Good morning everyone and we are almost 24 hours away from kickoff! Among the weekly contributions I will be making will be a Saturday morning Start 'em/ Sit 'em list for Fantasy Football players. I do not fancy myself as a Fantasy Football god, but I have enough time on my hands to say that I am comfortable give you, my AP friends, solid advice on a weekly basis. So with the always crazy Week 1 upon us, let's see who should be in and out of your lineup!
First off, I am a firm believer that you MUST start your stud players every week. So if you are looking for Tom Brady's name here you will not find it. Unless specifically mentioned, always start your "stud" players:
First, because this is why we are here, the Kansas City Chiefs players:
Start 'em:
Jamaal Charles: (here will be the exception to the stud rule as Chiefs players will always be mentioned. By my projections he will have the best day of any RB in the league.
Dwayne Bowe: I do not have him in my top 10 this week, but you must start him because he is obviously going to be targeted as many times as Cassel can find him. I expect a big game here too.
KC Defense: Good value here for a D you may not start often. Should pick up a few sacks and INTs without a doubt.
Ryan Succop: Start him every week unless you have a domed kicker on your squad as well. I would go with them always.
Sit' em:
Everyone else. Chances are you have a QB better than Cassel on your roster (fantasy-wise). Stick with them this week. In deeper leagues, Dexter McCluster may warrant a flex spot, but I am advising to wait a week to see how he is used in a regular season game.
Around the League:
Start 'em:
Josh Freeman (TB): I am not one of those who worships at the altar of Freeman, but a very favorable matchup for him in the secondary and his legs should get him some points as well.
Eli Manning (NYG): Great spot for Eli here. Lots of ?'s on the Washington defense and I think he will have a very good day through the air.
Frank Gore (SF): Maybe this is obvious to you, but Gore's contract issues had a lot of people down on him. I have him rated higher for this week than Adrian Peterson and I think he will run circles around Seattle's D.
DeAngelo Williams (CAR): Will Cam Newton be leaned on to drive the offense? Probably not, leading to Williams having a solid opening week against Arizona.
Brandon Marshall (MIA): Despite all of his troubles, Marshall has a good matchup this week against a suspect New England secondary. I am one of the few who thinks Henne is the guy who can get it done in Miami and expect Marshall to get in the end zone at least once.
Santonio Holmes (NYJ): I hate the New York Jets and I think the Cowboys are a team that will be excellent this year. With that said, too many issues in the secondary for Dallas to stop Holmes, who will be Matt Sanchez's favorite target Sunday night.
Aaron Hernandez (NE): He is listed as the #2 TE in New England, but he gets a ton of touches up and down the field. I love him in this spot and I think a good Miami D will be tested by the spread and two-TE sets the Pats will be hammering down their throats.
Lance Kendricks (STL): Remember how Danny Amendola was a favorite target of Sam Bradford last year? Enter version 2.0 in Lance Kendricks. By the end of this season, Kendricks will be considered a top 5 TE and will give the Eagles a handful.
Neil Rackers (HOU): Briefly, Houston plays 12 of its 16 games indoors. They are poised to make the move to division champion and Rackers is a must start in most spots.
San Francisco Defense: Briefly, two words: Tarvaris Jackson.
Sit 'em:
Kerry Collins (IND): Please don't get cute and overthink this. Just because he has the same weapons, please do not mistake graybeard for anything but a desparation move because Curtis Painter is not an NFL QB.
Donovan McNabb (MIN): Yikes. As much as we all hate the Chargers, I actually feel bad for McNabb here. If he has time to throw the ball, he may complete a few. If... he has time.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis / Danny Woodhead (NE): This is going to be an aerial attack Monday and these two could get some points from receptions, but I do not expect them to do a lot of damage on the ground.
Reggie Bush / Daniel Thomas (MIA): Same game, same theme. New England will stack the box and force Henne to beat them. Bad news for the duo, especially if Thomas is unable to play.
Jacoby Ford (OAK): Trendy fantasy pick this year. There will be weeks where he merits a start, but I think the Denver defense is poised to make a statement much like we did in Week 1 last season.
Braylon Edwards / Michael Crabtree (SF): Decent matchup, but I think we all need to see version 5.0 of Alex Smith before we have any confidence in this talented recieving corps.
Jermaine Gresham (CIN): Once a fantasy stalwart, he will suffer due to Andy Dalton this season and it begins with an underrated Browns defense shutting him down.
Tony Gonzalez (ATL): Ahh Tony, thanks for the memories. Chicago is going to limit you to a 3 catch 26 yard day. (if this is right, I will have impressed myself)
Rian Lindell (BUF): You need to get down the field for your kicker to have a chance. Sorry Rian. Too much uncertainty on the offensive end for Buffalo for me to like him.
Dallas Cowboys Defense: I could have put Cincy, but I am putting a good defense here because despite Rob Ryan's presence, they have not yet mastered the system and I think there will be some confusion and a very difficult crowd to be working against Sunday night. I think the offenses steal the show in this one.
Well there you have Week 1's Start 'em/Sit 'em. I'll be back tomorrow morning to give you the Closin Line and provide you with any advice you may need in the gambling/fantasy world.
If you have specific player questions, please post them in the thread and I will get to them!