Adam Rank Urges Week 1 Fantasy Managers to Start Baker Mayfield, Sit Patrick Mahomes
Updated
Updated · ESPN · Sep 11
Adam Rank Urges Week 1 Fantasy Managers to Start Baker Mayfield, Sit Patrick Mahomes
3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Sep 11
Summary
Baker Mayfield headlines Adam Rank’s Week 1 picks as a “smash start” against Cincinnati, while Patrick Mahomes lands on the sit list after Denver held him to 6.1 yards per attempt and one TD last season.
Jalen Hurts also gets a strong endorsement, with Rank citing his 21.7 fantasy points per game over the first eight games of 2025 and confidence Philadelphia will lean again on its run game and Brotherly Shove.
At running back, Rank backs a broad group of starters including Jacksonville’s Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr., Tampa Bay’s Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell, Dallas’ Javonte Williams and Houston’s David Montgomery.
Chris Olave, DJ Moore, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Josh Downs, Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison make Rank’s preferred Week 1 receiver pool, while Kyle Pitts Sr. and Juwan Johnson top his tight end recommendations.
For managers streaming defenses or playing Survivor, Rank points to the Chargers against Arizona after the Jaguars, noting Jim Harbaugh is 6-0 in season openers and Nick Sirianni is 5-0.