Week 1 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Highlighting Matchups to Exploit and Avoid

The NFL is back, which means difficult lineup decisions have also returned for fantasy football owners. Countless hours are spent each week debating which players belong in the starting lineup and who should get left on the bench.

Week 1 is slightly different than most weeks. There isn't quite as much information to help make the choices, so defaulting to the higher draft pick is common. That said, there are still some question marks when it comes to the fringe starters drafted in the middle rounds.

With that in mind, let's check out where some of those toss-up players fall by breaking down who to start and who to sit in the opening week. As longtime owners know, every matchup is important during what's a short fantasy regular season.

Start 'Em

Position	Player	Team
QB	Colin Kaepernick	SF
RB	Fred Jackson	BUF
WR	Emmanuel Sanders	DEN
TE	Jared Cook	STL
D/ST	Eagles	PHI
K	Graham Gano	CAR

Colin Kaepernick quietly ranked inside the top 10 of quarterback scoring last season. His ability to make plays with his legs offsets an attack that still revolves around the ground game. He should start on a high note against a Dallas Cowboys defense that finished last in yards allowed in 2013.

Fred Jackson should continue to split time pretty evenly with C.J. Spiller. He also served as the Buffalo Bills' choice near the goal line last year. Those factors paired with facing a Chicago Bears defense that got torched on the ground last season should lead to a double-digit game from the veteran.

Wes Welker's four-game suspension opens the door for Emmanuel Sanders. He was already expected to play a key role in his first season with the Denver Broncos. Now he should see a boatload of targets in Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts, making him a potential top-10 wideout.

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network is bullish about Sanders:

One year ago, Jared Cook scored 24 fantasy points in Week 1. He only cracked double digits once more during the 2013 season. Can lightning strike twice? It certainly seems possible as he goes up against a Minnesota Vikings linebacker group that's struggled against athletic tight ends.

The Philadelphia Eagles' defense is still nothing more than a stream option in fantasy leagues, but the opener is one of the opportunities to use the unit. It faces a Jacksonville Jaguars offense that still lacks playmakers on the offensive side of the ball.

In most cases, owners just start whichever kicker they drafted because the scoring is highly random, even for the top scorers. For those still seeking an option, Graham Gano is a solid bet in a game that could very well feature plenty of field goals.

Sit 'Em

Position	Player	Team
QB	Robert Griffin III	WSH
RB	Bishop Sankey	TEN
WR	Sammy Watkins	BUF
TE	Dennis Pitta	BAL
D/ST	Broncos	DEN
K	Blair Walsh	MIN

After a terrific rookie campaign, Robert Griffin III wasn't nearly as dynamic in his second year as he recovered from a knee injury. While he may be healthy again, the preseason results still weren't up to par, which means fantasy owners should be cautious in Week 1.

Zac Boyer of The Washington Times provided comments from the quarterback about knowing his importance to the team, which only further adds to the pressure.

"Like I've said many times this offseason, they go as I go," Griffin said. "If I play well, we play well. If I don't play well, we don't play well. I understand that. They understand that, and I'm gonna do my best and I promise I'll play well for them."

Bishop Sankey is an intriguing rookie. He could become an extremely valuable commodity as the season goes on. His current role is still murky, however, with Shonn Greene also in the mix. Keep him on the bench until his usage rate becomes more clear.

The Bills traded up to secure Sammy Watkins. Unfortunately for Buffalo, he's already dealing with a rib injury, and E.J. Manuel continues to struggle. Those two factors make the rookie playmaker an option not worth the clear risk in the opener.

Dennis Pitta generated plenty of hype at a weak fantasy position during the offseason. While his role is expected to increase in the Baltimore Ravens' offense, he's not a must-start player at this point. He should be among the reserves against a solid Cincinnati Bengals interior defense.

Denver added several pieces to its defense during the offseason with hope of getting it on the same level as its offense. The acquisitions should help during the season, but the group isn't worth starting against the Colts in a game with shootout potential.

Finally, Walsh wasn't able to back up his strong rookie season as he finished in the middle of the pack among kickers last season, further illustrating the position's volatility. There are better streaming options for Week 1.