FOOTBALL IS BACK... And with it, Fantasy Football is back! So if you are scratching your head on who you should be starting and sitting for Week 1 then don't worry, the @FF_Astronauts have got you covered. @FF_ShaneB gives you his rundown on who you should be starting and @MattFFDynasty give you his advice on who you should be tempering expectations on for Week 1.
Quarterback
Starts
Start Of The Week
Derek Carr (LV) @ CAR
Derek Carr is the Start of the Week because he is playing the Carolina Defense. They lost 6 starters from last season. This defense is extremely young with a new coaching staff. With the way this offseason had to be run due to COVID, there will be some growing pains. I expect Carr to have a good day with familiar weapons in Jacobs, Waller and Renfrow, and new weapons Ruggs and Edwards.
Ryan Fitzpatrick (MIA) @ NE
Ryan Fitzpatrick has had some of his best games of his career against the New England Patriots. He got the full(modified) offseason to go in as the starter, tremendously upgraded his RB room he is working with and gets a healthy Preston Williams and Devante Parker with an improved offensive line. And he is starting against the Patriots that were slightly decimated on defense due to opt outs. Fitzpatrick should be Fitzmagical in week 1.
Phillip Rivers (IND) @ JAX
Phillip Rivers is playing against the dumpster fire that is the Jacksonville Jaguars. They have cut or traded some of their most talented players on both sides of the ball. Even in COVID, Phillip should have a good game with all of his new weapons and that amazing offensive line to protect him.
Sits
Sit Of The Week
Sam Darnold (NYJ) @ BUF
Sam Darnold begins the season against one of the toughest defenses around in the Buffalo Bills, and he has to do it with a paper-thin WR corps. Breshad Perriman and 2nd round rookie pick Denzel Mims have both been struggling with injuries recently and missed practice time. This isn't a great starting matchup for Darnold.
Daniel Jones (NYG) Vs PIT
Daniel Jones had some great performances last season, but he also had his struggles while adapting to the NFL. He now has to start the season against a tough Steelers defense that included 3 All-Pro players in T.J Watt, Cameron Heyward, and Minkah Fitzpatrick. I expect a tough, long night for Jones in this one.
Joe Burrow (CIN) Vs LAC
Joe Burrow makes his highly anticipated NFL debut this weekend, but he has a tough matchup against the Chargers, having to deal with Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram putting the pressure on him. It's tough to trust rookies in their first season, nevermind in their debuts against a top NFL defense!
Running Back
Starts
Start Of The Week
Cam Akers (LAR) Vs DAL
Cam Akers is going against the Dallas Cowboys who have a new head coach and some additions to the defense. Leighton Vander Esch is back healthy, so that could strengthen their run defense, but Darrell Henderson is questionable. I think this leads to Cam Akers having a big day at least from a volume standpoint. This might be the perfect storm for any Akers truthers out there
Josh Jacobs (LV) @ CAR
Josh Jacobs is back and healthy from his shoulder injury last year. He was on track to be an RB1 until he got hurt. And now, he gets to start this year against the young Carolina Panthers defense without Luke Kuechly anchoring it. They also traded away Lynn Bowden, so Jacobs could also get some passing work in this game.
Mark Ingram (BAL) Vs CLE
Mark Ingram is facing the Browns with a talented rookie breathing down his neck. I think with the COVID modified offseason and the Browns having a new staff this could be Ingram's week to hold off Dobbins for a little longer.
Sits
Sit Of The Week
Devin Singletary (BUF) Vs NYJ
Devin Singletary had a strong finish to last season and he now starts the new season facing off against the New York Jets. The Jets were a strong underrated run defense last season, and now Singletary will be competing for touches against rookie Zack Moss, who has had a strong training camp. This backfield could become a mess, and I'm happy to avoid it until we see how it shakes out.
Kerryon Johnson (DET) Vs CHI
Kerryon Johnson looked to be in line for a nice workload Week 1 with rookie D'Andre Swift struggling with injury, however, Detriot then went on to sign future hall of fame RB Adrien Peterson after his release from Washington. If the Detroit backfield wasn't confusing enough before, now its got even more of a mess. I'd avoid all of them until we see how Matt Patricia is going to use them.
Le'Veon Bell (NYJ) @ BUF
As mentioned earlier, the Bills have a tough defense, and if the matchup wasn't bad enough, Adam Gase is calling the shots and I have no confidence in him using Bell, one of the most talented RBs in the league, correctly. I'd avoid starting Bell this week if you have the depth at RB.
