Take a Chance On Me: 5 Smart Starts for Fantasy Week 1

No one wants to start a rookie QB in fantasy and especially not in week 1 before he has proven himself to not be in completely over his head. BUT if you are going to start the kid with the power arm there is not a better to do it than at New Orleans this weekend where it will no doubt be a shootout. In a dome like he is used to playing in and opposite a defense that is mediocre at best Stafford has a chance to get off on the right foot and even if he doesn't give the Lions their first win in over a year he might throw a couple TDs to Megatron and put up decent fantasy numbers. Consider picking up Stafford if he is a FA in your league and starting him over Matt Cassell (injured), Kyle Orton (banged up), or Carson Palmer (banged up).

As was demonstrated last year, in the twilight years of Brett Favre's career he has tended to get off to hot starts and cool down as the year continues. Last year Cotchery and Coles had a big week 1 and look for this year to follow suit, with Favre playing at Cleveland and their awful defense. Favre likes to pick a favorite WR early in the year and don't be suprised if it's Harvin. He could get a lot of touches and some return chances to make big plays against one of the worst defensive teams in the league sunday. Don't be scared to start him over guys like Devin Hester, Santonio Holmes or Vincent Jackson, who will likely be matched up against Oakland's Pro Bowl shutdown corner in the late Monday night game.

Most people don't even know Mike Bell is on the Saints but Sean Payton has said he will be worked into the offense even with Pierre Thomas on the field, let alone with him on the sidelines. He had a nice pre-season and now that it looks like Thomas might miss Sunday's game against the atrocious Detroit Lions, Bell is poised to put up nice fantasy numbers in week one. Look for a monster week from Reggie Bush but don't be surprised if Bell gets one or two TDs as well, giving him around 15 fantasy points. With a total like that he is definitely worth starting over guys like Leon Washington, Lendale White, Ahmad Bradshaw, Jonathan Stewart and some fantasy experts think he might even be a better start than his teammate Reggie Bush. I don't know if I would go that far but since Bell is still a FA in most leagues, he is high on this list for the impact he will likely make as a fill in starter for week 1.

Obviously Hightower is probably on a team in your league (if he isn't, pick him up asap) but if he is on your roster he is most likely not a guy you planned on starting this week. Going against SF this week Zona should put up points and Hightower had a good year of getting into the endzone last year, especially during the first half. Everyone is so high on Beanie Wells that they have removed the possibility of Hightower taking that year 2 jump from their mindset. He is a good play here cause he could get two TDs going against the division rival in week 1. Take a chance on Hightower and don't be scared to start him over guys with tougher matchups, even if you drafted them with a higher pick. That's a mistake most people make for the first two weeks. Don't wait for the trends to play out, play the matchup game from the beginning. Any RB in the TENN vs PITT game should be considered a benchable player cause those are two great run defenses. I know it's hard to bench your first or second round pick but if you have a guy like Lendale White, please give him the back seat for a guy like Hightower who has the ability to score big in the initial week of the season.

There are many reasons to start Jackson in week one. The first is that he only has 3 weeks as a difference making fantasy player and those three weeks begin on Monday and end after week 3. With Lynch out and Rhodes being cut, Fred Jackson will be the feature back on a run-first team. He should get a ton of carries and put up number 1 fantasy RB numbers for the first three weeks. Another reason to start him is that he is going against the Patriots, a team that worries more about offense and defense and struggled against the run last year. When you add in that the game is Monday night and it's always fun to have those last minute points added to your total, Fred Jackson should be started over almost everyone but the studs this week. Consider starting him over guys like Moreno, Run DMC, and even Chris Johnson going against the tough Steelers D tonight. Jackson should be looked at as if he IS Lynch for these first few weeks. He has a different skill set that can even be considered more valuable against certain teams and Jackson can put up 20 point fantasy weeks while in the role of the feature back. If Lynch was starting he would be a no brainer fantasy play this week and anyone with Jackson should feel the exact same way. If you don't. get your act together.