Week One – Sit Em, Start Em
Start
Jamaal Charles vs Buffalo – JC Superstar will get a great opportunity to jump out to be the NFL rushing leader after week one as he gets to square off against the Buffalo Bills. The Bills handed over the third most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs last season, and despite some solid additions JC is too much of a talent for the hapless Bills to stymie.
Arian Foster vs Indianapolis – Arian Foster is a beast so there will not be too many weeks that we do not recommend starting him, but in week one he goes up against a particularly leaky run defense in Indy that gave up the fourth most fantasy points to opposing running backs last season. Update: Foster may be limited due to a hamstring injury but is still a recommended play.
Darren McFadden vs Broncos – Run DMC gets the running back friendly Broncos in Week one and seems destined to put up huge numbers in both the running game and the passing game. The Broncos gave up the most fantasy points to opposing running backs last season and as long as D-Mac can avoid Von Miller he should be a lock for 120+ yards from scrimmage.
Mike Williams vs Detroit – Mike Williams blew up for one of his best games of the season with six receptions, 96 yards and a score against the Lions last year and with their front-line even more intimidating than last year the Bucs will likely throw even more. This is looking like a great week for Josh Freeman and Mike Williams to show off their ever growing chemistry.
Jonathan Stewart vs the Cardinals – The Daily Show has a chance for a big day in week one as the Panthers square off against the Arizona Cardinals who gave up the second most fantasy points to opposing running backs last season. Start with confidence as a flex option.
Lance Kendricks vs the Eagles – Kendricks is line to compete for the most targets on the Rams this year and this game should more than help to accentuate that fact. The Rams wideouts will have to deal with Philly’s terrible trio while Kendricks will get ‘thrown into the fire’ so to speak by being peppered with targets in his first regular season game. The Eagles gave up the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends last season and this game should prove to be more of the same.
Plaxico Burress vs the Cowboys – Holmes is also a recommended play this week, but this is also a week when you want to have Plaxico in your starting lineup. He may be on some sort of snap count to start the season but going up against one of the most beatable secondaries in the NFL, Plaxico could easily find pay-dirt in week one.
Sit
Rashard Mendenhall vs Baltimore – Repeat after me: “I will never start Mendenhall vs the Ravens”, perhaps he is still stung by the fact that Ray Lewis ended his rookie season but Mendenhall only managed a pitiful 2.8 yards per carry vs Baltimore last year. Yes, you likely spent a 1st round pick on him but this is one of the weeks you need to sit him.
Felix Jones vs Jets – We will hardly ever recommend starting even the elite running backs vs the Jets who gave up the least fantasy points to opposing running backs last season.
Reggie Bush vs New England – We are not big fans of Reggie to begin with, against the Patriots front line, he is a recommended sit even in PPR leagues.
Tim Hightower vs Giants – Hightower despite his excellent preseason and surrounding hype is not a recommended play in week one as he squares off against the stingy New York Giants front seven. If you drafted well you should have much more attractive options for this week.
Miles Austin vs the Jets – Miles Austin will be taking a trip to Revis island…nuff said.
Mike Sims-Walker vs the Eagles – MSW will square off against the Eagles secondary in week one which features Asomugha, Rodgers-Cromartie and Samuel; just sit all WR’s when they face the Eagles until further notice.
Donovan McNabb vs San Diego – McNabb squares off against a stingy Chargers pass defense that allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing QB’s in 2010. A lot of fanalysts are down on McNabb this year but we are not among them. We believe in McNabb as he has the support of a strong run game, emerging fantasy stud Percy Harvin at WR and two excellent receiving tight ends in Kyle Rudolph and veteran Vinsanthe Shiancoe. Now while the two TE’s will get some nice production in this game you can probably do a lot better than McNabb this week, especially considering he is not your QB1.
