Fantasy Football: Start/Sit for NFL Week 1

Fantasy Football starts and sits for Week 1 of the NFL season.

The 2020 NFL season is upon us and with it comes the tough weekly decisions that fantasy football managers have to make every week. Whether you are staring down multiple contenders for your FLEX spot or worried one of your starters may produce a dud week, there are almost always moves you can make to maximize your team’s fantasy output.

With that being said, here are votes of confidence for guys that deserve to crack the starting lineup and warnings against those who are better off riding the bench in Week 1.

Note: All fantasy stats info via Fantasy Pros.

Fantasy Football Starts for Week 1

QB Carson Wentz, Eagles vs. Washington

Washington gave up the third-most passing touchdowns in 2019 and did not do much to change that in the offseason. Despite that, the Eagles have virtually no passing weapons, so look for the game to be competitive and the game script to stay in Wentz’s favor.

Look for Wentz to put up a QB1 performance, with his talent winning out in the end.

Projection: 315 yards, 2 touchdowns, 35 rushing yards, 24.1 fantasy points 

QB Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers vs. New York

Roethlisberger fell victim to injury in 2019, and did not even make it through Week 2. However, the last time he was on the field for a full season was in 2018, and he threw for 5,129 yards and 34 touchdown. Look for him to pick up where he left off in 2018 against a weak New York Giants defense in what could potentially be one of Big Ben’s final seasons.

Projection: 341 yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception, 24.6 fantasy points

RB Austin Ekeler, Chargers vs. Cincinnati

The Chargers have a lot of question marks for the 2020 season but Austin Ekeler isn’t one of them. He should fill the same role he did last year, though this time with increased volume due to the departure of Melvin Gordon. He draws a favorable Week 1 matchup against Cincinnati, giving him top-five running back potential.

Projection: 132 total yards, 1 touchdown, 6 reception, 22.2 fantasy points

RB David Johnson, Texans vs. Kansas City

David Johnson has the perfect opportunity to make a splash with his new team in the NFL opener against the reigning Super Bowl champs. Even though the game script should lead to fewer rushing attempts, Johnson’s best attribute is his ability as a pass-catching back.

There have been a lot of questions around Johnson’s career but, if all goes well in Week 1, he should silence haters, if only for a week.

Projection: 109 total yards, 1 touchdown, 6 receptions, 19.9 fantasy points

WR Terry McLaurin, Washington vs. Philadelphia

McLaurin put together a quality rookie season, catching 58 balls for 919 yards and seven touchdowns. Look for McLaurin to set the tone early for his second-year breakout that many have predicted is coming.

He remains the only NFL caliber receiver on his team and should see an extremely high target share throughout the season and in Week1.

Projection: 7 receptions, 118 yards, 1 touchdown, 21.3 fantasy points 

TE Blake Jarwin, Cowboys vs. LA Rams

The Dallas Cowboys look to have one of the most potent offenses in the NFL, and it should be on full display in a Week 1 matchup with the Los Angeles Rams. The game currently has the second-highest over-under for Week 1 and Jarwin should see enough targets to find his way into the TE1 landscape.

Projection: 5 receptions, 74 yards, 1 touchdown, 15.9 fantasy points

Fantasy football Sits for Week 1

QB Aaron Rodgers, Packers vs. Minnesota

Rodgers put up a lackluster 2019 season, throwing for only 4,006 yards and 26 touchdowns. This lack of production was due to a run-heavy offensive scheme that led to Aaron Jones finishing as the RB2.

Rodgers draws a tough Week 1 contest against Minnesota, the eighth-strongest defense against quarterbacks in 2019. Rodgers deserves a spot on the bench until there becomes more clarity around this Green Bay offense.

Projection: 247 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, 16.9 fantasy points

RB Cam Akers, Rams vs. Dallas

Based on their draft investment and talk out of camp, the Rams look to want to get Akers involved often and early. However, head coach Sean McVay has yet to officially name the starting running back for Week 1 and there is no reason to trot a rookie out in your starting lineup when it is unknown how much he will see the field. Even though he has a strong season-long outlook, keep Akers on the bench Week 1.

Projection: 62 total yards, 2 receptions, 7.2 fantasy points

WR Devante Parker, Dolphins vs. New England

Despite still being extremely undervalued in most fantasy drafts, Devante Parker still belongs on the bench in Week 1 as he draws a stellar New England defense that held opposing wide receivers to under 2,000 yards and only four touchdowns in 2019.

Even though Parker gashed them for 137 yards in Week 17, he also put up a goose egg in Week 2. This level of uncertainty should be avoided if possible and there are likely other players with more upside on your bench or the waiver wire.

Projection: 5 receptions, 74 yards, 9.9 fantasy points

WR A.J. Green, Bengals vs. LA Chargers

After a being a season-long benchwarmer in 2019 for most managers who did not want to drop him after investing a draft pick, many are hesitant to pick A.J. Green up in 2020, despite him coming with a discounted ADP.

Even though he has proven that he is an all-star when healthy, it is best to leave him on the bench for Week 1 and even if he puts up a big week, know that you have a WR1 on your squad for Week 2.

Projection: 5 reception, 81 yards, 10.6 fantasy points 

TE Austin Hooper, Browns vs. Baltimore

Hooper put up strong fantasy numbers with Atlanta before getting injured but his situation in Cleveland is quite different. The one-two combo of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt is expected to be the focal point of the Browns offense and, with Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry both demanding a high number of targets, it is unlikely Hooper will put up a strong finish without a touchdown.

Unfortunately for Hooper, he plays the Baltimore Ravens, who only gave up three receiving touchdowns to tight ends last year.

Projection: 3 receptions, 40 yards, 5.5 fantasy points