Ranking the Most Important Week 1 NFL Games for Fantasy

The NFL is back! Fantasy football is upon us! Yes, I'm excited!

Unless you are a kid going back to school or you hate it when the leaves change in the autumn (you curmudgeon, you), the beginning of September and the return of football is the best time of the year.

You'll be glued to the television not only watching your favorite team—because this is the year, I just know it—but you'll be monitoring every other game to keep tabs on your fantasy players. Honestly, would you care what happens between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Minnesota Vikings if you weren't a Percy Harvin owner?

Of course not. So with that in mind, let's rank the opening games of the season based upon their fantasy intrigue. From games chock full of fantasy stars to, well, the Jaguars playing the Vikings, the opening weekend runs the full gamut of fantasy relevance.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars at Minnesota Vikings

When: Sunday, February 9 at 1:00 p.m. ET

Watch: CBS

Fantasy Impact for Jaguars: Oh Maurice Jones-Drew, don't you realize you've rendered Jacksonville completely irrelevant for fantasy owners? Rashad Jennings, Laurent Robinson and Justin Blackmon are all possible flex plays. If you so much as think about Blaine Gabbert as a fantasy commodity worth watching, give yourself 20 lashes.

Fantasy Impact for Vikings: Peterson looks like he'll be a game-time decision, and he may see limited touches early in the season anyway. If Peterson doesn't go, Toby Gerhart is worth starting. Same with Percy Harvin. If you play week-to-week matchups with defenses, this is the one week you might consider the Vikings' unit. 

15. Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals

When: Sunday, February 9 at 4:25 p.m. ET

Watch: FOX

Fantasy Impact for Seahawks: Start Marshawn "Beast Skittles Mode" Lynch and the Seattle defense. Other than that, I don't trust any Seahawks. Well, at least not until Russell Wilson leads them to the Super Bowl, is elected president and discovers water on Mars, that is.

Fantasy Impact for Cardinals: Even with John Skelton as his quarterback, Larry Fitzgerald is still a WR1. I like Ryan Williams much more than Beanie Wells this year, but each make me nervous as viable fantasy commodities in Week 1. The Cardinals defense is worth a start if you play matchups as well.

14. Indianapolis Colts at Chicago Bears

When: Sunday, September 9 at 1:00 p.m. ET

Watch: CBS

Fantasy Impact for Colts: Reggie Wayne and Donald Brown are flex plays at best, namely in deeper leagues. Andrew Luck should start the season on your bench. Same with Coby Fleener. If you drafted the Colts defense, you shouldn't be playing fantasy football in the first place.

Fantasy Impact for Bears: Unless you have an elite quarterback, Jay Cutler should be started this week. Matt Forte and Brandon Marshall should be started every week. Alshon Jeffery is one to watch. Same with Michael Bush. Avoid the tight ends. Absolutely start the defense. Unless you think he'll return a punt for a touchdown, ignore Devin Hester. Don't bother with Earl Bennett. 

13. San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders

When: Monday, February 10 at 10:15 p.m. ET

Watch: ESPN

Fantasy Impact for Chargers: Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates should be started. Ronnie Brown should be ignored, but he won't be, so go ahead and use him if you've got him. I like either Malcolm Floyd or Robert Meachem as a flex play, but I really have no idea which one is more likely to be Rivers' favorite target in Week 1, so good luck with that.

Fantasy Impact for Raiders: Really, the only safe play on the Raiders is Darren McFadden. I think Carson Palmer is over the hill, frankly, and the Raiders have a number of young burners with potential at wide receiver, but from a fantasy perspective seem to cancel one another out. So yeah, it's pretty much Run DMC for now.

12. Miami Dolphins at Houston Texans

When: Sunday, February 9 at 1:00 p.m. ET

Watch: CBS

Fantasy Impact for Dolphins: Reggie Bush is worth starting. We're done here.

Fantasy Impact for Texans: Arian Foster, Andre Johnson and the Texans' defense must be started. Matt Schaub won't be worth using every week, but he will against the Dolphins. I'm not sold on Owen Daniels just yet, or any other Texan receiver, for that matter.

11. Buffalo Bills at New York Jets

When: Sunday, February 9 at 1:00 p.m. ET

Watch: CBS

Fantasy Impact for Bills: I think by the end of the year, C.J. Spiller will be the fantasy back you want. But for Week 1, Fred Jackson is the smarter play. Stevie Johnson is a nice flex play. Avoid Ryan Fitzpatrick in this one. The Bills defense should be started.

Fantasy Impact for Jets: Shonn Greene is a fine flex play. I don't love Dustin Keller, but he's worth starting if you lack better options. Same for Santonio Holmes in a flex position. Feel free to start the Jets defense. You'll want to stay away from Mark Sanchez in this one. And for once, let's not talk about Tim Tebow, okay?

10. Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

When: Sunday, February 9 at 4:25 p.m. ET

Watch: FOX

Fantasy Impact for Panthers: Cam Newton and Steve Smith are must-starts. Greg "Rob Gronkowski" Olsen is a possibility if you are in a deeper league and don't have great tight ends. There are too many running backs to keep track of, but if you're stuck this week, Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams are nothing more than flex options. Brandon LaFell is worth keeping an eye one.

Fantasy Impact for Bucs: Vincent Jackson should be started. Ditto for Doug Martin, who I think is the rookie running back you want this season. If LeGarrette Blount becomes a touchdown vulture, he'll be worth flexing later on, but bench him for now. Keep an eye on Josh Freeman, Mike Williams and Dallas Clark this season as well.

