Fantasy Football Week 1: Everything You Need to Know for Sunday's Action

Football is back! If you are like many enthusiasts, though, fantasy football has been back for a while. For some diehards, it never left.

We got a taste of the fantasy goodness to come on Thursday Night Football with explosions from the likes of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski and Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Antonio Brown. We also saw what running back DeAngelo Williams could do in place of the suspended Le'Veon Bell.

Much of what we saw was predictable. Who didn't see the New England Patriots offense flying high against a porous Pittsburgh Steelers defense?

Let's dive into the fantasy football realm for the rest of the week for fantasy rankings, the latest news and a look into the crystal ball.

Rankings

Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery/Getty Images

Check out the top 100 players for Week 1:

The 100

Rank	Player	Opp.
1	C.J. Anderson, RB, DEN	vs. Bal
2	Eddie Lacy, RB, GB	at Chi
3	DeMarco Murray, RB, PHI	at Atl
4	Julio Jones, WR, ATL	vs. Phi
5	Jamaal Charles, RB, KC	at Hou
6	Lamar Miller, RB, MIA	at Was
7	Marshawn Lynch, RB, SEA	at StL
8	Dez Bryant, WR, DAL	vs. NYG
9	Justin Forsett, RB, BAL	at Den
10	Adrian Peterson, RB, MIN	at SF
11	Odell Beckham, WR, NYG	at Dal
12	Andre Ellington, RB, ARI	vs. NO
13	Demaryius Thomas, WR, DEN	vs. Bal
14	Matt Ryan, QB, ATL	vs. Phi
15	Randall Cobb, WR, GB	at Chi
16	Matt Forte, RB, CHI	vs. GB
17	Jeremy Hill, RB, CIN	at Oak
18	Calvin Johnson, WR, DET	at SD
19	Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB	at Chi
20	Sam Bradford, QB, PHI	at Atl
21	A.J. Green, WR, CIN	at Oak
22	Mike Evans, WR, TB	vs. Ten
23	Doug Martin, RB, TB	vs. Ten
24	Tony Romo, QB, DAL	vs. NYG
25	Jordan Matthews, WR, PHI	at Atl
26	Greg Olsen, TE, CAR	at Jac
27	Frank Gore, RB, IND	at Buf
28	Peyton Manning, QB, DEN	vs. Bal
29	Chris Ivory, RB, NYJ	vs. Cle
30	Brandin Cooks, WR, NO	at Ari
31	Andrew Luck, QB, IND	at Buf
32	Mark Ingram, RB, NO	at Ari
33	Carlos Hyde, RB, SF	vs. Min
34	Alshon Jeffery, WR, CHI	vs. GB
35	Latavius Murray, RB, OAK	vs. Cin
36	Eli Manning, QB, NYG	at Dal
37	T.Y. Hilton, WR, IND	at Buf
38	Vincent Jackson, WR, TB	vs. Ten
39	LeSean McCoy, RB, BUF	vs. Ind
40	Drew Brees, QB, NO	at Ari
41	Ryan Tannehill, QB, MIA	at Was
42	Russell Wilson, QB, SEA	at StL
43	Alfred Morris, RB, WAS	vs. Mia
44	Alfred Blue, RB, HOU	vs. KC
45	DeAndre Hopkins, WR, HOU	vs. KC
46	Jeremy Maclin, WR, KC	at Hou
47	Keenan Allen, WR, SD	vs. Det
48	Danny Woodhead, RB, SD	vs. Det
49	Sammy Watkins, WR, BUF	vs. Ind
50	Andre Johnson, WR, IND	at Buf
51	Rashad Jennings, RB, NYG	at Dal
52	Jarvis Landry, WR, MIA	at Was
53	Jimmy Graham, TE, SEA	at StL
54	Amari Cooper, WR, OAK	vs. Cin
55	Travis Kelce, TE, KC	at Hou
56	Tevin Coleman, RB, ATL	vs. Phi
57	Carson Palmer, QB, ARI	vs. NO
58	Emmanuel Sanders, WR, DEN	vs. Bal
59	Allen Robinson, WR, JAC	vs. Car
60	Larry Fitzgerald, WR, ARI	vs. NO
61	Davante Adams, WR, GB	at Chi
62	T.J. Yeldon, RB, JAC	vs. Car
63	Jason Witten, TE, DAL	vs. NYG
64	Joique Bell, RB, DET	at SD
65	Giovani Bernard, RB, CIN	at Oak
66	Bishop Sankey, RB, TEN	at TB
67	Darren McFadden, RB, DAL	vs. NYG
68	Steve Smith, WR, BAL	at Den
69	Golden Tate, WR, DET	at SD
70	Brandon Marshall, WR, NYJ	vs. Cle
71	John Brown, WR, ARI	vs. NO
72	Joe Flacco, QB, BAL	at Den
73	Matthew Stafford, QB, DET	at SD
74	Melvin Gordon, RB, SD	vs. Det
75	Tre Mason, RB, STL	vs. Sea
76	Cam Newton, QB, CAR	at Jac
77	DeSean Jackson, WR, WAS	vs. Mia
78	Kendall Wright, WR, TEN	at TB
79	Marques Colston, WR, NO	at Ari
80	Anquan Boldin, WR, SF	vs. Min
81	Eddie Royal, WR, CHI	vs. GB
82	Ameer Abdullah, RB, DET	at SD
83	Larry Donnell, TE, NYG	at Dal
84	Nelson Agholor, WR, PHI	at Atl
85	Mike Wallace, WR, MIN	at SF
86	Steve Johnson, WR, SD	vs. Det
87	Ryan Mathews, RB, PHI	at Atl
88	Allen Hurns, WR, JAC	vs. Car
89	Rueben Randle, WR, NYG	at Dal
90	Joseph Randle, RB, DAL	vs. NYG
91	Roddy White, WR, ATL	vs. Phi
92	Tyrod Taylor, QB, BUF	vs. Ind
93	Eric Decker, WR, NYJ	vs. Cle
94	Delanie Walker, TE, TEN	at TB
95	Leonard Hankerson, WR, ATL	vs. Phi
96	Charles Johnson, WR, MIN	at SF
97	Jordan Cameron, TE, MIA	at Was
98	Michael Floyd, WR, ARI	vs. NO
99	Torrey Smith, WR, SF	vs. Min
100	Kyle Rudolph, TE, MIN	at SF

