
Can you smell it? It’s officially Football week. We got a small taste of that Sunday morning feeling with a full college slate this past Saturday... but lets be honest the kings’ back. The NFL kicks off this Thursday and fantasy football players across the planet are ready to lock in and trash talk their friends for 17 weeks straight. Unless you're in a weird league who has their championship game in the last week... if thats the case leave the league and find better friends.
Our Start Em’ Sit Em’ will be a weekly segment dedicated to helping the average fantasy player start the right guys and win weeks! Vince and Ryan comb through the numbers to provide stat driven analysis for the stars of fantasy football. The season is upon us and you need to set those lineups, here’s our starts and sits for Week 1.
QB Starts
Jalen Hurts at Falcons
The Falcons defense was one of the worst units in the league last season, giving up the second most points per game to the QB position (23.3) and Hurts has the ability to make plays with his legs. The Eagles want to get him going early and Hurts has that rushing floor we can rely on.
Kirk Cousins at Bengals
Kirk Cousins’ has great weapons around him and gets a Bengals defense who is young and has a lot of holes to still be filled on defense. Cousins was a top 12 QB last year and with Jefferson and Thielen on the outsides we could see more of the same.
QB Sits
Jared Goff vs 49ers
The 49ers defense is healthy again and they’re ready to show that they are true super bowl contenders. Goff is working with a new team and his weapons are nowhere near what he was working with in Los Angeles. Goff is only a start in deep 2 QB Leagues.
RB Starts
Gus Edwards at Raiders
The Raiders gave up the fourth most points to opposing Runners last season (24.3) and with JK Dobbins out for the year Gus Edwards is the new RB1 in Baltimore. The Ravens were first in the NFL last season in almost every rushing category and Edwards will surely take over the Workhorse role.
James Robinson at Texans
With the injury to Travis Etienne it's officially Robinson SZN again. James Robinson was Fantasy Football's darling last season and led a lot of people to the championship. Robinson was effective in his workhorse role and Houston gave up the second most points to the RB position last year.
RB Sits
David Johnson vs Jacksonville
Houston isnt going to be running a lot this year and the depth chart has David Johnson splitting work with Mark Ingram and Phillip Lindsey. David Johnson looks to be off fantasy’s radar unless there’s an injury to Lindsey or Ingram.
WR Starts
Deebo Samuel at Lions
The 49ers use Deebo all over the formation and Shanahan really makes it an emphasis to get Deebo the ball in space. Dan Campbell is implementing a new defense in Detroit who is faced with the tough task of containing a dominating run game while attempting to slow down the ultimate swiss army knife combo of Kittle and Deebo. Expect to see the South Carolina product get the ball on every level of the field and punish defenses with his yard after catch (YAC) ability.
Robbie Anderson vs Jets
Robbie Anderson showed us what he could really do last season and he turned in a top 24 season. Sam Darnold is now the starter in Carolina which should be viewed as an upgrade for all Carolina pass catchers. The Chemistry is already there for Darnold and Anderson so we should see these two connect a lot in this Revenge Game.
WR Sits
Courtland Sutton at Giants
The Giants defense, specifically their secondary is going to turn some heads this year. James Bradberry and Adoree Jackson are likely to be locking down your favorite WR’s week by week. Bradberry is the alpha and will cover the WR1 which in our eyes is currently Courtland Sutton. Sutton is a locker room leader coming off an ACL tear, and regardless of the tough matchup is heavily rumored to be on a snap limit. Sutton is no slouch but with the surrounding circumstances he lands on the “Sit” section for us in week 1.
TE Starts
Tyler Higbee vs Bears
In 3 of the last 4 seasons Matthew Stafford has supported a TE1. The Rams offense is going to be high powered and should end up in the top of the league in pass attempts. The Bears were tough against WR’s in 2020 but gave up the second most points to TE’s in 2020. Higbee could be in line for a solid game on Sunday Night Football.
TE Sit
Dawson Knox vs Steelers
Dawson Knox has consistently been the odd man out in this offense. The Bills had the 3rd most passing yards in 2020, dominating with the air attack. As good as that sounds for our guy Dawson Knox tight ends only saw 12% of the teams targets. Knox had 9 games with 50+ snap %, scoring 10+ PPR points in just 2 of those contests. Knox had 44 targets in 2020 for just 24 catches and 288 yards. He’s a sit for us until he proves he can hold value in this offense and bump up his 5.6 points per game.
Sleepers
QB
Baker Mayfield at Chiefs
Ryan Fitzpatrick vs Chargers
Sam Darnold vs Jets
RB
Devin Singletary vs Steelers
Devontae Booker vs Broncos
Phillip Lindsey vs Jaguars
WR
Russell Gage vs Eagles
Jakobi Meyers vs Dolphins
Amon-Ra St. Brown vs 49ers
TE
Dan Arnold vs Jets
Cole Kmet at Rams
Adam Trautman vs Packers
Make sure you follow us on Twitter @TheUpsidePlay for more Fantasy Football news and advice as well as Game-day Starts and sits and Highlights.
Cover Photo: James Gilbert || Getty images
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