Fantasy Football Week 1 Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em
You have been waiting months to read Week 1 start ’em sit ’em, and we are here to provide you with the best advice to help you win your matchups. Yes, that’s right. Fantasy football is back, and we are excited to get started. But with every week comes difficult decisions. No, you won’t see obvious start ’em sit ’em decisions like starting Christian McCaffrey, Ceedee Lamb, or Jalen Hurts in this column. Instead, you will see players who have not quite made that jump to elite status or those who are wildly inconsistent and tough to trust weekly.
The players you likely will see on this list hope to become great RB2 options, like Isiah Pacheco last season, or explode into WR1 options, like Puca Nicua. Likewise, it’s incredibly important to understand which players to fade, even if just for the week, with the idea that you can rely on them later.
Fantasy football has many difficult decisions. Furthermore, you must understand your players’ limitations. I am an experienced fantasy football champion who has been down in the dirt. I am ready to help you win your league by helping you determine the best weekly matchups to play. I will give you two quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends to start. Additionally, I will give you the same amount to fade. With that said, let’s get started
Week 1 Starts
*Start Stat Percentage, Via Yahoo
Jared Goff
Detroit Lions vs. LAR (31% starting)
Jared Goff is another border player you will see on many start ’em sit ’em lists this season. The reason? He is terrific at home and in domed stadiums but awful in outdoor games. Also, it’s crucial to remember that the Rams were fourth-worst in the NFL in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks last season. Goff beat the Rams in the playoffs. Now, he gets a chance to do it again. Goff reached 20 fantasy points on six occasions last season. If your quarterback is your weakest position, and you need to stream one, Goff is not a bad choice, especially against the Rams, who are breaking in a young defense that might struggle on the road.
James Cook
Buffalo Bills vs. ARZ (92% starting)
James Cook is not a must-start, set-it-and-forget-it option yet. But he could become one this season if he lives up to his fantasy football potential. For now, he is on the cusp of greatness, with some doubt because of his inconsistency. Cook gets an exceptional matchup to start the season as he faces the Arizona Cardinals, who were dead last in fantasy points allowed to running backs. That spells great news for Cook and his fantasy owners. Plus, the offensive line will be even better with Aaron Kromer running the show. Cook may go off here to start the season and give his fantasy owners reason to hope.
Gus Edwards
Los Angeles Chargers vs. LVR (9% starting)
It is really tough to trust Gus Edwards. But when he delivers, it usually comes in bunches. Enter the Las Vegas Raiders. They were 24th in fantasy points allowed to running backs. The Chargers want to run the ball under new head coach Jim Harbaugh. He had three games where he busted over 20 points last season, including a monster game where he scored three touchdowns against the Arizona Cardinals. Ultimately, we can see the Chargers leaning on the run to start the season while quarterback Justin Herbert gets used to his new weapons. That essentially means Edwards will have some chances at the goal line.
Chris Godwin
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. WAS (37% starting))
You are probably reading this and fuming because Chris Godwin burned you on several occasions last season. But Godwin was steady in the slot when given the chance. Moreover, he even finished with over 15 points on four occasions, including a monster game against the Green Bay Packers, where he caught 10 passes for 155 yards on his way to 25.5 fantasy points. Amazingly, he did this without scoring a touchdown. The Commanders were second-worst in fantasy points allowed to receivers and also allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to receivers who lined up in the slot. Godwin is the definition of a matchup-based starter. This is the week to start him.
Terry McLaurin
Washington Commanders vs. TB (47% starting)
We’re staying in the same game, with McLaurin being a great option to start in Week 1 against the Bucs. Despite having solid pass rushers, the Bucs were third-worst in the NFL in points allowed to receivers last season. McLaurin had two games where he went over 20 points last season. Additionally, he had a total of five games of 14 or more points. Jayden Daniels will lean on him as other Washington quarterbacks have. Carlton Davis III is gone, so the Buccaneers will struggle to find a number-one cornerback who can cover McLaurin.
