Ladies and gentleman, Week 1 of the NFL season is here! So with week one upon us, its time for fantasy owners to set their starting lineups. Throughout the season I will be providing some of my favorite/least favorite starts for QB, RB, WR, TE, and defense…not sorry kickers! I will also provide pricing points for those who play daily fantasy on Draft Kings as well. Throughout the weeks, I will not be providing obvious starts such as CMC or Julio Jones, because you better be starting them every week. Instead, I will focus more on those fringe lineup selections. You know, the guys you keep rotating in and out of your lineups on Sunday mornings.
Quarterback Start ‘Em
Ben Roethlisberger (Showdown): Big Ben returns to action on Monday night vs. the New York football Giants. While I expect a monster showing from James Conner, the Steel Curtain defense should give Big Ben plenty of favorable scoring opportunities. While the Giants did make some improvements in their secondary this offseason, I like Big Ben’s weapons much more. Eric Ebron is a sneaky redzone play.
Cam Newton ($6,100): Scaaaaaaaaaaaam! The hoodie and Cam Newton will both be on a mission this season, and it starts in a favorable match-up vs. a Dolphins defense who gave up the second most fantasy points to QB’s last season.
Gardner Minshew ($5,800): The legend of Gardner Minshew may become a popular start ’em candidate this season as the Jaguars should be playing from behind a lot. With the Colts being a 7.5 point favorite as of writing, and with a lack of running game in Duval County, Minshew should have to chuck the football 30-40 times this week.
Mitchell Trubisky ($5,400): As disgusted as I feel putting Mitch as a start ’em this week, the former second overall pick has a very favorable match-up vs. the Lions. In two meetings vs. the Lions last season, Mitch combined for 6 total TD’s. While the return of David Montgomery changes the possible game flow, I expect Mitch to air it out against a Darius Slay-less Lions secondary.
Quarterback Sit ‘Em
Kirk Cousins ($5,700): You like that!? Probably not this week Kirky! In two meetings against the Pack last season, Kirky struggled a lot with only one TD pass in each contest. Without much improvements on the offensive line, the loss of Stefhon Diggs, and a pretty good GB pass rush, I expect Kirky’s struggles to continue.
Baker Mayfield ($5,700): While I expect some progression in Baker Mayfield this season, I expect him to struggle vs. a stacked Ravens defense. The possibility of Jarvis Landry being on a snap count limits Baker’s upside.
Sam Darnold ($5,500): Has a banged up receiver core and is facing one of the top defenses in the league. Not much else to say there!
Runningback Start ‘Em
Todd Gurley ($6,100): In season long leagues, you are starting Todd Gurley. But are you confident? I think you should be this week. Gurley enters week 1 with fresh legs (knees), is in a game with one of the highest point totals (o/u 48.5), and is facing a Seahawks run defense that ranked towards the bottom last season. Gurley is one of my favorites to score multiple TD’s this week. Book it!
Marlon Mack ($5,300): Jonathan Taylor has been the talk all offseason. But its Marlon Mack who is favored to receive the bulk of the load this week vs. a tanking Jaguars team. In two meetings last season, Mack shredded the Jaguars for 186 yards and 3 TD’s.
Zack Moss ($4,400): While it is a wait and see approach on how Buffalo will split the backfield touches this season, I fully expect the Bills to run away with a win this week. Without stud linebacker C.J. Mosley, the Bills should be able run the ball down the Jets throats this weekend. While I’m not expecting a huge stat line this week for Moss, he should hit his $4,400 value on Draft Kings with TD upside as the favorite for goal line duties.
Runningback Sit ‘Em
David Montgomery ($5,900): Initially ruled out 2-4 weeks, Montgomery had a very fast turnaround and is expected to play. While the match-up against Detroit is appealing, I would sit Montgomery this week until he proves that his groin injury is healed.
Le’Veon Bell ($5,600): The combination of Adam Gase, Frank Gore, and a monster Bills defense makes Bell an easy fade for me this week.
Ronald Jones ($5,200): Facing a Saints defense that allowed an average of 93 yards on the ground last season. The addition of Leonard Fournette limits Jones TD upside.
J.K. Dobbins ($5,000): While some might be excited to pull the trigger on Dobbins, I would wait a little bit. Currently buried on the Ravens depth chart, Dobbins might struggle to see the field out of the gate. Fully expecting week 1 to be a Mark Ingram game.
