The first week of the season is a crucial time for fantasy football. Perceptions are shattered as unexpected players emerge.
In a notoriously volatile position, some had breakout performances. Others saw their value plummet due to competition or injury.
Risers: Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts
Tyler Warren announced his arrival with a stellar seven-catch, 76-yard performance on nine targets, recording 14.9 PPR points in the Colts’ impressive victory over Miami. The rookie tight end’s 21-yard long reception showcased his after-the-catch ability, while his 77% catch rate demonstrated the reliable hands that made him a first-round pick.
The performance was particularly impressive for a rookie making his NFL debut, as Warren consistently found openings in Miami’s coverage and converted difficult catches in traffic. His route-running precision and quarterback chemistry with Daniel Jones were evident throughout, suggesting this production is sustainable rather than fluky. The Colts clearly view Warren as a focal point of their passing attack rather than just a complementary piece.
Tyler Warren pro debut:
– 7 receptions on 9 targets
– 76 receiving yards (10.9 avg)
– 1 rush for 3 yards (from fullback)
– 5 first down gains📸: @Colts pic.twitter.com/zlgHTzEMuN
— Noah Compton (@nerlens_) September 7, 2025
With the tight end position offering limited weekly consistency, Warren’s immediate target volume and red zone presence make him a potential difference maker at a position that has seldom few every season. We may very well be talking about Warren as a top-five tight end by the end of the month.
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints
It was an impressive Week 1 for Juwan Johnson, hauling in 8 receptions for 76 yards on 11 targets. The veteran tight end has spent most of his career in a timeshare at the position. Not this year.
Johnson played all but one snap with Spencer Rattler. Finally getting a chance to shine on his own, he delivered. Unfortunately, no one benefited, as Johnson is rostered in a mere 1% of Yahoo leagues. He probably started in none of them. If Johnson is out there on your waiver wire, which he certainly is, pick him up.
Fallers: David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
There was no issue with David Njoku’s playing time. He was on the field for 84% of the snaps. The problem is that he only earned six targets, catching three for 37 yards. What happened? Harold Fannin Jr. happened.
The rookie tight end was reportedly set to have an immediate role out of the gate. That proved to be true as Fannin played 72% of the snaps with the Cleveland Browns running a bunch of 12 personnel. Fannin earned nine targets, catching seven of them for 63 yards.
It was an excellent spot for the Browns against the Bengals’ notoriously poor pass defense. However, the Browns only mustered up 16 points. They will probably be better than that more often than not.
Njoku will have games and remains a talented player. But if Fannin is this involved, it’s hard to see the veteran paying off for fantasy managers.
Evan Engram, Denver Broncos
What a disastrous Denver Broncos’ debut for Evan Engram. He was targeted four times, catching three for 21 yards before departing with a calf strain.
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Engram’s talent is certainly debatable. Now, so is his role in this offense. Add in the injury, and we have a player closer to being droppable than an every-week TE1, even as a back-end option. Fantasy managers who gambled on Engram filling the de facto WR2 role in an offense lacking a second option should immediately be second-guessing that decision.
