Fantasy Football Week 1 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em

The 2023 NFL season is here! And though it might have snuck up on you, it's time to set your fantasy rosters for Week 1. We're here to give you advice on how to set those lineups and start your season on the right track, 1-0!

Like any good Start 'Em, Sit 'Em article, I am not here to tell you to start Patrick Mahomes, Christian McCaffrey or Justin Jefferson. If you have those players on your roster, you're obviously starting them no matter the opponent and likely, even if they are only operating at about 50 percent of their potential.

Instead, I will look at the players who you may be scratching your head on what to do with. As a fantasy player for well over two decades, I feel that Week 1 is always the toughest week to set those lineups because there are many questions and much of what we have, we have never seen because of new teams, new coaches, not enough being show in preseason, etc.

So I'm going to give this my best shot and I'll be here each week to do this. However, I am trying to help steer you to your fantasy championship so hopefully, it's a good ride.

Fantasy Football Week 1 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Quarterbacks

Start: Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings (vs. Tampa Bay)

If you weren't able to get one of the top QBs in your draft (Mahomes, Hurts, Allen, Burrow), Kirk Cousins is a guy I like across the season, and that includes Week 1.

The Vikings are a team that could be throwing the ball around a lot after having moving on from Dalvin Cook during the offseason. And any QB that has Justin Jefferson to target in the passing game has a chance to put up big numbers.

But it's more than that, Cousins also has T.J. Hockenson and first-round pick Jordan Addison, so this Vikings offense could push defenses around this year. At home against Tampa Bay, one of the worst teams in the NFC (at least on paper), this is a saucy matchup.

Start: Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (at New York Giants)

This is a road game on Sunday Night Football, but Dak Prescott will have his full complement of offensive weapons in this one and should have the green light to toss the ball around a lot.

Dak is likely outside the top 10 in most rankings lists this week but he stands to have a big game to start the season.

Sit: Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts (vs. Jacksonville)

Your options would have to be pretty bad if you are considering starting the rookie who was drafted No. 4 overall this year, but Anthony Richardson has to be on your bench in this one.

He is overflowing with athletic ability, but it seems the adjustment to the pro game is going to take him some time. He could get knocked around in this one.

Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (at Chicago Bears)

I am higher on J. Love overall more than most, but this is not an ideal way to kick off his tenure as the successor to Aaron Rodgers.

It's on the road in the Windy City and the Bears always have an above-average defense. Throw in the fact that wide receivers Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs could be slowed by injuries and this is a player I stay away from.

Sleeper Alert: Sam Howell, Washington Commanders (vs. Arizona)

I'm usually not a proponent of starting a quarterback in his first official start in that system, but if your options are slim, Sam Howell could be sneaky against a really bad Arizona team.

Howell has been given the keys in Washington and his preseason was highly encouraging. This could be a good Week 1 move.

Bust Alert: Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals (at Cleveland)

It's hard to put Joe Burrow here and I am only benching him if I have another above-average option, but we might need to temper Week 1 expectations as a road trip to Cleveland may not be the best place for him to start the season, especially since he had an injury scare early in training camp this preseason.

Burrow is a total pro, but it could still take some time for him to get in the groove.