Fantasy Football Week 1: Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Locks to Win Your Matchup
So, your team is drafted, your waiver wire moves are made, and you're all ready to go, right?
Wrong.
You still need to figure out just who you plan to start in Week 1. Sure, your basic stars are going to stay week in and week out, but I'm talking about those middle guys, the matchup plays, the ones no one expects.
Here's a list of 10 guys I think should ride your bench, and 10 guys who should take their place.
Sit 'Em #10: Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, New York Giants
1 of 20
I like Ahmad Bradshaw most weeks. I really do.
But he's not a short yardage back, and he's going against an elite run defense in Carolina. With Brandon Jacobs blasting holes, Bradshaw's carries were already going to go down, but now, he won't bring much value to your lineup this week.
He's going to have value this season, but against Carolina, there are better plays to make.
Start 'Em #10: Jonathan Stewart, RB, Carolina Panthers
2 of 20
Bradshaw's Carolina counterpart, on the other hand, is a must-start.
Stewart might be part of a value-sapping, straight-carry split, but he torched the Giants last season, and their run defense isn't exactly stellar.
Stewart is over the heel injury that kept him out of the preseason finale, and he looks ready to give you a big game on Sunday.
Sit 'Em #9: Miami Dolphins D/ST
3 of 20
The Dolphins will win this week. They probably won't give up many points. But in terms of sacks, turnovers, and the other things that provide big weeks from a defense, you're better off looking elsewhere.
Because when it comes down to it, the Dolphins defense just isn't all that talented.
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Start 'Em #9: Pittsburgh Steelers D/ST
4 of 20
They're baaaaack.
The Steelers defense will be a force in the AFC this season, and they'll announce their return by beating up the Falcons. I'm talking sacks, picks, fumbles, everything.
They're going to put a hurtin' on 'em.
Now that Troy Polamalu is back and healthy, this defense will be able to do what it does best: getting you points.
The Falcons might win the game in the end, but rest assured, Pittsburgh will give you plenty of points this week.
Sit 'Em #8: Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants
5 of 20
Eli Manning is going to struggle this week. Not because the Panthers' secondary is anything special; it's not.
But Carolina's defense was sack-crazed in the preseason and appear not to miss Julius Peppers. The Giants' offensive line was shaky last year and was just as shaky in the preseason.
Expect to see Manning on his back a lot.
Start 'Em #8: Kyle Orton, QB, Denver Broncos
6 of 20
For whatever reason, people love to hate Kyle Orton. I think it's the scraggly hipster beard.
Orton is a reliable, backup-level fantasy guy who is taking on a terrible, terrible Jacksonville defense. He'll rip it to shreds and make you glad you started him.
Orton isn't an every-week play, given the talent around him and his history of second half struggles. But Week 1, against a crappy Jacksonville team?
Yes, please and thank you.
Sit 'Em #7: Hakeem Nicks, WR, New York Giants
7 of 20
If Eli Manning spends most of the game on his back, who's going to throw the ball to Nicks, a talented target? If he can't catch the ball, he can't put up numbers. It's that simple.
Start 'Em #7: Jabar Gaffney, WR, Denver Broncos
8 of 20
Gaffney, the former Florida Gator, has become a favorite target of the aforementioned Kyle Orton. Orton lacks a consistent receiving threat, and Gaffney provides him a stable set of hands who has been around the league for a few years.
I realize I'm not the first person to find Gaffney, but I'm the first to tell you he'll be the Broncos leading receiver this season.
Play with confidence.
Sit 'Em #6: Tony Romo, QB, Dallas Cowboys
9 of 20
I've picked the Redskins to beat the 'Boys in Week 1, due in large part to the fact that Romo will be trying to pass against the team who ranked 8th in passing yards allowed last season.
Romo's a talented guy, but he has three to four absolute howlers in him over the course of the season. A trap game against a resurgent Redskins team on the road is a good candidate to be one of them.
Buyer beware.
Start 'Em #6: Jason Campbell, QB, Oakland Raiders
10 of 20
Campbell is no John Elway, nor would anyone make such an outrageous claim. But will he exceed expectations in Oakland?
