When does the NFL season start? When is the first game for NFL Week 1? And why isn’t it here yet? The people demand to know when our glorious game will be back!

Every year the tradition is to have the Super Bowl champs kick us off at home on Thursday Night Football (except that one time the Baltimore Ravens had to play at the Denver Broncos because the Orioles wouldn’t move their game – but I digress). That means the Kansas Chiefs get the first home honors on Thursday, September 5th and they are hosting those Baltimore Ravens. 

But there is a treat this year for both football fans and fantasy football in Week 1 – a bonus Friday game! Here is that two-game slate.

 

 

 

NFL Week 1 Schedule - Thursday & Friday

Thursday Night Football: Week 1

Friday Night Football: Week 1

  • WHO: Green Bay Packers vs. Philadelphia Eagles
  • WHEN: Friday, September 6th at 8:15 PM ET
  • WHERE: Corinthians Arena, Sao Paulo, Brazil
  • CHANNEL: CazeTV, RedeTV!, ESPN Brazil, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime

The Friday game also has the distinction of being the very first NFL game in the country of Brazil. Should be an electric start to the season before the main slate kicks off on Sunday. And, with this unique slate, there are some ways we can potentially take advantage for fantasy football week 1. 

With many fantasy football platforms, you can actually drop players from your bench and add new players after they have already played. In some tournaments like FFPC, the contest technically doesn’t start until Sunday, so you can actually draft or even wait to set your lineup AFTER those games. 

None of this helps you as much on Sundays when most teams are already all playing at once, but it helps any time there is an early game slate. So, let’s take a little look at some players to possibly stash on your bench just in case. 

If I don’t have space, one of my favorite moves on sites like Yahoo or Sleeper Fantasy is actually to drop my kicker, add a Thursday or Friday stash, then pick a kicker back up Saturday or Sunday morning. Any little edge helps for fantasy football week 1!

 

 

 

Baltimore Ravens

Isaiah Likely, Tight End 

This one is fairly easy. Last year when Mark Andrews went down with an ankle injury, Isaiah Likely was a top five tight end in fantasy. In a couple drafts I did early where I took Andrews, I already have Likely on the bench. It gives me injury insurance not just for NFL Week 1 but for practice over the next couple weeks.

Justice Hill, Running Back

Derrick Henry is getting up there in age. And injuries are much less kind to older players. Not to mention, this offseason, John Harbaugh said that Justice Hill will play a lot and should even be considered as a “starter”. I think it’s worth getting a free look at what his usage might be.

 

 

 

Kansas City Chiefs

Deneric Prince, Running Back

Honestly, I’ve seen plenty of Clyde Edwards-Helaire. If Isaiah Pacheco gets hurt, I’m not sure I’d be pumped to start CEH. And Carson Steele seems like a cool guy with his pet alligator and all, but he should skew more fullback. I’ll take the unknown upside shot on Deneric Prince, who at least has some hands. 

Kadarius Toney, Wide Receiver

Yes, I know. This guy ruined arguably the coolest play of all time last year with the Kelce lateral. But there’s just something intriguing about his physical ability. And there have been some rumors of him lining up in the backfield, maybe catching passes or even getting some carries. I know I shouldn’t, but I kind of want to see what that looks like. 

 

 

 

Green Bay Packers

Dontayvion Wicks, Wide Receiver

The steam for Wicks has grown enough that he might be drafted even in shallow leagues. But, in regular leagues with kickers and defense, his fantasy ADP in the 13-15th round does put him on the border. This guy could outright play a bigger role than last year or one injury to Christian Watson or Romeo Doubs could make him a full-time player right from the jump. The perfect fantasy football week 1 Thursday/Friday stash.

MarShawn Lloyd, Running Back

Josh Jacobs is the lead dog here. We know what AJ Dillon is by now (and it’s not super exciting). An injury to Jacobs, at the very least, throws Lloyd into a dynamic role splitting with Dillon. And that could be valuable. He may even carve himself out a little role without injury. Worth taking a look at. 

BONUS: Tucker Kraft, Tight End

GB gets a bonus because they are so loaded up with weapons. Kraft tore his pec this offseason which made it fairly easy for Luke Musgrave to retain his job. But Kraft looked solid filling in for Musgrave last year, so he deserves snaps on his own. And Musgrave’s injury history was his biggest concern coming out of college.

 

 

 

Philadelphia Eagles

Will Shipley, Running Back

Ah yes, the glorious unknown of NFL rookies. The Eagles signed Saquon Barkley, but they also used a fourth-round pick on Shipley which, in the modern era, is pretty decent draft capital for a running back. Kenneth Gainwell is a fun player, but he’s not built to run between the tackles so, if anything happens to the 27-year-old Barkley, Shipley will likely be a top fantasy waiver wire add. Why not try to beat the NFL Week 1 wire?

Johnny Wilson, Wide Receiver

Johnny Wilson is a big fella. At 6’6” and nearly 240 pounds, some teams were hoping he’d convert to tight end (as was I for fantasy). But he maintained that he wanted to play wide receiver. He’s been crushing it in camp reportedly, so he could be the third fiddle behind DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown which is a valuable “next man up” situation. And, if Dallas Goedert gets hurt, maybe they just use the big fella in the slot just outside tackle instead of trying to find another pass-catching TE? If he takes any inline tight end snaps at all, believe me that we will be petitioning the platforms for that sweet, sweet TE eligibility.