Welcome to Week One of “Tough Choices”, our weekly start/sit lineup article to help you with critical decisions on a week-to-week basis in the world of fantasy football. The first week is always tough because of uncertainty about player utilization, however a few key starts or sits can be the difference between 1-0 and 0-1.
Each week, we will bring you a list of must starts, other starting plays and players we’re fading by each position. In addition, each week we will look back on the previous week to determine pick accuracy. The cutoff for hits/misses are as follows:
QB: 14 ½ points
RB & WR: 10 ½ points
TE: 8 ½ points
All rankings are assuming ½ points per receptions and 4-point passing touchdowns. Good luck this year and make sure to follow us on Twitter in order to stay up-to-date through the season!
Fantasy Football Week 1 Start/Sits: Quarterbacks
Must starts
- Justin Herbert, Chargers (vs. LV)
- Kyler Murry, Cardinals (vs.KC)
- Josh Allen, Bills (at LAR)
- Lamar Jackson, Ravens (at NYJ)
- Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs (at ARI)
- Russel Wilson, Denver (at SEA)
Strong Starts
Jalen Hurts, Eagles (at DET) – Reports have been coming out that Hurts looks much better throwing the ball, but his rushing upside is still what makes him relevant.
Trey Lance, 49ers (at CHI) – Trey will have his first game as the full-time starter against an amazing opponent to settle into the system against. Look for Lance to run a lot and take some chances downfield.
Tom Brady, Buccaneers (vs. DAL) – The G.O.A.T will have his work cut out for him week one against a strong Dallas defense on paper. Not expecting a top 5 finish but should be solid.
Jameis Winston, Saints (vs. ATL) – Expect the Saints to come out throwing with Chris Olave and Michael Thomas on the field. Jameis should pick up where he left off last year.
Sit ‘Em’s
Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins (vs. NE)
Ryan Tannehill, Titans (vs. NYG)
Daniel Jones, Giants (at TEN)
Davis Mills, Texans (at IND)
Marcus Mariota, Falcons (at NO)
Fantasy Football Week 1 Start/Sits: Running Backs
Must starts
- Jonathan Taylor, Colts (at HOU)
- Christian McCaffrey, Panthers (vs. CLE)
- Derrick Henry, Titans (vs. NYG)
- Austin Ekeler, Chargers (vs. LV)
- Dalvin Cook, Vikings (vs. GB)
- Najee Harris, Steelers (at CIN)
- Joe Mixon, Bengals (vs. PIT)
- Aaron Jones, Packers (at MIN)
- Alvin Kamara, Saints (at ATL)
- Nick Chubb, Browns (at CAR)
- Javonte Willilams, Broncos (at SEA)
- D’Andre Swift, Lions (vs. PHI)
- Saquon Barkley, Giants (at TEN)
Strong Starts
Travis Etienne, Jaguars (vs. WAS) – Even with James Robinson playing Week 1, Etienne should have a large role in the receiving game against a team with weaker LBs.
Antonio Gibson, Commanders (at JAX) – On the flip side, Gibson should have no competition in this matchup and receive 20 touches – we will see if he’s actually utilized how he should be
Elijah Mitchell, 49ers (at CHI) – Should be a very positive game script for Mitchell to rack up yards and possibly a touchdown, barring crazy Shannahan RB usage.
Miles Sanders, Eagles (at DET) – A positive game script should pave the way for Sanders to get a majority of touches, like Gibson we will see if that actually happens or not.