Yes, definitely.
He's going against an injury-depleted secondary and has a cannon for an arm and one of the fastest receiver corps in the league.
Translation: Lots and lots of big plays, which mean lots and lots of points for you.
He might not be great every week, but in Week 1 he will be.
Sit 'Em #5: Derrick Mason, WR, Baltimore Ravens
11 of 20
This isn't a knock on Mason: he's still one of the best value wideouts in football.
But he's the third option in a balanced offensive attack in Baltimore, which means he'll get fewer looks. He might get more this week with Anquan Boldin neutralized by "Revis Island", but he's not going to get you the value he would've prior to T.J. Houshmandzadeh's signing.
Start 'Em #5: Laurent Robinson, WR, St. Louis Rams
12 of 20
With the injury to Donnie Avery, the speedy Robinson is the Rams' best receiver. He'll get plenty of Week 1 looks and will be a sneaky source of points all season long.
Odds are, you can find him on waivers in your league as well.
Sit 'Em #4: Jason Witten, TE, Dallas Cowboys
13 of 20
Witten might be the most reliable option in the Cowboys arsenal, but the Redskins defense ranked in the top ten for points allowed to opposing tight ends last season.
The Redskins' strength is partly due to their own pair of talented tight ends, Chris Cooley and Fred Davis, who give the defense plenty of practice against good receivers.
Start 'Em #4: Jermichael Finley, TE, Green Bay Packers
14 of 20
Finley's a dream tight end in Week 1: He's in a system that throws to the tight end, up against a Philly team who allowed the second-most points to opposing tight ends last year.
His owners are drooling right now.
Sit 'Em #3: Joseph Addai, RB, Indianapolis Colts
15 of 20
Addai's time as the Colts' starting running back is coming to an end.
Donald Brown is clearly the more talented runner in Indianapolis, and it's only a matter of time before they figure it out. Until then you may want to avoid Addai, because he won't generate many points for you with his grind-it-out style.
Start 'Em #3: Justin Forsett, RB, Seattle Seahawks
16 of 20
Forsett is officially the Seahawk's starter in their opener against a mediocre San Francisco run defense.
Forsett is the most talented and dynamic back in Seattle. He won't have a field day against the Niners, but he will have a good game. Play him if you need some running back points.
Sit 'Em #2: Brandon Marshall, WR, Miami Dolphins
17 of 20
Marshall is working with a new quarterback in a new system against one of the best pass defenses in the NFL last year.
Plus, he's crazy.
In other words, he's got just enough wrong this week to negate his obvious and undeniable talent. Play him if you want, but don't expect a typical Marshall-caliber game.
Start 'Em #2: Malcom Floyd, WR, San Diego Chargers
18 of 20
For the next three weeks, play Floyd like he's the No. 1 receiver in San Diego.
That means lots of targets, lots of chances for big plays, and big numbers. Until Vincent Jackson returns (if he does at all), Floyd is the best option the Chargers have at wideout.
He'll get you good value points, assuming you've already got him on your roster.
Sit 'Em #1: Chad Henne, QB, Miami Dolphins
19 of 20
Henne's had a ton of hype leading into the season, and he's got the talent to back it up. But in Week 1, he's a guy you want on your bench, not starting.
He's starting his first season as the Dolphin's quarterback against a top ten pass defense in Buffalo and has only Brandon Marshall as a reliable receiver. While Chad will be good in the long run, Sunday in Buffalo, he'll be nothing but trouble.
Buyer beware.
Start 'Em #1: Alex Smith, QB, San Francisco 49ers
20 of 20
Read my lips: Alex Smith will be a top 10 fantasy quarterback by the end of the season.
He's taking on an awful Seahawks defense in Week 1, and he's got the arm, legs and smarts to be a top-end starting quarterback on your fantasy team. He has more weapons than he's had at any point in his career, and is in an offensive system he knows.
Roll him with confidence this week in particular, but he'll be a solid play this year more often than not.
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