Fantasy Football: Sit and Starts Week 1
Fantasy Football is back! Here are some of the best and worst plays for Daily Fantasy and season-long leagues for this Sunday’s matchups.Â
Start: Baltimore Ravens Defense/Special Teams (projected 5.3 points)
Matchup: Baltimore @ Miami Dolphins, 1:00 PM
With the Miami Dolphins’ expectations set at an all-time low this season, this may have been an obvious choice to most. Yet, with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick in line to potentially start for Miami this matchup could be boom or bust for the Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens finished last season with the second-best fantasy D/ST after totaling over 20 points three times and added two 17-point performances. Baltimore’s run defense ranked third best in the NFL allowing 83.3 ypg and their pass defense ranked fifth best allowing 206.7 ypg.
With the addition of former All-Pro safety Earl Thomas, the Ravens should be poised for a solid day against a questionable Dolphins offense and a turnover-prone quarterback.
Start: Leonard Fournette, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars (projected 16.4 PPR)
Matchup: Kansas City Chiefs @ Jacksonville, 1:00 PM
When healthy, Leonard Fournette is regarded as one of the best running backs in the NFL. Despite an injury plagued 2018 season, Fournette looks poised to again be the focal point of the Jacksonville run-heavy offense. The third year has also made strides in the passing game and could be set to be a season-long three-down running back.
More encouraging news for Fournette is that he’ll be able to shake off his rust against a vulnerable Kansas City run defense. The Chiefs’ rush defense ranked sixth worst in the NFL allowing 132.1 ypg.
Although the Chiefs made efforts in the offseason to improve defensively, there are still significant holes to fill at the linebacker position and that’s where Fournette will make his most damage.
Sit: Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons (projected 17.5 points)
Matchup: Atlanta @ Minnesota Vikings, 4:05 PM
Former NFL MVP Matt Ryan quietly finished last season as the second-ranked quarterback in fantasy, and his draft stock this season represented him as such. However, I would pump the brakes on Ryan at least for Week 1.
The Falcons hit the road and head to Minnesota to face off with an established Vikings defense. Minnesota’s defense ranked third best in the NFL allowing 196.2 ypg and ranked top 10 in scoring defense (21.3 ppg) which shouldn’t be encouraging news to Ryan owners.
Adding insult to injury, he has a past of struggling in Week 1. Last year, Ryan totaled only eight fantasy points, completed less than 50 percent of his passes, and failed to throw a touchdown in the season opener against the Eagles.
Sit: Marlon Mack, RB, Indianapolis Colts (projected 11.1 PPR)
Matchup: Indianapolis @ Los Angeles Chargers, 4:05 PM
Adding Marlon Mack to the sit list was a tough choice, and it’ll be even tougher coming up with reasons to not start him. However, I’m treating the Colts as a wait and see team.
The Colts’ offensive line is easily one of the best, if not the best, in the NFL. The issue for me is the concerns and questions surrounding the Colts offense without quarterback Andrew Luck.
Mack will be heavily leaned on to keep the Indianapolis offense in a groove so the workload should be there, but if the Colts trail in the game early, the team may turn to the pass-catching abilities of backup running back Nyheim Hines.
Additionally, the Chargers’ rush defense finished 10th in the NFL allowing 107.7 ypg.
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