Start/Sit: Week 1
After months of research, mock drafting, and assembling your final fantasy football roster, the time has come to make those weekly choices on who to start and sit. Anyone can start their studs but where match-ups are won and lost is with those mid-level decisions. Here at Fighting Chance Fantasy Matt Miles (@DirtyAirFC) https://x.com/DirtyAirFC and Leo Grandio (@smooth1074) https://x.com/smooth1074 will be giving some weekly Start and Sit options to help guide you to a win. So crack open your favorite adult beverage, sit back, and relax because here we go!
Start
Quarterbacks
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
After leading the NFL in passing with 4,629 yards and setting a career-high with 29 touchdowns, Tua Tagoviloa is ready for an encore performance. Tagovailoa will face a Jaguars secondary that can be beat deep, and with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle off the injury report, they are ready to light it in their home opener. - Leo
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Ja’Marr Chase has been stealing all the headlines in Cincy this summer with his hold-in. What hasn’t been talked about much is Joe Burrow’s full health. The wrist is still a question mark, however, a much-maligned New England team comes to Burrow’s House, and with a pile of weapons at his disposal, Burrow will easily outperform his projection in Week 1. - Matt
Running Backs
James Cook, Buffalo Bills
James Cook should smash this week. Not only are the Bills at home, but they face the Cardinals who allowed the most rushing yards per game last season. Cook was amazing in the second half last year after Joe Brady took over as offensive coordinator. With the Cardinals lacking a pass rush and horrendous against the run, Cook will have a field day. This could be a shoot-out, but if the Bills pull out ahead, Cook will be used to ice the game in the second half. The talented running back will be flirting around the 20 fantasy point mark. Insert him into your lineup and enjoy the ride. - Leo
Devin Singletary, New York Giants
The bar is set low for the Giants this year, and the season starts against a completely revamped Vikings team that comes to Met Life Stadium. While we’ll be looking to see what rookie Malik Nabers can do, I’m expecting Devin Singletary to be the steady rock on the offense. Singletary could see a 100 yard day and find paydirt, making your RB2 slot a profitable one in Week 1. - Matt
Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders
The Commanders worked hard to really clean house in the past year, and the future is looking up for the organization. The Commanders drafted Brian Robinson Jr. in the third round in 2022 and he is poised for a break-out season after a solid over 1,000 all-purpose yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie. I’m not worked about Austin Ekeler, as he’s going to be a change of pace back. Robinson plays the Buccaneers, which in 2023 were the 27th ranked run-defensive unit. Look for another solid RB2 day out of Robinson Jr. - Matt
Wide Receivers
Malik Nabers, New York Giants
Sure Marvin Harrison Jr. has gotten most of the love this offseason, but the second receiver taken in the NFL Draft in April ain’t no slouch. Malik Nabers will look to jump-start this Giants' offense against a beatable Vikings secondary. With head coach Brian Daboll taking over play calling for the Giants look for him to impose Nabers all over this offense. The Vikings gave up over 50 plays that were 20-plus yards last season and look for that to continue on Sunday. Fire up the rookie and unleash hell against your opponent in Week 1. - Leo
Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
Circling back to the Ja’Marr Chase Hold-in, Tee Higgins could be the biggest beneficiary regardless of the outcome of the situation in Cincy. Higgins is in a contract year and has shown he can handle a solid workload when needed. I’m all in on Higgins having a big day against New England. - Matt
Brandin Cooks, Dallas Cowboys
Another hold-in situation was settled earlier this summer with CeeDee Lamb, and all might seem right with the world, except the Cowboys head into the Dawg Pound in Cleveland to start the season. I expect Lamb to get a lot of attention from this top-5 defensive unit, which could free up Brandin Cooks to catch passes underneath. - Matt
Tight End
Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks
I initially was going to mention Evan Engram as my start for the week at tight end since he has a great match-up versus the Dolphins but I figured that I’d go a little deeper. There are three reasons that Noah Fant is a start for me this week. First, the Seahawks let Colby Parkinson and Will Dissly sign with other teams which leaves Fant as the last man standing at tight end for the Seahawks. Next, he faces the Broncos defense who were last in defending tight ends last season. Lastly, he gets to inflict revenge on the team that traded him a few years ago as part of the Russell Wilson deal. If your start has health issues or has a bad matchup consider starting Fant in 12-plus team leagues. - Leo
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints
Taysom Hill has been a lightning rod to fantasy managers. Depending on your league, Hill could be a quarterback or a tight end. I fully expect to see Hill as a running-back in direct snaps in short-yardage and goal-to-go situations against the Panthers this week. Start him with confidence this week. - Matt
Defense
Cincinnati Bengals
What better way to get your defense off to a firing start than facing the New Patriots at home? They have done a total franchise overhaul since last season from head coach to starting quarterback and everything in between. The Cincinnati Bengals Defense should be able to tee off on Jacoby Brissett and make new head coach Jerod Mayo contemplate inserting rookie quarterback Drake Maye by the end of this contest. The Bengals' defense might be available in your waiver wire, so stream them if necessary. - Leo
Minnesota Vikings
Malik Nabers could torch this Minnesota Vikings Defense for some big plays this week, but Daniel Jones was the most sacked quarterback last season, and the Giants as a team ranked 30th in pass protection. Lots of sacks and return yards will help propel this unit to elite scoring this week. - Matt
Sit
Quarterbacks
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
The easy answer is to bench Deshaun Watson. If you drafted Dak Prescott as your QB1 this year, he would be a great pick, but unfortunately, he could be in store for a rough Week 1. The Cowboys travel to Cleveland whose defense is one of the toughest in the league. Last season before Myles Garrett suffered a shoulder injury, the Browns had the best defense by holding opposing teams to a 55.6 percent completion rate and 73.2 QB rating while 34 sacks and a 10-9 TD-INT rate. You have to start Prescott unless you have another option, so temper those expectations because it may not be pretty. This could be a low-scoring affair with total points projected to be 41. - Leo G.
Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
The Broncos quietly have improved to one of the better defensive units in 2023. Patrick Surtain is one of the elite corners in the league and will keep D.K. Metcalf in check, The Broncos line is also a solid unit, ranked 10th in the NFL in pass rush. I expect Geno Smith to be a bit more check-down happy and more rushing plays called in Seattle this week. - Matt
Running Backs
Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders
On Sunday, Brian Robinson Jr. could find it difficult to gain positive yards against a stout Buccaneers defense that ranked fifth against the run in 2023. Couple that with the arrival of Austin Ekeler who should garner most of the receiving work and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels who will make plays with his legs and it could be a recipe for a letdown. I suggest using another option to see how this backfield will distribute the carries going forward. - Leo
D’Andre Swift, Chicago Bears
The Bears took their number one pick and got Caleb Williams, a running QB from USC. I expect all-out blitzing from Tennessee to try and rattle the rookie early and often. Because of this, D’Andre Swift, who is not a good run-blocker may see a drop in snaps this week ans the bears do their best to protect their investment. Less than 60 yards and zero touchdowns is in my realm of expectations this week form Swift. - Matt
Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots
I’ll admit, this is a call that could blow-up in my face, but Rhamondre Stevenson is facing a tough matchup in Cincinnati this week. If the game goes sideways quickly, Stevenson might not see much of the field for recently acquired Antonio Gibson from the Commanders. If the game is close, Stevenson does have game-winner potential, but I don’t see that sceneraio this week. - Matt
Wide Receivers
Diontae Johnson, Carolina Panthers
I want to start by saying that Diontae Johnson should be in for a helluva year, but he may start the season with a hiccup in Week 1. The Panthers face a stingy Saints pass defense that held opposing receivers to only 12 touchdowns in 17 games last year. If you have no other option as your WR3 or flex and have to start Johnson this week buena suerte you are going to need it. - Leo G.
Deandre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans
The Chicago Bears last season were another top-third defense last season without much fanfare. The 13th ranked unit allowed just 44 touchdowns in 2023, and much of the core unit is back this year. I applaud Will Levis willingness to chuck it downfield, but I don’t think DeAndre Hopkins is going to see much room against the Bears in Week 1. - Matt
Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers
The Philadelphia Eagles defense went from bad to putrid at the end of last season. While Darius Slay is still the CB1, the Eagles drafted Quinyon Mitchell in the first round, got Isaiah Rodgers back from suspension and brought back C.J. Gardner-Johnson in free agency. The Eagles also hired Vic Fangio to be their defensive coordinator. Fangio brings with him decades of experience and a defense that is great at disguising coverages. I think Reed is going to have a tough time finding space Week 1 against the Eagles. - Matt
Tight End
David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
In the second half of last season, David Njoku was one of the hottest tight ends in the league to close out the year. Unfortunately, that was with Joe Flacco throwing him the ball. Now Deshaun Watson is back under center, there is no telling how accurate he will be to start the season. There were some reports that Watson’s shoulder was tired so there may be something to monitor going forward. Furthermore, Njoku faces Dallas who allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to tight ends last year. Look for another option if you can. - Leo G.
David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
The main reason I have David Njoku as a sit is because we don’t know what Deshaun Watson is really capable of since his shoulder surgery. The other reason is that in 2023, Dallas was stellar against tight ends, allowing one receiving touchdown and zero 100 yard games from tight ends. Easy sit for me this week. - Matt
Defense
Philadelphia Eagles
The bottom line is that the Philadelphia Eagles Defense had a lot of roster turnover during the offseason and are very young. Their Week 1 opponent is the Green Bay Packers who have one of the better offenses in the game, so it may be tough to tame them. This game will be played in Brazil on Friday Night so be aware.
Kansas City Chiefs
I have Kansas City Defense as a sit-on defense this week because I fully expect a shootout in the first week and I don’t think return yards after answering scores will save your week. Three of the past four matchups between these two teams have hit the over-scoring line. With the eyes of the world on them for the first game of the season, I’m on the over once again. - Matt
If you have any start or sit questions you can reach us on Twitter at @FCFantasySports.
