The start of every NFL season is exciting. Fans feel like their team can win the Super Bowl -- even the Jets. And Fantasy managers feel like they can win a championship following a great draft. There is optimism everywhere leading up until the opening kickoff for Week 1.
And then it happens.
The breakout player you were counting on struggles. Your star player -- gasp -- suffers a significant injury. The player everyone told you to avoid has a monster game, and of course he's on your opponent's roster.
Brace yourself, everyone, because this is going to happen. It might not be in Week 1, but not everything this season is going to be perfect. That's just life.
The hope, for Fantasy managers, is that your team stays healthy, first and foremost. That's the biggest key. Then you just have to believe that the roster you built can deliver, along with some luck and key waiver wire moves, and you can compete for a championship.
We'll be with you, right here, for the entire season. You can count on us giving you winning lineup suggestions all year, including the players to start and the ones to avoid. It's all about the matchups, and we'll do the homework for you to make those decisions easier. At least that's the theory.
It's awesome that the start of the season is here. We've been waiting for this since the Rams beat the Bengals in Super Bowl LVI in February. You should be excited about everything that's about to happen once the action is live. And even when things don't go your way, please don't panic. We'll get you back on track so that the 2022 campaign is fun -- and hopefully successful for your Fantasy teams.2022.
Start of the Week
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I always like to recommend a Start of the Week for Week 1 based on someone I've touted all offseason. And I expect Trey Lance to be a top-10 Fantasy quarterback this year -- with top-five upside. He will be the breakout quarterback of 2022 based on his dual-threat ability.
Last year, Lance appeared in three games where he played the majority of the snaps. He averaged 53.7 rushing yards per game in those outings, and he scored at least 22 Fantasy points in two of those games.
He's facing a Bears defense this week making the transition to a 4-3 scheme under new coach Matt Eberflus, so there could be some growing pains, and Chicago lost star pass rusher Khalil Mack this offseason in a trade with the Chargers. I expect Lance to make a splashy debut in this matchup.
The Bears were also among the league leaders last season in rushing touchdowns allowed to quarterbacks with five, and ironically two of those came from Jimmy Garoppolo when these team's met in Week 8. It would be fantastic if Lance scored two rushing touchdowns as well in the rematch.
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I'm excited to see how Lance does as the full-time starter for San Francisco. And he should start the season on a high note with a big game against the Bears in Week 1.
- More Week 1: Sleepers & DFS | Starts, Sits, Sleepers and Busts | PPR Cheat Sheet | Non-PPR Cheat Sheet | QB Preview | RB Preview | WR Preview | TE Preview | Trade Values
START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Quarterbacks
Start 'Em
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It's the ultimate revenge game for Wilson, who starts his Broncos tenure with a trip back to Seattle. He spent the first 10 years of his career with the Seahawks, and this homecoming should be successful for him. I expect Wilson to put on a show against his former team, and he could easily be the No. 1 Fantasy quarterback in Week 1.
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The concerns about Stafford's elbow are valid, but as long as he's playing he has the chance for huge numbers, including this week against the Bills. In eight home games last year, Stafford had four with at least 29 Fantasy points and six with at least 23 points. This game has one of the highest-implied point totals of the week at 52.5, so look for Stafford and Josh Allen to put on a show. Stafford has top-10 upside on Thursday night.
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I'm bullish on Cousins this season that he will be a quality No. 1 Fantasy quarterback in all leagues, and I expect him to do well at home against the Packers, even in a tough matchup. He went for 31 Fantasy points against Green Bay at home last year in Week 11, and he also had 25 Fantasy points against the Packers in Week 1 at home in 2020. Let's hope he keeps that home streak of standout performances against Green Bay for a third year in a row.
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Like Cousins, I expect Carr to have a big season in 2022 following the addition of Davante Adams, and Carr should start off playing well against the Chargers in Week 1 even though this is a tough defense. But this game has shootout potential with an implied total of 52 points, and Carr vs. Justin Herbert should be fun to watch. I like Carr as a low-end starter in all leagues.
