Fantasy Football Week 1 Start Decisions Involving Chiefs and Chargers Players: Justin Herbert, Isiah Pacheco and More

We get a special Friday NFL regular season game in week 1 between the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers.

We already looked at the outlooks for both teams (Chargers and Chiefs), and are back today to answer some trending start/sit decisions from the FSP tool. Let's get right to it!

Having trouble deciding who to start in week 1? Let the FantasySP start/sit tool help you make a decision!

Quarterback Decisions

Patrick Mahomes is in trending decisions with Brock Purdy, Baker Mayfield and Josh Allen. Justin Herbert is part of trending decisions with Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, Jared Goff, Tua Tagovailoa, C.J. Stroud and J.J. McCarthy.

You can view my rankings for all 32 quarterbacks at this link, but let me briefly discuss why I'm taking certain quarterbacks where I am.

I have Allen as my No. 2 fantasy QB for week 1 - he's the highest remaining option after Jalen Hurts played on Thursday. 

Allen has a pretty favorable fantasy matchup (based on last year's numbers) and is a guy to start confidently every week anyways. He's a better fantasy option than Mahomes.

I have Mayfield as my No. 6 fantasy QB for this week, which is also above Mahomes. He's got a great matchup against the Falcons and he should be great in week 1.

Mahomes is my No. 8 guy, while Purdy is 10th, so he's the only one I have Mahomes starting over of those trending decisions. Both QBs have injuries to offensive playmakers around them, but Mahomes is simply more trustworthy.

I have Herbert ranked 17th for week 1. That's below Lawrence, Goff and Fields, who rank 14th-16th. Tagovailoa is 18th, Stroud is 19th and McCarthy is 26th, so I have Herbert over those guys. 

Lawrence is ranked higher because of a good matchup against the Panthers. Goff has a tougher matchup, but has been more trustworthy over his career. Fields' dual-threat ability gives him a slight edge over Herbert, in my eyes.

The matchup for Herbert is actually just so-so, and he's capable of finishing better than 17th. His fantasy ceiling is a bit lower based on matchups against KC last season, so that's why he ranks about right in the middle of the league.

Tagovailoa has a lot of injured offensive playmakers around him, which could make things tougher on the QB. Stroud has a favorable test against the Rams, but after a down 2024 season, I need him to prove something to me before he's ranked any higher.

I'm not as high on McCarthy as others going into the season. He has a tough matchup against Chicago to start things off, and that's why he ranks so low for me.

Running Back Decisions

Omarion Hampton and Isiah Pacheco are part of trending decisions with Jerome Ford, Travis Etienne, Aaron Jones Sr., Austin Ekeler, Breece Hall, TreVeyon Henderson, Tony Pollard and David Montgomery.

In my week 1 RB rankings, I have Hampton ranked 18th and Pacheco at No. 24.

Pollard is No. 19 for me in week 1, so he's just behind Hampton. He has a tougher clash against the Broncos, but on volume alone, I see him as a good asset this week.

Hall is 20th for me this week, so he's behind Hampton but before Pacheco. He looks to be the lead back for the Jets, but a tough test against the Steelers awaits. I think Hall will do enough to at least finish as RB20 this week.

Henderson is my No. 21 back going into an average matchup against the Raiders. I think he'll split the backfield pretty evenly with Rhamondre Stevenson, but I like Henderson's big play ability and that's why I have him ranked and don't have Stevenson as a top-30 back.

Jones is my 22nd-ranked back in week 1. He's got a favorable matchup against the Bears and I think he shines in it, even if he's splitting work with Jordan Mason.

I have Ford as my No. 26 back in week 1. I like his matchup against the Bengals, and looking like the top Cleveland back, he could be a surprise fantasy asset this week.

Montgomery is my No. 30 back, so he's after Pacheco and Hampton as well. An OK matchup against the Packers should help him and Jahmyr Gibbs both be decent fantasy assets in week 1.

I do not have Etienne ranked, so I have Pacheco and Hampton over him. I have Etienne's teammate Tank Bigsby at No. 28, as I think he'll lead the way in rushing attempts. The clash against Carolina favors the ball carrier over a pass-catching back, so I think Bigsby will outscore Etienne this week.

Ekeler isn't ranked for me this week, nor is any Washington back. A favorable test against the Giants awaits, but I just don't know who will lead the backfield. I like Ekeler among the Washington backs, and would take him before Etienne, but definitely after Hampton and Pacheco.

Wide Receiver Decisions

Xavier Worthy is in trending decisions with Emeka Egbuka and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Keenan Allen is in a trending decision with Travis Hunter.

Worthy (No. 18), Smith-Njigba (17th) and Egbuka (No. 24) are all in my top-30 fantasy wideouts for week 1. 

Smith-Njigba gets the slight edge over Worthy because he's got a better chance to be his team's top wideout. Worthy has to deal with Travis Kelce still.

Egbuka is the No. 2 wideout for Tampa Bay, so he falls several spots lower. He's still a very good starting option in week 1.

Allen and Hunter did not crack my top 30.

Allen's matchup against the Chiefs is a bit below average, while Hunter has a bit more favorable test against the Panthers.

Both look like No. 2 wideouts, at best, for their teams. Allen is a bit more trustworthy because of his history, but Hunter definitely has a bit more upside as a rookie playing in his first game.

It's close, but I'm going to trust Allen over Hunter for week 1. I'm just not sold on Hunter yet, and need him to prove what he can do before I'd take him over a vet like Allen.

Tight End Decisions

Travis Kelce is part of trending decisions with David Njoku and Sam LaPorta. If you are choosing between those guys, you either are in a shallow league or are sitting pretty at tight end.

While Njoku was the last tight end drafted of that trio, I have him ranked fourth for week 1. LaPorta is No. 5 and Kelce is No. 6.

Njoku has a favorable matchup against the Bengals. He's his team's second-best pass catcher, and could end up leading the team on Sunday. Joe Flacco being at quarterback gives him a slight boost too, instead of having to rely on a rookie QB.

LaPorta has an average fantasy matchup against the Packers. He'd rank higher if it weren't for Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams being on the same team as him. We'll see how the Lions' offense looks after the departure of Ben Johnson, but I see LaPorta being a good fantasy finisher by the end of the week.

Kelce is set up for fantasy success in week 1, with Rashee Rice suspended and Jalen Royals out. The only problem is that the Chargers are a very tough matchup, so that's why he gets knocked down a couple pegs.

Really, if I'm deciding between Kelce and LaPorta or Njoku, I'm trying to get all three guys in my lineup. They'd rank around No. 20 if they were wideouts, so that means I'd try to start them all.