With the amazing depth of wide receiver talent now, do you just keep it simple and go with your top guys in Week 1? Not necessarily. Matchups are always key and we go through ones that you need to know about before you set your lineups.
You've come to the right place for help making those decisions. Jamey Eisenberg also has Start 'Em & Sit 'Em calls at running back and quarterback that can help you find the answers for Week 1.
More Week 1: QB Preview | RB Preview | WR Preview | TE Preview
START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Wide Receivers
Start 'Em
Projections powered by
Sportsline
Anderson is reunited with Sam Darnold, and the two will take on their former team this week at home. Anderson should have the chance for a strong first game, and he started last season on a high note for the Panthers with at least 17 PPR points in four of his first five games. While Christian McCaffrey is back, and the Panthers added Terrace Marshall to replace Curtis Samuel, look for Darnold to feature Anderson quite a bit this week -- and all year.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Aiyuk is over the hamstring injury that bothered him toward the end of the preseason, and he should be ready to go for Week 1 in a plus matchup. While Lions cornerback Jeff Okudah could be a problem for Aiyuk, hopefully he picks up where last season ended when he scored at least 20 PPR points in five of his final six games. We'll see how Aiyuk does sharing the ball with George Kittle and Deebo Samuel, but I like Aiyuk as a solid No. 2 Fantasy receiver this week.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Shenault will have to share targets with D.J. Chark (finger) and Marvin Jones (shoulder) now that both are healthy, but Shenault should be the favorite option for Trevor Lawrence in Week 1 against the Texans. He closed last season on a high note with at least 15 PPR points in three of his final five games, and he played well in the final preseason game against Dallas with three catches for 33 yards and a touchdown on three targets. Houston's defense shouldn't be a problem for Shenault this week, and he should be considered a borderline starter in all formats.
| ||||||||||||||||||
The hope is Jeudy's strong training camp and preseason carries over to the real games, and I like him as a quality No. 2 Fantasy receiver this week in all leagues. Teddy Bridgewater will hopefully lean on Jeudy, even with a crowded receiving corps with Courtland Sutton and Noah Fant. Against the Giants, Jeudy should have the chance to make plenty of plays, especially if he stays in the slot and can avoid lining up against James Bradberry. Jeudy is a breakout candidate for me, and I'm hoping he starts the season off with a big performance.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Not many teams have a third receiver on the level of Brown, but he should still produce plenty of points this season behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, starting Thursday against the Cowboys. Last year, Brown closed the regular season with at least 13 PPR points in five of his final seven games, and he had at least six targets in five of those outings. The Buccaneers should do whatever they want against this Dallas defense, and all three receivers for Tampa Bay are worth starting in all leagues in Week 1.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Sleepers
Projections powered by
Sportsline
In two games against Jacksonville last season, Cooks had 47 PPR points combined with 11 catches for 244 yards and two touchdowns on 21 targets. Now, that was with Deshaun Watson, and Tyrod Taylor is the new starter in Houston, which is a downgrade. But Cooks should command plenty of attention from Taylor in a plus matchup, making him a borderline starter in all leagues.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Smith will make his NFL debut against the Falcons this week, and hopefully it's the start of a brilliant career. He should have the chance for plenty of targets from Jalen Hurts, and Atlanta is coming off a season where the Falcons allowed the third-most Fantasy points to opposing receivers. The last time Smith played in Atlanta it was the SEC Championship Game for Alabama against Florida in December, and Smith had 15 catches for 184 yards and two touchdowns. We'd love to see him do that again.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Waddle has been Miami's No. 1 receiver in the preseason with Will Fuller and DeVante Parker battling injuries, and Fuller won't play this week because he's suspended. While Parker might be 100 percent, this should be a game where Tua Tagovailoa leans on Waddle, and the Patriots have a depleted secondary with Stephon Gilmore (quad) out. Even though J.C. Jackson and Jonathan Joseph are solid corners, you should still consider Waddle a No. 3 Fantasy receiver this week in all leagues.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Brown loves Week 1. He's played in two season openers in his career, and he has nine catches for 248 yards and two touchdowns in those games for a combined 45 PPR points. We'll see if he can make it 3 for 3 with big games in openers, and you should expect Lamar Jackson to lean on Brown against the Raiders. While their secondary got better this offseason with the addition of Casey Hayward, I'm excited to see what Brown can do indoors at Las Vegas.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Meyers was excellent the last time he faced the Dolphins in Week 15 last year with seven catches for 111 yards on 10 targets, and it would be great to see him have a repeat performance in Week 1. Meyers will hopefully stay in the slot for the Patriots and avoid Xavien Howard and Byron Jones, and Mac Jones should lean on Meyers quite a bit. He's a quality No. 3 PPR receiver this week at home.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Sit 'Em
Projections powered by
Sportsline
Golladay will hopefully be fine following the hamstring injury that kept him out for most of August, but he missed valuable practice time with new quarterback Daniel Jones. And now he has to face a tough secondary in Denver, which features Kyle Fuller, Ronald Darby and Patrick Surtain II. I'd rather see Golladay play before starting him in all leagues, and he's just a No. 3 Fantasy receiver at best for Week 1.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Callaway is now the No. 1 receiver for the Saints until Michael Thomas (ankle) returns, but that means he's going to face a tough matchup from the Packers and cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Kevin King. We'll find out quickly if Callaway is ready to handle that type of attention, but he excelled in the preseason in matchups against Ravens cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters and Jacksonville's Shaquill Griffin. I'd use Callaway as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver this week, but I don't have high expectations in his first real game as the No. 1 guy.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Beckham is back from last year's ACL injury, and hopefully he's ready to go at 100 percent. I want to wait a week before starting him, although he could benefit if this game becomes a shootout, with the Browns forced to throw. He didn't play in the preseason, and Cleveland could limit his snaps. Beckham also scored 11 PPR points or less in four of the six full games he played in last year, so he's not a slam-dunk starter even when healthy.
| ||||||||||||||||||
The drops in the preseason shouldn't make you panic on Chase, but it is something to watch. And I'd rather watch Chase play this week than start him in the majority of leagues. He's actually my third favorite Bengals receiver this week against the Vikings behind Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, but this should be a tough matchup. Minnesota revamped its secondary with Patrick Peterson, Mackenzie Alexander and Xavier Woods joining the Vikings, and Chase could struggle in his NFL debut.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Claypool struggled in Week 14 at Buffalo last year with just three catches for 15 yards on six targets, and I'm concerned about his production again this week. I would actually start Diontae Johnson and JuJu Smith-Schuster over Claypool in PPR, and the Bills will use cornerbacks Tre'Davious White and Levi Wallace to help keep Claypool in check. He should still be considered a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues, but I don't like this setup on the road in the rematch against the Bills.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Bust Alert
Projections powered by
Sportsline
You're likely not sitting Robinson this week, but he's just a No. 2 Fantasy receiver in the majority of leagues given the matchup against the Rams and cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Last year in Week 7 at Los Angeles, Robinson had four catches for 70 yards on four targets, which included a season-best 42-yard reception. Darious Williams could also make things hard on Robinson if the two match up, but if he gets followed by Ramsey then it could be a long day for Robinson -- and Fantasy managers -- this week. The Rams also allowed a league-low seven touchdowns to receivers in 2020 and should be tough to score on again.
| ||||||||||||||||||