Wide Receiver Start ‘Em
Allen Robinson ($6,500): A popular stack this week in DFS could be Mitch/Arob. Robinson had double digit PPR games in both meetings against the Lions last season with 6/86 & 8/86/1. Robinson is a low end WR1 for me this week.
DJ Chark ($6,300): My favorite below $7K WR play this week. Surprisingly I have seen a ton of people asking if they should start Chark in week 1. Shame on all of you! Chark absolutely shredded the Colts in week 11 last season, posting 8/104/2. While the Colts made some moves this offseason to improve their secondary with the addition of Xavier Rhodes. Lets just say, Rhodes will be wide open for Chark this week!
Marvin Jones ($5,500): If you followed my draft advice to pass on Golladay early to get Marvin Jones 4-5 rounds later, congratulations! With Golladay doubtful this week, “Starvin” Marvin Jones will step into an increased role and should be viewed as a WR2 this week. In two meetings last season against Da Bears, Jones posted 5/77 and 3/40/1.
Jamison Crowder ($5,200): Who else is going to catch passes for the Jets!? In both meetings against the Bills last season, Crowder was a target monster with double digit targets in each contest, posting stat lines of 14/99 and 8/66/1.
DeSean Jackson ($4,900): REVENGE!!! Talk about deja vu from week 1 last season, Jackson once again faces his former team who he slaughtered for 8/154/2. As one of the only healthy receivers on the field for the Eagles, Jackson has monster upside this week.
Wide Receiver Sit ‘Em
DeAndre Hopkins (6,800): While you’re not sitting him in season long leagues, you should look elsewhere in DFS. In his debut in a Cardinals uniform, Nuk draws one of the stingiest secondaries this week against the 49ers. Coming into a new offense and a limited offseason, Nuk may start slow this season.
Keenan Allen ($6,400): While Keenan Allen is one of the top WR’s in the league talent wise, I am not sold on Tyrod Taylor. Although he could have a solid PPR day this week vs. a vulnerable Bengals secondary, I would look elsewhere in DFS.
Terry McLaurin ($5,600): Another WR who has a ton of talent, but is paired with mediocre QB in Dwayne Haskins. They call him Scary Terry, but against Darius Slay this week I am Scared of Terry.
Tight End Start ‘Em
Hayden Hurst ($4,300): In what could be a shootout in Hotlanta, Hurst will see a ton of single coverage against a Seahawks team that struggled against tight ends last season.
O.J. Howard ($3,700): With Mike Evans banged up, many are looking at Gronk to benefit the most. And while I think Gronk is a fine play this week, O.J. Howard is a sneaky option who will be on the field a ton. TB12 also took it upon himself during training camp to help O.J. Howard improve on his route running. Everybody knows the talent potential is there, and maybe it will just take a QB like Brady to get the most out of him.
Jack Doyle ($3,600): Doyle Rules! Jack Doyle will enter the season with an every down role playing alongside a QB who loves his tight ends. I would not expect a huge day out of Doyle, but around 4-5 catches and 1 TD against the Jaguars is easily within reach. You can do much worse with $3,600 on DK.
Chris Herndon ($3,300): While the Bills are a tough match-up this week, Herndon should see a ton of targets underneath as Darnold will be under pressure. 5-7 targets for $3,300? Sign me up for that.
Tight End Sit ‘Em
Austin Hooper ($5,100): The Ravens pose as a tough match-up for the newly acquired Austin Hooper. While he may be a low end TE play in season long, I would avoid Hooper in DFS.
Greg Olsen ($4,000): Metcalf and Lockett match-ups are just too good in this one, I would expect a low volume day from Olsen in Atlanta.
Robert Tonyan ($2,500): If you don’t know who Robert Tonyan is, you’re not the only one. Stepping into a starting role with the Packers, Tonyan has the potential to be a low risk/high reward DFS play if he just scores a TD this week. Unfortunately for him, he faces a Vikings defense that has been stingy against tight ends.
Defense Start ‘Em
Colts (3,000)
Packers ($2,600)
Washington Football Team ($2,000)
Defense Sit ‘Em
Lions ($2,700)
Vikings ($2,500)
Buccaneers ($2,200)
The Fantasy Football Schmucks! 