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We'd love for Winston to repeat his Week 1 performance from 2021 in this matchup against the Falcons. Facing the Packers last year in the season opener, Winston only attempted 20 passes, but he threw five touchdowns on his 14 completions. He loves facing the Falcons also. In his last seven games vs. Atlanta (all when he was with Tampa Bay), Winston is averaging 30.1 Fantasy points per game. Winston is a great start in Superflex and 2QB leagues, but he's also worth using as a streamer in deeper formats.
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Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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I'm excited to see what Lawrence can do this season with a revamped receiving corps and new head coach in Doug Pederson. He should have the chance to make plays against Washington this week, especially if Jacksonville struggles to run the ball. Last season, the Commanders allowed the most Fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, and hopefully that continues for Lawrence.
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Ryan was terrible in his final season in Atlanta last year, but he gets a fresh start with the Colts in 2022. By all accounts, he's been fantastic, and he should start off his Indianapolis tenure with a quality game against the Texans. Houston was top 10 in Fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks last year, and Ryan will likely be given plenty of chances to make plays in his Colts debut. He's a good option in Superflex and 2QB leagues.
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This game could easily be all about Derrick Henry as he makes his comeback from last year's foot injury, and he should be able to run through the Giants defense. But Tannehill can still make enough plays against this secondary to have success as an option in Superflex and 2QB leagues, and I'm curious to see how he'll perform with his revamped receiving corps, which features Robert Woods, Treylon Burks and Ryan Philips. I wouldn't be shocked to see Tannehill with a top-15 Fantasy finish this week.
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Bust Alert (Start/Sit)
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It sounds like Burrow will be fine following the appendectomy he had in late July, but he missed a lot of practice time in August. I'd be nervous trusting him against the Steelers, and he averaged just 19.5 Fantasy points per game against Pittsburgh last season. He did have multiple touchdowns in each outing against the Steelers, but he averaged just 181 passing yards per game over that span. Burrow is just a low-end starter in Week 1.
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I hope Rodgers has Allen Lazard this week against the Vikings, but his status was up in the air as of Tuesday afternoon. Without Lazard, in the first game without Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, it will be tough to trust Rodgers against what should be an improved Vikings defense. I'd only prefer to start Rodgers in larger leagues this week if Lazard is out.
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I'm hopeful that Fields can overcome tough matchups like this against the 49ers, but I want to see it first. I want to see how Chicago's offensive line holds up under duress. I want to see if the Bears receiving options not named Darnell Mooney and Cole Kmet can make plays. I want to see how much Fields will use his legs. He's still worth starting in Superflex and 2QB leagues, but Fields likely doesn't have a high ceiling in this matchup with San Francisco.
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Avoid in Superflex/2QB (Start/Sit)
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I'm typically a fan of the revenge game narrative, and Mayfield will likely be motivated facing the team that traded him away. But I'm a believer in this Browns defense, and Mayfield could be running for his life from former teammate Myles Garrett. Eventually, I expect Mayfield to make plenty of plays for the Panthers, especially if Christian McCaffrey and D.J. Moore stay healthy. But this isn't a good week to trust Mayfield, even at home.
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By the end of the season, if Mariota holds onto the starting job in Atlanta, we're likely going to regret not drafting him higher in Superflex and 2QB leagues. He'll make plenty of plays with his legs, and he should connect well with Kyle Pitts and Drake London to boost his production. But this week could be tough for all the Falcons, especially Mariota, against a potentially dominant Saints defense. I'm not ready to trust Mariota as a starter yet, especially when the matchup is tough like he has this week.
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This Eagles defense has the potential to be nasty, especially with an upgraded secondary featuring James Bradberry and C.J. Gardner-Johnson joining Darius Slay. Goff could always find his way to quality production, including some likely garbage-time stats, but I don't expect him to have a huge outing this week against Philadelphia. In 2021, Goff had just five games with more than 21 Fantasy points in 13 starts. He also had five games with eight Fantasy points or fewer.
