Fantasy Football Sunday Morning Wide Receiver Start/Sit Decisions

It’s always tough making decisions on your fantasy lineup, but Week 1 is usually the hardest.  While we all have our feelings as to who will be good and who will not, we really have no data to go by.  It’s all based on assumptions and gut feelings.

With that said, here are a few last minute players you may want to consider making a move on:

Mike Wallace - Pittsburgh Steelers
It’s been widely regarded that, with Santonio Holmes out, he is going to emerge as a fantasy mainstay.  Once Ben Roethlisberger returns that very well may happen, but is there any guarantee that he has a strong opening week with Dennis Dixon at QB?

The Steelers have said that they are not going to change the offense, but that’s something I will believe when I see it.  When you have a running back like Rashard Mendenhall and a potentially weaker passing game, you ride the sure thing as far as you can.

Dixon started one game in 2009, completing just 46.2% of his passes for 145 yards.  That certainly doesn’t make it feel like he is going to be able to get the job done, does it?

We ranked Wallace 24th in our WR rankings (click here to view), making him a borderline option in formats that require two starting receivers.  If you have another viable option, however, I wouldn’t hesitate to leave him on your bench.

In those formats who require three starting receivers, he’s a gamble, but one that is worth using.  He has upside, and Dixon is going to have to throw the ball somewhere.  He’s the deep threat, with 14 of his 39 catches in 2009 going for at least 20 yards, and will likely be used to stretch the field against the Falcons.  The only question is if they can hit for the big shot or not.

Pierre Garcon - Indianapolis Colts
The Colts second receiver came in at one spot higher then Wallace in our rankings, but I think is by far the better option.  While the Texans may attempt to grind things out, keeping the ball out of Peyton Manning’s hands, that’s a strategy that doesn’t always work to slow them down.

Garcon was solid during the 2009 regular season, before exploding in the postseason.  It’s impossible for defenses to shut down all of the Colts weapons, so while they may try to limit the receptions of Reggie Wayne or Dallas Clark, that’ll just give Garcon more room to rumble.

He’s risky, just given the number of other weapons the Colts have, but he’s a risk I would take.

What are your thoughts on these to players?  Who would you start?  Who would you sit?

Make sure to check out our Week 1 Rankings:

• Top 25 Quarterbacks
• Top 40 Running Backs
• Top 60 Wide Receivers
• Top 20 Tight Ends
• Top 15 Kickers
• Top 15 Defenses

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