Week 1 is here, and the fantasy football landscape sees a massive shakeup. It all starts with MarShawn Lloyd in Green Bay. Josh Jacobs landing on the Commissioner Exempt List immediately vaults Lloyd into the Packers’ lead back role, creating a seismic shift for anyone drafting or managing a fantasy roster.
The Green Bay Groundswell
Look, we don’t have all the details on Jacobs’ situation, but with reporters highlighting video evidence that could drop at any moment, he’s basically undraftable as more than a late-round flyer. That makes Lloyd, a 25-year-old former third-round pick from 2024, an absolute must-get. We’ve seen him flash that explosiveness and playmaking ability in practices all summer. Yeah, his injury history is a concern, but get this: the guy spent months at the Meyer Institute of Sport in California this offseason, pouring in work to boost his durability. Remember Christian Watson doing something similar last season? It led to one of the best stretches of his career! Lloyd is now firmly in fringe low-end fantasy RB2 territory, and if you haven’t adjusted your boards, you’re already behind.
Panthers’ Backfield Battle and Pats’ Clear Path
It’s not just Lloyd making waves. Down in Carolina, Jonathon Brooks, the 23-year-old, is finally healthy after his own injury delays and he’s pushing hard for a big role. Chuba Hubbard, the veteran, has already lost his starting job once due to injury and spent weeks sidelined with a hamstring issue. Even though Hubbard is back practicing and expected to play Week 1, his spot at the top is shaky, period. Brooks might not explode as an impact fantasy starter right away, but he’s got RB3/flex value right now, with massive potential if, or let’s be real, *when* he takes over for Hubbard. Grabbing him around the seventh or eighth round of your draft? That’s a steal for that kind of upside.
And then there’s New England, where everyone around the Patriots organization has made it crystal clear: this is Rhamondre Stevenson’s backfield. TreVeyon Henderson is explosive, no doubt, but the coaching staff just doesn’t trust him in pass protection or as a consistent between-the-tackles runner. With the Pats aiming for a Super Bowl return, they can’t afford mistakes that put Drake Maye in danger. Stevenson is the lead dog. What’s wild is that fantasy ADPs don’t show this yet; Henderson is still somehow going ahead of Stevenson! My rankings have had Stevenson higher for a while, and the smart money is on the more stable option. Plus, with A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs boosting that offense, there’s a lot to like about either Patriots back, but Stevenson is the guy to target. He was a top-five fantasy RB on a per game basis over the final six weeks last season, folks!
So, Week 1 is staring us down, and these backfields are where the early season action is truly heating up. Keep a sharp eye on Lloyd exploding in Green Bay, Brooks seizing his moment in Carolina, and Stevenson proving he’s the clear leader in New England. Your fantasy season could hinge on these early moves, so don’t sleep on the shifts.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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