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START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Running Backs
Start 'Em
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James Robinson (Achilles) is expected to be active for this matchup with the Commanders, but I'm still counting on Etienne to have a huge role, especially in the passing game. The Jaguars aren't going to rush Robinson back on the field, and they don't have to because of Etienne. He should be a popular target for Trevor Lawrence, especially if the Washington pass rush is an issue and Lawrence needs to dump the ball off. If he scores, Etienne could be a top-10 running back in all leagues this week.
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The status of Colts star linebacker Shaquille Leonard (back) could determine if Pierce is good or great for this week. You should be starting him regardless given his expected role as the lead running back for the Texans. He has 20-touch potential, and hopefully Houston uses him in the passing game. Leonard missed Week 16 last year against the Cardinals, and Chase Edmonds went nuts with 16 carries for 56 yards and a touchdown, along with eight catches for 71 yards. Hopefully, Pierce could have a huge game as well if Leonard is out.
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We're going to find out this week just how much the Packers will use Dillon in tandem with Aaron Jones, and I expect it will be a lot, especially if Allen Lazard (undisclosed) is out. In Week 17 last year against the Vikings, Dillon played great with 14 carries for 63 yards and two touchdowns, along with two catches for 20 yards. In that same game, Jones had eight carries for 76 yards, along with five catches for 30 yards. Let's hope history repeats itself in the rematch, with both finding the end zone this time, and Dillon is worth trusting as a No. 2 running back in all leagues.
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Mitchell is expected to be healthy after dealing with a hamstring injury in training camp, and he should be started in all leagues when he's playing in a favorable matchup. Last year in Week 1 at Detroit is when Mitchell became a household name after he took over for an injured Raheem Mostert (knee) and had 19 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown. He was San Francisco's best running back in 2021, and hopefully he can do that again this year, starting against the Bears.
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With Brian Robinson Jr. (lower body) on the NFI list and out for the first four weeks of the season, Gibson should get plenty of touches as the lead running back in Washington. J.D. McKissic will also play a role on passing downs, and he's worth using as a sleeper in PPR this week against Jacksonville. But Gibson should be a must-start option in all leagues, and hopefully he doesn't fumble away his chance to get back in the good graces of his coaching staff. The Commanders were ready to replace Gibson with Robinson, but now Gibson could get 20-plus touches in a favorable matchup. Last season, the Jaguars were top five in rushing touchdowns allowed to running backs with 17.
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Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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I'm counting on Hunt to play a pivotal role in the passing game for the Browns this week and likely for as long as Jacoby Brissett is the starter. He's not going to challenge downfield often and with a lot of success, and Cleveland has a suspect receiving corps behind Amari Cooper and David Njoku, which should give extra targets to Hunt. While Nick Chubb will be heavily involved in the game plan as the lead running back for the Browns, so will Hunt. He's at least a flex in the majority of leagues for Week 1.
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We'll find out this week just how much the Cowboys will use Pollard in the passing game, and it's a great matchup for him against Tampa Bay. Last year, the Buccaneers were second in the NFL for receptions allowed to running backs with 118, and they were first in 2020 with 104. It's difficult to run on Tampa Bay, which is why I'm concerned for Ezekiel Elliott. But if Pollard is deployed as a receiver he could be useful as at least a flex in PPR.
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If you've followed me this offseason you know how much I love Hines, and I expect him to have a significant role in tandem with Jonathan Taylor, starting in Week 1 against the Texans. Now, the concern for him will be if Indianapolis is up big against Houston that Hines won't need to do much in the passing game. But I expect Matt Ryan to lean on Hines as a weapon out of the backfield, and he could be second on the team in targets behind Michael Pittman -- all season. Hines is a great flex play in PPR this week.
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I'm starting Chase Edmonds as a No. 2 running back in all leagues this week, but I would also consider Mostert as a flex, especially in non- and 0.5-PPR leagues. When healthy, he could lead the Dolphins in carries, and Mike McDaniel likely has a lot of trust in Mostert from their days together in San Francisco. If the Dolphins are playing with a lead -- and they are 3.5-point favorites at home -- then look for Mostert to help kill the clock and rack up some cheap production late in the game.
