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- DJ Moore, WR — Buffalo Bills
- Kenneth Walker III, RB — Kansas City Chiefs
- Mike Evans, WR — San Francisco 49ers
- Deebo Samuel Sr., WR — San Francisco 49ers
- Isaiah Likely, TE — New York Giants
- Dontayvion Wicks, WR — Philadelphia Eagles
- Za’Darius Smith, DE — Atlanta Falcons
- Nakobe Dean, LB — Las Vegas Raiders
- Bryan Cook, S — Cincinnati Bengals
- Nick Cross, S — Washington Commanders
Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season offered early clarity on which offseason additions are already delivering and which need time. While several headline signings were limited by injury, a number of free-agent pickups and trade acquisitions made immediate, tangible contributions for their new teams.
DJ Moore, WR — Buffalo Bills
Buffalo’s passing attack looked notably sharper against Houston, and a major reason was the arrival of veteran receiver DJ Moore. The trade that brought him to Buffalo cost draft capital, but Moore rewarded the investment by catching five passes for a 100-yard day and a touchdown, averaging 20 yards per reception.
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With tight end Dalton Kincaid healthy, Moore’s deep-play ability gave Buffalo a reliable vertical threat it lacked in recent matchups.
Kenneth Walker III, RB — Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs opened Monday Night Football by leaning heavily on the run, and former rushing standout Kenneth Walker III seized the moment. He carried 23 times for a career-best 171 yards and scored twice.
Walker’s night included a 60-yard touchdown on fourth-and-1 and a string of early carries that set the tone for Kansas City’s ground game.
Mike Evans, WR — San Francisco 49ers
Mike Evans didn’t pile up eye-popping yardage, but he provided the kind of contested-catch production the 49ers had been missing. Evans finished with six catches for 49 yards and a touchdown, hauling in a fade in the end zone against Jaylen Watson.
His size and red-zone presence gave San Francisco a clear advantage on crucial third-down and scoring situations.
Deebo Samuel Sr., WR — San Francisco 49ers
Also making an immediate impact for the 49ers was Deebo Samuel Sr., who returned to San Francisco after a season elsewhere. Samuel caught six passes for 48 yards and a touchdown and added a 12-yard rush.
With other receivers sidelined or hurt, Samuel’s versatility provided an important complement to the 49ers’ offense.
Isaiah Likely, TE — New York Giants
One of the early answers to New York’s receiving questions came from tight end Isaiah Likely, a recent addition from Baltimore. Likely led the Giants in receiving in his debut, making eight catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns as New York beat Dallas 28–20.
Dontayvion Wicks, WR — Philadelphia Eagles
After trading A.J. Brown, the Eagles saw a bright moment from newcomer Dontayvion Wicks. Jalen Hurts found Wicks twice for 73 yards and a score, including a 64-yard reception that forced the defense to respect Philadelphia’s downfield threat.
Za’Darius Smith, DE — Atlanta Falcons
After stepping away from the game last season for family reasons, veteran pass rusher Za’Darius Smith returned and signed with Atlanta. He played just 16 snaps but made an outsized impact, recording two sacks of Aaron Rodgers.
With injuries and a suspension limiting the Falcons’ usual pass-rush depth, Smith’s early contributions were particularly valuable.
Nakobe Dean, LB — Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders prioritized defensive upgrades in free agency, and linebacker Nakobe Dean delivered in Week 1. Dean finished tied for the team lead with six tackles, added a sack and forced a fumble in Las Vegas’ win over Miami.
Bryan Cook, S — Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati’s offseason headline was a trade at the line, but safety Bryan Cook quietly produced a big defensive play in the opener. Cook forced one of four fumbles and recovered another as the Bengals opened the season with a 33–27 win.
Nick Cross, S — Washington Commanders
Washington’s revamped defense included contributions from safety Nick Cross, who paced the team with eight tackles. Cross made several key stops in the run game and registered a tackle for loss on a screen, helping shore up the Commanders’ front-seven performance.
