10 fantasy moves to make before Week 1

It's time to make any last-minute moves your fantasy team needs. Here are 10 things managers should do before the NFL's regular season kicks off Sept. 4, including best practices for setting your lineup and some other tips.

Add these players

Raiders WR Amari Cooper

Cooper reunited with the Raiders this week after spending the offseason without a team. It's unlikely he'll be an elite fantasy asset in 2025, but he's a low-risk add who can replace a low-impact player on your bench. The 31-year-old put up 44 receptions, 547 yards, and four touchdowns with the Browns (six games) and Bills (eight games) last season.

Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon II

Gordon improved his stock quite a bit during the preseason and could see more work to start the year with Jaylen Wright sidelined by a leg injury. The Dolphins expect De'Von Achane to be ready for Week 1 despite dealing with a calf injury, but we'll get to see how Miami could use a power back like Gordon early and often.

Lions WR Isaac TeSlaa

Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams are the only established receivers ahead of TeSlaa after the Lions traded Tim Patrick to the Jaguars as they trimmed their roster. TeSlaa should take Detroit's WR3 job sooner than later. The Arkansas product may still need to beat out Kalif Raymond for snaps, but Raymond is far more dangerous as a returner than he is as a pass-catcher.

Drop these players

Bears WR Luther Burden III

Burden is likely to start the season as the Bears' WR3, but it's tough to envision Chicago's offense facilitating three consistently fantasy-relevant wideouts until we see quarterback Caleb Williams take a big step forward. It's worth monitoring Burden's usage, but there's more upside available with that bench spot right now.

Falcons WR Darnell Mooney

This recommendation is more relevant to managers in smaller leagues or those who need to make a tough drop decision in order to pick someone else up. Mooney missed the last month with a shoulder ailment, but he returned to practice Thursday. However, Drake London, Bijan Robinson, and Kyle Pitts could demand too many touches even if Mooney is ready for Week 1.

Players who were cut by NFL teams

It's unlikely that you were hanging onto many players who were released as NFL teams cut down to their initial 53-man rosters, but make sure you're not wasting a valuable spot on players like Khalil Herbert, Diontae Johnson, or Cam Akers right now.

Stash these players on IR

49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk

Whether you're picking him up late in your draft or he's not selected at all, stashing Aiyuk on IR could pay dividends later in the season. At worst, he'll be a strong depth option; at best, he'll recapture some of his form from 2023 when he recorded a 75/1,342/7 receiving line.

Titans RB Tyjae Spears

As with Aiyuk, you might need to draft Spears late to stash him. The former third-rounder hasn't had a standout season in his two years in the NFL, but he's insurance for an underwhelming starter in Tony Pollard.

Every player you can

There's no benefit to having empty injured reserve slots. Stashing players like Jalen McMillan, Christian Watson, MarShawn Lloyd, or Taysom Hill doesn't hurt, even if they're unlikely to do much for you this season.

Set your lineup optimally

First, make sure you actually put any eligible players on IR. Also, be sure to set your taxi squad if your league uses one.

Then you'll want to move any Thursday Night Football players into non-flex positions. Save your more adaptable flex and/or superflex spots for the players playing later in the week because those spots give you more options if you need to adjust your lineup to account for news or injuries. Following the same logic, place your Sunday and Monday Night Football players into your flex spots when you can.

Other tips

Make sure you're familiar with your league's scoring system and any custom rules that might be in place. These could be as simple as awarding six points for a passing touchdown or as complicated as a series of trades that are executed each week depending on how every matchup went.

Note whether your league uses conferences of any kind, how playoff teams are determined, and any other administrative elements that are unique to your league.

Finally, don't forget to give your team a fun name, pay any relevant league dues, and thank your commissioner!

Andrew Dixon is a contributing fantasy analyst for theScore.