Week 1 Start Sit Advice (Part 2) | Sneaky Starts & Players to BENCH (09/11 Fantasy Football Podcast)

A.J. Brown is expected to miss at least four weeks due to injury, likely resulting in an IR designation.

Michael Mayer is considered a safer start than Adonai Mitchell.

Blake Corum looked more explosive than Kyron Williams, creating plays despite some missed opportunities. The analysts suggest a potential shift where Corum handles between-the-twenties carries while Williams retains third-down and goal-line duties. Corum is considered a strong bench stash.

Breece Hall is considered a must-start player by the analysts.

Jamie identifies Chris Olave as a must-start player.

Christian McCaffrey's usage shifted, with the team splitting first and second-down snaps nearly evenly (50% to 46%) with Kalon Black. While McCaffrey retained high-value touches like third downs and goal-line work, the loss of early-down volume threatens his case as the overall RB1, as it limits his opportunities for explosive long runs.

Christian Watson is a high-end WR3 with significant upside. He is expected to be a primary target in the Packers' offense and has the ability to win downfield, making him a candidate for seven targets.

Kalon Black views D'Andre Swift as a high-end RB2, though he notes Swift gets a slight downgrade due to the presence of Mononga in the offense.

Breece Hall is preferred over DeAndre Swift.

Kalon Black expects a big game for Dallas Goedert, noting that with AJ Brown gone, targets should be plentiful for Goedert and DeVonta Smith.

Kalon Black notes that Darren Waller is only 10% rostered but could potentially take targets away from other receivers while playing a significant snap share.

Davante Adams is a concern due to his usage in 13 personnel packages. While he maintained a 24% target share, he was notably absent from goal-to-go situations in 13 personnel, where Puka Nacua ran all five routes. Jamie notes that Adams' fantasy value is highly touchdown-dependent, and his lack of involvement in high-leverage red zone sets is a negative development.

Jamie identifies De'Von Achane as a must-start player.

Garrett Wilson is considered a must-start player by the analysts.

Despite a disappointing Week 1 where he played only 46% of snaps, George Kittle remains a 'buy low' candidate. The team clearly wanted to involve him early, and the limited snap count was likely a precautionary measure to manage his health. Better production is expected moving forward.

Jacoby Brissett is suggested as a potential DFS play. He previously demonstrated a high-scoring stretch when forced to throw frequently due to a poor defense, and he now has a healthy supporting cast.

Kalon Black advises waiting on Jake Ferguson, noting he averaged only 8.3 points per game late last year and is currently ranked behind Juwan Johnson and Greg Dulcich.

Jamison Williams is a start candidate. Scott Turner expects a big year driven by downfield efficiency, and while target volume may trail Amon-Ra St. Brown, his role is expected to evolve significantly.

The analysts like Jameson Williams for a big game at home, despite New Orleans' defensive reputation against receivers.

Jamie would start Jared Goff over Trevor Lawrence, noting he is a strong start of the week.

Jayden Daniels is ranked 12th among quarterbacks. While not expected to produce massive numbers immediately, he is valued for his rushing upside and the expectation that Washington will throw frequently.

Jeremiah Love is a low-end RB2. Despite the team likely trailing, he is expected to remain on the field for passing situations and could see four or more catches, though his goal-line usage is uncertain.

Kalon Black advises avoiding Panthers running backs due to uncertainty regarding Jonathan Brooks' health and the potential for a frustrating 50/50 split with Chuba Hubbard.

Kalon Black likes Jordan Addison as a WR3, noting he and Kyler Murray worked together in the offseason and are on the same page. While Black prefers not to start him this week, he is excited to have him on his bench and ranks him ahead of Reed and Golden.

Kalon Black views Jordan Mason as a high-end RB3 who is a 'touchdown or bust' play but likely to see 15 carries against a questionable Packers defense. Black would start him over Jonathan Brooks, Jalen Warren, and various other backfield options.

Josh Jacobs must be rostered despite ongoing legal issues. If he was drafted in the late rounds, he could provide significant value, especially since any time spent on the commissioner's exempt list will count toward a potential suspension.

