Fantasy football Week 1: Top 10 matchups to attack
As you get ready for the first full Sunday of the NFL season, check out these top 10 matchups to attack in fantasy football week 1.
Seattle Seahawks running back Christine Michael (32) makes a great play in fantasy football week 1. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Fantasy football week 1 is already off to an exciting start after the Super Bowl rematch on Thursday got the year off to a strong start. Heading into the weekend there are several important story lines to keep tabs on as you make your final lineup decisions and get ready for the first full Sunday of football this year. One thing to definitely take into consideration from week-to-week in fantasy football is the matchups each player is facing.
Thursday Night Football was a good reminder not to over-react to matchups since some owners over-analyzed and sat productive options like C.J. Anderson and Cam Newton in favor of less proven options. Especially in fantasy football week 1, it’s important not to over-weight matchup in your who to start and who to sit decision.
To help you with those decisions, my Week 1 rankings have been updated, and you can also use our cool new start/sit advice tool to see who you should have in your lineup for Sunday. If you’re still uncertain, you can always find my on Twitter @FansidedFantasy to ask your specific question. It’s also a great idea to set a bookmark on our fantasy football hub to keep up with all our content throughout the season.
There are some key injuries to factor into your fantasy football week 1 decisions including some big names missing like Rob Gronkowski and Jamaal Charles. Other players like Thomas Rawls and Matt Jones are expected to play but may be less than 100% after being sidelined with injuries this preseason.
Whether you have an injured player or are just trying to make that final roster decision, fantasy football matchups are important to consider. While over-weighting matchups can result in leaving good starts on your bench (sorry C.J. owners in that spot), analyzing some of the best matchups to attack can help you get players in a place where they could have a big fantasy football week 1.
To see the 10 matchups I like the most for fantasy football week 1, check out he following slides starting with a passing offense that should be a fountain of fantasy points on Sunday.
Nov 8, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper (89) and quarterback Derek Carr (4) celebrate after combining on a touchdown pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Raiders passing attack @ Saints
The Saints pass defense was the worst in the NFL last season by a pretty wide margin. They allowed more fantasy points to opposing QB’s than any other team in the league, were the fourth-best matchup for wide receivers, and the most giving defense to opposing tight ends. This offseason, New Orleans has tried to shore things up with draft picks, but their salary-cap situation only allowed them to land Nick Fairley as a notable free agent.
Any team playing the Saints was a good matchup last year especially when the games were at the Superdome where things often turned into a track meet. In fantasy football week 1, the Raiders rising offense will get the boost from the matchup making all their receiving options and Derek Carr solid options to consider.
Derek Carr makes a great start this week after looking good throughout the preseason. He threw for just short of 4,000 yards last season while firing 32 touchdowns. He gets the boost from the matchup which takes him from a high QB2 to a low QB1 this week.
Wide receiver Amari Cooper is also a name to watch this week as a low-WR1, and Michael Crabtree could definitely be started as your third WR or flex play. If you need a sleeper tight end (sorry Gronk owners), Clive Walford might be worth a look since he’s securely the team’s top tight end and the Saints gave up more fantasy points to opposing TE than any other NFL team.
Don’t overrate the Raiders and sit much better options, but if you’re torn over a decision leaning their way is a strategy that should pay off.
Aug 25, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Christine Michael (32) runs the ball against the Dallas Cowboys during the third quarter at CenturyLink Field. Seattle defeated Dallas, 27-17. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Christine Michael vs Dolphins
The Seahawks come into the season looking to replace the still-retired (at last check) Marshawn Lynch. My theory is that someone said that if Lynch were to return he’d have to have a press conference which is why he’s staying retired. In any case, Thomas Rawls and Christine Michael will be the running backs for the Seahawks to start the season. Eventually, I think Rawls will put together a big season, but this week he’ll be brought along slowly as he continues his recovery from the broken ankle he sustained last year.
Michael should get plenty of work in Seattle’s run-heavy attack in fantasy football week 1 as the ‘Hawks host Miami. After being traded away last year, Michael ended up back with the Seahawks to finish last year strong. He followed that up with a buzz-generating preseason rushing for 157 yards on 24 carries in the first thee games of the preseason.
Michael’s long-term value is clouded by Rawls’ return. Michael has tantalized fantasy owners repeatedly over the last few years, but this could be the year he finally produces as a fantasy football sleeper.
He definitely has a good opportunity this week against the Dolphins who gave up more fantasy points to opposing running backs than any other team in the NFL last season. Even though Miami’s defense should be better this year, Michael should find plenty of room to produce and get plenty of opportunities to come through. I like him as a high-end RB2 this week with the upside to be a top-ten back if things go his way. C-Mike should be started for fantasy football week 1 in almost every format.
