Five fantasy football WR surprises from Week 1

The first Sunday of the NFL season is in the books, and some players surprised out of the gate. 

Just because a player was surprising doesn't mean it's for a good reason, though. A player failing to perform can be just as surprising as a a breakout performance.

Here are five fantasy football wide receiver surprises from Week 1:

5. Garrett Wilson, New York Jets

Coming into the 2025 season, many questions were swirling around the Jets. Those questions mainly focused on how the QB play of Justin Fields was going to impact the Jets' playmakers, Wilson included. 

The two former Ohio State players looked great Sunday in a 34-32 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Wilson surprised as Fields found him seven times on nine targets for 95 yards and a score. 

When Fields dropped back to throw, Wilson was always the primary read. After Wilson, no Jet caught more than two balls or was targeted more than four times. Even in a run-first scheme — the Jets had 182 team rushing yards — Wilson looks poised to maintain a consistent workload. 

4. Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams

Against the Houston Texans in his first game with the Rams, Adams only tallied four catches for 51 yards. Meanwhile, Puka Nacua hauled in 10 of 11 targets for 130 yards in the Rams' 14-9 win. It's clear who Matthew Stafford's favorite target is.

Over Nacua's career, in games with Cooper Kupp, he averaged six catches for 82 yards. With Kupp gone and Adams sliding into that WR2 role, Adams can be expected to perform as Kupp did. 

The positive sign for Adams is that there was no competition from a potential WR3, as no other Ram had more than two targets.

3. Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts

Coming off a disappointing 2024 season, Pittman and the Colts showed out in a 33-8 victory over the Miami Dolphins. With new QB Daniel Jones, Pittman totaled six catches on eight targets for 80 yards and a score. 

Over his career, Jones has had more success targeting short and medium distances rather than downfield, as he boasts a career mark of 5.6 air yards per completion. Pittman matches well with that, as he averages about 6.7 air yards before the reception.

Pittman and the Colts might be brought back down to earth against a tough Denver Broncos secondary next week, but they should fare well over the course of the season. 

2. Miami Dolphins pass catchers

While Jones led a lethal passing attack, Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa could not say the same. Finishing 14-of-23 for 114 yards, a touchdown and three turnovers, he looked like a shell of himself. 

Many thought a bounce-back season was in store for Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, but Week 1 looked even rougher than last season. Hill finished Sunday with four catches for 40 yards, while Waddle totaled the same number of catches for only 30 yards. 

In all aspects of the game, the Dolphins' playmakers lacked the usual explosiveness we've grown accustomed to. The Dolphins take on the New England Patriots next, a team they've gone 8-2 against since 2020, averaging 22.8 PPG. 

1. Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills

One of the biggest winners from Sunday night's shootout between Buffalo and the Baltimore Ravens, Coleman finished with eight catches on 11 targets for 112 yards and a score. 

QB Josh Allen came out slinging for 394 passing yards in the Bills' 41-10 win, totaling more yards than in any game during his 2024 MVP campaign. Coleman, a 2024 second-round pick, was Allen's favorite target, leading the Bills in receptions, targets and yards on Sunday.

The Bills are expected to be a high-power offense. If Allen continues to throw at such a high volume, expect Coleman to be one of the biggest benefactors.