Week 1 Fantasy Football Projections: Studs with Brutal Matchups to Sit

Fantasy football studs aren’t unbenchable.

Thanks to matchups that scream, “Don’t put me in, coach,” highly sought-after players must be benched in Week 1.

Here they are; start at your own risk.

3. Peyton Manning

Manning sat out last year, has had multiple neck surgeries, has an inexperienced arsenal and looked rusty in the preseason. If those signs weren’t already enough to bench him until he proves his worth, the Denver Broncos play the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1.

You better believe the Steelers are starving for revenge after this past postseason’s drama. And in 2011, Pittsburgh boasted the best passing and overall defense in the NFL.

Manning couldn’t have been dealt a more difficult season opener.

2. A.J. Green

Green is expected to blow up in 2012 after recording 1,057 receiving yards as a rookie. He’s ranked as the No. 3 wideout in the league by Yahoo! Sports, only behind Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald. But he won’t live up to expectations in Week 1.

The Cincinnati Bengals face off against the Baltimore Ravens, and Green will struggle to fill up the stat sheet. Baltimore had the third-best passing attack in the league last year, and in Green’s one matchup with the Ravens last season, he only caught two balls for 26 yards.

1. San Francisco Defense

According to Yahoo! Sports, the 49ers have the No. 1 defense in fantasy football. In their season opener, though, they’ll face off against one the best offenses in the entire NFL in the Green Bay Packers.

Aaron Rodgers and Co. led the league in points per game last season, dropping an average of 35 on their opponents. San Francisco’s defense deserves its ranking, but the 49ers still surrendered 56 points in their two playoff games last year.

They’re great, but they aren’t legendary, and the Packers will put up huge numbers.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

Follow @TheRealDDaniels