Fantasy Football Week 1 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: Miles Sanders, Michael Thomas, More

Week 1 of the NFL season is finally here, which means it’s time to make some hard start and sit decisions for fantasy football. In many ways, this is the hardest week to set a lineup, as nobody can say with complete certainty how teams will use their players. Are injured veterans like Michael Thomas worth the risk, and will players with new homes like Miles Sanders hit the ground running?

Before we get started, a quick disclaimer: this should go without saying, but if you have Justin Jefferson or Travis Kelce, you’re going to start them. This article is strictly for flex-caliber players that are not auto-starts on a weekly basis.

Fantasy Football Week 1 Start/Sits

Quarterbacks

Start: Tua Tagovailoa

Injuries are always going to be a concern whenever you’re dealing with a player with a concussion history. However, as long as Tua Tagovailoa is on the field, he’s a safe bet to give you a mid- to low-end QB1 performance. On top of that, he has a favorable matchup against a strong Los Angeles Chargers team. Herbert and Tagovailoa should turn this game into a shootout, which means more yardage and fantasy football points for your team – if you have him, start him.

Sit: Anthony Richardson

Anthony Richardson is a freak athlete with the potential to be a game-breaking, league-winning force. However, for the time being, he’s far too risky to be a start for your fantasy football team. Even though he earned the Week 1 starting job, Richardson is a very raw prospect who will need some time to develop before he reaches his ceiling. Additionally, the Indianapolis Colts are not a good team and lack the talent required to carry a gifted but raw player like Richardson. Michael Pittman is the only proven receiver on the roster, the offensive line isn’t anything special, and this is one of the youngest rosters in the league. Richardson could be a great player in the second half of the year, but for now, you’re better off leaving him on the bench.

Running Backs

Start: James Conner

Having an Arizona Cardinals player start in your fantasy football lineup admittedly doesn’t feel good, but it’s something you have to do if you roster James Conner. Volume is king in fantasy football, and Conner has a clear path to a massive workload. Additionally, while Kyler Murray’s absence might be a bad thing for the real-life Arizona Cardinals, historically speaking, it’s a good thing for James Conner. The running back has been more efficient without Murray in the lineup to steal rushing opportunities. While the touchdowns might be few and far between, Conner will get enough carries and targets to justify a starting spot in your lineup.

Sit: Breece Hall

There was a brief period of time last year when Breece Hall was the RB1 overall on KeepTradeCut. While he still has the potential to get there, the fact of the matter is that his workload is too unreliable to trust. Hall is coming off a serious knee injury, and there is a very real chance that he begins the year playing second fiddle to Dalvin Cook. Hall will likely be a weekly start in fantasy football by the end of the year, but for now, you should leave him on your bench.

Start: Isiah Pacheco

After months of rumors regarding a new running back, the Kansas City Chiefs have decided to stand pat with Isiah Pacheco as their starting running back. The former seventh-round pick lacks the receiving upside to be a week-in, week-out start in fantasy football, but he’s a smart choice in the right matchup. Week 1 should provide Pacheco with plenty of scoring opportunities as the Chiefs face off against a strong Detroit Lions offense that (probably) won’t have to worry about Chris Jones. Look for Pacheco to find the endzone at least once during Thursday night’s contest.