Sit ‘Em, Start ‘Em Week One – Thursday Night Football
This week we will have two sit ‘em, start ‘em columns one for the heavily anticipated Thursday Night Football and one for the rest of the week. No one will be sitting Jordy Nelson or Randall Cobb this week and Marshawn Lynch will be started every week in every league so we will not focus on those guys and instead take a look at the players owners may have legit concerns about.
Start ‘Em
Eddie Lacy – Eddie Lacy is a stud running back that you drafted in the first round so despite the tough matchup against the legion of boom you should be rolling with the sophomore. Lacy is still ranked as an RB1 this week and should get enough touches to warrant starting in all league sizes and formats.
Aaron Rodgers – As with Lacy, Rodgers is a stud at his position and needs to be started despite the tough matchup in Seattle. Rodgers is still ranked as a QB1 this week and should be started in most formats unless you have someone like Foles or Cutler as a backup.
Earl Thomas – Thomas remains an elite play at defensive back and should be started week in and week out. Thomas is a near-lock for 100 plus total tackles this season and will be ranked as a DB1 whenever healthy.
Bobby Wagner – Wagner is a borderline LB1 this season and should rack up tackles against Eddie Lacy and the Packers who will push for higher than average snaps leading to increased opportunity. Wagner is a strong play this week in all formats.
Sit ‘Em
Jermaine Kearse – With Percy Harvin healthy, Jermaine Kearse remains a wait-and-see option as the Seahawks have more openly gushed about Doug Baldwin as opposed to Kearse and the run-heavy Seahawks may not be able to support three fantasy relevant wideouts this season. Deeper leaguers should sit Kearse for now and pay special attention to target distribution in a game where the Seahawks may pass more than they usually will against a prolific offense in the Packers.
Richard Rodgers – Rodgers was a hot late round tight end especially after the Colt Lyerla injury but we suggest taking a wait-and-see approach here with the rookie. Here we are not focused on overall snaps but passing down snaps and targets as we determine whether or not the Packers love Rodgers as much as Aaron does or if they will be employing some form of tight end committee with Quarless and Bostick.
Robert Turbin – Despite the injury to Christine Michael we do not recommend starting Turbin outside of 24 man leagues or deep 16 man, 30 player, 16+ starter leagues. Lynch is a workhorse who has seen his receptions spike and Turbin will be nothing more than a limited-snap breather back on Thursday Night Football.
Jarrett Boykin/Davante Adams – At this time we expect the two to rotate snaps so those outside the deepest of leagues may wish to observe Boykin’s usage in relation to Adams juxtaposed with their production before making a week two decision. There is evidence to suggest that Aaron Rodgers can support four deep league relevant wideouts but those in standard 10 and 12 man leagues should have better options for week one.
