Week 1 Start 'Em Sit 'Em: Projecting Who Will Shine, Struggle on Opening Weekend

Week 1 of the NFL regular season is set to kick off on Thursday night, and with it the 2013 fantasy football season.

Much like all 32 NFL teams in action this weekend, fantasy owners across America will be looking to start fast and open up with a bang. The key to success is knowing whom to start and whom to sit.

Below we'll break down a pair of players who will shine and a pair set to struggle in Week 1. 

Ahmad Bradshaw: Indianapolis Colts, RB

The Indianapolis Colts will open up at home against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday in a game they are favored to win by 10 points.

Last season, Oakland boasted a lackluster rush defense, ranking 18th in the NFL and surrendering over 118 yards on the ground per game.

Therefore, Colts running back Ahmad Bradshaw, who had four 100-plus-yard rushing games in 2012, will have a great shot to crack the 100-yard mark right off the bat.

A 1,000-yard rusher in two of the past three seasons, Bradshaw is no longer a spring chicken, but he remains a solid fantasy option this weekend, given his favorable matchup and his versatility as a receiver out of the backfield.

While there have been doubts about whether Bradshaw would be ready to go for Week 1, Colts coach Chuck Pagano is optimistic that the veteran will start vs. Oakland, according to NFL.com's Kevin Patra.

And if he's healthy enough to start for Indy, he should be good to go for your fantasy squad.

Start Em Sit Em: Start 'Em

Jermichael Finley: Green Bay Packers, TE

Green Bay will begin the season on the road at San Francisco in Week 1, which is bad news for Jermichael Finley owners.

Although the athletic tight end scored one of his two touchdowns in 2012 against the 49ers, he was ineffective in his most recent appearance against the reigning NFC champions, catching just four passes for 35 yards in Green Bay's NFC Divisional Round loss to the Niners last January.

On top of the fact that San Francisco plays stout pass defense (fourth best in the league in 2012), Finley is a bit of a wild card. He's incredibly inconsistent and drops have held him back from reaching his full potential in recent seasons.

There will be better matchups for Finley down the road, but in Week 1 he's best suited for a spot on your bench.

Start Em Sit Em: Sit 'Em

Jason Avant: Philadelphia Eagles, WR

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jason Avant will have an opportunity for a big game out of the slot against Washington on Monday Night Football.

The Redskins were one of the NFL's worst secondaries in 2012, ranking 30th in the league in pass defense and allowing over 280 yards per game through the air.

Although DeSean Jackson is the No. 1 wideout in Philly, look for Avant to see plenty of action in Chip Kelly's new-look offense, especially with Jeremy Maclin having gone down with a season-ending knee injury earlier this summer.

Avant was targeted 76 times for the Eagles last season, catching 53 balls for 648 yards.

In Philly's Week 16 showdown with Washington last year, Avant caught a season-high eight passes for 70 yards. With Jackson warranting plenty of attention from Washington's D and Michael Vick starting under center, Avant could have a monster game on Monday. 

Start Em Sit Em: Start 'Em

Chris Ivory: New York Jets, RB

Avoiding the New York Jets' offense would be a wise strategy for any fantasy owner in 2013, but in Week 1 especially. The Jets quarterback situation is a mess, and as a result fantasy owners should expect running back Chris Ivory to struggle.

After all, he'll be going up against the NFL's best rush defense a season ago in Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers allowed an NFL-best 3.5 yards per carry in 2012, holding opponents to just 82 yards per game on the ground.

While Ivory is a powerful runner who broke off big run after big run during his time in New Orleans, New York's inability to threaten with the pass will make him the No. 1 target of the Bucs' defense. 

Not to mention Ivory only has 256 rushing attempts through his first three NFL seasons. It remains to be seen how effective he'll be with an increased workload against a stellar defense. 

Start Em Sit Em: Sit 'Em

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