter Henry vs. Raiders
Evan Engram vs. Titans
Tyler Warren vs. Dolphins

Bad Vibes

Quarterbacks

Jared Goff @ Packers

Jared Goff at home is all good vibes, but on the road, particularly at Lambeau Field, it's another story. In three of his four career games in Green Bay as a Lion, Goff scored under 11.5 fantasy points. The Packers were fifth against the QB last season, and they may have the services of Micah Parsons in this matchup. Goff is fine for superflex or 2QB formats, but the vibes are just off for regular redraft leagues.

Justin Herbert vs. Chiefs

It’s been a struggle with Kansas City recently for Justin Herbert, as he’s scored under 16 fantasy points in three consecutive starts against the Chiefs. This game is in Brazil, which could mix things up, but Herbert should not be considered a fantasy QB1 this week.

More Negative Week 1 QB Vibes:

C.J. Stroud at Rams
Caleb Williams vs. Vikings
Cam Ward @ Broncos

Running Backs

Breece Hall vs. Steelers

The offseason vibes for Breece Hall haven’t been the best, as there has been plenty of committee talk in New York, and now he begins the 2025 season against a stout Pittsburgh defense with starting right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker out due to a triceps injury. You’re likely not sitting Hall if you drafted him, but expectations should be tempered to the low-end RB2/flex range.

Isiah Pacheco @ Chargers

While I think Isiah Pacheco is a good vibe to draft in 2025, his Week 1 start may be a tad rough. He should get lead back volume, which is tough to determine with Andy Reid at the helm, but the Chargers are a formidable defense against the run. Last year, they yielded just four touchdowns to opposing RBs, which was the league low, and were eighth in aFPA to the position. He’s not necessarily a sit, but consider Pacheco in the fantasy RB2 category in Brazil this week.

More Negative Week 1 RB Vibes:

Javonte Williams @ Eagles
Nick Chubb @ Rams
J.K. Dobbins vs. Titans

Wide Receivers

Calvin Ridley @ Broncos

While his outlook is better in 2025 with Cam Ward under center, a date with Patrick Surtain II is not a favorable one for Calvin Ridley for fantasy football purposes. Ward could struggle on the road in Denver in his first outing, and last year’s Broncos defense allowed the fewest touchdowns to enemy WRs in the NFL, and they could be even better in 2025. Ridley is a WR3/flex at best in Week 1.

DK Metcalf @ Jets

You're likely starting DK Metcalf this week and every week, but remove any thoughts of a WR1 or even WR2 performance with Sauce Gardner likely on him for the bulk of this contest in New York. In two career games against Gardner, the WR posted just five receptions for 69 yards on 14 targets. He now has 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers (in a revenge game, which could help a smidge), but it’s tough to see Metcalf as anything more than a low-end WR3/flex in this one.

More Negative Week 1 WR Vibes: