It is week one of the NFL season and that means fantasy football is back in action! Check out the starts and sits from resident fantasy analyst, Dan Portillo, host of Another (Damn) Fantasy Podcast presented by Stadium Rant!
Quarterbacks
Russell Wilson @ Seahawks – Start
It’s Russ’ return to Seattle on Monday Night Football. There is no way I am leaving Russ on the bench this week. If anyone knows that defense, it is the Broncos QB and with some new weapons, he is bound to slice them up in the passing game. Lock this one in as the start of the week at quarterback.
Tua Tagovailoa V. Patriots – Sit
Tua has plenty of weapons, a great offensive coach, and has a lot to prove in 2022. There may not be a QB with more pressure to succeed than Tua. However good McDaniel may be, I do not trust his ability to outwit Bill Belichick. His record against rookie head coaches alone is why I have Tua on my sit list. Fantasy managers beware in this game.
Jalen Hurts @ Lions – Start
Speaking of new weapons, the Eagles loaded up the roster around their young QB. Not only does Hurts have a fantastic set of weapons on the offense in Miles Sanders, AJ Brown, Dallas Goedert, and DeVonta Smith, but the defense is going to create stops and keep the ball in his hands. I like his potential against the Lions.
Jameis Winston @ Falcons – Sit
However bad the Falcons maybe this year, I am giving Jameis a week before I let him see any of my lineups. He is coming off of an ACL tear in 2021 and has a superstar receiver who is also making his return in Michael Thomas. Give this offense a week to tune things up before trusting Winston as your QB1.
Running Backs
Derrick Henry V. Giants – Start
The King returns this week against a lowly Giants football team and I have him as my running back start of the week against New York. The Titans are favored by nearly six points, so vegas is looking for a blowout. That means Henry is going to see a solid amount of volume and cash in on those red zone trips. Look for King Henry to put up the best RB numbers in week one.
Cordarrelle Patterson V. Saints- Sit
Patterson emerged last year as the ultimate utility man for the Falcons. Was he a wide receiver? Was he a running back? Who the hell knows? All I know is the Falcons have much more competition for him in the backfield this year with Damien Williams and rookie Tyler Algeier, so I am holding off on putting him in my lineup this week. Especially against a stout Saints defense.
Aaron Jones @ Vikings – Start
Aaron Jones has the most continuity of any skill position player on the Green Bay roster. This makes him especially dangerous against their division rival, the Minnesota Vikings. Rodgers loves to target Jones in the red zone, so I like his chances for a multi-TD performance. Lock him in.
Josh Jacobs @ Chargers – Sit
The Raiders will be in a shootout with the Chargers this coming Sunday. That does not bode well for Jacobs chances to get things going in the running game. I would hold off on him this week and look at some other options for your fantasy lineup. Flex is the absolute ceiling for him this week.
Wide Receivers
DJ Moore V. Browns – Start
DJ Moore has been my guy in fantasy drafts this year and I am rolling with him in week one. Baker Mayfield is plotting his revenge against the Browns and that means Moore is in line for some solid work. CMC will get his, but there is no receiver I like more than Moore on the Panthers squad.
Rashod Bateman @ Jets – Sit
Bateman is the clear WR1 in Baltimore, but with the Ravens fixing to blow out the Jets this Sunday, I do not see many passing scenarios for the offense. Any passing plays they do run will likely end up in Mark Andrews’ mitts, so save Bateman for a more competitive game this season.
Elijah Moore V. Ravens – Start
On the flip side of things, Elijah Moore is in line for plenty of work this Sunday. If things go the way they should, the Jets will be passing the ball quite a bit and I like Moore to be the recipient of most of those passes. He is an obvious WR2 or flex play this week.
Diontae Johnson @ Bengals – Sit
Diontae Johnson has been nursing some injuries and George Pickens has been buzzing this offseason. Rotate another receiver into the mix this week and let Johnson gear up for week two. Let’s see how Trubisky will distribute the ball before trusting him to put up the same numbers he did with Big Ben.
Tight Ends
Pat Freiermuth @ Bengals – Start
Pat Freiermuth on the other hand should be a safe play. He was dangerous in the second half of games last year and a great threat in the red zone. One TD is all you need from Muth to get your value at TE.
George Kittle @ Bears – Sit
Poor Kittle just can’t stay healthy. News broke this week that he suffered a groin injury and did not practice Wednesday. Friday will be the true indicator, but even if he does practice, I don’t like his chances to see the field a ton. Stream one of the other starts this week as most are available on waivers.
Gerald Everett V. Raiders – Start
The former Seahawk and Rams TE is in line for his best season yet catching passes from Justin Herbert. Plug him into your lineup this week and reap the benefits of what is likely to be a shootout between two rivals in the powerhouse division of the AFC West.
Mike Gesicki V. Patriots – Sit
As I mentioned earlier, Belichick is a mastermind of defense. He is going to limit Tua and stifle that Dolphins offense. To add to this, Gesicki has already been shopped by the Dolphins, usually, teams will limit players they are looking to trade. I don’t like Gesicki this week, look at other options.
Defenses
Baltimore Ravens @ Jets – Start
This is the biggest mismatch on paper right next to the Colts and Texans. The Ravens will be putting up some big points in this game. I see low points allowed, turnovers forced, and plenty of sacks in their future.
Los Angeles Rams V. Bills – Sit
Although the Rams possess one of the best defenses in the NFL, I do not like them against the Bills and their high-powered offense. Stream a more competitive option and return to the Rams at a later date.
Fantasy Football Sleepers
- Baker Mayfield V. Browns
- Tyler Algeier V. Saints
- KJ Osborne V. Packers
- Evan Engram @ Commanders
Dan Portillo
Check out some of Dan’s other Stadium Rant content here. You can follow him on Twitter @dan_tf40 and check in with his podcast The Fastest 40 & Another (Damn) Fantasy Podcast on Spotify, Anchor, Apple Podcasts, & anywhere you listen to podcasts!
