Fantasy Football Week 1: 5 Players You Absolutely Must Play

If there's one thing that fantasy football can provide you with, beyond the thrill of competition and a reason to watch 16 full NFL games every week, is a feeling of self-doubt.

If you're anything like me, you spend an average of an hour a day just staring at your fantasy roster, gears turning, switching players in and out of starting spots.

The problem with this method is that at some point, we try to get extra clever, and bench proven winners for untested sleepers, with mixed results.

Fantasy football hinges on luck, certainly, but no-brainer studs are better than hunches, every time.

In the following slides, we will detail four players (and one defense) that are sure to contribute to your Week 1 fantasy roster in a huge way.

New England Patriots QB Tom Brady

Many of the Week 1 NFL games feature divisional rivalries, and that includes the New England Patriots, who are taking on the Miami Dolphins on Monday night.

While the Dolphins boast two of the best corners in the league in Vontae Davis and Sean Smith, do not look for them to be too much of a problem for quarterback Tom Brady and the Patriots' offense.

Rivalry games take on a different tone than other regular season contests, and while the Patriots are 13-33 at Miami historically, Monday's game looks to be prime for a New England victory.

It's a season opener for one of the most highly-regarded teams in the NFL; don't look for them, or for Brady, to disappoint.

If you've Brady on your roster, he's a must-start. No question.

Kansas City Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles

No matter the game, Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles is a must-start fantasy player throughout the 2011 NFL season. But in their season opener against the Buffalo Bills this Sunday, Charles is set to be the star of the Kansas City offense.

While quarterback Matt Cassel, who suffered a rib injury in the Week 4 preseason game against Green Bay, is poised to start this week, it does not mean the Chiefs passing game is in any less trouble.

The Bills boasted a top-three pass defense this preseason, and have greatly increased their pass rush abilities. However, they were ranked just 29th in run defense in the preseason, and this isn't likely to improve much as they enter into the regular season.

Combine that with the loss of passing target tight end Tony Moeaki, and the Chiefs will likely rely on their ground game in their attempt to defeat the Bills.

Charles is primed for an excellent regular season debut, and if he's on your fantasy roster, is a must-start.

New York Giants WR Hakeem Nicks

New York Giants wide receiver had what one could term a breakout season in 2010, with 79 receptions for 1,052 yards and 11 touchdowns in 13 games.

This season, he is poised to do much more.

The Giants take on the Washington Redskins in their season debut on Sunday, and the game should provide a great venue for Nicks to show off his value to his team and your fantasy roster.

The Redskins have been dismal in defending the pass in recent seasons; they did not improve on this mark by much in the preseason, ranking 21st in overall pass defense.

Nicks is set to get many looks from quarterback Eli Manning in their Week 1 matchup, and should prove invaluable to your roster if you have him on your team.

Don't let Manning's inconsistencies scare you off; start Nicks this Sunday.

Detriot Lions Defense

One of the hottest tickets this fantasy season is the Detroit Lions defense, and for good reason. Their front four may be the best in the entire league, and it is likely they will be playing with a lot to prove in their regular season debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Sunday.

Indeed, the Bucs were one of the more pass-happy offenses in the 2011 preseason (ranked fifth in overall passing yards), but ended the 2010 regular season just 17th. They ran the ball more successfully than most teams in 2010, ranking eighth in overall rushing yards, but slipped to 26th this preseason.

While comparing last year to this preseason is like comparing apples to oranges, whatever the rankings, it is doubtful that the Buccaneers are prepared for what the Detroit defense has in store for them on Sunday afternoon.

Don't let the fact that it's the Lions deter you; their defense is setting up to be one of the most elite in the NFL, and they will do much to earn that title against Tampa Bay.

San Francisco 49ers TE Vernon Davis

Though San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis was targeted 20 fewer times in 2010 than in 2009, he managed just 51 less yards, netting 914 total receiving yards compared to 2009's 965.

This year, with the addition of wide receiver Braylon Edwards to assist Michael Crabtree, Davis' targets may decrease further.

However, this should not deter you from making him your starting fantasy tight end, beginning with the 49ers Week 1 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday afternoon.

He will continue earning huge yardage week by week, and in this game, should get significantly more targets than he would otherwise.

This is primarily due to Crabtree's health. Crabtree was just removed from the preseason PUP list last week and only began practicing with the team on a limited basis after offseason foot surgery.

Also a consideration is that Edwards is still learning the 49ers offense, and as such, still has a way to go before he is fully comfortable catching passes from quarterback Alex Smith.

Smith and Davis, however, have a history and a connection, and he will likely be Smith's go-to target against Seattle's struggling defense. Start Davis on Sunday.