Week One FATstats Fantasy Starts/Sits
The FATstats team give their week one starts and sits for each position

Finally, the 2018 NFL season is here! Fantasy football drafts are wrapped up and daily fantasy leagues will be in full effect (although I know people have been dabbling in DFS since preseason). Now, fantasy football players need to make the right moves each week not only on the waivers but in your starting line-ups. Each week all five members of the FATstats crew will pick their preferred weekly starts and sits for QB, WR, RB, TE, FLEX and D/ST. Note: for the WR, RB and TE positions we are assuming half PPR (points-per-reception).
At the end of each week, the team will evaluate to see which member’s starting line-up had the most points and which sits were most accurate.
Week 1
Quarterback Starts
Alec: Andy Dalton (CIN) @ IND
- The Colts secondary is God awful. This is probably the first and last time I say start Dalton but I think he’ll have a big game vs this horrible secondary.
Austin (AP): Deshaun Watson (HOU) @ NE
- I think Deshaun has a repeat of last years performance against the Patriots.
Mike (Papa): Marcus Mariota (TEN) @ MIA
- Last time Mariota played the Dolphins, he erupted for four touchdowns. Titans will finally open up the playbook and have an offense living in the current year.
Keith (Fick): Matthew Stafford (DET) vs. NYJ
- Stafford is playing the Jets who i can’t name a defensive player for and they are starting a rookie QB. Matthew will have good field position all game.
Bobby: Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) @ CLE
- Regardless if Bell plays, I see a similar game to last years against CLE in week 1 where Big Ben threw the ball 36 times after the Steelers only put up 35 rushing yards. CLE ranked fourth worst in fantasy points allowed to QBs in 2017 so, although Bell or Conner will get carries, I see Ben airing it out.
Quarterback Sits
Alec: Jimmy Garoppolo (SF) @ MIN
- Jimmy G is gonna have a rough day vs the Vikings D
Austin (AP): Jimmy Garoppolo (SF) @ MIN
- Jimmy is sexy but the Vikings defense is sexier.
Mike (Papa): Jimmy Garoppolo (SF) @ MIN
- Everyone wants to see what Jimmy can do in his first full season as a starter. But it is going to get off to a rocky start against a really good Vikings defense.
Keith (Fick): Drew Brees (NO) vs. TB
- Averaged less than 15 points against Tampa last year
Bobby: Jimmy Garoppolo (SF) @ MIN
- Vikings defense is no joke. They allowed the second fewest passing yards per game in 2017 and they’re playing at home. They were number one in TD passes allowed with 13. I wouldn’t feel comfortable starting Jimmy G at all.
Wide Receiver Starts
Alec: Michael Thomas (NO) vs TB
- Michael Thomas will go off this game. No one on the Bucs will be able to stop him.
Austin (AP): DeAndre Hopkins (HOU) @ NE
- The Patriots lost a lot of secondary talent. Also, it’s DHop.
Mike (Papa): T.Y. Hilton (IND) vs CIN
- This man has missed his best friend Mr. Luck. The two get to be on the same field again for the first time in too long. Expect him to be targeted heavily.
Keith (Fick): Antonio Brown (PIT) @ CLE
- He is the man and now that LeVeon may not play. He’s going to EAT.
Bobby: Allen Robinson (CHI) @ GB
- The Packers have a chance to be a solid defense this year. Allen Robinson as a start is more of a reflection of Rodgers being back and putting up points. Trubisky will have to throw the ball. Robinson has had a very quiet offseason — he won’t after week 1.
Wide Receiver Sits
Alec: Mike Evans (TB) @ NO
- Fitzpatrick is playing QB and Evans is going up against Lattimore.
Austin (AP): Golden Tate (DET) vs. NYJ
- I’m not sure why, but something makes me iffy about Tate this season. With the emergence of Golladay and Jones Jr, I think the lions are gonna find a way to not pay Tate again.
Mike (Papa): Sammy Watkins (KC) @ LAC
- Let’s hamper expectations for Watkins this week with a tough match-up vs. the Chargers.
Keith (Fick): Keenan Allen (LAC) vs. KC
- Allen had less than 9 points each game last year against KC
Bobby: Brandin Cooks (LAR) @ OAK
- I’m not a believe in Cooks on the Rams offense for the entire season. Regardless, the Rams offense will give him opportunity. But not the amount you’d like to make Cooks relevant in week 1 verse the Raiders. Rams will have early offensive success verse a poor Raiders defense and game script will hurt Cooks chances to see targets.
Running Back Starts
Alec: Todd Gurley (LAR) @ OAK
- Todd is gonna run wild vs the Raiders D. I also think he scores twice.
Austin (AP): Joe Mixon (CIN) @ IND
- If he’s gonna breakout this season, he’s gonna begin breaking out against the Colts defense.
Mike (Papa): Todd Gurley (LAR) @ OAK
- Raiders aren’t stopping this guy. Todd is going to have a field day.
Keith (Fick): Alvin Kamara (NO) vs. TB
- Last year Kamara averaged over 28 points in his 2 games against Tampa…need i say more?
Bobby: Rex Burkhead (NE) vs. HOU
- The Patriots have Gronk and Hogan. That’s it. They will need to use their RBs and with Sony limited I believe Rex gets majority of the work. If the Texans played like they did last year verse the Pats, this could be a pass heavy affair in favor of New England’s RBs.