Injury Update

Probables

Quarterbacks

• None: Unless backups such as Johnny Manziel or Jimmy Clausen count—they don't—there isn't much injury news to speak of at the quarterback position this week. Thank goodness for that.

Running Backs

• LeSean McCoy, Buffalo Bills (hamstring): This is a great matchup for McCoy, but how much he will see the field remains to be seen.
• Chris Ivory, New York Jets (knee): Ivory has a nice matchup and a clear role as lead back.
• Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks (non-injury): Lynch appeared on the injury report this week by virtue of limited participation. There's no way he should be out of your lineups.

Wide Receivers

• Alshon Jeffery, Chicago Bears (calf): Jeffery has been practicing on a limited basis for a few days, and he could be hampered this week.
• Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys (hamstring): Bryant was a full participant in practice. There's nothing to worry about here.
• Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons (elbow): Surgery clouded Roddy White's Week 1 status until recently, but it looks like he will be playing. Whether he will be effective coming off that injury is another story.

Tight Ends

• Eric Ebron, Detroit Lions (ankle): Ebron was a full participant in practice late this week. If only he was a reliable fantasy option.
• Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs (ankle): The Twitterverse exploded with fear when Kelce went down in practice a couple of weeks ago. He's fine.

Kickers

• None: Outside of Josh Scobee's ego after that miserable performance against the Patriots, the injury report at kicker is clean.

Risks 

Randall Cobb, WR, Green Bay Packers (shoulder)

Just a week after losing Jordy Nelson for the year, the Green Bay Packers collectively held their breath, waiting to see if Randall Cobb would suffer a similar fate. Fortunately for everyone in Wisconsin, his shoulder injury was a minor AC sprain.

That doesn't mean he will be effective early on, though. "I'll be on the field," Cobb said of Week 1, despite limited range of motion, per Michael Cohen of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. If he does play, you kind of have to start him against the Chicago Bears. But this is definitely a risk.

Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (hamstring)

There was plenty of cause for concern about Mike Evans heading into Week 1, especially since he hadn't practiced with the team until Friday. Head coach Lovie Smith didn't rule him out, though, per ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas:

"

As a general rule, you would like for guys to practice all three days. If they can't practice a day, there's some question mark. But if we have a good football player that doesn't practice all week and he gets up Sunday morning and says, "Hey, Lovie, I'm feeling good" and we have a history with him, he's going to play.

"

Evans made it to practice, finally, but how effective is he going to be after a weekslong layoff? Beyond any rust factors is the fact he wasn't able to build a rapport with rookie quarterback Jameis Winston over the preseason.

The big wideout has a tasty matchup against a banged up Tennessee Titans secondary, but this could be a trap. 

Ladarius Green, TE, San Diego Chargers (concussion)

The man who was supposed to take the mantle from Antonio Gates—at least while he is suspended—may suddenly be out for Week 1 after a midweek concussion.

Keep an eye on Ladarius Green's status through Sunday morning, but he's not a particularly palatable option regardless. His absence could mean bigger output for the likes of receiver Stevie Johnson and running back Danny Woodhead, however.

Joique Bell, RB, Detroit Lions (knee/Achilles)

News has been sparse from Detroit as we wait to see if Joique Bell will see real action in Week 1. He was listed as the starter, though, and has been practicing this week. The Lions will probably ease him back, and he has Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick eating away at his touches.

Zach Ertz, TE, Philadelphia Eagles (calf)

Ertz will be a game-time decision in a Monday night affair. It's probably safest to keep him out of your lineups for Week 1, even with the upside in a good matchup.

Tre Mason, RB, St. Louis Rams (hamstring)

Todd Gurley is already out for Week 1, but the fact Tre Mason didn't practice this week should raise some eyebrows across fantasy leagues. He wasn't a great option going up against that Seattle Seahawks defense, but Mason figured to carry a heavy workload anyway.

If Mason is ruled out, Benny Cunningham would suddenly become an intriguing option. He was already going to catch some passes in his role, but an expanded workload could lead to a decent fantasy output, especially in points-per-reception leagues.

Michael Floyd, WR, Arizona Cardinals (fingers, hamstring)

A nasty hand injury required surgery for Michael Floyd this offseason, but he returned to practice this week. He's still a big question mark heading into Week 1, though, and his hamstring popped up on the injury report late in the week. It's probably best to stay away from this situation entirely—with a boost to heralded John Brown, to boot.

Duke Johnson, Cleveland Browns (concussion)

The New York Jets are a bad matchup for the Browns offense, and Isaiah Crowell is probably going to lead the team in touches early on. He's listed as probable right now, but if Johnson misses the game, Crowell could see 25-plus touches.

DeVante Parker, WR, Miami Dolphins (foot)

The Dolphins are probably going to get receiver DeVante Parker on the field for some action in Week 1, but it won't likely be for more than a handful of snaps. The first-round rookie only started practicing last week after a layoff due to foot surgery, and the offense looked good without him during the preseason.

Out

C.J. Spiller, RB, New Orleans Saints (knee)

There wasn't too much question about this heading into Week 1, but it sounds like Spiller will miss the season's first game with a knee issue. That bumps Mark Ingram and Khiry Robinson up a bit, though the Arizona Cardinals have a good defense.

All practice participation information comes from the the weekly NFL injury reports at ESPN.com.

Sleepers and Busts

Gary Wiepert/Associated Press

Week 1 Sleepers

Leonard Hankerson, WR, Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons are going to be playing catch-up against the Philadelphia Eagles and that vaunted offense. That probably means 35-plus passing attempts from quarterback Matt Ryan.

Who will get those targets? Star receiver Julio Jones will get more than a few, but there will be plenty to go around. That's where fellow wideout Leonard Hankerson comes in.

With Roddy White still on the mend from elbow surgery—and Father Time riding piggyback—Hankerson could see a big role for the Falcons early this season. More targets equal more opportunities to score fantasy points.

