Fantasy plays: Players to start and sit for NFL Week 1
It’s the beginning of another fantasy season, and with it comes the hopes and fears of making all the right moves in your lineups.
This season, I’ll be laying out the best starts, and the best fades, going into every week of the season. We’ll start with Week 1:
Quarterbacks
Start: Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers vs. Commanders
Are we at a place now where we’re advising people to start Baker Mayfield in the first week of the fantasy season? Yes, we are. Mayfield has proven himself with the Buccaneers, throwing for more than 4,000 yards and 28 TDs in 2023, and he has a good matchup to start his 2024 season. Mayfield will face Washington in Week 1, a team that makes for our No. 1 matchup for opposing QBs to open the season. Start Mayfield with confidence.
Other locks:
—Josh Allen vs Cardinals
—Jared Goff vs Rams
—Anthony Richardson vs Texans
—Jalen Hurts vs Packers
Avoid: Bo Nix, Broncos vs. Seahawks
I love Nix as a long-term prospect, but I’m not bullish on him in what will be his first career start in the NFL. That aspect alone should probably keep you off him, but you also have to consider his matchup in Week 1. The Broncos are playing the Seahawks in Seattle, a potent combo, as the Seahawks project to be our sixth-worst matchup for opposing QBs coming into the season. Always tough to handle at home, Seattle makes Nix an ill-advised play this week. Let’s see him play a few games before taking the plunge.
Running backs
Start: D’Andre Swift, Bears vs. Titans
Swift has a new home in Chicago, where he’ll begin his season as the lead back in Week 1. Swift looked fast, and most importantly healthy, during Bears training camp, where he was utilized as the primary in between the tackles runner in addition to catching a lot of passes. He faces a Titans team this week that is in the middle of the pack against wide receivers, but makes for our second-best matchup for opposing running backs coming into the 2024 season. Make the most of Swift in this plus matchup.
Other locks:
—James Cook vs Cardinals
—Rachaad White vs Commanders
—Joe Mixon vs Colts
—Alvin Kamara vs Panthers
Avoid: Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys vs. Browns
Elliott’s return to the Cowboys was lauded by many. Yes, Elliott had a decent 2023 with the Patriots, but his yards per carry (3.5) were a career low. The Cowboys face the Browns in Week 1, a team that is our sixth-worst matchup for running backs coming into the season, so the going will already be tough for Elliott.
Wide Receivers
Start: Mike Evans, Buccaneers vs. Commanders
If his QB is a lock, it makes sense that Evans will be as well. He’s 31, but has still been productive, from a fantasy perspective, going over 1,200 yards and tying for the league lead in TDs (13) in 2023. He’s a sure bet in Week 1 against a Commanders offense that is our best matchup for opposing WRs going in.
Other locks:
—Justin Jefferson vs Giants
—Tyreek Hill vs Jaguars
—Amon-Ra St. Brown vs Rams
—Stefon Diggs vs Colts
Avoid: DeAndre Hopkins, Titans vs. Bears
Coming off a knee strain that kept him out of much of the preseason, Hopkins is already a less-than-stellar option in Week 1. Add in the fact that he’s going up against shutdown corner Jaylon Johnson of the Bears, and you have a tough matchup.
Tight ends
Colby Parkinson, Rams vs. Lions
The Rams just put out their depth chart going into Week 1, and at the top of the TE column is Parkinson, who will play while Tyler Higbee recuperates from an ACL/MCL injury. While Parkinson isn’t in the upper echelon of starting TEs right now, he’s proven to be good in stints, and he’ll face a Lions defense that is our fifth-best matchup for opposing TEs to start the season. Adding to his upside is the fact that the Lions are much better against the run. They’re a bottom-10 matchup for opposing running backs, so the Rams are much more likely to find success through the air this week.
Other locks:
—Sam LaPorta vs Rams
—Dallas Goedert vs Packers
—Dalton Schultz vs Colts
—Noah Fant vs Broncos
Avoid: Jake Ferguson, Cowboys vs. Browns
The Cowboys have some tough sledding ahead in Week 1 all around, but the going is especially rough for TEs. The Browns are our second-worst matchup for opposing TEs, and the likelihood of Ferguson getting shut out of the end zone is possible.
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This column was provided to The Associated Press by RosterWatch, www.rosterwatch.com.