Finally, the week we have all been waiting for. Week 1. LFG. Drafts are finishing up and it’s now time to focus on the toughest week of the year for fantasy diehards. If your a fantasy nut like me, you’ve been checking your lineup everyday, trying to figure out the optimal lineup for week 1. Before I get into who to start and sit for this upcoming week, I’m going to touch upon some major moves that happened in the past 72 hours.
• Carlos Hyde signed with the Texans. We all saw this one coming. Houston needed another RB after Miller went down. I still LOVE Duke Johnson though. Hyde’s on his 5th team in 3 seasons and is clearly on the downhill of his career. Yes, he’s on a great offense, which is the only reason he’s valuable. Speaking of Houston, they just acquired Laremy Tunsil and Kenny Stills from Miami. They definitely over paid for them, but for fantasy purposes this was a great move for Watson, D.J. Jr, Hyde, and Hopkins owners. Tunsil is a great addition to a shaky OL. Stills really clouds up the WR core outside of Hopkins. Stills lines up in the slot, which really hurts Keke Coutee’s value. He’s also one of the best home run WRs in the league, along side Will Fuller. This also effects his value. Both Fuller and Keke have had a hard time staying on the field, so Stills is good insurance. This offense is going to be REALLY good.
• LeSean ‘Shady’ McCoy signed with the Chiefs. Ugh. You hate to see it if you’re on the Damien Williams/Darwin Thompson hype train. I was. Andy Reid hinted on a RBBC a couple of weeks ago and it looks like it’s coming to fruition. I still like Williams in PPR formats but this definitely hurts his ceiling. Thompson unfortunately becomes a late round flier. Shady, 31 years old, has shown throughout his career that he is injury prone so it does make Williams and Thompson valuable, especially in Reid’s offense.
Ok, enough of that. Let’s talk week 1.
Start em’ QBs:
Matthew Stafford @ AZ: I’m hammering him into my DraftKings lineups. AZ’s CB depth chart currently has Tramaine Brock, Byron Murphy and Chris Jones as their starters. Pat Peterson is suspended for 6 games. #Yikes. This game could possibly be a shoot out. If your streaming QB’s in season long, I recommend going with the QB going against Arizona.
Jimmy Garoppolo @ TB: Like Stafford, Garoppolo is going against a shaky DB core. Last year, Tampa gave up the 3rd most fantasy points to QBs. The 49ers also have weapons around him, players who can make plays. Yes, he hasn’t looked so hot in the off-season but I’m not too worried about that. The total points line is set at 50, which is the 4th highest in week 1. Look for Jimmy to get back on the fantasy map after this week.
Other guys I like: Drew Brees vs HOU, Jameis Winston @ SF.
Sit em’ QBs:
Aaron Rodgers @ CHI: First off, I’m not telling you sit Rodgers over Garoppolo or Stafford but I don’t believe he’s going to put up Aaron numbers like he usually does. The Bears finished as the top defense last year. GB is playing in Chicago. Yeah, I’m fading him in DFS and don’t have any shares of him on my season long teams.
Ben Roethliserger @ NE: New England’s defense looks like they will be a solid unit this year. Stephon Gilmore might be the leagues best corner. Ben has lost his major weapon in AB in the off-season. Outside of JuJu, there are many questions. Can Vance McDonald, Donte Moncrief and James Washington step up? I don’t think so. Ben’s going to have a down year and it’s starting week 1.
Start em’ RBs: (Note: This is based on PPR scoring)
Chris Carson vs CIN: Carson is in one of the heaviest run teams in the league. Hes looked good in the off-season and is clearly a step ahead of his backup and former first round pick, Rashaad Penny. Cincy is not in the position to put a lot of points on offense and the Seattle defense got a lot better after picking up Jadeveon Clowney. Game script falls into Carson’s favor with the Seahawks favored by 9.5 points.
Mark Ingram @ MIA: Coming over from New Orleans in the off-season, Ingram is the starter for Baltimore. In the same situation as Carson, Ingram will be in a heavy run offense. Miami gave up a lot of fantasy points to running backs last year, ranking them the 29th. If game script follows, Ingram is in line for a big game.
Other guys I like: Tevin Coleman @ TB, Sony Michel vs PIT.
Sit em’ RBs:
Derrick Henry @ CLE: For those who know me know that I do not like Henry in fantasy. Tennessee isn’t going to be good this year, Henry doesn’t catch balls and according to game script, this really effects his value. Cleveland really beefed up their defense line with the additions of Sheldon Richardson and Olivier Vernon. I’m fading Henry.
Miles Sanders vs WAS: Sanders, a stud at Penn St. is playing in his first professional game for the Eagles. The Eagles have depth, along with experience at the running back position. Howard, Sproles and Clement will be snatching up volume. I don’t expect him to do much in his first game.
Start em’ WRs: (Note: This is based on PPR scoring)
Dede Westbrook vs KC: In a game where Jacksonville is going to have to score to keep up, I love Dede. Foles is coming over from Philadelphia, where he targeted WRs in the slot 71% of the time. Dede ranked #1 in routes ran from the slot. Put two and two together. It’s important to note that they had a good connection in the off-season. I’m fitting Westbrook in all my DFS lineups.
Marvin Jones @ AZ: I already stated why I like Stafford, so Marvin falls into the category. People are sleeping on Jones. Last year, Jones was on pace for 60 catches, 863 yards, 9 TDs. That would have ranked him 23rd in PPR. His ECR is 39 this year. I like him in season long, especially week 1.
Other guys I like: Michael Gallup vs NYG, Curtis Samuel vs LAR.
Sit em’ WRs:
James Washington @ NE: Let’s get this straight. Moncrief will have more fantasy points then Washington by the end of the season. Yes, Washington had a great preseason, but the guy was playing in the 4th game!!! That’s telling. I’m staying away week 1 even though the total points in that game are at 51.5.
Robby Anderson vs BUF: Anderson is banged up. He has a soft tissue calf injury which is setting him back. That scares me. Buffalo has a good defense and the total points in this game is 40. That’s the lowest point total in week 1. Fade. Fade. Fade.
Start em’ TE: (Note: This is based on PPR scoring)
Hunter Henry vs IND: You’re probably starting him either way in season long, but in DFS he’s a home run. Currently priced $3,900 on DraftKings, I feel like I’m getting a steal. The Colts were terrible at defending tight ends last year. He catches a touchdown or two in week 1.
I also like Mark Andrews @ MIA.
Sit em’ TE:
Jordan Reed @ PHI: If only Reed could stay healthy… He’s good, really good but just can’t stay on the field. Washington doesn’t have a lot of pass catching weapons, which makes Reed appealing. BUT I’m fading him week 1. He suffered another concussion during the preseason after a brutal hit. He’s going against Philadelphia, who were stellar against TEs last year.
Start em’ Kickers:
- Robbie Gould @ TB
- Mike Badgley vs IND
- Will Lutz vs HOU
- Ka’imi Fairbairn @ NO
- Matt Prater @ AZ
Start em’ Defenses:
- Baltimore @ MIA
- Cleveland vs TEN
- Philadelphia vs WAS
- Seattle vs CIN
- Dallas vs NYG
4th and 1 Fantasy Football 