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Quarterback
Start of the Week: Jordan Love (@ PHI)
The Eagles have a new-look secondary this season with Vic Fangio coming over to run the defense, but it’s fair to wonder if things will be able to come together immediately for the group. Should there be growing pains, Love is in position to take full advantage throwing to Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, Dontayvion Wicks, and others—especially with Philadelphia being much better attacked through the air than on the ground if recent history is any indication. Based on the matchup, Love is our overall QB7 and will hope to pick up where he left off last regular season with an 18:1 touchdown-interception ratio over the final eight games.
Start: Jared Goff (v LAR)
Goff should be at least a low-end QB1 nearly every week, as he enters another season in Ben Johnson’s offense, and the passing attack should be more explosive with Jahmyr Gibbs and Jameson Williams each set to see increased involvement. In the playoff win over Los Angeles, Goff was highly efficient by completing 22-of-27 passes for 277 yards and a touchdown, and now the Lions won’t have to deal with Aaron Donald in the rematch. After averaging 20.6 fantasy points per game at home last year, Goff is primed to again have a strong showing versus his former team.
Start: Baker Mayfield (v WAS)
Quarterback doesn’t appear to be in great shape for Week 1 with a few typical QB1 options having tough matchups, so Mayfield is boosted into the top 12 for a matchup versus a Washington secondary that remains extremely questionable. Despite an offseason of roster and organizational turnover, the Commanders still have Emmanuel Forbes Jr. and Benjamin St-Juste as major question marks on the perimeter, and similar to both Jordan Love and Jared Goff, Mayfield is another signal-caller coming off a big extension that should be highly confident entering 2024.
Start: Sam Darnold (@ NYG)
Vikings-Giants is one of the most intriguing games of the week to see how each offense looks, and there is certainly danger here if New York’s defense creates consistent pressure and Darnold doesn’t handle it well. That said, cornerback is a hole for the Giants with Adoree’ Jackson perhaps not yet in a full-time role after recently re-signing, and Kevin O’Connell will have had an entire offseason to think about how he will attack with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Plus, Minnesota has an excellent offensive line to hopefully keep Darnold upright, and there is less pressure on the former No. 3 overall pick with J.J. McCarthy (knee) not waiting in the wings this season.
Sit of the Week: Brock Purdy (v NYJ)
Again, the options to sit at quarterback are typical QB1 plays, and Aaron Rodgers could also be included here as the Jets—who didn’t play starters in the preseason—are immediately tested on the road by San Francisco’s defense. For Purdy, he won’t be backing down from a stingy secondary led by Sauce Gardner, but I’d expect Kyle Shanahan plays a bit more conservative through Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel Sr. versus a unit that allowed the second-fewest passing yards per game (168.3) in the league last year. Purdy is more of a low-end QB2.
Sit: Jayden Daniels (@ TB)
Daniels will be worth considering in any given matchup because of his rushing upside, and Tampa Bay doesn’t have any proven options behind Jamel Dean at cornerback—so the upside makes him a borderline QB1/QB2. On the other hand, one of the weaknesses for Daniels at LSU was dealing with pressure, and it could be a frustrating day if Dean is able to neutralize Terry McLaurin and Todd Bowles’ blitz-heavy defense plays disciplined by crashing the pocket without allowing the rookie passer to escape. It’s close, but I’d rather play Baker Mayfield in the same matchup.
Sit: Dak Prescott (@ CLE)
Barring an unforeseen last-minute extension, Prescott is entering a contract year with true free agency on the horizon, and I’m expecting a huge season for him. The opener might not be where it starts, though, as the Browns had the NFL’s best pass defense in 2023, and CeeDee Lamb missed almost the entire summer while holding out—so it’s easy to imagine Dallas being out of sorts on the road. Pass protection will also be tested as first-round rookie Tyler Guyton is tasked with blocking Myles Garrett in his first career game, so the overall negative outlook this week at quarterback is the only thing keeping Dak in the top 15.
Sit: Kirk Cousins (v PIT)
The Steelers aren’t getting enough buzz for how good the secondary can be this year, as Joey Porter Jr. played at an All-Pro level as a rookie, Donte Jackson will provide a boost across from him, and DeShon Elliott comes over from the Ravens to pair with Minkah Fitzpatrick as a top safety duo. That’s without even mentioning the impact of T.J. Watt and the front seven, and Cousins has struggled in two career matchups versus Pittsburgh with a 2:4 touchdown-interception ratio. I would look elsewhere for a streaming option to begin the season.
Running Back
Start of the Week: Joe Mixon (@ IND)
Mixon was banged up for much of training camp and didn’t see action with the rest of the starters in the preseason, but he’s fully healthy and set for his typical career workload as the new feature back in Houston. Indianapolis was a bottom-ten run defense last year and allowed Mixon to go for 125 total yards and a score against them in December, so he’s a definite RB1 play in redraft leagues with tremendous appeal in DFS lineups for the opener.
