The Fantasy Footballers’ “Starts of the Week” for Week 1
Hello #FootClan. It’s football time! Those are the magical words you have been waiting for all year. Football season is now upon us, and of course, The Fantasy Footballers podcast took a look at Week 1 starts.
Before jumping into starts, the guys touched on Mike’s Jonathan Taylor Thomas haircut and tuba players. They also focused on a new segment entitled “Taking It Up to 100!”. The Ballers concentrated on Jonathan Taylor, Boston Scott, and Antonio Gibson as players that could do just that — take it up to 100. Watch for these players to surprise positively. Taylor is a phenomenal talent with high upside. Scott should be productive with or without Miles Sanders being at 100%. Gibson is in a committee but has all the hype.
The players the Footballers would start this week with the utmost confidence were the podcast’s main course, which can be found here or on YouTube.
Andy’s Starts
QB: Matthew Stafford vs. Chicago Bears
Matthew Stafford is back and healthy, baby! Last year while playing at home, the Lions quarterback averaged 310 passing yards-per-game while also going for three touchdowns. Although Stafford did not play against Chicago in the previous season due to being injured, he finds himself in an ideal situation for fantasy purposes in this first game of 2020. Stafford has an abundance of weapons at his disposal, including wideouts Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones. The Lion’s run game is not anything to write home about, so Stafford should be hurling the ball a lot this week.
RB: Mark Ingram vs. Cleveland Browns
Will Mark Ingram always be underrated? For whatever reason, people do not look at Ingram as the hot commodity at running back, but starting him this week will be worthwhile. Andy does not care that JK Dobbins is there as he still believes Ingram can get those needed fantasy points. Running back Gus Edwards had 133 attempts last year, and Ingram was an efficient fantasy running back despite this. Do not overthink it here, and make sure to have him in your starting roster. The matchup is not an intimidating one, so Ingram is the perfect Week 1 start.
WR: Stefon Diggs vs. New York Jets
Say hello to Josh Allen‘s newest target, former Minnesota Viking Stefon Diggs. Diggs sees himself in a desirable situation with the Bills as 6.5 point favorites in this game. The team Diggs faces in Week 1 is a New York Jets team with a secondary in shambles. No more Jamal Adams in New York should bode well for the Allen to Diggs connection. The Bills’ coaching staff will want to get Diggs involved early, and the Allen passing attack will look different with a shiny new toy to catch the ball.
TE: Hunter Henry @ Cincinnati Bengals
A fun question brought up on the show was about who is the second wide receiver option with the Los Angeles Chargers. The answer comes in tight end form; Hunter Henry, to be exact. The Los Angeles depth chart is thin, so quarterback Tyrod Taylor will find Henry to be a reliable target. He is one of the only players worth targeting. The matchup this week is a soft one, so Henry will be able to eat. Someone needs to get the ball on the Chargers, and Henry is the person for the job. (Breaking news — Jason Moore has made the 53-man roster, but still start Henry.)
Getty Images Sport
Jason’s Starts
QB: Matt Ryan vs. Seattle Seahawks
2020 is an even year. Do you know what that means for Matt Ryan? Absolutely everything! That might be going a tad overboard, but Jason did bring up that Ryan is an outstanding quarterback in even years while not being great in odd years. Ryan will be throwing the ball for tons of yards this week while also playing at home. The Falcons will rely on the air more than the run game with Todd Gurley. That is good news because the 49 point over/under this week is one of the highest in this first week (think lots of air yards). With Jadeveon Clowney no longer a part of the Seahawks roster and the Atlanta offensive line helping out the Falcons QB, Ryan looks to be fantasy gold this week.
RB: James Conner at New York Giants
James Conner is healthy! I repeat, James Conner is healthy. A healthy Conner is who you want to start against the New York Giants this week. Jason notes that since Conner is healthy, he is “awesome at fantasy football.” The Steelers have an enticing matchup against the Giants this week, and Conner will have an excellent fantasy showing. Coach Mike Tomlin wants to use Conner as a three-down back, so the potential to have a big game is there.
WR: Tyler Lockett @ Atlanta Falcons
One player listed as Jason Moore “My Guy” is wide receiver Tyler Lockett. The Seahawks are favored on the road, playing opposite of Matt Ryan‘s Falcons. Quarterback Russell Wilson will have a fabulous Week 1, much in part due to the connection with Lockett. DK Metcalf was taken before Lockett in most fantasy drafts. Still, Lockett will be the wideout with the incredible fantasy numbers in the first week of the season. Fantastic value for the Seattle pass catcher.
TE: Eric Ebron @ New York Giants
There has been a lot of buzz about Eric Ebron during training camp, and that buzz should carry over into the Week 1 contest at New York. The Giants were not good at guarding the tight end last season, and they have not made any personnel changes involving guys who cover the tight end. Ebron will be a player used all over the field, and a healthy Ben Roethlisberger will make sure to get him the ball. He could come away with a touchdown and be a top-five at the position this week.
Mike’s Starts
QB: Josh Allen vs. New York Jets
Mike notes that the Jets’ secondary is in shambles, which will be advantageous for quarterback Josh Allen. Andy brought up starting Diggs this week, and it only fits that Mike brings up Allen. Allen will pepper his new wideout with targets, so remember to keep Allen in mind as a smash play. If the connection is there in game one of the season, your fantasy team will be in solid shape.
Getty Images / Icon Sportswire
RB: David Johnson at Kansas City Chiefs
Thursday night game alert! It is the first game of the season, and Mike knows getting a piece of that action is exciting. This week, he has Houston running back David Johnson locked in as a start. The matchup is juicy, with Houston nearly ten-point dogs. The Deshaun Watson targets have to go to someone besides “The Flying V” (aka Will Fuller), and Johnson is the ideal player for that.
WR: DeSean Jackson vs. Washington Football Team
DeSean Jackson should see plenty of Fabian Moreau in this game. This player has a low coverage grade, allowing an almost 80-percent reception rate on targets. If you’re looking for the ideal Eagles player to start this week, Jackson is your man. He is the number one wide receiver option in Philadelphia this week as the Eagles are hurting at that position. This is another smash play for the first week.
TE: Blake Jarwin at Los Angeles Rams
Surprise, surprise, Mike went with Blake Jarwin as his tight end start for the week. Jarwin is one of Mike’s “My Guys,” but that is not the only reason he suggests playing him in Week 1. The contest with the Rams should see loads of points going around, which implies Jarwin will have chances to eat. Amari Cooper should see Jalen Ramsey. Cooper often disappears when an elite player is covering him, so there is another positive for Jarwin. Troy Hill should be up against Michael Gallup, another problematic matchup for a Cowboys receiver. Keep an eye on the middle of the field as it should be open for Jarwin to do work.
And to leave you with — Jason Moore’s Iron-Clad Locked and Loaded 100% Guaranteed Boom Boom Kicker of the Week:
“Football’s back, baby! It’s time to kick some butts. For Week 1, you know you want the Saints’ Wil Lutz.”
Comments
I sat David Johnson for Keenan Allen per expert advice. David Johnson showed out 👀
James Connor or Todd gurley
Boston Scott cooper kupp or dj chark????
Any how is Stafford your start of the week and ranked 16…..like yeah definitely start him with confidence in that 3 qb league
robbie anderson or blake jarwin who do i start in my flex
jarwin or gesicki who do I start
I must have missed when the Bears defense suddenly became bad.
He has a lot of weapons, Golladay, Jones, Dola, Hock, James as well as kerryon and AP. Should be a good week for stafford