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This posting could change if J.K. Dobbins (knee) is ready for Week 1, but Drake and Mike Davis have the chance to be flex plays this week if Dobbins is out. The Jets were No. 1 in Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and they gave up the most touchdowns to the position by a glaring margin with 28 in total. The defense should improve this season, but Baltimore is going to run the ball no matter who lines up at running back. I'll give a slight edge to Drake given that he should be more talented -- and hopefully get more opportunities -- than Davis in Week 1.
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Sit 'Em
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I hope that I'm wrong by putting Hall in this spot, and in full disclosure, I'm starting him in several leagues. I drafted him to be a No. 2 running back, and I hope he can overcome some of the negatives working against him. For starters, I don't want to see Michael Carter play ahead of Hall, and that could be the case for the Jets based on the preseason. And in a secondary role against a good run defense for Baltimore, you should only consider Hall as a flex at best. He'll have big days this season, but if you can sit him this week then that's the right move.
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Like Hall, I'd love to see Akers come out and smash in Week 1 against the Bills. I'd like him to keep Darrell Henderson on the bench and prove, without a doubt, he's the best running back for the Rams this year. But it seems like we're going to see too much of Henderson and potentially rookie running back Kyren Williams as well. And if Williams plays on passing downs then Akers could be in trouble all season. The Bills are a brutal matchup as well, and this should be a game where the Rams are throwing a lot. Let's see how Akers does, and hopefully he's back to being a weekly starter in all leagues as early as Week 2 against Atlanta.
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The Patriots backfield remains somewhat of a mystery for Week 1 at Miami. Ty Montgomery (ankle) traveled with the team, and he could surprise us by playing after getting hurt in the preseason. If he's active then he should have a role in the passing game, and we know Rhamondre Stevenson is also going to get his share of touches. Harris will likely need to score to reward Fantasy managers, which he did often last year with 15 rushing touchdowns. He also had 117 total yards against Miami in Week 1 last year, and he had 73 total yards and a touchdown (with four catches) against the Dolphins in Week 18. I just don't want to trust Harris if he's not dominating touches, and he could be in trouble if the Patriots are chasing points. Consider Harris just a flex, with his value higher in non- and 0.5-PPR leagues. As for Stevenson, he's also a flex, but his value will increase in PPR if Montgomery is out.
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One of the backfields I'm curious to see in Week 1 is the Falcons. We expect Patterson to still be the lead running back, but Damien Williams and Tyler Allgeier are expected to also have a role. In a tough matchup against the Saints, this is likely a situation you want to avoid. The hope for Patterson is that he's involved in the passing game, and he had a monster performance against New Orleans in Week 9 last year with six catches for 126 yards to go with nine carries for 10 yards. In Week 18 in the rematch, Patterson was held to four carries for 11 yards and one catch for 1 yard. At best, Patterson should be considered a flex play in PPR.
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Bust Alert (Start/Sit)
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I hope Elliott can reward the Fantasy managers who drafted him in Round 3 in the majority of leagues this year, but I'm concerned about his role in tandem with Pollard and the offensive line. Without left tackle Tyron Smith (hamstring), Elliott could find it tough to get additional rushing yards, and Pollard could take him off the field in obvious passing situations. This week, you probably want to only use Elliott as a flex in most leagues. Tampa Bay has arguably the best run defense in the NFL, and the Buccaneers limited Elliott to 11 carries for 33 yards in Week 1 last year, along with two catches for 6 yards. If Elliott can have a role in the passing game then he could still be productive this week, but asking him to find success against this run defense on the ground is a tall task.
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START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Wide Receiver
Start 'Em
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The sliding scale for the Chiefs receivers this week is start Smith-Schuster as a No. 2 Fantasy option in all leagues, Marquez Valdes-Scantling is a boom-bust flex with sleeper appeal and use Skyy Moore and Mecole Hardman as desperation plays in deeper leagues. Smith-Schuster made Fantasy managers nervous by missing practice time with a knee injury, but he's fine now. And he should help Patrick Mahomes exploit this Cardinals secondary while making a big splash in his Kansas City debut.
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