Start: David Montgomery (v LAR)
Jahmyr Gibbs deemed himself “98-100%” healthy ahead of Week 1 after a hamstring injury suffered last month, and he’s the preferred play on Sunday night and this year with an expanded role that started to come to fruition at the end of 2023. Still, the Lions are plenty good enough for Montgomery to remain highly productive as an RB2 option, and I would think he might see a larger slice of the pie this week—including around the goal line where he had so much success last season—as Gibbs works his way back to a full 100%.
Start: Javonte Williams (@ SEA)
Williams is the clear lead back for Denver with Jaleel McLaughlin set to mix in as a change-of-pace and pass-catching option, and Sunday feels like a possible run-heavy game plan from Sean Payton to help Bo Nix settle into things. The Seahawks should improve defensively under Mike Macdonald, but they allowed the second-most rushing yards per game (138.4) and rushing touchdowns (24) in the league last year. And for what it’s worth, Williams caught 11-of-12 passes for 65 yards (along with seven carries for 43 yards) against Seattle in the opener two years ago.
Start: Austin Ekeler (@ TB)
To be clear for those who won’t draft until tonight, Brian Robinson Jr. is our preferred option in the Washington backfield, and he provides a well-rounded skillset that could be highlighted—due to the lack of proven wideouts—despite the presence of Ekeler. For this week, I simply like how things set up for the veteran newcomer, as the Commanders would be wise to utilize the screen game to offset the pass rush and get Ekeler the ball in space to increase his FLEX appeal this weekend.
Sit of the Week: Josh Jacobs (@ PHI)
You aren’t sitting Jacobs if you drafted him, and volume should be there on Friday night and for the entire season on one of the league’s best emerging offenses. The concern is about how good the Eagles are versus the run when Jordan Davis is on the field, and a new 3-4 front under Vic Fangio combined with Davis slimming down could make Philadelphia nearly impenetrable with Nakobe Dean behind his former Georgia teammates to clean things up. I’m expecting more passing for Green Bay in Brazil.
Sit: Aaron Jones (@ NYG)
Jones should be featured this year and seems to have plenty left in the tank, and the Giants having one of the worst run defenses in the NFL might be reason for many ranking him as a top-20 option for this week. However, I would anticipate New York being much better versus the run with Shane Bowen coordinating the defense and Dexter Lawrence II having more support around him, so Jones might need to produce as a pass-catcher to better the RB24 placement we have for him in Week 1.
Sit: Brian Robinson Jr. (@ TB)
As mentioned, Robinson is a runner I really like for 2024, and he still carries low-end RB2/FLEX appeal with the hopes he can find the end zone this week. Unfortunately, the ceiling is lower than you’d like for a matchup versus a Tampa Bay defense that was fifth in the league versus the run after uncharacteristically struggling in 2022, and the biggest question mark of the entire roster for Washington is the state of the offensive line. Robinson should be slanted more towards the FLEX ranks for Week 1.
Sit: Blake Corum (@ DET)
Corum is up to the RB33 spot in our pre-draft rankings with recent talk of him being a definite factor alongside Kyren Williams, and a nose for the end zone at Michigan makes for a very intriguing situation. Focusing on this week, the third-round rookie will be facing the No. 2 run defense from a season ago, and Detroit—with legitimate Super Bowl expectations—will be rocking for Sunday Night Football. Also, Kyren certainly remains the lead back for the Rams, so I’d rank Corum outside the top 40 in his debut.
Wide Receiver
Start of the Week: Mike Evans (v WAS)
For the same reasons that Baker Mayfield is ranked as a QB1, Evans should be a slam-dunk WR1 heading into a matchup versus a Washington defense that bled fantasy points to opposing wide receivers last season. Dan Quinn will bring a different scheme and mentality to the secondary, but I believe they are still very vulnerable, and the matchup could allow Evans to pick up where he left off from a season ago when he finished as a top-five fantasy wideout.
Start: Romeo Doubs (@ PHI)
This is more of a feel thing, but Doubs is severely undervalued entering the season, and he mostly aligns on the left side of the formation—which will match him up on rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell and Isaiah Rodgers rather than Darius Slay Jr. After finish red hot with lines of 6/151/1 and 4/83 in the playoffs, I like Doubs to build on what he did a season ago when he caught eight touchdowns by finding the end zone on Friday night and being the top target for Jordan Love.
Start: Khalil Shakir (v ARI)
Eventually, I’d expect impressive rookie Keon Coleman to emerge as the No. 1 wideout for Josh Allen, and Dalton Kincaid will be the primary weapon for the Bills in general. For now, though, Shakir is set up for a featured role as the wideout Allen has the most familiarity with—and that’s by default as the only returning wide receiver from a season ago. Especially with Curtis Samuel (toe) banged up entering Week 1, Shakir is a FLEX candidate and excellent DFS value.
