by Brooksie
It is a new year, so the saying goes, you never know. This is not a remarkable saying, but it is true, kind of. Most people who you are going to start, you should probably start every week, unless you are in either a league with like 8 people or really dumb people who are nothing but hometown homers. So, let us assume your team is not stacked, and you do not have both Josh Allen and Justin Herbert on your team. If you have a top 8 quarterback, you should start them every week; you shouldn’t platoon your QBs. (That is an article for another time.) With this in mind, for each of the positions, I am going to assume, if you have a stud, you are going to start them, regardless of their matchup. So, these sit options, at least for this first week, will include some players who you should sit if you can, but if you cannot, then you should at least mentally prepare yourself for their stats may be a bit tempered for the week. Got it. Get it. Let’s see who our warmers of the week are.
Quarterbacks:
Let me start with Tom Brady. First of all, why does he have such a skinny face now? Maybe he is finally getting older? Anyway, I think some adjustments with no Gronk, Godwin coming back, and adding Julio Jones may take some time to adjust. But the main reason I would sit him is the fact the game is in Dallas against the team who led the league in turnovers last year. I’d take a pass on him this first week.
Another sitter for me is Jared Goff. I think the Eagles D can be one of the best this year. Goff is never going to light it up for you anyway and going against a team like the Eagles, I just can’t see him going over 250 yards with more than 1 to 2 tds, unless he has 3 or 4 ints too.
Finally, I would sit super bowl qb Matt Stafford. There is always a down from winning the super bowl and mix in that an elbow injury, no preseason play, and playing against a team that gave up the least amount of passing yards last season. I need to see something before i trust him.
Honorable Mention Sitters without context: Ryan Tannehill, Tua Tagovailoa, and Matt Ryan.
Running Backs:
All running backs for the Eagles, Dolphins, Ravens, and Chiefs. There are just too many questions for each of these teams regarding playing time right now. If you have to start one, then go with each team’s “starter”, if you have no other options. If you have other options, go with a WR3 as a flex player in the stead.
Alvin Kamara: How will he respond to several things has me leary about him. While he did look good in limited action in preseason, Mark Ingram is back, he has a new head coach, and the O line may actually be a little worse than last year. If you can, a sit and wait approach is best. If not, expect the worst, hope for the best.
Najee Harris: New quarterback and offensive line is still probably not a huge, if at all, upgrade. Oh yeah, and now this lisfranc thing. He will have the touches so a 2 yard touchdown run could save his stats, but, he is another i would like to wait and see on. Like Kamara, you are not going to bench him either, just prepare yourself.
Wide Receivers:
Tyler Lockett and D. K. Metcalf: Geno Smith is their starting quarterback. Should i write anything more. No.
All Green Bay WRs: Lazard may be listed as number one, but this is definitely one that could play out 4 different ways where anyone could be the number one, or Rodgers spreads it around to all equally, but not in a good fantasy way. A wait and see approach is needed here.
Diontae Johnson: He is injured and he has a new starting QB. Not to mention, the team has other quality weapons at wide out and tight end. If he does start, i would not trust him having the numbers a number one wide receiver should have.
P. S. Do not start any Giants wide receivers either.
Tight Ends:
Mike Gesicki: Most reports out of Dolphins camp are that he is being used way more as a blocking tight end than previous years. Add that with the addition of Tyreek Hill, there is no way his numbers should come close to what he has had.
Chargers tight ends: While there is a stud quarterback and plenty of opportunities here, they usually do not fall with the tight end for Hebert, at least not consistently. Add to the fact that neither tight end has established himself much greater than the other, take a pass and see if either one pans out.
Cameron Brate: Brate is supposed to take over as Gronk retired, supposedly, but the team added Rudolph and Brate, well he is no Gronk. Here is the stat lines you could expect from Brate: 3 receptions for 5 yards and 2 touchdowns or 1 reception for 15 yards. There will be no consistency here. No thanks.
Defense:
Steelers. This defense has the potential to be good, possibly better than last year, but until they prove they can stop the run and the skills of an elite quarterback, I would pass on any high expectations from them for week one against the Bengals.
Chiefs/Cardinals and Raiders/Chargers: Both games have potential shoot-out written all over them.
Dolphins. This has nothing to do with the Patriots players; it has everything to do with Bill Belichick. He has had all off-season, all pre-season, and now 2 weeks to prepare for week one, the Dolphins. I think the Dolphins D will be good this year, but when Bill has two weeks to prepare against you, somehow, one becomes not as good as they are, or at least not as good as they think they are.