Week 1: Start Em' and Sit Em'

Welcome Back!

NFL Football is back and we can’t be more excited. Thank you to those who rode with us last year and we hope that you are back for more in 2022. For those of you who are new to the site, Welcome. This weekly article is here to (hopefully) help you get some more information and fresh opinions for your toughest lineup decisions. You won’t see me writing about starting Jonathan Taylor or Justin Jefferson or sitting Reggie Bonnafon or Frank Darby. I try to find the players who are truly on the bubble for most people and try to give an insight as to why I label them as I do.

This year will have an Upside Play’s section as well which will be 1-3 players a week rostered in less than 30% of leagues who can be a deep sleeper for your team if you are really in a bind or are playing in a very deep league. Week 1 has more of a broader section because we don’t have a lot to go off of. Week 2 will have a true Upside Play’s section.

As always if you find that this article didn’t quite help your decision you can find us on twitter @TheUpsidePlay. We will answer your question as quickly as we can. We are bringing back the Sunday Morning Start and Sits Q&A as well so there are more chances for you to reach us.

Good Luck in week one and remember if you are a gambling person:

It was always the Eagles over 9.5 wins.

QB starts

Jameis Winston vs Atlanta

Lasik Jameis was having a solid year last year before going down with a knee injury. He had 14 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions in 7 games without Michael Thomas. The Saints vastly improved their WR core bringing in Jarvis Landry and Chris Olave and getting Michael Thomas back. Atlanta’s defense is terrible and Winston and his new targets should get off to a quick start in this matchup. If you waited for a QB in your drafts Jameis Winston is the streamer you want in week 1.

Matt Ryan at Houston

The Texans improved the defense but it’s still a shaky unit under new head coach Lovie Smith. Houston gave up the 5th most points to quarterbacks per game last year with 17.5. Matt Ryan has an improved offensive line and an up and coming star with Michael Pittman has his WR1. Against a defense that gave up 300 Yards 5 times last season and 8 multiple TD games, Ryan is in line to have a nice start to his Colts tenure.

QB Sits

Aaron Rodgers at Minnesota

This one is tough because it’s never smart to bet against Aaron Rodgers but there is so much change in that Packers offense against a division rival to trust Rodgers in this one. The Packers are expected to be a run heavy team now without Davante Adams, MVS and Allen Lazard (out with Ankle Injury). I would temper my expectations for the Back to Back MVP on Sunday.

RB starts

Miles Sanders at Detroit

I know that Sanders wasn’t as productive as we originally thought he would be last season, but he is still the RB1 for an electric Eagles offense. Sanders is healthy to start the season and draws a juicy matchup against a Lions defense who gave up 22 points per game to running backs last season. The Eagles could look to give Sanders more work to save Jalen Hurts from unnecessary hits. Still only 25 years old Sanders should be viewed as a mid level RB2 with upside for a top 12 week.

Josh Jacobs vs Chargers

The Chargers defense was atrocious against the run in 2021 giving up 21 fantasy points per game and 120 rushing yards per game to running backs last season. Yes the Raiders offense expects to be pass heavy but Josh McDaniels and Derek Carr have been hyping up Josh Jacobs in this offense all off season. The 4th year back can be in for a big game as the Chargers defense will be trying to find a way to stop Hunter Renfrow, Darren Waller and Davante Adams without JC Jackson in Week 1. Jacobs is set to be the goal line and short yardage back and he’s coming off a career high in catches so we could see him as a true three down back early on this season.

RB Sits

Ken Walker vs Denver

Walker is officially questionable for this game but all the reports out of Seattle say he’s expected to play. Walker will most likely be Limited in this NFL debut against a very good Denver rush defense. Between coming off a Hernia surgery and a very tough matchup Walker will be on the Bench for me this week.

WR Starts

Marquise Brown vs Kansas City The Cardinals offense is going to have to go through Marquise Brown this week without DeAndre Hopkins, Rondale Moore and a limited Zach Ertz. Arizona traded a first round pick during the NFL draft to reunite Brown with Kyler Murray so there are obviously big plans for the playmaking WR. Brown is coming off his best season as a pro and now goes to a more pass heavy offense that can really show off his talent. KC lost Charvarius Ward and Tyrann Mathieu in free agency and still have a beatable secondary so Brown will find himself behind the KC defense often this week.

Rashod Bateman at New York Jets

The Ravens traded Marquise Brown to Arizona in the off season vaulting Bateman to the new WR1 for Baltimore. The young Jets defense is going to have its hands full all game with Lamar Jackson’s rushing ability. The Jets are expected to stick star rookie Sauce Gardner on Bateman but I'm betting on the rookie taking a little bit of time to get used to the NFL speed. Even with Mark Andrews as the main target in that offseason Bateman will see anywhere between 7-10 targets and should hold value all season as a legitimate WR2 with touchdown upside every week.

WR Sits

Amari Cooper at Carolina

This one seems a little too obvious. The Browns offense without Watson and with Brissett will consist of running the ball, making good decisions and running the ball some more. Cooper is nothing more than a mid to late WR3 flex play with limited upside.

TE Starts

TJ Hockenson vs Philadelphia

Hockenson was very productive last season when he was healthy. The Lions offense will be much improved this season and Hockenson will be a very big part of it. Goff trusts Hockenson in big spots and especially early in the season without Jameson Williams active, Hockenson could be the first or second option in the passing game. The Lions will probably be playing from behind in this game so the game script for Detroit should favor Hockenson.

TE Sit

Cole Kmet

Kmet is one of the best players on the Bears offense but going against the 49ers Defense isn’t a great matchup for him. The Bears offensive line will give no time for Fields to get the ball out to his playmakers against the elite 49ers front. The weather in this game does not look great either so expect a running attack for both of these teams.

Upside Plays

QB

Baker Mayfield vs CLE

Davis Mills vs IND

Jared Goff vs PHI

RB

Melvin Gordon at SEA

Mike Davis at NYJ

James Robinson vs WAS

WR

Jalen Tolbert vs TB

Romeo Doubs at MIN

AJ Green vs KC

TE

David Njoku at CAR

Austin Hooper vs NYG

Cameron Brate at DAL