NFL Week 1 latest intel, buzz questions, news, fantasy tips - ESPN

As we hit Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season, league insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano have been making calls to sources around the league for the latest news and notable buzz.

What should we expect from Patrick Mahomes and other players returning from significant injuries in the early parts of the season? Which teams might be flying under the radar and could surprise? Where are the most interesting and uncertain quarterback situations around the NFL? And for all those fantasy football managers out there, which players might come out of nowhere in Week 1?

It's all here, as Jeremy and Dan answer big questions and empty their reporting notebooks with everything they are hearing heading into the 2026 campaign.

Jump to:
Injury comebacks | Playoff sleepers
QB situations to watch | Breakouts
More notes, intel entering Week 1

Graziano: Let's start with the biggest name: Mahomes. He tore the ACL in his left knee late enough last season that many wondered if he'd play at all in the early part of the 2026 season. But it was clear early in camp that he attacked his rehab and would be ready to go in Week 1. We should see him Monday night against the Broncos, and though the injury to left tackle Josh Simmons does give me a little pause, I think there's reason to believe the Chiefs' offense will be better around Mahomes.

Kansas City replaced Matt Nagy with Eric Bieniemy at offensive coordinator, which doesn't seem like a big change given Bieniemy's history there, but the Chiefs also changed out several other offensive assistants. And they are counting on a fully healthy Xavier Worthy, a (hopefully) fully healthy and engaged Rashee Rice and newly signed running back Kenneth Walker III to make them more explosive. I have the Chiefs