Trust Your Reliables- Fantasy Football Week 1 Aww’s and Naw’s

Aww Quarterbacks

Philip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers (home vs. Indianapolis Colts) – Here’s a fact – in the past eight home openers, Rivers has averaged 27 fantasy points per game. The Colts defense has improved this off-season but it’s hard not to start the old veteran.

Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (home vs. San Francisco 49ers) – I am very high on Winston this season to have a breakout year and he should have a great start at home against the 49ers.

Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions (away vs. Arizona Cardinals) – Here’s my sleeper this week if you own Matt Ryan and don’t feel comfortable starting him this weekend against the Minnesota Vikings. Cornerback Patrick Peterson is serving a six-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy so Stafford should have a field day throwing to Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr.

 

Naw Quarterbacks

Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals (home vs. Detroit Lions) – Murray has been drafted in every fantasy league I’m in but we have no idea what to expect from him as a passer or runner so I would wait till he gets his feet wet.

Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons (away vs. Minnesota Vikings) – I love Ryan this season but he has a difficult matchup on the road against the Vikings, who allowed the fewest passing touchdowns last season (15).

 

Aww Running Backs

Mark Ingram, Baltimore Ravens (away vs. Miami Dolphins) – The former Saint should have 18-plus carries in his Ravens debut against the Dolphins.

Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers (home vs. Indianapolis Colts) – With all the attention that will be on Philip Rivers and the passing game, Ekeler should expose the Colts defense with his good running ability. Take advantage of him now while Melvin Gordon is out waiting on a new contract.

Latavius Murray, New Orleans Saints (home vs. Houston Texans) – As much as I love Kamara this season in fantasy, he’s not going to have 20-30 carries every week. Murray is going to handle most of the workload left by Mark Ingram and should get enough touches to make a spark in his first home game as a New Orleans Saint.

 

Naw Running Backs

Jordan Howard/Miles Sanders (home vs. Washington Redskins) – After what I saw in the Bears/Packers game on the time shared between David Montgomery, Tarik Cohen and Mark Davis…I’d pass on any Eagles’ running back.

Devin Singletary/Frank Gore, Buffalo Bills (away vs. New York Jets) – Let’s be patient and see how it plays out with Singletary, Gore and T.J. Yeldon.

 

Aww Wide Receivers

Kenny Golladay, Detroit Lions (away vs. Arizona Cardinals) – With no Patrick Peterson, Golladay should torch the Cardinals secondary.

Dede Westbrook, Jacksonville Jaguars (home vs. Kansas City Chiefs) – I expect Westbrook to have a breakout season and a home matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs should be a good start for him.

Josh Gordon, New England Patriots (home vs. Pittsburgh Steelers) – Flash is back and even though this maybe a gut pick, I think he should be in every starting lineup this weekend against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

 

Naw Wide Receivers

T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts (away vs. Los Angeles Chargers) – We want to see what this passing offense looks like with quarterback Jacoby Brissett this time before we insert any Colts receivers in the starting lineup/flex position.

Sammy Watkins, Kansas City Chiefs (away vs. Jacksonville Jaguars) – Watkins has a tough week 1 matchup against A.J. Bouye and the Jacksonville Jaguars, who held opposing wideouts to a league-worst seven touchdowns last year.

 

Aww Tight Ends

Jack Doyle/Eric Ebron, Indianapolis Colts (away vs. Los Angeles Chargers) – Quarterback Jacoby Brissett should lean on these guys heavily, and one of them is a good bet to score a touchdown.

Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens (away vs. Miami Dolphins) – Andrews should be one of Lamar Jackson’s reliable targets this weekend against the Miami Dolphins.

 

Naw Tight Ends

Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers (home vs. Los Angeles Rams) – Olsen has been battling foot injuries over the past two seasons so until we see consistency, I would sit him this weekend against the Rams.

 

Aww Team Defense

Cleveland Browns (home vs. Tennessee Titans) – They’ve upgraded their defense this off-season and I’m excited to see what they can do in a good matchup against the Titans.

 

Naw Team Defense

Jacksonville Jaguars (home vs. Kansas City Chiefs) – Great defense to start in fantasy except week 1.

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