2026 NFL Week 1 Players Props, Fantasy Picks: Here’s who you should buy and fade on offence

The NFL season officially kicked off on Wednesday, but it’s not too late to adjust your fantasy rosters and target some player props.

We’re keeping it simple in Week 1 by focusing on the offence with some Over/Unders on passing, receiving and rushing yards totals.

Here’s the players you should buy into and just as importantly, fade, in Week 1.

Don’t forget to check out Sports Interaction’s complete list of NFL game odds, NFL futures and NFL specials and props.

Passing props

Buy: Lamar Jackson (219.5 passing yards), Jaxson Dart (211.5 yards)

Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson is known for his legs, but he should feast in the air against Indianapolis’ defence, which gave up nearly 250 passing yards per game last year (second-worst in the NFL).

Giants signal-caller Jaxson Dart should similarly benefit against Dallas, the only passing defence that ranked behind the Colts in 2025.

Fade: C.J. Stroud (218.5 yards), Jordan Love (241.5 yards)

To no fault of his own, Houston’s C.J. Stroud is in a tough spot this week against the Buffalo Bills, who boasted the top passing defence in the NFL last year (156.9 passing yards allowed per game).

Next up on the elite secondary list is Minnesota, who ranked just below Buffalo in 2025 with only 158.5 passing yards allowed. That spells trouble for Packers pivot Jordan Love.

Receiving props

Buy: Malik Nabers (60.5 receiving yards), Zay Flowers (64.5 yards), Mark Andrews (34.5 yards)

As New York’s Jaxson Dart benefits against the ‘Boys, so will top receiver Malik Nabers. Someone tell Jerry Jones to fix the secondary down in Texas.

I’ll double dip in the Baltimore-Indy game, with Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews both boasting attractive receiving yards numbers against the Colts’ 31st-ranked passing defence.

Fade: Christian Watson 56.5 (yards), Tucker Kraft (45.5 yards), Nico Collins (69.5 yards)

Sticking with the Vikings’ elite passing defence, Green Bay receivers Christian Watson and Tucker Kraft will likely have a long day on Sunday.

Buffalo’s rushing defence isn’t anything to write home about, but there’s no denying they are arguably the best team against the pass in the NFL. That’s not good news for Houston’s Nico Collins, who had just 55 receiving yards on three targets when he faced the Bills last year.

Rushing props

Buy: Jahmyr Gibbs (83.5 rushing yards), Bucky Irving (57.5 yards)

Detroit running back Jahmyr Gibbs has one of the highest rushing yards totals of the week, but he’s surpassed 84.5 yards in five of the Lions’ last seven games when the team is favoured by seven or less points.

And how can you not try to take advantage of Cincinnati after they did almost nothing to improve their NFL-worst rushing defence from last season? Bucs back Bucky Irving will be happen to make the Bengals front office regret spending too much attention on the offence.

Fade: Quinshon Judkins (59.5 yards), D’Andre Swift (69.5 yards)

On the flip side, Cleveland’s Quinshon Judkins will have his hands full. He’s facing last year’s best rushing defence, Jacksonville, the only team to allow an average of less than 90 rushing yards per game in 2025.

The Carolina Panthers boast an average rushing defence, but they should have no trouble handling Chicago’s D’Andre Swift, who has been dealing with a nagging injury (core) and has failed to surpass 69.5 rushing yards in four of his last five games.