Running Back Sits
Alec: LeSean McCoy (BUF) @ BAL
- The Bills will be down early and will need to pass the ball all game.
Austin (AP): LeSean McCoy (BUF) @ BAL
- See Baltimore Ravens D/ST Start.
Mike (Papa): Le’Veon Bell (PIT) @ CLE
- This man is not playing. So its that simple, SIT.
Keith (Fick): Steelers Backfield (PIT) @ CLE
- Who knows who is starting and the Browns boast a serious run d.
Bobby: Jordan Howard (CHI) @ GB
- Packers defense is improved but that’s not why I have Howard listed as a sit. Rodgers is back and will be putting up points evident by his four TD performance against the Bears in 2017. I think game script leaves Howard limited as the Bears play catch-up.
Tight End Starts
Alec: Greg Olsen (CAR) vs. DAL
- Cam is going to look for Olsen early in often in this one.
Austin (AP): Delanie Walker (TEN) @ MIA
- Dolphins and TEs don’t bode well.
Mike (Papa): Rob Gronkowski (NE) vs. HOU
- No Edelman to steal some targets and it’s Gronk.
Keith (Fick): Jack Doyle (IND) vs. CIN
- Luck will look for his security blanket often.
Bobby: Zach Ertz (PHI) vs. ATL
- With Nick Foles starting tomorrow night verse the Falcons, I expect a large target share to Ertz. Nick Foles targeted Ertz 48 times in the last six games of the 2017 season (including the playoffs).
Tight End Sits
Alec: Trey Burton (CHI) @ GB
- I think Burton has a quiet game in his debut with the Bears.
Austin (AP): Jimmy Graham (GB) vs. CHI
- I think the Bears have a defense that shouldn’t be sneezed at.
Mike (Papa): Evan Engram (NYG) vs. JAC
- Giants have Odell back plus the addition of Saquads. Engram will get some targets but it will be interesting to see how many against a really good defense in Jacksonville.
Keith (Fick): O.J. Howard (TB) @ NO
- Bucs aren’t good and Howard is eh. Plus, Fitzpatrick does not
Bobby: David Njoku (CLE) vs. PIT
- The Steelers were the 4th best team against the TE in fantasy points allowed in 2017. Out of 16 games last season, TEs scored over over 9 points only five times. Although I do expect the Browns to have to throw the ball to keep up, I see Landry, Duke, Gordon and even Callaway receiving the majority of those targets.
FLEX Starts
Alec: Kenny Golladay (DET) vs. NYJ
- Golladay will score a 40+ yard TD.
Austin (AP): Dion Lewis (TEN) @ MIA
- Dolphins and scat backs don’t bode well.
Mike (Papa): Cooper Kupp (LAR) @ OAK
- Lets just rip the Raiders defense right here. Kupp is going to receive many targets in an offense that will have a lot of yards.
Keith (Fick): Jordy Nelson (OAK) vs. LAR
- First game in black and silver, I see Jordy having a nice day
Bobby: James White (NE) vs. HOU
- Sony Michel is still limited at practice. Rex will get the start but White will be very much involved in a passing offense with limited weapons versus a team that will score. The Texans scored 33 points and gained over 400 yards of total offense last year in Foxborough.
FLEX Sits
Alec: Sammy Watkins (KC) @ LAC
- The Chargers D will give Mahomes trouble in this one which means Sammy will have a quite game.
Austin (AP): Mike Wallace (PHI) vs. ATL
- I don’t see in Nick Foles what I saw in him during the Super Bowl.
Mike (Papa): Kelvin Benjamin (BUF) @ BAL
- Tough match-up with the Ravens on a not so good offense.
Keith (Fick): Danny Amendola (MIA) vs. TEN
- Probably will get hurt in the game and miss time. He’s getting old and Brady made him better than he is.
Bobby: Marquise Goodwin (SF) @ MIN
- Vikings defense is no joke. They allowed the second fewest passing yards per game in 2017 and they’re playing at home. Jimmy G will have to throw it but I believe the Breida and Garcon will be the only relevant pieces in this game.
D/ST Starts
Alec: Baltimore Ravens (BAL) vs. BUF
- Peterman is starting for the Bills. That is all you need to know.
Austin (AP): Baltimore Ravens (BAL) vs. BUF
- Nathan Peterman is starting as QB. Sounds like a bloodbath in the making.
Mike (Papa): New Orleans Saints (NO) vs. TB
- The Bucs don’t have their starting QB verse a good Saints defense.
Keith (Fick): Detroit Lions (DET) vs. NYJ
- Going against a rookie QB.
Bobby: Baltimore Ravens (BAL) vs. BUF
- Nathan Peterman.
D/ST Sits
Alec: Chicago Bears (CHI) @ GB
- Aaron Rodgers is back.
Austin (AP): New England Patriots (NE) vs. HOU
- See Deshaun Watson and Deandre Hopkins.
Mike (Papa): New England Patriots (NE) vs. HOU
- Last year these two teams combined for 69 points. I expect another high scoring game.
Keith (Fick): Oakland Raiders (OAK) vs. LAR
- They lost their man beast
Bobby: Houstin Texans (HOU) @ NE
- Not much to be said here. Despite the lack of offensive weapons the Pats have, Tom Brady will produce and force the Texans offense to play catch-up on the road.
