• The Pittsburgh Steelers scored 34 points in Week 1: Their high-scoring offense produced two top waiver-wire targets — running back Kenneth Gainwell and wide receiver Calvin Austin III.

• A youth movement at tight end: Rookies Harold Fannin Jr. and Mason Taylor played significant roles in their NFL debuts.

• Unlock your edge with PFF+: Access Premium Stats, dominate fantasy with in-season tools and projections and make smarter bets with the new PFF Player Prop Tool.

The first week of the 2025 NFL season is nearly in the books, and the fantasy landscape is already shifting. This week’s waiver-wire pickups include high-upside stashes, plug-and-play starters and a few traps you’ll want to avoid.

From shallow leagues to deeper formats, these are the players worth your attention heading into Week 2.

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QUARTERBACKS

Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons (Rostered in 20.1% of leagues on ESPN)

Michael Penix Jr. was one of my top sleeper quarterbacks heading into the season, and his Week 1 performance backed that up. While his raw numbers from three late-season starts last year were modest, his underlying metrics told a different story. He earned an 87.6 passing grade, fueled by an elite big-time throw rate and the lowest turnover-worthy play rate in the league. Among quarterbacks with at least 100 pass attempts, Penix led in positive-grade rate — edging out Lamar Jackson — and topped Josh Allen in big-time throw rate.

In Week 1, Penix threw for 298 yards and a touchdown despite playing without one of his top two receivers. He also added value on the ground, rushing six times for 21 yards and a go-ahead touchdown late in the game, good for one of the top fantasy outings among quarterbacks.

While Penix isn’t an ideal streaming option for Week 2, he draws favorable matchups in Weeks 3 and 4 against the Panthers and Commanders. His second-half schedule is even better, making him a strong stash candidate in leagues with deeper benches.

Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars (39.6%)

Trevor Lawrence was one of my favorite quarterback targets this draft season, especially in two-QB or best-ball formats, where pairing cheap upside options makes sense. He’s learning a new system under head coach Liam Coen, and there’s reason to be optimistic. Coen’s 2023 offense helped Baker Mayfield jump from a 72.8 to an 82.4 passing grade, with his fantasy production rising from 16.7 to 22.5 points per game. Lawrence already runs more than Mayfield, so the ceiling is even higher.

Under Doug Pederson, Lawrence’s time to throw was consistently low while his average depth of target spiked, hurting his efficiency. He ranked in the bottom quartile in deep-ball accuracy over the past three years but was among the league’s best on short throws. Coen’s offense should lean on that short-area strength, creating a more stable fantasy floor.

Lawrence was just average in Week 1, completing 19-of-31 passes for 178 yards, one touchdown and one interception against the Panthers. But the game script played a role, as the Jaguars led throughout and leaned on the run. Week 2 brings a much better setup against the Bengals, who gave up the sixth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks last season and just allowed 290 passing yards to Joe Flacco.

If you’re streaming this week, Lawrence is your best option, and he still has long-term upside if the Jaguars start clicking offensively.

Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts (14.8%)

Jones was a top-10 fantasy quarterback in 2022, thanks largely to his rushing production. He reminded us of that in Week 1. He ran for two touchdowns and added 272 yards and a score through the air, completing 22 of 29 passes. His top targets were wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and tight end Tyler Warren, helping him post 29.5 fantasy points.

He’s a sit next week against the Denver Broncos, but strong matchups in Weeks 4 and 5 against the Rams and Raiders make him a viable streaming option moving forward.