Justin Herbert is a start, though there is some hesitation regarding his ceiling. While he is a better start than Jaden Daniels, there are other quarterbacks with higher upside cases this week.

Jamie would start Juwan Johnson over George Kittle, Mark Andrews, and Dalton Kincaid, though not over Travis Kelce.

Kalon Black is a must-roster player (61% rostered) after splitting first and second-down carries with Christian McCaffrey. He looked explosive and earned the right to continue sharing the backfield, making him a high-upside stash who would be a league-winner if McCaffrey were to miss time.

Kalon Black expects a tough matchup for Kimani Vidal against the Cowboys' improved defense, suggesting he may not have a great game despite being a starter.

Kyle Pitts' fantasy outlook remains stable even if Cooper Rush starts at quarterback. The expectation is that he will continue to run the same routes and receive dump-off passes, as the offensive scheme is designed to feature tight ends.

Kalon Black advises avoiding Kyler Murray this week, noting that Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon knows Murray's tendencies well and how to make him uncomfortable. Black ranks at least 12-14 other quarterbacks ahead of him, preferring Baker Mayfield and Jayden Daniels.

Kyler Murray is a sit candidate. While the offensive line has shown improvement, the team is expected to ease him into the game plan, and there is uncertainty regarding the matchup.

Kyron Williams maintained a valuable role in the Rams' backfield, handling all third-down and goal-line snaps. While he is less explosive than Blake Corum, he is praised for his ability to avoid negative plays, which keeps him relevant despite the competition.

Kalon Black notes that if Rome Odunze is out, Luther Burden should see eight-plus targets, making him a strong start.

Kalon Black ranks Malik Nabers in the top 20 as a WR2, assuming he plays. He advises caution due to the injury, suggesting that if you have great alternatives, you might play them instead.

Marshawn Lloyd is viewed as a low-end RB2. He is expected to handle early-down work but is not projected to be involved on third downs, though he remains the primary goal-line option.

Marvin Harrison Jr. is ranked back-to-back with Michael Wilson, with Dave noting he is slightly behind Quentin Johnston in his rankings.

Marvin Harrison Jr. is preferred over Tony Pollard in PPR formats.

Matthew Stafford struggled in the season opener, scoring only 4.1 fantasy points and looking 'old' and 'rusty' according to the analysts. While he had seven games of single-digit fantasy points in 2024, the panel is not ready to call him washed, though they express significant pessimism regarding his fantasy outlook beyond Week 2.

Dave ranks Michael Mayer as the TE12, just behind Juwan Johnson at TE11.

Michael Wilson is ranked back-to-back with Marvin Harrison Jr. as a high-end WR3 for the week.

Parker Washington is a preferred start over Jameson Williams in full PPR formats.

Puka Nacua has emerged as a key beneficiary of the Rams' 13 personnel usage, specifically in goal-to-go situations. He ran all five goal-to-go routes in 13 personnel during the opener, signaling a potential shift in role that gives him more upside than Davante Adams in that specific formation.

Dave ranks Quentin Johnston ahead of Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson, positioning him as a high-end WR3 for the week.

Kalon Black ranks Quentin Johnston highly, placing him above Chris Godwin and other wide receivers in his current rankings.

Rome Odunze is a sit candidate due to the Panthers' secondary playing zone-heavy cover three, which limits deep-threat opportunities. His outlook is further dampened by his health status and the presence of other intermediate-field weapons.

Kalon Black advises sitting Rome Odunze this week, noting he was limited in practice for two straight days and that other options are preferred.

The analysts prefer Sam LaPorta over Michael Mayer.

Kalon Black considers Terry McLaurin a must-start but cautions that he could face a shadow matchup from Quinyon Mitchell, which would be a significant change for the Commanders' offense.

Tony Pollard is not recommended for fantasy lineups due to an expected timeshare with Tyjae Spears, a struggling offensive line, and a lack of consistent production even when given high volume last year.

Tony Pollard is viewed as a flex option with upside for 15 touches in favorable game scripts, ranking higher than Tyjae Spears.

Tyjae Spears is expected to see fewer touches than Tony Pollard in this matchup.

Wan'Dale Robinson is ranked higher than both Coker and Carnell Tate in full PPR formats due to his safer floor.