Tyrod Taylor, QB, Buffalo Bills

Depending on your league, Tyrod Taylor might be entirely off the radar or a hot name. The fact he is a relatively unknown starter for the Buffalo Bills means the former is likely to be true.

Taylor did have a fabulous preseason (108 yards on 11 carries), showing off his electric rushing ability on several occasions. That's what makes him so tantalizing. Even though he didn't face a real defense, Taylor figures to score a good chunk of fantasy points with his legs. The Indianapolis Colts don't exactly present a stifling defense, either.

Stevie Johnson, WR, San Diego Chargers 

Antonio Gates is suspended. Ladarius Green may be out with a concussion. Eddie Royal is gone. Philip Rivers is good.

All these things point to a great outing for Stevie Johnson. We've seen fast starts from Royal in the past, after all, and Johnson is a superior talent who has been stuck in quarterback purgatory his entire career.

Danny Woodhead, RB, San Diego Chargers

"The expectations are going to be high any time you draft a back that high. I would advise the fans not to base the expectations on carries and yards. Don't say, 'Oh man, if [Melvin Gordon] doesn't have 22 for 120 then are we getting what we need from him?'"

Those words came from Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, and are not exactly comforting for Gordon's fantasy owners.

Acee goes on to speculate the Chargers might use a three-headed monster approach this season with Gordon, Woodhead and Branden Oliver all seeing significant playing time.

Woodhead is the only one with a proven track record of fantasy scoring—he was 19th in standard scoring just two years ago—and his pass-catching upside is undeniable in PPR formats.

Allen Hurns, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

How can a guy who won a starting job and went supernova in Week 1 a year ago be a sleeper? Probably because he plays for the Jaguars.

We shouldn't necessarily expect another 110-yard, two-touchdown performance, but Hurns is the de facto No. 2 with big-play potential.

Week 1 Busts

LeSean McCoy, RB, Buffalo Bills

If you drafted LeSean McCoy, you probably need to start him. The question is: How effective is he going to be behind that shaky Buffalo offensive line while coming off a hamstring injury?

Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The matchup against the Titans is nice. Mike Evans is great. But the injury and lack of rapport development with quarterback Jameis Winston are all red flags heading into Week 1.

Melvin Gordon, RB, San Diego Chargers

As mentioned above, the early outlook on Gordon isn't exactly bullish in San Diego. Add to that his horrendous preseason showing (20 carries, 45 yards) during which Gordon looked lost in a zone-blocking scheme, and you have a recipe for Week 1 fantasy disaster.

Don't stick him in your lineups just because you drafted him in the third round.

Start 'Em

Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Every week we'll take a look at one player from each position who you should be starting, looking beyond the obvious guys of course.

Sam Bradford, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

If Sam Bradford is somehow available in your fantasy league, get him. If you have him, start him, with few exceptions.

Yes, Bradford is an injury waiting to happen. Yes, we should take his fantastic preseason showing with a grain of salt. But head coach Chip Kelly's balefire offense is slated to score the most points this week—and probably all year—by Las Vegas oddsmakers, and Bradford is liable to put up the top fantasy score at the quarterback position.

Jonathan Stewart, RB, Carolina Panthers

Despite a strong finish to the 2014 season, Jonathan Stewart isn't a heralded name heading into 2015. Sure, he was taken as a No. 2 running back in most leagues, but it seems like nobody is particularly excited about the 28-year-old.

Maybe getting burned all those years has taken a toll on the collective psyche of fantasy owners.

John Brown, WR, Arizona Cardinals

The hype train was at full steam for John Brown during the preseason. A nice rookie year looked like a springboard to a starting job in year two. Then the Cardinals released their Week 1 depth chart.

Brown was listed behind Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd at receiver despite the latter's hand injury that kept him out most of the preseason. Floyd may yet miss Week 1, though, and none of this means Brown won't see the field plenty. 

Facing a banged-up New Orleans defense that was already mediocre at best, Brown could easily get loose on a few deep balls.