James Connor, Cardinals (vs. KC) – While I don’t love the matchup Connor should get all the RB red zone opportunities and targets on a top-tier NFL offense and should break the point threshold week one
Sit ‘Ems
Mike Davis, Raves (at NYJ)
Josh Jacobs, Raiders (at LAC)
Kareem Hunt, Browns (at CAR)
Breece Hall, Jets (vs. BAL)
Cam Akers, Rams (vs. BUF)
Chase Edmonds, Dolphins (vs. NE)
Fantasy Football Week 1 Start/Sits: Wide Receivers
Must Starts
- Cooper Kupp, Rams (vs. BUF)
- Justin Jefferson, Vikings (vs. GB)
- Stefon Diggs, Bills (at LAR)
- Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals (vs. PIT)
- CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys (vs. TB)
- A.J. Brown, Eagles (at DET)
- Davante Adams, Raiders (at LAC)
- Deebo Samuel, 49ers (at CHI)
- Mike Evans, Buccaneers (at DAL)
- Michael Pittman Jr., Colts (at HOU)
- Keenan Allen, Chargers (vs. LV)
- Mike Williams, Chargers (vs. LV)
- Courtland Sutton, Broncos (at SEA)
- D.J. Moore, Panthers (vs. CLE)
- Diontae Johnson, Steelers (at CIN)
- Tee Higgins, Bengals (vs. PIT)
- Tyreek Hill, Dolphins (vs. NE)
- Terry McLaurin, Commanders (vs. JAX)
- Marquise Brown, Cardinals (vs. KC)
Strong Starts
Darnell Mooney, Bears (vs. SF) – Justin Fields will have to throw to somebody and will likely be down this week. It may not be pretty, but Mooney should break the threshold.
Amari Cooper, Browns (at CAR) – Similar to above, somebody will have to catch passes for the Browns and Cooper is the best by far. He should carve out his role Week One.
Christian Kirk, Jaguars (at WAS) – They went out and paid this man this offseason and he is going to get work. Look to see him start building Trevor’s trust Week One.
Gabriel Davis, Bills (at LAR) – Predicting that Davis will haul in a touchdown in a game that should be a high-scoring affair and watch fantasy football twitter go up in flames.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions (vs. PHI) – While he probably won’t get the target share he did to end last year, he’s still an amazing talent in an offense that will need to throw a lot.
Allen Robinson, Rams (vs. BUF) – He’s going to have the best Quarterback play he’s ever had in his life and I can’t wait to see what he does. Tough matchup but should do fine.
Sit ‘ems:
Kadarius Toney, Giants (at TEN)
Chase Claypool, Steelers (at CIN)
Tyler Lockett, Seahawks (vs. DEN)
Garrett Wilson, Jets (vs. BAL)
Robert Woods, Titans (vs. NYG)
Tyler Boyd, Bengals (vs. PIT)
Chris Olave, Saints (at ATL)
Fantasy Football Week 1 Start/Sits: Tight Ends
Must Starts
- Travis Kelce, Chiefs (at ARI)
- Kyle Pitts, Falcons (vs. NO)
- Mark Andrews, Ravens (at NYJ)
- Darren Waller, Raiders (at LAC)
- George Kittle, 49ers (at CHI)
- Dalton Schultz, Cowboys (vs. TB)
- T.J. Hockenson, Lions (vs. PHI).
- Dallas Goedert, Eagles (at. DET)
Strong Starts:
Albert Okwuegbunam, Broncos (at SEA) – Revenge game for Russ plus a big, athletic tight end means red zone targets coming his way.
Gerald Everett, Chargers (vs. LV) – The Raider’s defense is good but not amazing, and there is going to be room for Everett to work in this offense plus touchdown upside.
Pat Freiermuth, Steelers (at CIN) – While there’s a lot of uncertainty in the Steelers receiving corps, we know Pat will be commanding targets and red zone touches.
Sit ‘Ems:
Mike Gesicki, Dolphics (vs. NE)
Tyler Higbee, Rams (vs. BUF)
Austin Hooper, Titas (vs. NYG)
Cole Kmet, Bears (vs. SF)
David Njoku, Browns (at CAR)
Fantasy Football Week 1 Start/Sits: D/ST
Start ‘Em:
- Ravens (at NYJ)
- 49ers (at CHI)
- Broncos (at SEA)
- Colts (at HOU)
- Saints (at ATL)
- Patriots (at MIA)
- Titans (vs. NYG)
- Bengals (vs. PIT)
Sit ‘Em:
- Steelers (at CIN)
- Cowboys (vs TB)
- Vikings (vs. GB)
- Packers (at. MIN)
- Bills (at LAR)
- Rams (vs. BUF)
- Chiefs (at ARI)
- Cardinals (vs. KC)
