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.

Fantasy Football Week 1 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Running Backs

Start: Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos (vs. Las Vegas)

Many fantasy players were likely scared away by Javonte Williams' torn ACL last season and that allowed him to drop to you in your draft. Plug him into your lineup here.

The Broncos are going to pound the rock this season under Sean Payton and Williams, though it was a small sample size, looked fabulous in the preseason.

Start: Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions (at Kansas City)

We talked about this here, and Jahmyr Gibbs could be a great option for the Lions in this game, particularly as a receiver out of the backfield.

You would figure the Lions to have to keep up with the high-octane Chiefs and Gibbs should see plenty of snaps in this game despite being a rookie. In fact, several Lions' offensive players could have a big opening night.

Sit: Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at Minnesota)

You'll get the idea that I'm not very high on the Bucs in Week 1 and I could see this one getting out of hand. Rachaad White is the No. 1 guy in the Tampa backfield now but he will have to do a big turn to show something after how quiet he was last year.

Sit: Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans (at Baltimore)

A bad football team on the road against a defense notorious for being stingy? With a rookie QB under center? I would want no part of Dameon Pierce this week.

Sleeper Alert: Raheem Mostert, Miami Dolphins (at Los Angeles Chargers)

With Jeff Wilson relegated to IR to start the season, Raheem Mostert will be the experienced veteran in the Miami backfield along with rookie Devon Achane

If you watched the Dolphins play last season, this team ran the ball very, very well. It didn't seem to matter who the running back was. Mostert could be an interesting play this week.

Bust Alert: Ramondre Stevenson, New England Patriots (vs. Philaldelphia)

It's been hard to trust Patriots running backs with Bill Belichick there pretty much for as long as fantasy football has been a thing. Ramondre Stevenson could lose more carries to Ezekiel Elliott than anyone realizes and against what could be the best defense in the NFL, I'd lower my expectations this week.

Fantasy Football Week 1 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Wide Receivers

Start: D.J. Moore, Chicago Bears (vs. Green Bay)

Though he could draw a lot of Jaire Alexander, I think this is going to be the start of a great connection between D.J. Moore and Justin Fields.

We know what Fields is capable of as a playmaker and what he needed was a wide receiver who could enhance that. Moore is that and these two seem to have great chemistry already. I like Moore this week and across the season.

Start: Jahan Dotson, Washington Commanders (vs. Arizona)

Terry McLaurin is still the No.1 wide receiver in Washington but he may not be 100 percent for this game and Sam Howell seems to REALLY like Jahan Dotson. I think Dotson is a breakout star in 2023 and this will be the game that begins to launch that.

Sit: Marquise Brown, Arizona Cardinals (at Washington)

The Cardinals were deciding between Josh Dobbs and Clayton Tune as their starting QB. Doesn't that say it all?

Hollywood Brown is a talented player with elite speed, but he's going to have some painful games this season.

Sleeper Alert: Odell Beckham Jr., Baltimore Ravens (vs. Houston)

This was one of those massive upside candidates that were in the draft this year and if you rolled the dice on OBJ, you could start off with a bang.

Beckham has something to prove to the league and his doubters. He gets to start that trek against the Texans and he could put up a nice stat line in this game.

Fantasy Football Week 1 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Tight Ends

Start: Greg Dulcich, Denver Broncos (vs. Las Vegas)

Greg Dulcich had a sneaky good rookie season for the Broncos last year. Imagine what he might be capable of under a much more competent coaching staff.

Dulcich will be way down on the tight end list this week and could give your team a surprising lift.

Start: Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions (at Kansas City)

I know, I know, rookie tight ends never produce. But Sam LaPorta certainly seems like he can be different. While many people are expecting the Lions to be a team that is tough to deal with this year, there isn't much in the way of proven offense outside of Amon-Ra St. Brown.

LaPorta should see a ton of snaps as a rookie with the likes of Brock Wright and James Mitchell behind him on the depth chart, so Jared Goff should be looking his way often.

Now, I did recommend starting Gibbs in the NFL Kickoff Game, and I wouldn't start both he and LaPorta, unless you have poor options. But if you have one of them, start them with confidence.

Sit: Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints (vs. Tennessee)

The sun could be setting on Taysom Hill's run as a fun gadget player and he certainly seems to be out of the discussion as a tight end in fantasy formats. In fact, he shouldn't even be rostered outside the deepest of leagues.

Sleeper Alert: Noah Gray, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. Detroit)

You'll have to monitor the status of Travis Kelce before this game kicks off but if Kelce, a first-round pick in most fantasy drafts, can't go, I'd plug Noah Gray into my lineup in front of a lot of guys.

Gray has just 35 career receptions but if he takes the place of the best tight end in the league, even if it's just for one game, it's worth a shot.

Bust Alert: Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons (vs. Carolina)

Kyle Pitts is going to have to do a lot to prove himself back to fantasy owners and I would want to see it before he's in my starting lineup. He has Desmond Ridder throwing him the ball and with mouths to feed that include Drake London and rookie phenom Bijan Robinson, it could get a lot worse before it gets better.

Fantasy Football Week 1 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Defense/Special Teams

Start: Minnesota Vikings (vs. Tampa Bay)

The Vikings were the No. 28 overall defense last season and the team didn't do a lot to patch those holes this year. But against a Buccaneers team led by Baker Mayfield, I'm taking my shot here.

Also start: Baltimore Ravens (vs. Houston), Washington Commanders (vs. Arizona)

Sit: Los Angeles Chargers (vs. Miami)

The Chargers are at home, but the Dolphins are going to be a load to deal with this season. In what should be great weather, Tua Tagavailoa and company could go up and down the field against the Bolts this week.

There are certainly better options.

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

Start: Younghoe Koo, Atlanta Falcons (vs. Carolina)

In fantasy, I often prefer the guys who kick indoors, especially late in the season. Younghoe Koo, though outside the top 10 on most kickers ranking lists, has been fantastic for the Falcons.

This could be one of those games where there are more field goals kicked than touchdowns scored. Koo is a solid Week 1 option.

Sit: Jake Moody, San Francisco 49ers (at Pittsburgh)

The 49ers have to be wondering what they were thinking using a third-round pick on a kicker, especially when he came out and pretty much bombed in the preseason. They are also hoping that he turns it around and as a fantasy owner, that's all you can do.

But Moody should be left on benches or on waiver wires until he starts consistently making kicks. His regular-season debut comes in Pittsburgh, one of the hardest places to kick in the league.

Good luck.