Three Players That Could Dominate Week One
Football is back, the wait is over, and you can finally be excited for Sundays to come. All eyes are on which player will make their mark early on in the season. Week One is where stars shine, especially because they have fresh legs. The first week has tons of players ready to have their breakout performance and make their mark. Here are three players who are ready to set the tone for the season.
Bijan Robinson vs the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bijan Robinson is set to dominate against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This dynamic running back is not only one of the best runners in the league, but he is also one of the best receiving backs as well. Robinson’s versatility as a pass-catcher and a runner makes him a matchup nightmare for any defense. With it being Michael Penix Jr’s first season as a full-time starter, he will lean on Robinson early as a checkdown. Robinson will turn those small gains into big ones. He is listed at five-foot-eleven, 216 pounds, which makes him hard to bring down. This running back's speed and quickness will allow him to find holes and evade defenders, which will keep the Bucs defense on their toes. If he's going out for a pass or getting a handoff, he is a big threat.
Brock Bowers vs the New England Patriots
In 2024, Brock Bowers beat the single rookie record for catches, recording 112 catches 2024. Additionally, he had 1,194 yards and five touchdowns. That is better than most receivers in the league. This Raiders tight end is a matchup nightmare for defenses because his speed and route running are like a wide receiver, which creates a mismatch for most defenses. The Patriots will be without All-Pro corner Christian Gonzalez, who the Patriots used all over the field, in a hybrid role, neutralizing explosive players like Bowers. Not having Gonzales is going to hurt the Patriots' secondary because he is their most versatile player on defense. You can expect Bowers to be moved all across the field. He may either play in the slot, out wide, or in tight, and no matter what, the Patriots will not have an answer for him. This is because Bowers will either be guarded by linebackers or backup corners, which will allow him to have a massive day. With Geno Smith now at quarterback, Bowers gets an experienced quarterback who is considered a “gun slinger”, which he didn’t have a season ago. In addition, he gets a coach who will scheme things up for him. Bowers will dominate the Patriots' defense and put up big stats this week for the Raiders.
Joe Burrow vs the Cleveland Browns
Joe Burrow is going into the 2025 season fully healthy and has another year with his offensive firepower. He goes into Week One with a chance to prove to the league that the Bengals still have what it takes to win the Super Bowl. After a shaky 2024 season, he goes into the first week of the 2025 season against a Browns team, and he has one of the best supporting casts in the NFL. With the guys around him like Chase Brown, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins, and an improved offensive line, he looks to go to Cleveland and shred their defense. With the Bengals' defense only making minor additions to their unit, Burrow will once again have to put the Bengals on his shoulders and put up big numbers if they want to win. Burrow's high IQ and elite pocket awareness will allow him to evade any blitzes the Browns throw at him. In addition, his ability to carve up zone defense will make him a force in Week One. He also has a top-three wide receiver, Ja’Marr Chase, and a top-ten running back, Chase Brown. Additionally, with the spread being that the Bengals are favored by 4.5 points, everyone believes that Burrow will go into Cleveland and get business done, making him the number one quarterback this week.
It’s that time of year again when we get to watch football for numerous hours. When you think of the NFL from week to week, it’s exciting to see what players rise to the occasion and break out in the current week. Three players that come to mind for this week are Bijan Robinson, Brock Bowers, and Joe Burrow. They have the matchups and talent to be the dominant factor in each of their games. What starters do you think will have a breakout performance? Let's wait to find out!
