Start Em Sit Em Week 1: Veteran Superstars Guaranteed to Succeed in Openers

Most fantasy drafts have already happened or are about to happen, which means the days are ticking down to the official kickoff of the 2012 season.

But the hard work isn't over yet. Even among the biggest superstars in the NFL, it's hard to tell who's going to rack up the points in the first game of the season, and who is going to take a little bit longer to ease into things.

For now, let's focus on the fast starters. Here's a look at some of the veterans who should absolutely start in Week 1.

RB Arian Foster (Houston)
vs. Miami

The Texans are at home in Week 1. They're playing a team that finished last season at 6-10 and has a far-from-established quarterback. Furthermore, the Houston offense is going up against a defense that finished the 2011 season in 15th place—not terrible, but certainly not rock solid. 

That should make for a great opportunity for Arian Foster to do some damage.

He's already the top-rated running back—and, on many a board, the top-rated offensive player—so starting him should be a no-brainer, anyway. But this is the perfect opportunity for him to start his season off with some big numbers.

Last season, Foster finished with 1,224 yards and 10 touchdowns. This year, according to ESPN.com, he's projected to finish with 1,459 yards and 12 TDs. It all starts against Miami. 

WR Calvin Johnson (Detroit)
vs. St. Louis

Fresh off his Madden 13 cover victory, Matthew Stafford's No. 1 target is ready to establish himself as one of the best receivers in the NFL all over again. Last year, Johnson and the much-improved Lions built the fifth-best offense in the NFL, and though Detroit is more than a little banged up at the moment, Stafford should be good to go for the opener.

Johnson is projected to come close to his 2011 production this season: According to ESPN.com, he's expected to finish with 1,511 yards and 12 touchdowns. When the Lions kick things off against the Rams, Johnson will have the perfect opportunity to start his season off right, and to help ensure that Detroit's offense is one of the best in the league yet again. 

WR Greg Jennings (Green Bay)
vs. San Francisco

When the Packers open up against the 49ers, it will be a battle between two of the early favorites to win the NFC, so both teams will have to be at their best for what bodes to be a hard-fought showdown.

Jennings, who is projected to finish the 2012 season with 1,125 yards and nine touchdowns, was Aaron Rodgers' top target in 2011, though he finished second on the team in touchdowns. These two teams didn't face each other last year, but the Packers finished 2011 with the third-best passing offense in the NFL, and Jennings was a huge part of that. Alternately, San Francisco's pass defense ranked 16th in the league.

After the way last season ended—with a first-round playoff loss to the Giants—the Packers are going to be gunning to start this season off right, and there's no better way to do that than by shredding the reigning NFC runner-ups. Expect Rodgers and one of his top targets to do some damage.