Five players to watch for NFL Fantasy in Melbourne

Australia will host its first ever regular season NFL game at the MCG this Friday at 10:35am in front of over 95,000 fans.

Divisional rivals San Francisco 49ers will take on the Los Angeles Rams in a grudge match that will have incredible ramifications on the NFC West title picture.

From an NFL Fantasy outlook, there is a few players that you need to keep an eye this Friday at the G’ to win your Week 1 matchup:

Christian McCaffrey (San Francisco 49ers)

The most lucrative player in recent NFL fantasy history, Christian McCaffrey is the focal point of this 49er’s offence once again in 2026.

The highest scoring fantasy player in 2025 looks ready to launch again into another league winning campaign.

The question marks remain around his ability to remain on the field as injuries have plagued his career during different periods.

If McCaffrey stays healthy again, he will once again be a Fantasy superstar, and this all begins at the MCG this Friday.

Puka Nacua (Los Angeles Rams)

The Rams star wide receiver has been, like McCaffrey, the central contributor of his team’s dynamic offence.

The highest scoring wide receiver in fantasy last season will begin his 2026-27 season in the blockbuster clash in Melbourne.

The touchdown machine is being drafted in the top five in leagues, and for good reason.

Nacua will look to destroy this 49ers defence and salute his Fantasy owners in style at the MCG this Friday.

Mike Evans (San Francisco 49ers)

A new home for Mike Evans in the Bay area will be one to watch as his role becomes clearer in this Shanahan offence.

Before last year’s interrupted campaign with injury, Evans had 11 consecutive 1000 receiving yard seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Evans has battled injuries this pre-season training camp, but he publicly has acknowledged that this was largely precautionary.

He will look to reignite his status as one of the leagues marquee wide receivers, and Week 1 in Melbourne is the launch pad.

Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams)

Coming off an MVP season last year, Matt Stafford is once again avoiding the decline with age that many quarterbacks in the past have succumbed to.

The 38-year-old who is heading into his 18th NFL season will once again be one of the top Fantasy QB’s.

The Rams have transformed their roster once again, and their solid offensive line and elite wide receiver duo of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams will ensure Stafford remains fantasy relevant.

The MCG will be Stafford’s playground for Fantasy points this Friday in his Week 1 matchup with the 49ers.

Kyren Williams (Los Angeles Rams)

Kyren Williams has been a durable and dependable running back in Fantasy ranking top 10 in the past three consecutive seasons.

He is one of just two running backs to rush for 1100 yards and 10 touchdowns per season during this time, in elite company with Raven’s superstar Derrick Henry.

The question marks this year, like years gone past is whether Blake Corum will finally eat into his usage, creating a running back duo in Los Angeles.

If the workload is shared, Williams will likely lose his bell cow status in NFL Fantasy, so that is a factor to be aware of before this Friday’s clash at the MCG with the 49ers.