With the return of the regular season came the return of fantasy football as well. Although there have only been two games played so far, there is a reason why you are here reading this article. I am here to tell you that everything is going to be just fine despite the hole you find yourself in this week.
We have all been here before: a guy went off early in the week and left you scrambling for a high-upside fantasy play for the week. Someone you drafted is dealing with an injury, hopefully not in the middle of a game, like A.J. Brown, or is named Josh Jacobs, leaving you needing a replacement for the week. Your opponent is projected to outscore you by an ungodly amount for absolutely no reason, causing panic to set in.
What are you in for this week? Regardless of what the reason is, you need not be weary, fellow fantasy soldiers. We are here to help provide you with three high-upside fantasy football players at each of the main positions (quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end) for the week, and, for reference, this is for PPR scoring leagues; adjust appropriately if your league has different settings or point premiums.
High upside plays for Week 1 at quarterback
Malik Willis
The Miami Dolphins are coming into the desert for a faceoff with the Las Vegas Raiders in week one of the season. The starting quarterback for Miami is Malik Willis, who is getting his first opportunity as a full-time starter in the NFL this season. To say that Willis is looking to make the most out of his opportunity would be an understatement.
The long-time backup quarterback would love to prove that he belongs as a starter throughout the season. While the Raiders are an improved defense from last season, the preseason showed one crucial thing: That unit can be demolished by a great ground attack. Willis has started six games in his NFL career so far; in those games, he has run the ball for an average of nearly 44.8 yards per game and ran in four touchdowns; it seems like the quarterback for Miami could have a favorable showing against the Raiders on Sunday.
Kyler Murray
One thing about the quarterback position that most people should be aware of is that having one who is mobile is something of a cheat code, as he turns into a running back on some plays. Enter Kyler Murray, newly acquired by the Minnesota Vikings. He is on here for a similar reason to Willis.
Murray and his running ability is well-documented. However, there is something that sets him apart from the starting quarterback in Miami this week, and that is his stacked wide receiver room. Justin Jefferson is a known commodity in fantasy football; in addition, Murray has T.J. Hockenson, Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings to sling the ball to this week.
If one needs an extra reason to be convinced of Murray this week, here it is. He is playing against the Green Bay Packers, a team that is going into the first part of the season without its best defensive player, Micah Parsons. Without him, there is not a massive threat to Murray in the pass rush, meaning he could have time or have a lane to take off and run.
Tyler Shough
Toward the end of the 2025 NFL season, Tyler Shough, the quarterback of the New Orleans Saints, could seemingly do no wrong. Now, he is not going to run the ball at the elite level of a Murray or Willis, but he can take advantage of a defense that is in rough shape. It just so happens that the Saints play the Detroit Lions in Week 1, a team that is going into the season without both of its starting safeties.
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