Ladies and gentlemen, we are back! Summer is fun, spending time with the family is wonderful, but now we get to the important thing in life: Fantasy Football. I don't care what you did during the offseason. Nothing compares to stressing out every week in front of the TV watching the game we all love. Some may call it an addiction. Some might see it as a problem. We call it the NFL. Now, let's buckle up and set those lineups for Week 1 and enter what's no doubt going to be another phenomenal season.
Starts
QB - Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers (@Jax)
Starting the year off with a bit of an eyebrow-raiser, picking a guy that's owned in less than 20% of leagues. Nonetheless, if you're in 2QB leagues or if you're unsure who to play in Week 1, Bryce Young is your guy. He is one of my favorite players to burst onto the scene this year, and I believe it starts Week 1 against the Jaguars -- a defense that gave up the most passing yards to QBs last season. Looking back at Young's previous three games, he completed 57 of 88 passes (65%) for 612 yards, seven TDs, and zero interceptions. He topped that off with 12 carries for 100 yards and two more TDs. The Panthers gave him another target by spending a top-ten pick on Tetairoa McMillan. I think Young could be a top-ten QB in Week 1 and might be a legitimate sleeper all year.
RB - Tyrone Tracy Jr. New York Giants (@WSH)
Some of these first-week picks are tough, especially because we haven't seen what defenses look like, and workloads for RBs are somewhat up in the air. I like Tyrone Tracy Jr. for a few reasons this week. First, they are playing Washington, which was 29th in rushing yards allowed last season and also gave up the third-highest yards per carry (4.8). Second, once Tracy became the starting running back in week 5, he averaged 16.5 touches per game for the rest of the year. In an offense that's going to be better at passing the ball with Russell Wilson at the helm, the running lanes will be open. He's a solid flex play for Week 1.
WR- Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@ATL)
Tampa Bay has a legitimate chance to have the number one offense in the league. Baker Mayfield is coming off the best season of his career, where he threw for 4,500 yards and 41 TDs. So what do the Bucs do? They go out and spend a first-round pick on another weapon. Emeka Egbuka should be in lineups every week until Chris Godwin is back and healthy. He should get a good amount of targets right out of the gate as CB AJ Terrell focuses on the Hall of Famer Mike Evans. It's a risky but fun flex play this week, and a player who could turn into a weekly starter.
TE - Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts (MIA)
Over the last few years, we've had a few TEs taken high in the first round. Kyle Pitts makes you not want to risk it, and then you see Brock Bowers shine right out of the gate. Tyler Warren doesn't have quite the hype, but he is just a player you have to start immediately because of the intriguing upside. With Daniel Jones at QB, the passing offense should be decent, and Warren has a chance to turn into an early-season favorite for the veteran QB trying to find his footing on a new team.
Defense - Arizona Cardinals (@NO)
Honestly, if you're looking to stream defenses this year, anyone playing the Saints would possibly be your best option. New Orleans is already looking at the 2025 draft. Coming into the season with Spencer Rattler at QB will have any defense licking its chops. Arizona wasn't exactly stifling on defense last season, but it did allow only 20 TDs through the air. I see a possible low-scoring affair with a few turnovers. Arizona is a top-10 play this week.
Sits
QB - Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (Ten)
Bo Nix ended his rookie season on a high note, having 12 TDs in his last four games. His decently high ADP (QB8) was deservingly so. This does not mean he's a surefire starter for Week 1. His rookie season did have some bumps in the road, with six games under 15 fantasy points. He's also up against a tough secondary. The Titans allowed the second-fewest passing yards in the NFL last season and forced 11 interceptions. I just think better options are available this week. Now, if he goes out and shows out against this good defense, he might force his way into must-start territory early. For now, keep him benched if possible.
RB - James Cook Buffalo Bills (@Bal)
Yes, I know you might have spent a decent pick on the newly long-term signed Bills RB. James Cook is most definitely primed for a great season. I think that starts in week 2. The Ravens were absolutely dominant against the run last season, allowing by far the fewest rushing yards per game, including just 3.6 yards per carry. Cook played for the Ravens last year and had just 39 yards on nine carries and a single catch for nine yards. I don't see this matchup being much different. If you have the RB depth, feel comfortable about sitting Cook.
WR - Jaylen Waddle Miami Dolphins (@Ind)
The Dolphins offense is one of the most intriguing units coming into the season. They have the talent to be a top-10 team, but also have the inconsistency to be a bottom-10 team. Last year, Jaylen Waddle was one of the main people impacted by the up-and-down year, having 12 of his 15 games with fewer than 10 fantasy points. Miami faced a lot of two-high safeties, and it really impacted their deep ball, which took away a lot of home-run opportunities. Waddle can have a big bounce-back year, but it's a wait-and-see-what-the-offense-looks-like type of deal. Keep him on the bench for this week.
TE - Mark Andrews Baltimore Ravens (@Buf)
Most of us know how dreadful the TEs have been over the past few seasons. It seems not many can keep a steady, reliable season going -- a lot of ups and downs. Mark Andrews was no stranger to that, totaling nine games with double-digit fantasy points but also having eight games with three or fewer catches. In the game against Buffalo last year, he was held to zero receptions. I think if you're rostering two TEs, it might be wise to wait and see how involved Andrews is in the offense.
Defense - Green Bay Packers (Det)
One player does not make a defense. Yes, I know some people are excited about the addition of Micah Parsons. I think the Packers will be a good defense to hang onto, but they are not a must-start, especially against the Detroit Lions, who are still scary regardless of having a new offensive coordinator. In the two matchups last year, the Lions combined for over 850 yards of offense, including 350 yards on the ground. Save the Packers for a better matchup.
