The Week 1 NFL Schedule for the 2024 Season features some great matchups, and we’ve got what you need to know about what we’re calling our “Games of the Week,” including Gilberto Manzano’s key matchups, Matt Verderame’s key stats, and who Michael Fabiano should start and who he should play. fantasyJennifer Piacenti’s best bets and Conor Orr’s prediction for every match.

Let’s take a look at our top five with Jordan Love vs. Jalen Hurts in Brazil, CJ Stroud vs. Anthony Richardson in a big AFC South game, Tom Brady making his TV debut with the Dallas Cowboys–Cleveland Browns assignment, the Detroit Lions hosting the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football, and the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers closing out Week 1 on Monday Night Football with Aaron Rodgers looking to play a full season instead of just four plays. Let’s go!

Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles (Brazil)

When/TV: 8:15pm ET Friday, Peacock

Distribution: Eagles -2.5 (over/under 48.5)

Matchup to watch: Eagles RB Saquon Barkley vs. Green Bay’s inside linebackers

The Packers have had a lot of defensive talent in recent seasons, but they have not been able to play as a collective unit. Barkley could make a great debut for the Eagles if the inside linebackers do not improve quickly under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. —Gilberto Manzano

Key statistic: Last season, Jordan Love ranked seventh in air yards with 2,242. Philadelphia struggled in this department, finishing the year ranked 29th in air yards against. —Matt Verderame

Start them/put them down: Jordan Love should be in your starting lineup this week. The Eagles allowed more than 20 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks in 2023. —Michael Fabiano

Best guess: These two teams ended 2023 on opposite trends, and it’s a great value (+124) for Love and the Packers to pull off an upset. — Jennifer Piacenti

SI’s choice: While I’m hesitant to bet against Vic Fangio’s defense, Green Bay has perhaps the deepest and most versatile receiving corps in the league. Enough talent to confound a zone-heavy scheme with a few new faces on defense. —Conor Orr

Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts

When/TV: 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS

Distribution: Texans -2.5 (over/under 48.5)

Matchup to watch: Colts QB Anthony Richardson vs. Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr.

The No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft was handed a tough matchup for his first regular-season game in nearly a year. Houston features an opportunistic defense, which could give Richardson a long day if his accuracy isn’t up to par. Stingley had five interceptions in ’23. —Gilberto Manzano

Key statistic: The Texans enjoyed a 25.7% pressure rate in 2023, fifth best in the league. Indianapolis will have to keep Anthony Richardson upright with Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter coming in from the wings. —Matt Verderame

Start them/put them down: Nico Collins will have more competition for targets in Houston this season, but he was the Colts’ boss last season. Fire ’em up! —Michael Fabiano

Best guess: I like Tank Dell in the end zone (+270). Dell had seven touchdowns in just 11 games played last season, including a score in his lone game against the Colts. —Jennifer Piacenti

SI’s choice: Not so fast, my friend. We’re all on the Texans hype train and rightfully so, but the Colts actually outscored Houston last year with Gardner Minshew II under center. Richardson is back, Indy will hold onto the ball and limit possession time. —Orr

Dallas Cowboys at Cleveland Browns

When/TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox

Distribution: Browns -2.5 (over/under 41)

Matchup to watch: Cowboys LT Tyler Guyton vs. Browns DE Myles Garrett

The Cowboys’ 2024 first-round pick will likely get his “welcome to the NFL” moment very soon against Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. Guyton was thrown into the fire after the team placed veteran tackle Chuma Edoga on the injured list. —Manzano

Key statistic: When the Cowboys get into the red zone, they can have a lot of success. While Dallas’s offense ranked just 14th in red zone efficiency last season, Cleveland ranked dead last defensively, scoring a touchdown on 71.4 percent of its trips. —Continue

Start them/put them down: It doesn’t matter if it’s Ezekiel Elliott, Dalvin Cook or Rico Dowdle, you don’t want anything to do with the Cowboys backfield in fantasy this week. —Fabian

Best guess: Elliott any TD (+205). Cowboys running backs had no success at the goal line last season. Elliott may have slowed down a bit, but there’s a reason Dallas brought the veteran back. Elliott had 12 rushing TDs in 2022. —Piacenti

SI’s choice: I like Cleveland here, despite the fact that defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is going to have a field day against a battered and aging Browns front with Micah Parsons released. But Cleveland also has strength on the edges and could take a shot at a revamped Dallas line. —Orr

Los Angeles Rams at Detroit Lions

When/TV: 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC Peacock

Distribution: Lions -3.5 (over/under 50.5)

Matchup to watch: Rams WR Puka Nacua vs. Detroit’s cornerbacks

The last time these two teams met, Nacua torched the Lions’ secondary with nine catches for 181 yards and a touchdown in their wild-card matchup. But now the Lions counter with a revamped cornerback rotation of Carlton Davis III, Terrion Arnold, Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and Amik Robertson. —Manzano

Key statistic: The Lions revamped their secondary this offseason, adding a veteran in Davis along with rookies in Arnold and Rakestraw Jr. The makeover was needed, as Detroit had allowed a league-worst 12.3 yards per completion in 2023. —Continue

Start them/put them down: Jared Goff is usually solid at home and he has a revenge game against the Rams and their questionable defense. He’s a nice fantasy option. —Fabian

Best guess: Goff over 266.5 passing yards. Goff averaged 280 passing yards per game at Ford Field last season, and this game should be a shootout with a total of 51. —Piacenti

SI’s choice: I think losing the first game is part of the Lions’ heroic journey to the Super Bowl this year. The Rams can tear apart any secondary in the league and this will be a necessary learning experience for Detroit. —Orr

New York Jets at San Francisco 49ers

When/TV: Monday 7:20 p.m. ET, ESPN, ABC, ESPN+

Distribution: 49ers -4.5 (over/under 44)

Matchup to watch: 49ers DE Nick Bosa against New York’s offensive line.

The Jets have invested heavily in their offensive line this offseason to ensure that Aaron Rodgers stays upright for most of the season. They will soon find out if the additions of Tyron Smith, John Simpson and Morgan Moses are enough to protect Rodgers from edge rushers like Bosa. —Manzano

Key statistic: The 49ers led the league in yards per play in 2023 with 6.6 yards per play. Conversely, New York tied for first in yards per play allowed (4.6). Which unit wins? —Continue

Start them/put them down: It’s hard to pass up Brandon Aiyuk, but I’d temper expectations. He’s been solid in training camp and the preseason, and the Jets were tough against perimeter receivers last year. —Fabian

Best guess: Breece Hall over 25.5 receiving yards. The Niners allowed 37 receiving yards per game to running backs last season, and Hall outgained the prop in eight of 17 games. Expect Rodgers to target his RB in his first game back. —Piacenti

SI’s choice: Trent Williams is back. Brandon Aiyuk is also back. Kyle Shanahan knows he needs this game to quickly erase the pain of last year’s Super Bowl loss. In the meantime, the Jets will find out how deep their pass-rush rotation is without Haason Reddick. —Orr

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