9. Philadelphia Eagles at Cleveland Browns

When: Sunday, February 9 at 1:00 p.m. ET

Watch: FOX

Fantasy Impact for Eagles: Michael Vick, DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin should all be started. Brent Celek and Jason Avant are worth monitoring. The Eagles defense should be started as well.

Fantasy Impact for Browns: If Trent Richardson plays, he's worth starting. If he doesn't, Montario Hardesty isn't a terrible flex play in deeper leagues. Other than that, the Browns have a whole lot of "blah" for fantasy players. Greg Little may prove to be a nice sleeper find later in the season, but not yet.

8. St. Louis Rams at Detroit Lions

When: Sunday, February 9 at 1:00 p.m. ET

Watch: FOX

Fantasy Impact for Rams: Start Steven Jackson. Other than that, stay away.

Fantasy Impact for Lions: Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson, and the Lions defense should be started in all formats. Nate Burleson is one to monitor. So is Titus Young, who I love, love, love as a breakout player this season. Kevin Smith is a possibility at the flex if you're really hurting there. Brandon Pettigrew is also an option if you are thin at tight end.

7. Washington Redskins at New Orleans Saints

When: Sunday, February 9 at 1:00 p.m. ET

Watch: FOX

Fantasy Impact for Redskins: A team of question marks. Robert Griffin III should start the season on your bench. I never trust Mike Shanahan running backs, but Roy Helu is the one you'll want to play if you decide to go that route. Pierre Garcon is a flex candidate. Fred Davis should be started. Avoid the Washington defense. Duh.

Fantasy Impact for Saints: Drew Brees, Jimmy Graham, Darren Sproles and Marques Colston should be started in all formats. Other than that, the rest of the Saints and the defense are too risky.

6. Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens

When: Monday, February 10 at 7:00 p.m. ET

Watch: ESPN

Fantasy Impact for Bengals: A.J. Green is the only definite start. Andy Dalton and BenJarvus Green-Ellis worry me in a matchup against the Ravens defense, while the Bengals defense is a decent but hardly sexy play. I really like Jermaine Gresham this year, but you might want to wait him out before trusting him in your lineup.

Fantasy Impact for Ravens: Ray Rice and the defense are obvious starts. Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin are nice flex options. And I don't like Joe Flacco as a fantasy starter one bit, so I'd advise you pick someone, um, better to be your fantasy quarterback.

5. New England Patriots at Tennessee Titans

When: Sunday, February 9 at 1:00 p.m. ET

Watch: CBS

Fantasy Impact for Patriots: Tom Brady, Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez must be started in all formats. Avoid the running backs. Ditto for the defense.

Fantasy Impact for Titans: Chris Johnson should be started. Nate Washington is intriguing as a flex. Kendall Wright might be worth starting later this season, but not just yet. Same with Jake Locker. Kenny Britt is suspended for this one, so keep that in mind. And if you own the Titans' defense and decide to start them in this one, you should be kicked out of your league.

4. Atlanta Falcons at Kansas City Chiefs

When: Sunday, February 9 at 1:00 p.m. ET

Watch: FOX

Fantasy Impact for Falcons: Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Roddy White and Michael Turner should be started in all formats. I'm not sold on Tony Gonzalez this year, but if you've got him, start him. Atlanta's defense isn't the best choice but they shouldn't kill you in the opener, either.

Fantasy Impact for Chiefs: Jamaal Charles and Dwayne Bowe should be started in all formats. I'm torn on Peyton Hillis but he's certainly an intriguing flex play. I like the Chiefs defense as a sleeper play this year, but not in this contest. Tony Moeaki is worth stashing on your bench but not starting just yet.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos

When: Sunday, February 9 at 8:20 p.m. ET

Watch: NBC

Fantasy Impact for Steelers: Antonio Brown, Mike Wallace and the Steelers defense should be started. Ben Roethlisberger is a bit more risky, and if you have a better option I would go that route given the nasty Broncos' pass rush. I really like Isaac Redman, so I would start him as well. 

Fantasy Impact for Broncos: Oh, how exciting it will be to see Peyton Manning in regular-season action once more. Even against the Pittsburgh defense, I would still start Manning, Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas, if for no other reason than sheer curiosity. I would avoid Willis McGahee, however—the Steelers are always pretty stout against the run. And for as good as the Broncos defense was last year, it didn't translate into fantasy points. Stick to the options in the Broncos' passing game for now. 

2. San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers

When: Sunday, February 9 at 4:25 p.m. ET

Watch: FOX

Fantasy Impact for 49ers: Frank Gore and Vernon Davis should be started. Randy Moss, Michael Crabtree and Mario Manningham are all intriguing flex plays. I would avoid the 49ers' defense, but if you believe they can slow down the Packers offense, go for it.

Fantasy Impact for Packers: Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings, Jermichael Finley and, yes, the Packers defense are all worth starting. I would wait on the running backs, but if you do play one, it looks like Cedric Benson is the pick.

1. Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants

When: Wednesday, September 5th at 8:30 p.m. ET

Watch: NBC

Fantasy Impact for Giants: Plenty of fantasy studs to keep an eye on here. Eli Manning, Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks and Amhad Bradshaw should be started in all formats. David Wilson is a sleeper to monitor closely. The Giants defense should be avoided. I would stay away from any tight ends on the Giants as of now. 

Fantasy Impact for Cowboys: Tony Romo, Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray should be started in all formats. Miles Austin should play, so start him as well. Jason Witten is less certain, and seems like a risky play even if he does suit up. I would avoid the Cowboys defense, as I think this game will be a shootout.

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