Fantasy Football Start/Sit Week 1

Fantasy Football: Week 1

It’s hard not to start the top tier players you drafted in the early rounds; and that’s how it should be.  Getting too crafty by over analyzing the match-ups for the first week of the NFL is something to stay away from until the 32 NFL teams get their feet under them.  Look at how poor the Baltimore defense looked last season, sure it was FF and NFL MVP Peyton Manning carving them to shreds, but the Ravens defense bounced back nicely after that game.

Start the guys you drafted in the early rounds.  You did so for a reason, keep to your rationale for the first couple of weeks; let the NFL season play out.

Don’t waste waiver wire positioning just to make a move.  If you are in a league where you hold onto the top spot until you actually use it, wait until one of those deep sleepers has a big week.   Acquisitions throughout the season are “key” to winning championships.

Here are my bench’em and trust’em players for the week.  Instead of doing rankings, I’m more focused on helping to look at match-ups and not base your start/sit choices on projections/rankings alone.

I’m also here to help with line-up suggestions, trade proposals or anything else that comes your way during the fantasy football season.

QB

Bench’em– If you are the owner of either Cam Newton (vs TB) or RG3 (vs HOU), you might want to look elsewhere this week.  Cam is battling injuries, and RG3 has looked unsettled throughout the pre-season.

Trust’em– I’d be more inclined to start Jay Cutler at home against the Bills or even Carson Palmer at home against the Chargers.

RB

Bench’em– I like Rashad Jennings this year as a solid RB 2, but not his matchup against a physical defensive line like the Detroit Lions.  I’d send him to the bench this week with expectations that he does not find pay-dirt, joining the likes of Ben Tate and Trent Richardson.

Trust’em- Joique Bell (vs NYG) Shane Vereen (vs MIA), Chris Johnson (vs OAK).  I know Bell is behind Bush, but his red-zone touches can’t be ignored.  CJ is dealing with a committee, but I like how he has looked in NY so far.  Vereen is a PPR monster, that will see 8-10 receptions whether Gronk plays or not come Sunday.

**If you jumped on the Andre Ellington sweepstakes, he is already paying visits to the MRI machine, and this is before he plays against the physical style nature of NFC West opponents.

WR

Bench’em-Garcon (vs HOU), Wallace (vs NE).  The Miami offense looks a mess at the moment, and the Pats have really upgraded their secondary and won’t let a one trick pony like Wallace beat them deep.  Garcon is not the real issue, it’s the status of RG3, as he has looked erratic this preseason.  The Texans have a good defense that can play great, makes me worry about the potential production of the Redskins offense.

Trust’em– Brandin Cooks (vs ATL), Anquan Boldin (vs DAL).  I really like both of these players, and even more with the injuries that affect the receiving core around them, which will only increase their role in the receiving game.

TE

Trust’em- Cameron (vs Pitt), Clay (vs NE), Olsen (vs TB), Reed (vs HOU).

Reed and Clay are battling injuries and neither of their actual matchups look promising.  The Panthers are going to have a hard time moving the football with Cam Newton slowed down by injuries.  The Steelers will remove Cameron from the game as he is their only real receiving threat.

Start em- Gates (vs ARI), Kelce (vs TEN).  I like both players to find the end-zone.  ARI was last in the NFL last year at defending the TE and their defense is weaker with the linebacker core.  Kelce is a former second round pick who had a solid preseason.  With Bowe out of the line-up he may be the most talented receiver for Alex Smith to throw to.

DEF/ST

If you decided to play the weekly defensive matchup game, I really like the Jets at home versus the rookie QB Carr and the Oakland Raiders.  I also really like the Patriots defense on the road against a re-shuffled offensive line and a Miami team still trying to learn a new offensive system.