Pat Freiermuth
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. ATL (17% starting)
Freiermuth is one of the many sleepers we can see taking that next step and breaking out this season. A hamstring injury stood in his way last season, and he missed five games. But he is back and ready to rock. Freiermuth will face the Atlanta Falcons this week, who were 21st in fantasy points allowed to tight ends last season. Additionally, George Pickens is the only other reliable pass-catcher that Russell Wilson can target. Freiermuth will get a chance this weekend to make some plays and get into the endzone. This could be his breakout game. Better get him before others in your league do.
Week 1 Sits
Brock Purdy
San Francisco 49ers vs. NYJ (41% starting)
Undoubtedly, Brock Purdy is one of the many enticing sleeper quarterbacks you will see. However, he gets a very tough test to start the season, facing the New York Jets, the second-best against quarterbacks in fantasy football last season. Purdy scored 20 or more fantasy points eight times last season. Yet, he struggled whenever he faced an elite defense, with the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens both holding him under eight points. Purdy still has the pedigree and the knowledge to avoid making critical mistakes that might cost his team the game. But to beat the Jets, the Niners might try a different tactic. While Purdy might make some plays to help the 49ers win, this might be a heavy running game for Christian McCaffrey instead.
Brian Robinson Jr.
Washington Commanders vs. TB (11% starting)
Brian Robinson has always been difficult to trust because of his inconsistency. Well, you definitely should not start him against a team that was the third-best in fantasy points allowed to running backs. The Bucs have been stingy against the run and still have a majority of the pieces that have helped them rank among the best against the run. Robinson might help you throughout the season, but there is a reason he is always on the start’ sit em’ lists. While he had three games last season where he scored 20 points, this game likely will be similar to the five games where he finished under 10 points. If Robinson is your RB2, you might have no choice but to start him. However, if you have any other options, it would be best to sit him this week.
D’Andre Swift
Chicago Bears vs. TEN (51% starting)
How much do you trust D’Andre Swift? Last season, Swift scored at least 14 points six times over the first half. Then, he scored at least 14 points just twice, cratering down to Earth and struggling to amount to anything as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. Swift joined the Chicago Bears this offseason. While he will be the lead running back, he will also have a rookie quarterback gunslinger who will be looking to get his receivers involved. The Bears might turn into a passing team overnight, especially if Caleb Williams gets off to a good start. That could mean a lack of production for Swift. It also does not help that the Titans were seventh-best in fantasy points allowed to running backs.
Diontae Johnson
Carolina Panthers vs. NO (23% starting)
Diontae Johnson will learn quickly that there is a significant difference between being a #1 receiver and a #2 receiver. After signing with the Panthers this offseason, he is the top guy in Charlotte. Unfortunately, he will start his Panthers’ career against the New Orleans Saints and top cornerback Marshon Lattimore. That is not an easy start for him. Also, the Saints were ninth against fantasy receivers last season. You might have to start him. But you should keep expectations low, especially given the fact that this will be his first game catching passes from Bryce Young, and they might not have formed any chemistry yet.
Courtland Sutton
Courtland Sutton vs. SEA (9% starting)
Once upon a time, Courtland Sutton was considered a rising wide receiver. Unfortunately, he has never been able to put it all together. Now, Sutton is Denver’s true #1 receiver, and Jerry Jeudy is gone. However, the leash is incredibly short since Sean Payton did not draft him, and he will likely be using this season to scout whether he needs to add another receiver. Moreover, Sutton will face either Tariq Woolen or Devon Witherspoon, both Pro Bowl cornerbacks. Plus, he will have a rookie quarterback throwing to him. While Sutton may get some receptions this weekend, he might not hit his projections, especially if the Broncos struggle to get the offense going early.
Cole Kmet
Chicago Bears vs. Ten (12% starting)
People still roster Cole Kmet for whatever reason. If he is on your roster, this is a bad week to start him, as he will face the Tennessee Titans, who were fourth-best against tight ends in fantasy football last season. He was not completely awful last season. Ultimately, Kmet still produced two games where he scored more than 20 points. Kmet also had six total games of 11 or more points, which is not bad for a tight end. But this is not the week to start him, and you are better off looking for other options.
