6 Fantasy Football Smash Starts: Week 1 (2026)

Welcome to Week 1 of the fantasy football season. Today, we dive into six smash starts for fantasy football lineups. However, first, let me explain how I differentiate a smash-start player from a must-start player.

Must-start players are superstars you plug into your lineup regardless of how good your backup option’s matchup is. By comparison, smash starts aren’t superstars you must play every week. Instead, these are players that, with the wrong matchup and a capable backup option, might sit on the bench at some point during the season.

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Fantasy Football Smash Starts: Week 1

Some of these smash start calls might seem obvious. Still, let’s look at six players I’m determined to get into my fantasy football lineup in Week 1.

Baker Mayfield (QB – TB) vs. Cincinnati Bengals

After weeks of messy contract negotiations, Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers agreed to a massive extension earlier this week. Now the pressure is on for the veteran to live up to the new deal. Thankfully, he has a fantasy-friendly matchup to kick off the 2026 season.

The Bengals improved their defense this offseason, especially upfront. However, they were one of the most fantasy-friendly defenses last season. Cincinnati surrendered 19.4 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, the eighth-most in the NFL, allowing 24.6+ points in nearly a quarter of their matchups.

Tampa Bay heads into their Week 1 matchup with a mostly healthy offense after having several players limited or missing the start of last season. Emeka Egbuka is on track to play on Sunday after missing time in training camp with turf toe. Meanwhile, Mayfield was a solid fantasy quarterback last season despite playing most of it hurt.

The veteran signal-caller finished as the QB12, averaging 1.5 passing touchdowns and 16 fantasy points per game. Don’t be shocked if Mayfield starts off the season with a top-five finish.

Tony Pollard (RB – TEN) vs. New York Jets

Fantasy players might have avoided drafting Titans players like the plague after watching their offense struggle during the preseason. However, Tony Pollard was one of the better mid-round draft picks this year.

The veteran finished last season on fire, ranking as the RB10 from Week 14 through Week 17, averaging 113 rushing yards, 0.8 touchdowns and 17 PPR fantasy points per game, totaling over 100 yards in all but one contest. More importantly, Pollard is in line for a significant workload with Tyjae Spears mixing in on passing downs.

Last season, the Jets traded away their two best defensive players before the trade deadline, leaving them with one of the worst defenses in recent memory. While they made several veteran additions in free agency this offseason, New York still has one of the worst defenses in the league.

Last season, the Jets surrendered 27.7 fantasy points per game to running backs, the second-most in the NFL. They also gave up a league-high 28 touchdowns to running backs, allowing at least one in over 70% of their games.

Malik Nabers (WR – NYG) vs. Dallas Cowboys

Unfortunately, Malik Nabers suffered a torn ACL during Jaxson Dart‘s first career start last season, ending his season in Week 4. While many believed Nabers would start the year on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, the superstar is on track to play Sunday night against the Cowboys.

Furthermore, the Giants haven’t publicly said anything about Nabers being on a snap count. Meanwhile, he was outstanding last season before getting hurt, averaging 10.7 targets and 17.7 PPR fantasy points per game over the first three weeks with Russell Wilson under center.

The Cowboys made several improvements to their defense in the offseason, trading for Rashan Gary, Otito Ogbonnia and Dee Winters. They also used both of their first-round draft picks on defense, selecting Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence. While Dallas’ defense will be better than it was in 2025, it won’t be an elite unit.

More importantly, Nabers is a Cowboys killer, averaging 9.7 receptions on 13.7 targets for 117 receiving yards, 0.7 touchdowns and 25.4 fantasy points per game in three career matchups against the division rivals.

Tre Tucker (WR – LV) vs. Miami Dolphins

While many drafted him as a late-round upside pick, Tre Tucker is a borderline top-30 wide receiver in Week 1 because Brock Bowers is out with a knee injury. The veteran finished last season as the WR38, averaging 9.5 PPR fantasy points per game despite playing on one of the NFL’s most dysfunctional passing attacks.

Tucker played well in excellent matchups, including in Week 3, when the former Cincinnati star had eight receptions for 145 receiving yards, three touchdowns and 40.9 fantasy points against the Washington Commanders.

Thankfully, Tucker has an outstanding fantasy matchup on Sunday against the Dolphins. Last season, Miami surrendered 29.5 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the 19th-most in the NFL. However, they gave up 17 receiving touchdowns to wide receivers, the seventh-most in the league, allowing at least one in 76.5% of their matchups.

More importantly, the Dolphins’ secondary is arguably the worst in the NFL, outside of first-round rookie cornerback Chris Johnson. Tucker should have no problem taking advantage of the matchup, especially with the expected uptick in targets.

Jalen Coker (WR – CAR) vs. Chicago Bears

Many had Jalen Coker as a sleeper pick during draft season after how the former Holy Cross star finished last season. He averaged 4.7 receptions on six targets for 63 receiving yards, 0.7 touchdowns and 14.6 PPR fantasy points per game over the final five games of the regular season and Carolina’s lone playoff contest.

Furthermore, Coker is the clear-cut No. 2 option in the passing game after Chris Brazzell II was lost for the year early in training camp. More importantly, the veteran has a vastly underrated matchup on Sunday.

We haven’t even hit opening weekend, and the Bears are already dealing with several injuries in their secondary. Big-ticket free-agent addition Coby Bryant is on injured reserve (IR). More importantly, last year’s starting nickel cornerback, Kyler Gordon, is starting the season on the PUP list.

Meanwhile, Chicago was arguably the most fantasy-friendly team to opposing slot receivers. They surrendered the most fantasy points per game (15.7), most receiving touchdowns (14) and the third-most receiving yards (1,065) to slot receivers in 2025. Coker has top-20 upside this week.

Kyle Pitts (TE – ATL) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Kyle Pitts was a polarizing draft pick. Some believed the former Florida star was overvalued because of how he finished last year with Drake London injured. Others wanted to avoid the Falcons’ offense completely because of the team’s quarterback situation.

However, Pitts was a solid mid-TE1 draft pick and has significant upside in Week 1. While Tua Tagovailoa will start on Sunday despite struggling in the preseason, the only player he connected with during the warm-up games was Pitts. More importantly, he has an underrated matchup to start the year.

There will be three new starters in the secondary for the Steelers on Sunday compared to last season’s Week 1 lineup. Pittsburgh could have four new secondary starters if Joey Porter Jr. doesn’t play because of a “back injury” that many believe is a cover for contract extension negotiations.

More importantly, the Steelers won’t have DeShon Elliott, as he is currently on injured reserve. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh was one of the most fantasy-friendly teams to tight ends in 2025, surrendering 16.7 PPR fantasy points per game, the third-most in the NFL.

Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.