Jun 16, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints tight end Coby Fleener (82) waits to start a drill with the tight ends during the final day of minicamp at the New Orleans Saints Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Coby Fleener vs Raiders
The Colts drafted Fleener and Dwayne Allen in the same draft they landed Andrew Luck at #2 overall. Fleener and Allen split naps at tight end in Indianapolis before becoming free agents this past offseason. The Colts decided to stick with Allen, but Fleener landed in a great place for his fantasy production as well signing with New Orleans.
Drew Brees and the Saints offense have produced huge numbers for their right ends over the last few seasons. Jimmy Graham was an elite option at the position, and last year Ben Watson had a great season as his replacement. With Watson cashing in (before getting hurt) in Baltimore, the Saints need another tight end for Brees to use as his red zone go-to option.
Fleener is still adjusting to the new playbook and had a relatively quiet preseason. That could change in a hurry now that the regular season is underway. In fantasy football week 1, Fleener and the Saints take on the Raiders who allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends last season. Fleener and Brees should be able to get on the same page early and often against Oakland in what should be a high-scoring game.
Aug 26, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) throws the ball as Cleveland Browns defensive end John Hughes (93) defends during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jameis Winston @ Falcons
Winston starts his sophomore season at the helm of an offense that looks to be on the rise. He worked well with Dirk Koetter last season, and the team is ready to switch to a more up-tempo attack this year which should benefit Winston.
Winston looked sharp throwing for 259 yards and two touchdowns in Preseason Week 3 against the Browns working well with Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans. The Bucs added Cecil Shorts to his arsenal this week signing the veteran slot option after the Texans let him go.
Winston and the Bucs will start their season on the road as they take on the Falcons on the turf of the Georgia Dome. In his rookie year, Winston led the Bucs to a pair of wins against Atlanta. He ran for a touchdown and threw for a touchdown in each game although his yardage totals weren’t great.
This season, I think Winston will end up as a fringe QB1 most weeks, and in a matchup like this you could definitely do worse than rolling the dice with famous Jameis this week. Winston shouldn’t be started over any clear QB1, but he can be used in a platoon situation in single-QB leagues and should definitely be started in dual-QB leagues this week.
Jul 28, 2016; Foxboro, MA, USA; New England Patriots tight end Marcellus Bennett (88) takes the field for training camp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Martellus Bennett @ Cardinals
With Rob Gronkowski officially ruled out this week, the Patriots will get a good luck at new tight end Martellus Bennett as they head to Arizona to open the season without both Gronk and Brady. Bennett was acquired this offseason from the Bears in a trade which involved the Patriots sending a fourth-round pick and receiving a sixth-rounder.
He had seven catches this preseason for a total of 62 yards, but he showed a strong connection with both Tom Brady and his suspension-replacement Jimmy Garoppolo. Garoppolo and Bennett both got plenty of work this preseason while Brady and Gronk were sidelined, so he should be ready to step up and produce.
Right now, Bennett is un-owned in over 25% of ESPN leagues, and he makes a great pickup option if you need a starter for fantasy football week 1. The Cardinals ranked in the middle of the pack against opposing tight ends last season, so don’t worry even though Arizona has a solid defense. I wouldn’t start Bennett over a more established option, but I have him as #9 on my week 1 rankings making him a starter in most formats.
Aug 13, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) hands off to running back Spencer Ware (32) against the Seattle Seahawks in the first half at Arrowhead Stadium. Seattle won the game 17-16. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
Spencer Ware vs Chargers
The absence of Jamaal Charles should mean plenty of work for Spencer Ware as the Chiefs host the Chargers in fantasy football week 1. Ware will be part of a committee that includes Charcandrick West and Knile Davis, but I expect him to get most of the work this Sunday in a good matchup at Arrowhead.
The Chargers allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to running backs last season. Ware played against them twice last season running for 96 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Week 11 and totaling 52 yards on just eight carries in their second meeting Week 14.
Ware had a strong preseason working with the first team offense. He finished with three rushing touchdowns and 85 yards on his 24 carries while adding 50 more yards on eight catches.
Charles will still take a lot of his fantasy football value away when he returns later this season, but for fantasy football week 1, Ware is a solid RB2. Earlier this week, it looked like Ware would be the three-down feature-back, but now it’s definitely trending toward more of a committee approach.
I still think Ware will be the biggest beneficiary of Charles’ absence, and I love his matchup against the Chargers. Start him with confidence in this matchup for fantasy football week 1.
Aug 18, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones (11) makes a catch against Cincinnati Bengals strong safety Shawn Williams (36) during the first quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Marvin Jones @ Colts
This offseason, the Lions lost their top wide receiver franchise cornerstone Calvin Johnson who decided to retire from the NFL much earlier than many people expected. We’ll get our first regular season look at the Lions offense without Megatron in fantasy football week 1 as they travel to Indianapolis and take on the Colts.
One of the receivers who will be asked to step up and fill the Johnson void is newly-acquired Marvin Jones who signed with Detroit as a free agent after starting his career in Cincinnati.
