Fantasy Football: Start Em, Sit Em: Week 1
Rather than quickly listing start em and sit em players on my Week 1 NFL Picks page, I thought I’d devote a page for this. Follow @walterfootball for updates.
Detroit Lions (0-0) at Kansas City Chiefs (0-0)
Start Em:
Obvious Starts:
DET: RB Jahmyr Gibbs, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown.
KC: QB Patrick Mahomes, RB Isiah Pacheco, TE Travis Kelce.
Sit Em:
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, Chiefs
Someone I’ll be fading this year, and Detroit’s secondary isn’t bad.
Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis
Carolina Panthers (0-0) at Atlanta Falcons (0-0)
Start Em:
Obvious Starts:
CAR: RB Miles Sanders.
ATL: RB Bijan Robinson, WR Drake London, TE Kyle Pitts.
Sit Em:
Adam Thielen, WR, Panthers
I don’t mind Adam Thielen in PPR, but he’s not a great option otherwise because he can’t get open anymore.
Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis
Cincinnati Bengals (0-0) at Cleveland Browns (0-0)
Start Em:
Obvious Starts:
CIN: RB Joe Mixon, WR Ja’Marr Chase.
CLE: RB Nick Chubb, WR Amari Cooper.
Sit Em:
Joe Burrow, QB, Bengals
This might be controversial, but Joe Burrow may not be healthy.
Jacksonville Jaguars (0-0) at Indianapolis Colts (0-0)
Start Em:
Anthony Richardson, QB, Colts
The rushing makes him viable.
Obvious Starts:
JAX: QB Trevor Lawrence, RB Travis Etienne, WR Calvin Ridley, TE Evan Engram, Jaguars Defense.
IND: None.
Sit Em:
Christian Kirk, WR, Jaguars
Christian Kirk wasn’t playing in two-receiver sets in the preseason, so I need to see evidence that he will in the regular season.
Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Colts
I like Anthony Richardson’s rushing, but not his passing.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-0) at Minnesota Vikings (0-0)
Start Em:
Baker Mayfield, QB, Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield can be streamed against a bottom-three defense.
Obvious Starts:
TB: RB Rachaad White (PPR), WR Mike Evans, WR Chris Godwin.
MIN: RB Alexander Mattison, WR Justin Jefferson, TE T.J. Hockenson.
Sit Em:
Jordan Addison, WR, Vikings
I wouldn’t trust Jordan Addison yet.
Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis
Tennessee Titans (0-0) at New Orleans Saints (0-0)
Start Em:
Obvious Starts:
TEN: RB Derrick Henry, WR DeAndre Hopkins.
NO: WR Chris Olave.
Sit Em:
Jamaal Williams, RB, Saints
Jamaal Williams will start, but the Titans were second against the run last year.
Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis
San Francisco 49ers (0-0) at Pittsburgh Steelers (0-0)
Start Em:
Kenny Pickett, QB, Steelers
Kenny Pickett has a good matchup if Nick Bosa is out.
Obvious Starts:
SF: RB Christian McCaffrey, WR Deebo Samuel, WR Brandon Aiyuk, TE George Kittle.
PIT: WR George Pickens, WR Diontae Johnson, TE Pat Freiermuth.
Sit Em:
49ers Defense
I wouldn’t use the 49ers defense if Nick Bosa isn’t available.
Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis
Arizona Cardinals (0-0) at Washington Redskins (0-0)
Start Em:
Obvious Starts:
ARZ: RB James Conner (PPR).
WAS: RB Brian Robinson, WR Jahan Dotson, Redskins Defense.
Sit Em:
Marquise Brown, WR, Cardinals
Marquise Brown might be fine in PPR, but the quarterback situation in Arizona is a huge question mark.
Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis
Houston Texans (0-0) at Baltimore Ravens (0-0)
Start Em:
Obvious Starts:
HOU: RB Dameon Pierce.
BAL: QB Lamar Jackson, TE Mark Andrews.
Sit Em:
Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Ravens
I can’t envision using Odell Beckham Jr. without seeing him be productive.
Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis
Green Bay Packers (0-0) at Chicago Bears (0-0)
Start Em:
Obvious Starts:
GB: RB Aaron Jones, WR Christian Watson.
CHI: QB Justin Fields, RB Khalil Herbert, WR D.J. Moore, TE Cole Kmet.
Sit Em:
No one of note
Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis
Las Vegas Raiders (0-0) at Denver Broncos (0-0)
Start Em:
Obvious Starts:
LV: RB Josh Jacobs, WR Davante Adams.
DEN: WR Courtland Sutton.
Sit Em:
Javonte Williams, RB, Broncos
I can’t trust Javonte Williams because of his ACL tear.
Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis
Philadelphia Eagles (0-0) at New England Patriots (0-0)
Start Em:
Kendrick Bourne, WR, Patriots
Kendrick Bourne is New England’s top receiver.
Obvious Starts:
QB Jalen Hurts, WR A.J. Brown, WR DeVonta Smith, TE Dallas Goedert, Eagles Defense.
NE: RB Rhamondre Stevenson.
Sit Em:
Eagles Running Backs
I have no interest in this three-man rotation.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Patriots
JuJu Smith-Schuster is overrated and injured.
Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis
Miami Dolphins (0-0) at Los Angeles Chargers (0-0)
Start Em:
Obvious Starts:
MIA: WR Tyreek Hill, WR Jaylen Waddle.
LAC: QB Justin Herbert, RB Austin Ekeler, WR Keenan Allen, WR Mike Williams.
Sit Em:
Raheem Mostert, RB, Dolphins
I expect the Dolphins to be trailing throughout.
Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis
Los Angeles Rams (0-0) at Seattle Seahawks (0-0)
Start Em:
Obvious Starts:
LAR: RB Cam Akers, WR Cooper Kupp (if he plays), TE Tyler Higbee.
SEA: RB Kenneth Walker, WR D.K. Metcalf, WR Tyler Lockett.
Sit Em:
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seahawks
I wouldn’t trust Jaxon Smith-Njigba yet.
Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis
Dallas Cowboys (0-0) at New York Giants (0-0)
Start Em:
Jake Ferguson, TE, Cowboys
He’ll be taking the Dalton Schultz role this year.
Obvious Starts:
DAL: QB Dak Prescott, RB Tony Pollard, WR CeeDee Lamb.
NYG: QB Daniel Jones, RB Saquon Barkley, TE Darren Waller.
Sit Em:
No one of note
Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis
Buffalo Bills (0-0) at New York Jets (0-0)
Start Em:
Obvious Starts:
QB Josh Allen, RB James Cook, WR Stefon Diggs, WR Gabriel Davis.
NYJ: QB Aaron Rodgers, WR Garrett Wilson.
Sit Em:
Jets Running Backs
The Jets have said they’re going to be “smart” with Dalvin Cook and Breece Hall.
Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis
Fantasy Football Rankings – Sept. 5
NFL Picks – Sept. 5
2024 NFL Mock Draft – July 25
NFL Power Rankings – June 2