Fantasy Football Week 1: Top Matchup Plays at Every Position

It's finally here!

On Thursday night, the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots will kick off the 2015 NFL season—and with it another season of fantasy football will begin.

Right now? Hope springs eternal. All teams are 0-0. Everyone is tied for first place.

However, some poor souls are already in scramble mode. Maybe they drafted really early and selected Houston Texans running back Arian Foster, or Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson later on.

Those fantasy owners already have holes to fill. Others just don't buy into the whole mantra of "Always start your studs." They're on the lookout for matchup plays—the less-than-elite player for whom the table appears set for an elite showing statistically based on their opponents' fantasy strength against the position in 2014.

No matter which camp you fall into, if it's Week 1 matchup plays you seek, you've come to the right place.

Note: Fantasy Points Allowed based on Point-Per-Reception (PPR) scoring.

Quarterback: Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals (vs. NO)

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For a time last year, Carson Palmer of the Arizona Cardinals was much more than just fantasy depth at quarterback.

In fact, over a four-week span from Week 6 to Week 9, Palmer was the eighth-ranked fantasy signal-caller in the scoring system used for this article. That position may go up or down a spot based on other leagues' differing systems, but that doesn't change this fact:

For those four weeks, the 35-year-old was a more-than-viable fantasy starter.

Of course, Palmer's 2014 ended the same way it began—with him hurt. However, Palmer told Michael Tulumello of the Phoenix New Times that not only is his surgically repaired ACL good to go, he's better than ever:

"

There were mental hurdles the first time [the ACL tore], especially the way it happened. I remember coming back, especially at the beginning of the [2006] season and . . . maybe not stepping into a throw [to protect] the knee. I don't feel that way now. ...

... I feel great. A good reason for that is that I'm too old to do what I used to do. ... I was an idiot [with the Bengals], doing way too much between practices. [Now] my feet are up, and I'm resting and studying. I feel better.

"

Granted, a patchwork offensive line and Palmer's complete and utter lack of mobility raise genuine concerns about how long he'll be able to stay healthy.

At the moment, however, he is. And he's ready to deliver for fantasy owners right out of the gate.

Sunday afternoon the Cardinals welcome Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints to town—a Saints team that has been known to put points on the scoreboard.

And a Saints team that surrendered the fourth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks a year ago.

Honorable Mention: Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins (at WAS); Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens (at DEN)

Running Back: Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers (at JAX)

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Fantasy owners have been waiting on Jonathan Stewart for a very long time.

Ever since Stewart topped 1,100 rushing yards for the Panthers in 2009, fantasy owners have been drafting Stewart in the hopes of a repeat.

And every year they've been left holding the bag, either due to the lower leg injuries that have continually dogged Stewart or the presence of DeAngelo Williams in the Carolina backfield.

However, Stewart came on strong down the stretch last year. So much so, in fact, that the Panthers both bid adieu to the aging Williams and did little to address the backfield in the 2015 NFL draft.

With Stewart now the unquestioned lead back for a Panthers offense that recently lost top wideout Kelvin Benjamin to a season-ending ACL tear, Jamey Eisenberg of CBS Sports expects that last year's strong finish could become this year's hot start:

"

Last year, with Cam Newton struggling and the offense in need of a boost, Stewart took over and showed his ability that has teased us for most of his career. He had either 100 total yards or a touchdown in four of his final seven games, including the playoffs, and the Panthers should make him the focal point on offense with Benjamin out.

Stewart likely has little competition for carries with Fozzy Whitaker and Cameron Artis-Payne behind him on the depth chart, and the only concern for Stewart aside from injury is losing touchdowns to Newton or Mike Tolbert. We'll see how that shakes out during the season, but he has a great opportunity against the Jaguars this week.

"

That he does. Only two teams allowed more fantasy points to the running back position last year than the Jaguars, who enter 2015 with a banged-up front seven.

Honorable Mention: Latavius Murray, Oakland Raiders (vs. CIN); Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati Bengals (at OAK)

Wide Receiver: Jarvis Landry, Miami Dolphins (at WAS)

Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

It got lost a bit in all the hullabaloo surrounding Odell Beckham of the New York Giants, Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kelvin Benjamin of the Carolina Panthers, but Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry didn't exactly stink as a rookie.

Far from it. Landry topped 80 catches and scored five touchdowns as a rookie, emerging as Ryan Tannehill's go-to receiver in South Florida.

Landry did the majority of his damage from the slot last year, but head coach Joe Philbin told James Walker of ESPN.com he has more in store for Landry in 2015:

"

He's lined up in a variety of spots. He's done some things outside. I think his natural home base is still inside, but he certainly has shown the ability [to do more], he's a real quality route-runner. He can run different routes that you want on the outside. The beauty of him is he doesn't slow down when he's coming out of cuts. So if he can get on top of the (defensive back), he doesn't waste any time whatsoever. That's really, to me, is what makes him effective.

"

Yes, the Dolphins added a number of pieces in the passing game this year, including wide receivers Kenny Stills and Greg Jennings and tight end Jordan Cameron.

But Landry remains Tannehill's safety net. His security blanket. And it's a blanket that will keep fantasy owners warm this week given that Miami travels to face a Washington team that was a highly favorable fantasy matchup for receivers last year.

Folks, write this down: If players on your roster are facing the Redskins in a given week this year, start them.

You won't regret it.

Honorable Mention: John Brown, Arizona Cardinals (vs. NO); Nelson Agholor, Philadelphia Eagles (at ATL)

Tight End: Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings (at SF)

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Almost as important as time in the film room and on the practice field for a young quarterback is a safety valve. A go-to guy. A target the young signal-caller can look to when things go sideways.

Because when you're standing tall in the pocket in the NFL, things are going to go sideways.

As Mark Craig of the Star Tribune reports, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater believes he has just such a safety valve in tight end Kyle Rudolph. "Whether he's the primary read or he's a late outlet as I'm going through my progression, Kyle is always in the right place at the right time," Bridgewater said.

Wide receiver Jarius Wright echoed Bridgewater's sentiments. "Just having Kyle back helps," Wright said. "He's always been a big target. He's easy to see, that's for sure. And you know for sure that if you throw him the ball, he's going to catch it, no matter who is on him or what the situation is. Kyle has some of the best hands on the team."

After a pair of injury-marred seasons, Rudolph appears fully healthy entering 2015, and Bridgewater wasn't even the least bit shy about targeting Rudolph in the preseason.

If that keeps up against a San Francisco 49ers team that gave up the ninth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends last year (before a litany of personnel losses ravaged the defense), the fifth-year veteran could be in for a big game Monday night.

Honorable Mention: Jordan Cameron, Miami Dolphins (at WAS); Larry Donnell, New York Giants (at DAL)

Defense/Special Teams: Carolina Panthers (at JAX)

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When choosing a team defense in fantasy football, it's all about the matchups. Rather than pay a premium for a so-called "elite" defense, savvy drafters simply search for a team they can get late that has a favorable matchup over the first week or two of the season.

In that respect, it doesn't get much better in Week 1 than the Carolina Panthers, who head south to meet the Jaguars in Jacksonville, Florida.

In 2014, the Jaguars ranked 31st in total offense. Dead last in scoring offense. Dead last in sacks allowed with a staggering 71. And 10th-worst in the NFL in giveaways.

Last I checked, those are the categories used to determine fantasy scoring for team defenses.

Get where I'm going with this?

Honorable Mention: New York Jets (vs. CLE); Kansas City Chiefs (at HOU)