Fantasy Football Week 1: Teams to Stay Away from in Your Fantasy Lineup

Setting your fantasy lineup is all about looking at individual players and figuring out which ones will be the best options.

Sometimes, a player should be benched because he is nursing an injury or because there is another player ahead of him that promises to get more playing time.

In some cases, though, you have to write off a whole team in your fantasy lineup. The following are three teams whose players you should stay away from at all costs.

St. Louis Rams

It seems a little hypocritical of me to write off the Rams fantasy-wise because I have been preaching about how great a team they are for fantasy sleepers, but I have to do it.

Their Week 1 matchup against the Eagles is a fantasy disaster waiting to happen. Sam Bradford, as good as he is, is still too young to be expected to play well against a defense as good as theirs.

Mike Sims-Walker and the other receivers will have a heck of a time trying to shake loose from Nnamdi Asomugha and the other defensive backs.

Steven Jackson, the most consistent fantasy play on their team, will struggle as well, as the Eagles will simply be able to key in on them. Danny Amendola is a good PPR play here, but otherwise, stay away.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens are well-stocked with established fantasy players, but they will struggle against the vaunted Steelers defense.

Joe Flacco's value as a fantasy quarterback is still yet to be determined, but his matchup on Sunday against the Steelers will certainly keep him from being a solid fantasy play. The Steelers' pass rush will keep Flacco from getting comfortable.

Anquan Boldin and Lee Evans, his two top receivers, will suffer right along with him and Ray Rice will have trouble getting anything going against Pittsburgh's front seven.

Indianapolis Colts

This one goes without saying. Without Peyton Manning at quarterback, the Colts' other offensive weapons will have trouble finding their footing.

All receivers will suffer, but the second- and third-options like Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon will have the most trouble. Reggie Wayne will still get his catches, but there won't be as many of them.

Kerry Collins is still a better quarterback than most give him credit for. At some point this season, the Colts' weapons will be fantasy lineup-worthy, but it won't be in Week 1.