The opening weekend of the NFL season is finally here, and it felt like two years went by since the Chiefs knocked off the 49ers in Super Bowl 54. This season should bring a ton of enjoyment and some surprises. This is fantasy football after all, so expect the unexpected. It is time for my favorite weekly game. I am looking forward to another season and hope all of your teams stay healthy and receive the necessary luck that is needed to win. Without further ado, here are my top starts and sits for Week 1 of the fantasy football season.
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NFL Week 1: Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em
Quarterback: Start ‘Em
Matt Ryan, ATL (vs SEA)
I love me some Josh Allen with the Bills’ cupcake schedule in September, but that matchup with the Jets will not feature many points. This battle of the birds could feature the most points of any game in Week 1. Ryan against Russell Wilson will be simply bonkers. If the Falcons are going to make the playoffs, this game will tell us a ton. Atlanta is going to be letting it loose right from the start in this one. The bevy of weapons at Ryan’s disposal is devastating for the opposition to deal with. Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and Hayden Hurst are all strong contenders to finish as top-10 performers at their positions or so in the opening weekend. Ryan has a chance to be the best of the bunch.
Start em sit em stat line: 300 passing yards, 3 TD
Quarterback: Sit ‘Em
Aaron Rodgers, GB (at MIN)
This future Hall of Famer is one of the 10 greatest signal-callers we have ever seen. He has been a fantasy mainstay for the majority of his career, but 2016 was the last time we saw more than 26 passing scores. Those are at best average numbers for season-long leagues. For daily leagues, this matchup is not good. Rodgers is going against a less experienced secondary that has some weaknesses. However, Green Bay is not looking to get into a shootout. The likes of Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams and A.J. Dillon could tote the rock over 30 times in this one. Dalvin Cook should get his in this one as well. While both defenses could have issues in the secondary in terms of yards, the scoring should be mainly on the ground. Rodgers does have the Lions next week, but look elsewhere for the opening slate of games.
Start em sit em stat line: 230 passing yards, 1 TD
Running Back: Start ‘Em
Chris Carson, SEA (at ATL)
In case you forgot, the best game of the entire opening week in my eyes will be Seattle at Atlanta. I will enjoy the Saints and Buccaneers as well as the Packers and Vikings, but this matchup should be high scoring. Carson is a tremendous downhill runner that will get plenty of targets in the passing game as well. While Seattle wants Wilson to cook, it will be the running game that allows it to. The Falcons are going to be giving up close to 30 points a pop against playoff competition. Look for Carson to find pay dirt at least once and eclipse 100 yards from scrimmage in perhaps the best game of the opening week.
Start em sit em stat line: 110 total yards, 4 receptions, 1 TD
Running Back: Sit ‘Em
Le’Veon Bills, NYJ (at BUF)
I was not a backer of Bell in any of my drafts this past week, and one of the reasons why was game script. The Jets are going to be losing in a boatload of ball games this season. Another reason is his lack of scores due to the Jets throwing more than running in the second half of just about any game. Bell could get cheap points with receptions, but the number of yards and touchdown drives will be dreadful. The Bills have one of the five best defenses in the league arguably. Don’t play Bell unless you truly are desperate.
Start em sit em stat line: 60 total yards, 3 receptions
Wide Receiver: Start ‘Em
DeSean Jackson, PHI (at WSH)
Jackson was not drafted as a starter and is likely not the first guy off your bench either. This is the perfect flex play if you are lacking at all at wideout. For best ball purposes, this is your chance. Jackson has scored seven times in his career against Washington. Playing in 13 career games against this NFC East foe, Jackson has nearly 800 career yards with a solid 57.7% catch rate. He just needs one deep connection with Carson Wentz to make you some cash. Wentz will be locking eyes with Zach Ertz, but Jalen Reagor may not play. Jackson is the sleeper in this passing game, and he could score a touchdown to help you hit a big payday.
Start em sit em stat line: 5 Receptions for 75 yards, TD
Wide Receiver: Sit ‘Em
Courtland Sutton, DEN (vs TEN)
This is an uber-talented weapon for Drew Lock on Monday Night Football against the Titans. However, this game could get ugly in terms of the pace. Imagine the exact opposite of a Big 12 football matchup. Points will not be flowing in this one. Despite this Monday nighter being the final game on the slate, it has the second-lowest total of the entire opening Week 1 slate. Only 41 points are on the board, and it might be tough for this game to even get to the low number. Adoree’ Jackson and Malcolm Butler are respectable corners that should hold up thanks to a solid Titans pass rush. Denver’s weakness is their inability to pass block well. The addition of Jadeveon Clowney could be on display right away, and this seems more of a conservative, vanilla gameplan for Vic Fangio. There will be plenty of Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay in this one but not much of Sutton or Jerry Jeudy.
Note: Sutton was limited on Friday’s practice (shoulder) and is considered day-to-day for MNF vs Tennessee
Start em sit em stat line: 3 Receptions for 44 yards
Tight End: Start ‘Em
Blake Jarwin, DAL (at LAR)
This Sunday night matchup should be a fun one thanks to multiple tight ends producing solid fantasy numbers in the season. Tyler Higbee of the Rams and Jarwin of the Cowboys should have vital roles this season. Jarwin will likely be a decent TE1 option, and the same can be said for Higbee. There are 83 targets gone from last season with Jason Witten no longer a member of America’s team. The Rams have issues in their back seven, and the Cowboys will likely feast by the second half. I would start all Cowboys (Amari Cooper is my least favorite) in this, but Jarwin could bring the most to the table when you look at cheap options for daily fantasy. Ceedee Lamb is making his NFL debut and will also be in play for solid flex appeal as well as best ball.
Start em sit em stat line: 4 Receptions for 50 yards, 1 TD
Tight End: Sit ‘Em
Austin Hooper, CLE (at BAL)
I would sell a handful of tight ends, and I feel sorry for those that must start tight ends every week in daily or season-long leagues, but I am happy to help you decide any close calls you may have. Hooper has a brutal matchup against a Ravens squad that could get after Baker Mayfield and the Browns. Jarvis Landry and Kareem Hunt are even risky plays, but they are likely to catch some passes underneath, something I do not necessarily see for Hooper.
Start em sit em stat line: 3 Receptions for 25 yards
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