Charles Clay, TE, Buffalo Bills

The Bills spent a ton of money to pry Charles Clay from Miami this offseason, yet he was drafted in fantasy as though he wouldn't be a big part of the offense. Or, perhaps, as someone who plays for the Buffalo Bills.

His fantasy perception should change quickly, though, especially after he goes up against a soft Indianapolis Colts defense. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor is all the rage—as unproven as he is—and he's going to have to throw the ball to someone.

Clay could be one of the sneakiest starts of Week 1.

New York Jets D/ST

Few defenses have a better matchup than the New York Jets this weekend.

Cleveland comes to town, and the Browns aren't likely to put up 35 points. The Jets improved that defense quite a bit—particularly in the secondary—and we could see a few takeaways against Josh McCown and Co.

Sit 'Em

Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

Every week we'll take a look at one player from each position who you should be sitting, looking beyond the obvious guys of course.

Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Minnesota Vikings

Teddy Bridgewater had a great second half in his rookie year, and he had a fabulous preseason. He was talked up as a potential top-10 fantasy quarterback heading into 2015.

So why sit him?

Simply put, Bridgewater is on the road in a game projected for less than 42 total points by Vegas oddsmakers. With running back Adrian Peterson back in the fold and potentially abysmal pass protection from a patchwork offensive line, look for the Vikings to pound the rock.

Ameer Abdullah, RB, Detroit Lions

The buzz is undeniable. The assumed "Reggie Bush role" cinches things. You should start Ameer Abdullah without abandon, right?

Not so fast.

Abdullah may well be a complementary back who touches the ball plenty, but that is no sure thing heading into Week 1. Joique Bell's return to the starting gig and Theo Riddick's pass-catching presence on the roster really put a damper on Abdullah's fantasy scoring opportunities.

Now, if he averages six yards per carry and nabs a few catches per game, fewer opportunities won't hurt his fantasy stock. But are you willing to risk a rookie who may not touch the ball 10 times in your starting lineup for Week 1?

Torrey Smith, WR, San Francisco 49ers

For many of the same reasons you should sit Bridgewater, Torrey Smith should be on your bench this coming Monday.

Not only is the game slated to be a relatively low-scoring affair, but that 49ers offense was just brutal during the preseason. Perhaps it was merely growing pains in the wake of Jim Harbaugh's departure, but major fireworks from that unit would be rather unexpected. 

On top of all that is the fact Smith has only really been fantasy-relevant one season—his last in Baltimore, and only because he got into the end zone 11 times. Touchdowns are fickle, and the 49ers don't figure to score a ton this year.

Josh Hill, TE, New Orleans Saints

When the Saints traded Jimmy Graham to the Seahawks, fans and industry types immediately flocked to Josh Hill as the heir apparent to Graham's fantasy throne. That hasn't quite panned out thus far, and we shouldn't expect it to going forward.

Hill will have good games, to be sure. So long as Drew Brees is the quarterback, anyone could go off in that offense. But the big tight end is very much a boom-or-bust proposition.

Buffalo Bills D/ST

New head coach Rex Ryan is going to have that already-good Buffalo Bills defense wrecking opponents all year long. Just don't expect that to happen this week against quarterback Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts.

Sure, the Bills might limit Luck and his cohorts, but we shouldn't expect a bevy of sacks and turnovers. 

Bonus Sit 'Em: Dallas Cowboys Running Backs

Like playing roulette? By all means, then, start that Dallas Cowboys running back you drafted this week. 

The DraftKings Scoop

Tim Sharp/Associated Press

Daily fantasy sports are all the rage these days. If you haven't tried it, you should—it's good fun, even if you only enter free games.

For those who partake, here is a Week 1 rundown for DraftKings contests.

The Chalk

chalk (n.)—a player considered to be a consensus pick or a “must-start” option for a given DFS contest, especially in cash games.

Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers ($4,400)

Plenty of value has been created for Week 1 by virtue of early pricing released by DraftKings. This was bound to happen with contests opening up more than a month before the season began.

Case in point is Davante Adams in the wake of Jordy Nelson's season-ending injury. By virtue of his ascension into a starting role, the second-year wideout becomes a chalk play at his $4,400 price tag. He might not put up the kind of line Nelson would have, but more targets from reigning league MVP Aaron Rodgers is a good thing.

Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($4,500)

This is really borderline "chalk," but it has become increasingly difficult to avoid putting Martin in lineups while staring at his price.

Martin might be fool's gold, but his preseason performance looked rather shiny. After nearly falling off the fantasy map, Martin seems to have returned to form. It looks like he'll be the lead back for Tampa Bay, and the Buccaneers could well lean on him to take some pressure off rookie quarterback Jameis Winston.

Combine all that with a nice matchup against the Tennessee Titans and Martin seems like he should be in lineups everywhere.

The Stacks

stack (v.)—rostering two to three players from the same NFL team with the hope that if one player performs extremely well, then the other one to two players will also benefit.

Tony Romo, QB ($7,300), and Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys ($8,700)

Dallas and New York square off on Sunday Night Football yet again in what figures to be a barnburner. At least that's what Vegas is saying with a game total at 51.5 points. The only downside here is that the Cowboys are nearly one-touchdown favorites—a big, early lead could mean less passing.

How they get that lead will be a boon for fantasy owners, though. Tony Romo has scored more than five points per game more against the Giants than anyone else over the past five years, and Dez Bryant is a monster.

Matt Ryan, QB ($7,500), and Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons ($9,300)

Were it not for the extra expense over Romo and Bryant, this would be the best stack of the week.

Atlanta and Philadelphia are slated for the biggest game total of the week, which makes sense given what we've seen from at least one side of the battle. The Falcons are going to have to try to keep up with Chip Kelly's uptempo offense, which means plenty of pitch-and-catch between Matt Ryan and star receiver Julio Jones.

Sam Bradford, QB ($6,900), and Jordan Matthews, WR ($7,200), or Nelson Agholor, WR, Philadelphia Eagles ($5,700)

Speaking of Kelly's offense, tapping into that vein might be the safest thing you could do this week after playing Rob Gronkowski in Thursday slates.

Lamar Miller, RB ($5,500), and Miami Dolphins D/ST ($3,000)

Want an unconventional stack? How about pairing a running back with a defense in a game that should be a laugher?

Anything could happen, of course, but Miami and Washington are two franchises headed in opposite directions. The Dolphins should travel to Washington, D.C., and put up an early lead, which probably means a heavy dose of Lamar Miller.

With Kirk Cousins at the helm for Washington, Miami's defense—led by defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and defensive end Cameron Wake in a monstrous front—should have a field day.

The GPP Plays

GPP (n.)—stands for “Guaranteed Prize Pool.” It is a type of tournament for which the daily fantasy sports site promises a specific prize pool amount to be divided among the winners regardless of entry count.

Tyrod Taylor, QB, Buffalo Bills ($5,000)

Taylor was named the starter well after DraftKings pricing was up, making him a fantastic option in every format. Saving that much salary at the quarterback position with a guy who is liable to rush for 100 yards is huge.

Leonard Hankerson, WR, Atlanta Falcons ($3,000)

Again, the Falcons are probably going to throw the ball a ton on Monday night, and Julio Jones can't catch them all. He's not a Pokemon master, after all.

Among those who could break out would be Leonard Hankerson, who had a nice preseason (seven catches, 78 yards, one touchdown) and could see a bunch of targets as the No. 2 or 3 receiver, depending on Roddy White's status.

Richard Rodgers, TE, Green Bay Packers ($2,500)

While Davante Adams became a chalk play after Jordy Nelson's injury, Richard Rodgers suddenly became a great GPP option. Chicago's defense was awful last season, and there isn't much reason to believe it'll be vastly improved.

Stevie Johnson, WR, San Diego Chargers ($3,700)

The Chargers won't have Antonio Gates and may not have Ladarius Green. They lost Eddie Royal in free agency, replacing him with Stevie Johnson. 

This isn't the best matchup, but Johnson could see a good number of targets from the best quarterback he's ever had in the NFL.

Danny Woodhead, RB, San Diego Chargers ($3,700)

If you are looking for a good, cheap option at running back, Danny Woodhead is your huckleberry.

As we've discussed, not only could he see a bigger workload than some realize, but his pass-catching prowess will be huge in this full-PPR format. 