Start: Rashod Bateman (@ KC)
Still available in nearly 95% of ESPN leagues, Bateman should be added in all formats ahead of Thursday night’s opener, as he was talked up in the offseason, has plenty of talent, and gets a terrific matchup versus a Kansas City defense that doesn’t quite have things settled behind Trent McDuffie at cornerback. If the Chiefs use McDuffie in shadow coverage on Zay Flowers and Derrick Henry can get going on the ground, things should open up for Bateman on play-action passes and potentially in scoring territory.
Others: Nico Collins (@ IND), Jameson Williams (v LAR)
Sit of the Week: Garrett Wilson (@ SF)
Wilson is still a top-15 option this week, but he gets a downgrade ahead of a matchup with Charvarius Ward—who is looking to back up some trash talk from the spring when he acted like he didn’t quite know Wilson’s name when discussing the Monday Night Football opener. I don’t think Ward will be used in shadow coverage, but Deommodore Lenoir and second-round pick Renardo Green won’t be much easier at the other cornerback spots, so Wilson might not have the best start for those banking on WR1 production in 2024.
Sit: DK Metcalf (v DEN)
The No. 2 cornerback is still a question for Denver, and Pat Surtain II often spends his time at left cornerback—which could make this a matchup Metcalf a good one depending on how the Broncos defend him. Still, my guess is that Surtain will either shadow on the outside or Vance Joseph will have consistent help over the top on Metcalf, and Denver limited him to 36 scoreless yards when they met in the 2022 opener. Considering the other options for Seattle in what is expected to be a balanced attack, this week might not be a spot where Metcalf explodes.
Sit: Drake London (v PIT)
Wide receivers facing a top cornerback will often be among the options to avoid for fantasy purposes, and London falls in that category for the opener with Joey Porter Jr. looming. Even as a rookie, Porter was used in shadow coverage at times like when he shut down DeAndre Hopkins, and London is a bigger wideout that fits the profile of what Porter typically doesn’t have much trouble with. I’d anticipate the Falcons playing through Bijan Robinson and Kyle Pitts on Sunday.
Sit: Brandon Aiyuk (v NYJ)
Aiyuk will want to immediately prove the 49ers right for signing him to a four-year, $120-million extension, but there are questions about having a full-time role and being a significant part of the game plan due to missed time and the matchup. I would rank Aiyuk as more of a WR3 for Monday night, as even if this were a November game with the Niners firing on all cylinders, the stout perimeter coverage for the Jets would probably make others a priority. Those with options should consider waiting until Week 2 to start Aiyuk.
Others: DJ Moore (v TEN), Diontae Johnson (@ NO)
Tight End
Start: of the Week: David Njoku (v DAL)
The Cowboys might be more vulnerable than usual on the outside with Trevon Diggs in his first game back from a torn ACL and DaRon Bland (foot) out, but I still expect Njoku to be the focal point this weekend—with the Browns knowing how good he was down the stretch in 2023 and Deshaun Watson seeing that himself from the sideline. Also, I’m not worried about the Cowboys allowing the second-fewest receptions to tight ends last year, as Njoku should be a matchup-proof TE1 with usage from various alignments.
Start: Taysom Hill (v CAR)
Hill is a wild card as we enter the season, but one thing we do know is that he is will be involved—with snaps possible at running back, wide receiver, tight end, and perhaps some change-up quarterback now that the real games are beginning. Last season, Hill rushed nine times for 75 yards in the September matchup versus Carolina, and we like him as a borderline TE1 this week.
Start: Michael Mayer (@ LAC)
The Raiders selecting Brock Bowers in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft was them selecting the best player available and not at all an indictment of Mayer entering Year 2—and the depth chart notably has two starting tight ends by listing the players in 12 personnel. Based on Mayer’s talent, it should have been obvious enough that he would have a substantial role, and Bowers missing time with a foot injury could allow the Notre Dame product to be a priority on Sunday to boost his TE2 outlook.
Sit of the Week: Dalton Schultz (@ IND)
Schultz was solid in both games versus Indy last year with four receptions for 34 yards and five receptions for 42 yards, but I want to see how things look this week before feeling good about him as a TE1. With the receiver room bolstered by Stefon Diggs, I’d be surprised if Schultz matched the seven targets he saw in each outing against the Colts in 2023, and Gus Bradley’s defense is most vulnerable at cornerback where C.J. Stroud will want to get all three of Diggs, Nico Collins, and Tank Dell involved.
Sit: Hunter Henry (@ CIN)
Cincinnati struggled to defend opposing tight ends last year, but I think Logan Wilson being helped by safety Geno Stone will make them much more formidable—and overall, the secondary has more depth and versatility in 2024. Until we see Henry and other New England pass-catchers produce, Rhamondre Stevenson is the only option I would feel good about starting… and even that is shaky.
Sit: Tyler Conklin (@ SF)
The 49ers have been one of the toughest matchups for opposing tight ends in recent years, and there is no reason to expect that will suddenly change. Conklin has quietly caught 61, 58, and 61 passes over the past three seasons, but the solid production and the return of Aaron Rodgers isn’t enough to make him a top-30 play for us due the difficult draw on Monday night.