
James White should be very active in a high-scoring game against the Texans. New England Patriots/Facebook
It’s finally upon us. Week 1 of fantasy football, and this year is going to be even more difficult to navigate than ever. There’s a lot of uncertainty as we head into the opening week, so I advise everyone to starts there studs. That’s why you spent a high pick on them in the first place. Of course, Le’Veon Bell should be firmly on your bench even if he shows up and is active against the Browns. There’s just no way of knowing how much work he would get. I am going to pick some players I like this week that aren’t odvious starters. Everyone should be starting the David Johnson’s of the world, so I’ll look at some players that aren’t a sure thing.
I’ll be using some of the stats from the end of last season to make my suggestions, and there are clearly some flaws with these numbers. The coaches know what they need to correct in the off-season, so they work to improve their deficiencies, plus, free agency and the draft brings in new players that weren’t on the team last year. Because of this, we have to take last year’s numbers with a grain of salt. Without further ado, here are some plays I like for this weekend.
RB
Derrick Henry (TEN): The Titans have a nice matchup against the Dolphins in Week 1 and Miami gave up the 2nd most points to running backs from week 12 on last season. It’s hard to know how the carries will be split between Henry and Dion Lewis, but we should get our answer on Sunday. Clearly, I like Henry a lot better in non-ppr. He’s not a must-start for me this week, but he should be okay as a No. 2 RB.
James White (NE): The Texans had quite a bit of trouble stopping the run last year. From week 12 on, they gave up the 3rd most fantasy points to RBs. The good news for Houston is they have a lot of players back from injury on defense, but the Texans typically give up points to the running back position. It usually comes from TDs, especially in the years that the Texans had a dominant defense. Look for James White to have a nice game out of the backfield on Sunday. Brady doesn’t have Edelman for the first four weeks, so I believe White will get an uptick in targets. A wheel route TD from White would not surprise me at all.
James Conner (PIT): I think Conner will have a nice game against the Browns this week. DeAngelo Williams produced at a high level when Bell has been out in the past, and I think Connor will follow suit. I know there’s a lot of hype around Cleveland, but I’m not buying in. Conner is a must-start until Bell decides to show up.
Lamar Miller (HOU): Miller hasn’t exactly looked spectacular, especially running behind the Texans below-average offensive line, but I think sheer volume will get him there for fantasy. There should be a lot of scoring in this game, and Miller can be used as a No. 2 RB on Sunday.
WR
JuJu Smith-Schuster (PIT): He has a great matchup against the Browns, and they’ll be looking to limit Antonio Brown. The Steelers should throw the ball quite a bit this week, and Smith-Schuster can capitalize. The Browns gave up 36.5 FPTS/G to WRs from week 12 on last year, and I think Smith-Schuster will get his fair share of those points.
Chris Hogan (NE): I love Hogan this year and especially Week 1 against the Texans. I think he may have Johnathan Joseph on him, and that’s good news for Hogan owners. Houston’s corners typically have trouble dealing with bigger receivers, and Hogan comes in at 6′ 1”. He also has pretty good speed being a 4.5 forty guy, and the Texans’ corners aren’t all that fast. I think Gronk will see plenty of attention, and that opens things up for Hogan and James White.
Jamison Crowder (WAS): I think Crowder has a nice opportunity to catch some passes this week against the Arizona Cardinals. Alex Smith may have pushed the ball down the field more last year, but he’s been “Captain Checkdown” for most of his career. Look for Crowder to catch a lot of balls out of the slot with Patrick Peterson covering the outside receivers primarily.
TE
Eric Ebron (IND): I’m hearing some good things about Ebron in the Colts offense, and Luck’s arm strength hasn’t been all that impressive in the preseason. Ebron played well against the Bengals last year (83-yds, 1TD), and I think that continues this week. He’ll see his fair share of checkdown passes from Andrew Luck.
Jordan Reed (WAS): He’s healthy, at least for the time being. I like him for the same reason I like Crowder this week, so I think he’s worth a shot. Use him before he dies.
That’s all I have for this week. For more fantasy info, make sure you check out my show Moneyline on ESPN 97.5 every Sunday from 10-noon. Jerry Bo and I will get you ready for kickoff and answer any questions you may have. Also, follow us on Twitter. Good luck Week 1!
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The Houston Astros wrapped up yet another series win this week, this time taking two of three from the struggling Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Despite missing several key players and a bullpen that wasn’t fully available, the Astros continued their recent run of success, pushing their record to 52-35.
Manager Joe Espada appeared to be playing the long game in the rubber match on Thursday. After Houston rallied to tie the game in the seventh inning, Espada stuck with reliever Jordan Weems instead of turning to his high-leverage arms. That decision, while frustrating to some fans hoping for the sweep, underscored the team’s cautious approach to workload management as they navigate a long season.
One bright spot continues to be rookie Cam Smith, who delivered again in the clutch with a two-run triple in the seventh inning on Thursday. Smith has been Houston’s most dependable bat with runners on base and is quickly settling into the cleanup role—a rarity for a first-year player but one he’s earned with his poise and production.
Astros cleanup hitter RBIs this season:
Cam Smith: 10 RBIs in 7 games
All others: 28 RBIs in 80 games
— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) July 3, 2025
Off the field, the biggest storyline continues to be Yordan Alvarez’s injury. After reports surfaced that the slugger had experienced a setback in his return from a fractured hand, the team clarified that the issue is inflammation, not the fracture itself. Astros general manager Dana Brown said Alvarez received injections to address the irritation and is expected to rest for now. Encouragingly, the Astros say the fracture is no longer a concern, and while there’s still no definitive timeline for his return, the overall tone from the club was optimistic.
The transparency around Alvarez’s situation is part of a larger shift. After being criticized in recent seasons for vague injury updates, the Astros have begun issuing daily availability reports. It’s a move that signals the front office is trying to regain some trust with the media and fans after a stretch of frustrating ambiguity around player health.
Now, the Astros head to Los Angeles for a marquee matchup with the defending champion Dodgers. Friday’s opener will feature Lance McCullers Jr. making just his second start since returning from the injured list. McCullers gave up eight runs in his return against the Cubs and will be under the spotlight as he looks to settle back into form. Control will be the key, as walks have long been McCullers’ Achilles’ heel.
Saturday sets the stage for one of the most anticipated pitching matchups of the season: Framber Valdez versus Shohei Ohtani. With both teams fighting for positioning in their respective divisions, this weekend in LA should serve as a measuring stick—and perhaps a postseason preview.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
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