Crockett Gillmore, TE, Baltimore Ravens ($2,500)

Maxx Williams is all the rage as a second-round pick in Baltimore, but Crockett Gillmore is still the starter. The Broncos and Ravens are slated to play one of the highest-scoring games this week, and Gillmore could see plenty of targets as the Ravens play catch-up in Denver.

The Fades

fade (v.)—to purposely avoid exposure to a specific player or players, for any number of reasons.

LeSean McCoy, RB, Buffalo Bills ($7,200)

We've already talked about him being a bust for Week 1. Why would you pay $7,200 to roster him in daily fantasy?

Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($7,700)

He may be practicing, finally, but he is too risky at that price to insert into lineups.

Alshon Jeffery, WR, Chicago Bears ($8,300)

This one is teetering on the edge given Jeffery could have a huge game trying to catch the Packers this week, but his lingering calf issue should be cause for pause. 

Daily fantasy definitions courtesy of Cracking DraftKings over at Footballguys.com.

Last-Minute Waiver Options

Jon Durr/Getty Images

This is Week 1. You just drafted in the past couple of weeks, presumably, so there shouldn't be much need to troll the waiver wire just yet. Still, some options out there could turn the tide for your fantasy squad early in the season. 

Sam Bradford, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

We've discussed him. If he is available, you should race to grab Bradford. You might scoff and say that's unlikely, but there's a decent shot. He is owned in just 52.1 percent of NFL.com leagues at the time of this writing, for example.

Brandon McManus, K, Denver Broncos

Avoided drafting a kicker? Waiting until the last minute to grab one? Brandon McManus might be your man.

McManus won the starting job in Denver, where he will be booting balls in the Mile High air. Even better is the fact his offense will be among the best in the league if Peyton Manning stays healthy. 

The better the offense, the more chances kickers tend to score fantasy points.

What Other Experts Are Saying

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Matthew Berry agrees with some of my earlier analysis in his Week 1 Love/Hate piece on ESPN.com:

"

Chris Ivory, Jets ($4,100): Going to get the ball a ton against a team that allowed the most rushing yards in the league last season.

Julio Jones, Falcons: See Ryan, Matt. What's the record for targets in a game? A billion? A billion five? Jones is the most expensive wideout on DraftKings at $9,300, and I say he's worth it.

Alshon Jeffery, Bears: Banged up and a bad matchup; in six career games versus the Packers, Jeffery has a total of two receiving touchdowns and has never eclipsed 80 receiving yards. I have him in a season-long league and I'm starting him, but I'm avoiding him in daily.

"

Yahoo's Brad Evans had this to say about Melvin Gordon in his weekly Fantasy Lames article:

"

Your morbidly obese uncle probably ran harder than Gordon this summer. The rookie exhibited marginal vision, elusiveness and short-field quickness throughout the preseason finishing with a god awful 2.2 yards per carry.

Though San Diego's permeable offensive line did him no favors, he struggled terribly adjusting to the Chargers' zone-blocking scheme, a system predicated on decisive cuts and downhill running. Gordon owns explosive speed and deceptive power, but severe limitations in other categories will likely keep him off the field until rectified. He's a below average pass-blocker and largely unspectacular as a receiver. Danny Woodhead, a much beloved and integral contributor, will play a substantial role within San Diego's proposed committee. Back from a broken leg, he's slated to reprise his gig as Swiss Army Knife.

"

Chris Feery had an interesting Week 1 entrant to his Fade advice on DraftKings over at Footballguys.com:

"

Jimmy Graham is the most expensive tight end for games beginning on Sunday. His price is reflective of his stellar production as a member of the Saints, production that will most likely go down in 2015. Graham will still have games where he reminds us of his freakish ability but the days of 15+ DraftKings points may be on hold for awhile. For Week 1’s purposes, a wait and see approach may be in order to see how Graham fits into the Seahawks offense. There are several tight ends priced more reasonably that have similar upside potential, notably Martellus Bennett at $4,300 and Travis Kelce at $4,800.

"

Vegas odds courtesy of OddsShark.com. 

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