Start Em Sit Em Week 1: Players Sure to Benefit from Favorable Matchups

With the first weekend of the 2012 NFL regular season on the horizon, it's time to break down some fantasy football stars who owners would be wise to start. 

It all comes down to matchups in fantasy football. And it's always crucial to start the players with the best ones week in and week out.

Let's take a look at some players sure to benefit from favorable matchups in Week 1. 

DeAngelo Williams

The Carolina Panthers running back is a must-start in Week 1 with his team going up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Tampa ranked dead last in the NFL last season defending the run, allowing more than 156 rushing yards per week and giving up 26 touchdowns on the ground in 16 games; no other NFL team allowed more than 19 rushing touchdowns in 2011.

Based on the previous statistic, I'd start Panthers RB Mike Tolbert too. 

Williams averaged 5.4 yards per carry last season and will likely see even more touches out of the Carolina backfield with fellow running back Jonathan Stewart's status uncertain heading into the weekend.

The veteran should have plenty of opportunities to reel off big runs and find the end zone on Sunday.

Mario Manningham

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mario Manningham will make his first regular-season appearance with his new team on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.

Green Bay ranked 32nd in the NFL last season in pass defense, allowing roughly 312 receiving yards per week and 29 touchdowns through the air during the regular season.

They can't be that bad again, but they also can't be that much better after one offseason. 

Manningham has 18 receiving touchdowns in the past three seasons combined and proved that he is one of the league's clutch receivers with his play for the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI.

On Sunday in Green Bay, Manningham will be a big target for Niners quarterback Alex Smith when he drops back to pass against a Packers secondary that has a lot to prove after last year. 

Willis McGahee

Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos will find yards and points tough to come by through the air in Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Pittsburgh boasted the NFL's top-ranked pass defense a season ago, holding opponents to under 172 passing yards per week on average.

Consider them the anti-Packers.

Expect the Broncos to look to veteran running back Willis McGahee to help them move the ball on the stout Steelers D. 

McGahee rushed for nearly 1,200 yards in 2011 and averaged 4.8 yards per carry in a rushing attack that was highlighted by former Denver quarterback Tim Tebow.

Follow Bleacher Report featured columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter all season long for more fantasy football analysis.