Jones has quickly developed a good connection with Matthew Stafford and hauled in eight passes for 106 yards in his limited work this offseason. Jones has emerged as many people’s favorite to lead the Lions in targets, catches, and receiving yards even though he’ll have some stiff competition from Golden Tate.
Both Jones and Tate should be set up for good games this week against a Colts’ defense that allowed the tenth-most fantasy points to opposing WR last season. This game could be high-scoring since both teams like to throw so much which makes Jones a strong WR3 play this week and even a low WR2 if you’re in a deep league or your options are limited.
Aug 27, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin (11) prior to the game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Tavon Austin @ 49ers
The Rams take on the 49ers in fantasy football week 1 in the second Monday Night Football game. While the game won’t be high on the watchability meter, the matchup is enough to make Tavon Austin an interesting option.
Austin enters the year as the clear #1 WR for the Rams despite a catchless preseason. He got paid like a #1 this offseason with a four-year, $42-million extension. He will have to get to work with Case Keenum who won the starting job when #1 overall pick Jared Goff struggled.
Keenum would be wise to get the ball into the hands of his top receiver often since Austin has the ability to turn any touch into a big play. He can go off in any one week like he did last year against the 49ers when he ran for a touchdown and 21 yards while adding four catches for 98 yards and another touchdown.
Austin and Todd Gurley will be about the only offense on the field for either team in this game, and I think both will have big games for fantasy football week 1. However, I still wouldn’t start Austin in most formats since he is pretty big-play reliant. If you’re in a deep league or need a cheap DFS option, Austin makes some sense since I definitely think the 49ers are a great matchup to attack.
Aug 26, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins running back Robert Kelley (22) carries the ball as Buffalo Bills linebacker David Hawthorne (56) chases in the second quarter at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Rob Kelley vs Steelers
If you somehow need to grab a running back off the waiver wire to start right away or are looking for a depth addition to your backfield, one intriguing flier who could produce is Washington running back Rob Kelley. Kelley had a big preseason as an un-drafted free agent out of Tulane and may have carved out a role for himself in the Washington backfield.
Kelley came to Washington at a good time as they look for a new backfield solution after losing Alfred Morris to their NFC East rivals from Dallas. Matt Jones is pretty locked-in as the starter and Chris Thompson serves as a receiving-back specialist, but Kelley turned enough heads in preseason that he should have a role this Monday night against the Steelers.
Kelley ended up with 198 yards in his four games of action taking his 38 carries for an average of 5.2 yards-per-carry. He added four catches for six more yards, and he found the end zone in the preseason opener against the Falcons. Kelley’s most impressive game came in the finale of the preseason when he racked up 99 yards on 16 carries in Tampa Bay.
Kelley will play a much more limited role this week as Matt Jones is expected to return from his shoulder injury. Washington opens up the season on Monday Night Football against the Steelers. If coach Jay Gruden goes run-heavy to keep Pittsburgh’s potent offense on the sidelines, there could be carries for Jones and Kelley.
I definitely don’t think you should start Kelley in fantasy football week 1 over a more established running back. However, if you need a flier play or roster depth, he’s definitely worth a look.
January 3, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end Blake Bell (84) is tackled by St. Louis Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins (21) and outside linebacker Mark Barron (26) during the third quarter at Levi
LA Rams defense @ 49ers
I’ll close my top ten matchups post each week with a look at a defense that may not be typically a top-ten unit, but who I think makes sense for the week. If you’re streaming defenses (changing them each week based on matchup), this should help you find a team to target each week.
My favorite streaming defense option this week is the Rams who look to close out fantasy football week 1 with a strong performance in the second Monday Night Football game this week. The Rams start their first season back in LA with a road game as they travel north to take on the 49ers by the Bay.
There was an interesting post earlier this week on “The Ringer” about how Chip Kelly’s offense has struggled lately and Adam Caplan of ESPN added this interesting fact as well:
Can't tell you how many defensive coaches I spoke with last season that felt CK's offense was easiest to prepare 4 https://t.co/BXprMp40bq
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) September 9, 2016
I’m not sure I fully buy in to the “Chip Kelly is done” storyline just yet, but I do definitely see a lack of offensive play-makers in the 49ers offense. Blaine Gabbert will get the start fantasy football week 1 which should make the Rams
The Rams are in for a tough season of their own, but their defense should be pretty solid even though there was quite the exodus this offseason as starters Chris Long, Nick Fairly, James Laurinaitis, Janoris Jenkins, and Rodney McLeod all went elsewhere. LA brought in Quinton Coples, Dominique Easley, and Coty Sensabaugh to help fill in the gaps. They’ll still have one of the better front-7’s in the game headlined by Robert Quinn and converted-safety Mark Barron.
While the Rams defense isn’t an every-week starting unit, they can be used for fantasy football week 1 as they take on Chip Kelly in his first game as San Francisco’s head coach.
More from FanSided
This article originally appeared on 
