It’s the start of the NFL regular season, and the beginning of the season can be one of the toughest to navigate in fantasy football. Players are still working on getting up to speed, and there will be some shocking performances (both good and bad). Here are the players to pay attention to for Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Week 1.
Note: This article is for players who are considered flex options or for matchup-specific reasons. You won’t see guys like Patrick Mahomes and CeeDee Lamb on here because they should be starting every week.
Fantasy Football 2024: Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Week 1
Quarterbacks
Start: Caleb Williams
Caleb Williams was the first overall pick for a reason. The kid can play ball, and it will be on display Sunday against the Titans. Tennessee finished in the middle of the pack defensively last year, and the plan is to have a revamped secondary lead the way with L’Jarius Snead and Chidobe Awuzie. However, there’s a lot of uncertainty about those two which gives Williams the green light. Expect him to come out throwing and work the ball around to all of his receivers.
Start: Jayden Daniels
The Commanders believe Jayden Daniels is their guy and while there are some concerns about his receiving room after the Jahan Dotson trade, Daniels will find a way to make up for it. Tampa Bay’s defense struggled last year and finished in the bottom 10 in the NFL. Dan Quinn isn’t going to pull any punches offensively which makes Daniels a strong candidate for success against the Buccaneers.
Sit: Dak Prescott
Listing Dak Prescott as a sit candidate may be a surprise when he has one of the best receivers in the NFL. However, anyone who pays attention to AFC North football can tell you just how stingy this Browns defense can be. Cleveland conceded the fewest yards per game in 2023 and had the best pass defense in the league. Prescott may throw for a touchdown, but it’s not worth the risk of playing him in Week 1.
Running Backs:
Start: Raheem Mostert
Mike McDaniel can talk all he wants about a running back committee and how he wants to ride the hot hand, but Raheem Mostert is the main rusher. He’s going to see the bulk of the carries more often than not, and it will be that way for most of this matchup against the Jaguars. Mostert is the experienced back of the group, and you should expect to see him more often than not in Week 1.
Sit: Jerome Ford
Kevin Stefanski is going to a running back committee until Nick Chubb returns. Jerome Ford and D’Onta Foreman will split carries unless one establishes themselves as the best option. That is unlikely to happen in the season opener against the Cowboys, and it’s not even a guarantee Ford is the one who emerges. Leave Ford on the bench this week, and stash him there until it’s noted otherwise.
Start: Zamir White
This is one that can go either way, but Zamir White stood out the last time the Raiders played the Chargers. He averaged 4.1 yards per carry in that matchup, found the endzone and also caught a few passes. The pass-catching ability mainly helps those in PPR leagues, but the point still stands. Outside of Joey Bosa, the Chargers defense doesn’t have anyone to contain White. Start him in a flex or RB2 role this week.
Wide Receivers:
Start: Christian Kirk
Christian Kirk is the main target for Trevor Lawrence in the Jaguars offense going into the matchup against the Dolphins. He’s one of few returners in the receiving room which makes him worth starting even more. Brian Thomas Jr. will grow into his role, but that won’t happen in the opening game of the season. Evan Engram is the only player who may cut into Kirk’s targets, but that shouldn’t occur too often. Kirk is a safe play for a flex.
Start: Rashee Rice
Rashee Rice is a player that was questionable given the landscape of the Chiefs offense. Hollywood Brown is out for the Thursday night matchup against the Ravens, which gives Rice a 50-50 shot to be the top receiver. He gets the benefit of the doubt since he has the experience, but he will still compete with Travis Kelce for targets. Rice should only be started as a flex option.
Read More: Week 1 Wide Receiver Rankings
Sit: Tank Dell
This may be controversial, but nobody knows what to expect from the Texans offense. With C.J. Stroud having a lot of mouths to feed, it’s hard to tell who will get the bulk of the work. It may even rotate every game based on matchup, but it’s too soon to tell. Until someone emerges in the Houston offense as the main pass catcher, use caution when deciding to start Dell or even any of the Texans receivers.
Tight Ends:
Sit: Taysom Hill
Taysom Hill even being in the conversation to start is kind of baffling. He’ll have one or two breakout games, but then it’s mid the rest of the way. It’s not worth taking the risk of Hill posting less than three fantasy points because he’s flashy. If you have another tight end on the roster, start them. Otherwise, it’s not too late to scout the waiver wire and grab someone to stream on a week-by-week basis.
Start: Brock Bowers
There’s a lot of concern about starting Brock Bowers, but the question about his quarterback play has been answered. It’s Gardner Minshew’s show in Las Vegas. Bowers might not find the endzone, but it’s not out of the question to see him be the second-most targeted player behind Davante Adams. He has the upside and potential to be one of the best tight ends in the AFC.
Main Photo Courtesy of Jeffrey Becker – USA Today Sports