Wide Receiver
Starts
Start Of The Week
Marquise Brown (BAL) Vs CLE
Marquise Brown is a burner!! And the Browns have lost two of their starters in the secondary to injury this offseason. This gives Brown the perfect opportunity to link up with Lamar and beat his week 1 performance from last year by taking the top off of the Browns defense.
Marvin Jones Jr. (DET) Vs CHI
Marvin Jones Jr. has Matthew Stafford back and will be receiving the second best cover corner for the Bears. That corner is a rookie and I expect Marvin to take advantage of that. He is one of the most underrated receivers in the league and I expect him to shine this week.
Anthony Miller (CHI) @ DET
Anthony Miller is facing a Lions secondary that got younger and more inexperienced by trading Darius Slay to the Eagles and drafting Jeff Okudah. Okudah will probably guard Allen Robinson leaving Miller to be covered by the second corner.
Sits
Sit Of The Week
Deandre Hopkins (ARI) @ SF
If you own Deandre Hopkins, you've likely spent a high draft pick to acquire him. However, Week 1 is going to be tough for Hopkins. We know it can take time for WR to gain chemistry with their new QB when joining a new team, but not just that, he will be facing the best defense in the league last season. You won't be sitting Hopkins, but I wouldn't expect his usual WR1 numbers to start the season.
Jarvis Landry (CLE) @ BAL
The ultra-consistent, yet undervalued, Jarvis Landry is coming off having surgery this offseason and has been limited in practice as he is eased back into action. Against this Ravens defense, I'd rather not take a chance on Landry until we see how he has come on from the surgery.
Amari Cooper (DAL) @ LAR
There is no doubting Cooper's talent, however, he will be facing off against CB superstar Jalen Ramsey. It will be an exciting matchup to watch, but not for fantasy. I feel like Dak is going to target his other receiving options rather than force the ball to Cooper while he's been covered by Ramsey.
Tight End
Starts
Start Of The Week
Austin Hooper (CLE) @ BAL
Austin Hooper makes his Cleveland Browns debut after his offseason move. He's coming off one of his best seasons, despite missing 3 games last season, and after reportedly having great chemistry with QB Baker Mayfield in training camp, Hooper will be looking to hit the ground running.
Tyler Higbee (LAR) Vs DAL
Higbee went on an incredible run to finish off the season in 2019, he will be looking to carry on being one of QB Jared Goff's top targets in 2020 now that Brandon Cooks has left the Rams. Goff is going to have to throw a lot like last season, so Higbee could be in line for a heavy workload as the Rams look to keep up with a quality Dallas offense.
Blake Jarwin (DAL) @ LAR
In the same game, Blake Jarwin also has an opportunity to have a solid game. Dak threw to his TE plenty in 2019, now Jarwin will look to be a great safety option for him over the middle while the WRs cause the Rams all kinds of problems.
Sits
Sit Of The Week
T.J Hockenson (DET) Vs CHI
Hockenson entered the NFL with a bang in Week 1 last season but beyond that, he struggled with injuries throughout the season. After having surgery this offseason on his ankle, Hockenson is a risky play against a strong Bears defense. I'd look elsewhere for now.
Evan Engram (NYG) Vs PIT
Engram is one of the most talented TE in the NFL, but he will be facing off against one of the most talented safeties in Minkah Fitzpatrick. It's a tough matchup and Jones has other options at WR and also RB Saquon Barkley that he will utiles more to keep up with the Steelers.
Jonnu Smith (TEN) @ DEN
Jonnu Smith could have a great season in 2020, but it's a tough start against one of the top defenses against the TE last season in the Denver Broncos. This is likely going to be a slow, low scoring game with two run-heavy offenses going head-to-head. This isn't the week to jump on the Smith hype train.
Defense
Starts
Start Of The Week
Buffalo Bills Vs NYJ
The Bills are playing the Adam Gase led Jets who might be starting Frank Gore over Le'Veon Bell at RB. The Bills defense was great last year and I expect them to pick up where they left off against Fantasy Killer Adam Gase.
New England Patriots Vs MIA
Indianapolis Colts @ JAX
Pittsburgh Steeler @ NYG
Philidelphia Eagles @ WAS
Sits
Sit Of The Week
Houston Texans @ KC
The Texans face off against the reigning Superbowl Champions to begin their season. Patrick Mahomes will cause the Texans all kinds of problems with this high power offense in what is likely to be a high scoring game. The Texans defense is an easy sit for me this week.
New York Giants Vs PIT
New Orleans Saints Vs TB
Jacksonville Jaguars Vs IND
Chicago Bears @ DET
Thanks for reading. Be sure to keep an eye out every Wednesday for our weekly start/sit article with the @FF_Astronauts. Follow @FFShaneB and @MattFFDynasty on twitter for more Fantasy Football content throughout the season.
