The Carolina Panthers will travel to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineups this week and moving forward, specifically regarding TE Ja’Tavion Sanders.
Is Ja’Tavion Sanders Playing in Week 1?
Sanders is not listed on the injury report this week, so barring any setbacks, he will play.
We’ll continue to monitor the Panthers’ injury report leading up to kickoff for any changes. You can also visit and bookmark our Fantasy News Tracker for the latest updates.
Should You Start or Sit Ja’Tavion Sanders in Week 1?
Due to quotes this summer, some of the value has been sucked out of Isiah Likely’s athletic profile, which is tempting for fantasy managers and NFL coaches alike.
I like Likely as much as anyone, but you can no longer jump on the bandwagon; the secret is out. Next up is Ja’Tavion Sanders. Sanders holds the same fourth-round draft capital that Likely does, and he doesn’t have as much target red tape to navigate in order to be relevant in our game. He scored or earned 5+ targets in three of four games as a rookie, in which he ran 25 routes, giving us a taste of what could be possible in the not-so-distant future.
The Sanders play is a parlay, and you don’t need to bet just yet. You don’t just need Sanders to be ready to leap; you need the Panthers to be willing to unleash him and for Bryce Young to prove himself as an above-average signal caller.
There’s a world in which I’m willing to invest in that chain of events, but I need some 2025 data points first. Carolina gets the Saints, Bucs, and Seahawks in the final three weeks of the fantasy season: if Sanders establishes himself as a valuable part of this offense sans Adam Thielen (August 27th trade), he could be a common piece on fantasy teams that peak when your championship is being handed out.
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 1 Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em article.
Ja’Tavion Sanders’s Fantasy Points Projection in Week 1
Sanders is projected to score 7.7 points in PPR formats. This includes 3.5 receptions for 36 yards and 0.1 touchdowns.
Check out the free PFSN Fantasy Start-Sit Optimizer for the latest projections and advice for your lineups this week.
Week 1 Weather Impact: Panthers at Jaguars
Weather conditions should be favorable for this outdoor matchup with temperatures at 88 degrees Fahrenheit and light winds of 6 mph.
