Week 1 NFL Weekend Cheatsheet: Injuries, Picks, DFS, Props, Updated Fantasy Football Rankings

Sep 12, 2026

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

WEEK 1 NFL CHEATSHEET

Mayo provides the latest on key player injuries, updated Fantasy Football Rankings, DFS ownership strategies, and top Underdog Fantasy props for Week 1. Plus, Alex Blickle stops by to talk DFS leverage and underdog plays, and Adam Pranica joins Pat to break down their Circa Millions contest picks.

NFL Week 1 Cheat Sheet: Ultimate Guide to Injuries, Rankings, Props, DraftKings & Spread Picks

WEEK 1 NFL INJURIES

RB

Jeremiyah Love (ankle) — Likely IN
Ashton Jeanty (ankle) — IN
Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin) — IN
Jonathon Brooks (groin) — IN. Hubbard is ranked higher (RB25) as Brooks (RB34) deals with lingering preseason knee concerns and swelling. Plus match up for both.
Breece Hall (groin) — IN
Alvin Kamara (knee) — Likely IN. Expected to play through a knee issue, though expected to be on bad side of split work with Etienne.
Sean Tucker (hamstring) — Expected OUT.
Ty Johnson (hamstring) — Questionable
Malik Davis (hip) — Placed on IR; OUT FOR SEASON. This leaves Javonte Williams as the lead back with only Emari Demercado backing him up. Demercado a reasonable add for deep leagues in case something happens to Williams. I’d expect the Cowboys to add someone and play them in a split with Demercado should anything happens. But he’s free right now; if you have the space, why not? Disregard if the Cowboys sign someone sometime between now and Sunday kickoff.

FULL WEEK 1 RANKINGS BY POSITION

WR

Rome Odunze (calf) — Likely IN. Dealing with a recurring calf injury; dropped in rankings due to the risk of re-injury.
Malik Nabers (knee) — Questionable. Because it is a Sunday night game, managers need backup contingency options like Pat Bryant, Malachi Fields or OBJ (in deep, deep leagues) just in case he is a late scratch. If your FLEX is available, move Nabers there to unlock more replacement options.
Alec Pierce (heel) — IN. Expected to play through an injury, but his under on 45.5 receiving yards is targeted due to a potential snap count against Baltimore. No trust in Pierce in Week 1 without much info on his status in a bad matchup.
Emeka Egbuka (toe) — IN
Jalen McMillan (knee) — Likely OUT. Doubtful to play, opening up potential playing time for Ted Hurst.
Zachariah Branch (hamstring) — Likely IN
A.J. Brown (Ankle) — Placed on IR; OUT Minimum 4 Weeks
De'Zhaun Stribling (Ankle) — OUT Indefinitely

QB

Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) — OUT; Cooper Rush Will Start. Rush features prominently as an under play for 2.5 rushing yards.
Sam Darnold (Hip) — OUT Multiple Weeks

TE

Brock Bowers (Ankle) — OUT. Michael Mayer is the immediate fill-in option.
Kenyon Sadiq (groin) — IN
Eli Stowers (hamstring) — Placed on IR; OUT at least 4 games
Jake Tonges (Knee) — Likely OUT FOR SEASON

Week 1 Best Bets

Mayo, Rob Pizzola, and Cam Stewart. We break down the full 2026 NFL Week 1 slate, with betting analysis, game previews, and our favorite teaser plays. Whether you’re looking for sharp betting edges, insights on key matchups, or value picks, this Week 1 betting guide has you covered.

NFL Week 1 Best Bets, Teasers, Props, Cam vs AI

GOLD

MAYO: DEN +2.5
PIZZOLA: CAR +3
CAM: MIN -1

SILVER

MAYO: MIA +3.5
PIZZOLA: PHI -5.5
CAM: NYJ +1.5

BRONZE

MAYO: ARZ +9.5
PIZZOLA: DET -6.5
CAM: TB +4

6-POINT GROUP TEASER: DEN +8.5/NYJ +7.5/PHI +0.5

Week 1 Spread Picks

Mayo, Geoff Feinberg, and Tim Anderson give their 2026 NFL Week 1 game picks against the spread, debate early lines, run through Super Locks and Survivor strategy and selections. Plus, dive into a special edition of Cust’s Corner with two topics and three new cases for Judge Cust.

NFL Week 1 Props

Blickle came on the NEW AND IMPROVED Saturday Update show and his two best props for Underdog (and elsewhere) this week:

Bucky Irving: Over 14.5 longest rush, benefiting from new offensive coordinator Zach Robinson’s outside zone scheme and Cincinnati’s weak explosive rush rate allowed.
Patrick Mahomes: Under 36.5 longest completion, as Denver’s aggressive pass rush forces a quick-game, dink-and-dunk approach.

