NFL football is back; and with it, fantasy football. To keep you covered week in and week out, The League Winners are here to help you with any start or sit questions you have. Spending the week agonizing over who to start in your flex? All these questions and more will be answered for you each and every week here.
With that, five of our Leauge Winner’s staff will provide one sit, and one start option every week. Let us handle the tough questions!
Let’s get right to it and see who belongs in your fantasy football lineups; and who should be riding the bench.
Starts
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR – Kansas City Chiefs (Thomas Christopher)
JuJu Smith-Schuster went from a broken Ben Roethlisberger to one of the best QBs in the NFL in Patrick Mahomes. With Travis Kelce another year older, someone on the offense needs to take a step up. In what could potentially be a shootout aginst the Cardinals, I’m predicting JuJu will lead the WR group in targets and overall performance. He should safely be put in your fantasy football lineups.
Marquise Brown, WR – Arizona Cardinals (Harry Prskalo)
Hollywood is once again reunited with Kyler Murray, his college QB. The Arizona offense is full injuries and suspensions, leaving Marquise Brown as one of the only meaningful players left available for fantasy football managers. Against the Chiefs, this game will likely be a shootout. Look for Hollywood to be all over the field and consume a monster target share.
Courtland Sutton, WR – Denver Broncos (Aaron St. Denis)
Russell Wilson starts the year off with a revenge game against his old team. Russ goes from a run-first offense to a team that is likely to chuck the ball all over the field. The Broncos figure to let Russ Cook and his favorite ingredient is sure to be Courtland Sutton. Start Sutton confidently as a high end WR2 as watch the Broncos dismantle the Seahawks.
Elijah Mitchell, RB – San Francisco 49ers (Jeremy Shulman)
Many seem concerned about Mitchell’s lead dog status heading into the season; especially since Kyle Shanahan has had a different leading rusher for five years straight. I’m not too concerned about that, but I’m even less concerned about his workload in Week 1 against the lowly Chicago Bears. Eli should roll this week. Start Elijah Mitchell with confidence.
Michael Carter, RB – New York Jets (Sheldon Hand)
Joe Flacco returns to face his old team the Baltimore Ravens. I expect the Ravens to get up early and stay ahead. This means plenty of passing opportunities for the Jets. Flacco is a statue in the pocket, meaning he will be looking to check down often. Michael Carter is too talented to be in just a backup role. The preseason reports have been in favor of Carter seeing a significant role. Now, do I believe Carter will lead the Jets backfield? No, but I do believe he will be utilized as the pass-catching back! That’s valuable when your QB can’t move and you’re playing from behind. I am starting Carter with confidence knowing he will have a safe floor in PPR leagues, but hoping for a repeat of Week 8 last year.
Sits
Drake London, WR – Atlanta Flacons (Thomas Christopher)
Drake London was the first WR taken in the 2022 NFL Draft, but I expect him to have a slow start this season. After leaving his first preseason game early, London has yet to participate on the practice field. Those reps are important, and the rust could be real for the rookie. I think London has plenty of opportunity this season, but for fantasy football, I’m keeping him out of my lineups in Week 1.
Breece Hall, RB – New York Jets (Harry Prskalo)
I’m avoiding Breece Hall in all formats this week. He’s listed as the RB2 on the depth chart, and will split carries with the aforementioned Michael Carter more often than not in Week 1. On top of that, his OL is beat up and facing a tough front seven against a Ravens defense with something to prove. I’m avoiding Hall in fantasy football until he can prove it’s his backfield to dominate.
Michael Thomas, WR – New Orleans Saints (Aaron St. Denis)
Michael Thomas is now two years removed from his fantasy football WR1 overall season. He’s now faced with the task of transitioning from the Hall of Fame duo of Brees & Payton to the lackluster duo of Winston & Allen. Add in the fact that he has been nursing a hamstring injury all preseason and faces an increase in target competition from Landry and Olave, and Thomas is someone I would prefer to leave on my bench wherever I can. He is a boom or bust desperation flex.
David Montgomery, RB – Chicago Bears (Jeremy Shulman)
Though I’m bullish on Elijah Mitchell this week, I’m bearish on Chicago’s RB1. David Montgomery has a tough task this season running behind one of the league’s worst offensive lines for a team projected to have a bottom-tier offense. Against the daunting 49ers front seven, I’m looking elsewhere in my fantasy football lineup if I can in Week 1.
Rashod Bateman, WR – Baltimore Ravens (Sheldon Hand)
Ironically, I am sticking with the same game here and telling you to sit Sophomore WR Rashod Bateman. I do expect the Ravens to control this game, but it won’t be with the help of their new WR1. Rookie CB Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner has never allowed a touchdown against him during his college career. You better believe that he will be locked onto Bateman all game, causing issues for Bateman. If you can, I’d pivot away from this matchup and find a safer option.
