Start Parker Washington or Mike Evans? Week 1

Our Week 1 call

Start Mike Evans over Parker Washington in Week 1.

De-vigged player props project Mike Evans at 5.0 points and Parker Washington at 2.4, a gap of 2.6. Drafters take Mike Evans at ADP 59 and Parker Washington at 63. Market coverage on Mike Evans is 40 percent of what his position needs, so the market side of this carries proportionally less weight.

What the books imply

Player prop markets imply 5.0 fantasy points for Mike Evans, with 40 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

Player prop markets imply 2.4 fantasy points for Parker Washington, with 33 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

That puts Mike Evans 2.6 points ahead of Parker Washington on the books.

Week 1 matchups

Mike Evans and SF visit LAR on Thursday at 8:35 PM ET.

LAR allowed 47.9 fantasy points to WRs in its one game this season, the 4th most in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 147 yards and 3 touchdowns against LAR.

Parker Washington and JAX host CLE on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.

CLE allowed 48.5 fantasy points to WRs in its one game this season, the 3rd most in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 183 yards and 3 touchdowns against CLE.

By points allowed to the position, Parker Washington has the softer matchup.

Injury status

Mike Evans was not on the injury report when the call was made.

Parker Washington was not on the injury report when the call was made.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025, Mike Evans played 8 games for TB and scored 84.8 PPR points, 10.6 a game, finishing WR76.

He caught 30 of 61 targets for 368 yards and 3 touchdowns, with 8 red zone targets and 331 air yards.

He was on the field for 65 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Mike Evans, Week 18 of 2025 against CAR: 50 of 67 snaps, 2 targets and 2 catches for 34 yards, 5.4 PPR points.

Mike Evans, Week 17 of 2025 against MIA: 50 of 67 snaps, 7 targets and 3 catches for 31 yards, 1 touchdown, 12.1 PPR points.

Mike Evans, Week 16 of 2025 against CAR: 42 of 64 snaps, 9 targets and 5 catches for 31 yards, 1 touchdown, 14.1 PPR points.

In 2025, Parker Washington played 16 games for JAX and scored 184.7 PPR points, 11.5 a game, finishing WR27.

He caught 58 of 95 targets for 847 yards and 5 touchdowns, with 12 red zone targets and 582 air yards.

He was on the field for 61 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Parker Washington, Week 18 of 2025 against TEN: 9 targets and 5 catches for 87 yards, 1 touchdown, 19.7 PPR points.

Parker Washington, Week 17 of 2025 against IND: 56 of 69 snaps, 1 carry for -5 yards, 10 targets and 8 catches for 115 yards, 19.0 PPR points.

Parker Washington, Week 16 of 2025 against DEN: 39 of 70 snaps, 10 targets and 6 catches for 145 yards, 1 touchdown, 26.5 PPR points.

How Week 1 went

Mike Evans scored 16.9 PPR points and Parker Washington scored 19.3.

The call was wrong: Parker Washington outscored Mike Evans by 2.4.

Mike Evans finished 11.9 points above the 5.0 the props implied.

Mike Evans, Week 1 against LAR: 49 of 65 snaps, 7 targets and 6 catches for 49 yards, 1 touchdown, 16.9 PPR points.

Mike Evans finished as the week's WR14 in PPR scoring.

Parker Washington finished 16.9 points above the 2.4 the props implied.

Parker Washington, Week 1 against CLE: 35 of 57 snaps, 6 targets and 5 catches for 83 yards, 1 touchdown, 19.3 PPR points.

Parker Washington finished as the week's WR11 in PPR scoring.

Their other Week 1 calls

• Start Mike Evans over Christian Watson.
• Start Mike Evans over Courtland Sutton.
• Start Mike Evans over DJ Moore.
• Start Parker Washington over Alec Pierce.
• Start Parker Washington over Brian Thomas Jr..
• Start Christian Watson over Parker Washington.