TAIL OR FADE + code “MAYO” at underdog for a deposit bonus up to $1000

I threw these two in with my four favorite plays to make a quick 35x entry. If it wins, I’m giving one person $500 from the payout if they comment “WINNER” on this episode on YouTube, Apple or/and Spotify. DO all three and you have THREE ENTRIES!!!!!

Cooper Rush u2.5 Rushing Yards
Juwan Johnson o 42.5 Yards
Kayshon Boutte o17.5 Longest Reception
Jerry Jeudy u31.5 Yards

TAIL OR FADE + code “MAYO” at underdog for a deposit bonus up to $1000

I still have three 50% OFF coupons for Sharpshack if you want them. The first three people to use “MAYO50” for the Sharpstack package at 4for4.com/mayo will get that 50% off. Beyond the pregame and in-game props and evaluation, as you can see, there’s a full suite of tools you’ll have at your disposal.

50% OFF ANY 4FOR4 SHARPSTACK BETTING TOOLS PACKAGE WITH CODE “MAYO50”. ONLY THREE 50% OFF COUPONS REMAIN

Week 1 DraftKings Values & Ownership

Mayo and Tambo from Ship It Nation break down the ultimate Week 1 DraftKings DFS strategy for the 2026 NFL season. They dive deep into high-ownership chalk like Jahmyr Gibbs, how to correctly leverage AI tools without blindly trusting them, game stacking strategies for Lions/Saints, Bucs/Bengals, and how to differentiate your lineups in massive GPP tournaments. Plus, get all the best value plays, tight end pivots, and lineup builds utilizing 4For4 tools. (“Mayo50” will get you 50% OFF all DFS Tools as well. There is no limit to the people who want to get that deal.)

WATCH: Week 1 DraftKings Picks | Strategy, Ownership Breakdown, & Lineup Building

RBs Projected Ownership 15%+

Jahmyr Gibbs (May be ~50% owned)
Bijan Robinson
Jonathan Taylor
De’Von Achane

WR Projected Ownership 20%+

Ja’Marr Chase
Chris Olave
Amon-Ra St. Brown

TE Projected Ownership 10%+

Michael Mayer

QB Projected Ownership 10%+

DST Projected Ownership 8%+

New York Jets
Cleveland Browns

DraftKings Leverage Notes from convo with Blickle

The big trap everyone is falling into is Michael Mayer at $2,900. Sure, he's cheap, and Blickle noted that his ownership could skyrocket up to 29% in MME, 34% in single-entry, and 36% in high stakes. But both Blickle and I stand by our rule of thumb: cheap chalk tight ends (and cheap chalk wide receivers) almost never come through the way cheap running backs do. Blickle won't be playing Mayer at all. Instead of eating that chalk, I’d rather pay up for elite options like Trey McBride or Colston Loveland, or completely pivot by using a cheap receiver like Tre Tucker (if you’re hell-bent on using a Raider) to free up that salary.

Tucker isn’t my favorite of those cheap WRs, though. Wicks ($4,100), Vele ($3,500), Chris Bell ($3,200), and Jaylen Coker ($4,600) are my preferred options depending on how much money you need to save to pay up at RB.

For lower-owned stacks, I like the Bears, Cards, and Dolphins because I like losing money. Blickle, however, likes the Vikings and Packers game stack; this matchup represents one of the most glaring undervalued spots and strategic leverage opportunities on the entire slate. Per Blickle…

The Coaching Mismatch: Kevin O’Connell facing off against Jonathan Gannon’s defense creates as massive of a strategic mismatch as you will find on the board for Week 1.
Fading Gannon’s Scheme: Gannon, dating back to his time as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator, has defensive units that tend to look very competent against bad quarterbacks and struggling offenses, but completely fall apart against elite play-callers and good quarterbacks. I suppose this depends on how you feel about Kyler Murray, though.
Justin Jefferson as a Pivot: Jefferson is priced $200 cheaper and carries significantly lower ownership than Amon-Ra St. Brown, making him a fantastic leverage play.

WEEK 1 SUNDAY NIGHT LIVE

Cust and I are going LIVE at 715pm ET on MMN Sunday for the INSTANT OVERREACTIONS along with Emerson weirding out Cust for an hour. Cust Eats has run its course, so we’ll be recapping the games, taking some cases for Judge Cust, and guessing the spreads for Week 2, along with props for SNF. It’s easily the most fun way to kill the time before SNF starts. Come hang and get in the chat.