Fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em: Lions QB Jared Goff poised to shine in Week 1 and more

The 2023 NFL season is finally upon us, and there are several intriguing games to follow for fantasy purposes. Week 1 might seem like the easiest time to set your lineup, as you'll likely start players based on the draft capital that has been invested in them. However, some matchups are more promising than others.

Here are 10 players to consider starting or sitting in PPR scoring formats for Week 1. 

Start ‘em

Jared Goff, Detroit Lions quarterback

Lions at Chiefs | 8:20 p.m. ET Thursday

With the recent news that Kansas City could be without tight end Travis Kelce and likely won't have defensive tackle Chris Jones, a Lions victory might not seem like such an upset anymore. Regardless, despite Kelce's injury, would it really be surprising if quarterback Patrick Mahomes still leads the Chiefs on multiple scoring drives? Detroit’s offense must score early and often, which it is more than equipped to do.

The total has moved down since the Kelce news broke, though it's still projected to be the highest-scoring game of the week (52.5 points), which is exactly the type of matchup we want to target for fantasy purposes. Kansas City presented an advantageous matchup for Goff long before Jones started holding out for a new contract. K.C. allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks last season (19.5). There's no need to overthink it — Goff will deliver on Thursday. 

J.K. Dobbins, Baltimore Ravens running back

Texans at Ravens | 1 p.m. ET Sunday

Fully healthy and entering a contract year, Dobbins appears poised for a strong bounce-back season and is well-positioned to start off on the right foot against Houston. No team allowed more rushing yards (2,411) or fantasy points (450.8) to opposing running backs last season than the Texans. While Houston improved on that side of the ball, it's still not an encouraging sign when having to face a team that has rushed for more yards than anyone since 2018.

Still, this is an ideal situation for Dobbins, who should benefit from a positive game script given that Baltimore is the heaviest favorite on this week's slate (-10). The Ravens will likely lean on their rushing attack during the second half, paving the way for Dobbins to have a productive day on the ground and hopefully find the end zone. 

Drake London, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver

Panthers at Falcons | 1 p.m. ET Sunday

On the surface, the 22-year-old doesn't appear to be a trustworthy flex option this week. After all, the game's implied point total stands at 39.5, and the Falcons are a run-heavy offense with an unproven commodity at quarterback in 2022 third-rounder Desmond Ridder. Nevertheless, with the combination of talent and opportunity that London, a first-round pick in last year's draft, has, he should be a staple in fantasy lineups. 

London is the unquestioned top receiving threat for Atlanta and facing a Carolina secondary that allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to wide receivers last season (405.30). The jury's still out on Ridder, though his small sample size is encouraging for London's fantasy prospects. In four games together, London recorded 25 receptions for 333 yards while averaging nine targets per game, and during that span, he was the WR18 overall. 

Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams tight end

Rams at Seahawks | 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday

Considering Seattle allowed the most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends last season (11.5), Higbee was looking at a favorable matchup from the moment the schedule was released. In light of recent events that have taken place at Rams camp, Higbee has the potential to be the TE1 overall this week, even if his name doesn't instill much confidence.

Star wideout Cooper Kupp is expected to be out after suffering a setback pertaining to his hamstring injury, and we saw last season just how well Higbee can thrive without the Super Bowl LVI MVP in the lineup. Additionally, quarterback Matthew Stafford's wife admitted that he's having trouble building a rapport with the team's young receivers. This leaves Higbee as the presumed top option in the Los Angeles passing game and potentially the difference-maker in your fantasy matchup.

Jahan Dotson, Washington Commanders wide receiver

Cardinals at Commanders | 1 p.m. ET Sunday

Washington wideout Terry McLaurin could miss Week 1 with turf toe, which would benefit Dotson's fantasy outlook. However, since he will be playing against what is expected to be the worst team in the NFL, Dotson, a potential breakout candidate this season, has enough standalone value to warrant a start even if McLaurin is available.

If the preseason was any indication, Dotson could be more of a co-No.1 receiver rather than Washington's second option. Across two exhibition games, second-year quarterback Sam Howell threw to his draft classmate Dotson nine times, while McLaurin was targeted four times. Dotson should be a fine WR3 in any given week, although he may not have as much upside as he does against Arizona. 

Sit ‘em

Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets quarterback 

Bills at Jets | 8:15 p.m. ET Monday

The most hyped game of the opening week could be a thriller, but Rodgers probably won't put up the prolific fantasy output we've grown accustomed to over the years. Lost in the hoopla over Rodgers' arrival, some are selectively ignoring the fact he's coming off the worst season of his career. He may be a future Hall of Famer, but he's 39, and Buffalo was the third-most difficult matchup for opposing quarterbacks last season, allowing 13.4 fantasy points per game to the position.

It's worth noting that Buffalo will be undermanned on the defensive side of the ball as OLB Von Miller is unavailable, and safety Micah Hyde could be out with a back injury. Even so, while Buffalo's pass rush isn't overly impressive without Miller, New York's offensive line is a step back from the unit Rodgers played behind in Green Bay. Rodgers will have his streamable weeks, though a divisional game with such high expectations screams letdown.

Jamaal Williams, New Orleans Saints running back

Titans at Saints | 1 p.m. ET Sunday

Although you probably drafted Williams hoping he replicates some of his success from 2022 while Alvin Kamara serves his three-game suspension, last year's rushing touchdown leader could flop in his Saints debut. Tennessee allowed the third-fewest fantasy points (229.4) and second-fewest rushing touchdowns (six) to opposing running backs in 2022, which doesn't bode well for someone who made a name for himself by scoring one-yard touchdowns on a weekly basis. 

Despite the massive volume Williams will likely see, he's simply too inefficient and doesn't catch nearly enough passes to trust against such a formidable run defense. As Pro Football Network's Jason Katz notes, Williams only created 1.41 yards per touch last season, which ranked outside the top 50 running backs. Underdog Fantasy seems to believe Williams will underwhelm, setting his rushing total at 50.5 yards, which won't yield enough fantasy points to win your matchup without scoring a touchdown. 

Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts wide receiver 

Jaguars at Colts | 1 p.m. Sunday

Who knows, Anthony Richardson could become an elite quarterback someday, but chances are he won't rack up 300 yards and three touchdowns during his NFL debut or anything close to it, for that matter. What we do know about Richardson is that he's not all that accurate, completing just 53.8% of his passes last season, and he has exceptional rushing upside. 

Neither of those factors makes Pittman a particularly appealing starter. Even though Pittman typically offers consistent production no matter his quarterback, he hasn't shown the upside to have week-winning potential. Until Richardson shows he can support a wide receiver to true fantasy relevancy and we find out what Pittman's floor is now, it's best to leave any Colt outside of the rookie signal-caller on the bench. 

James Cook, Buffalo Bills running back

Bills at Jets | 8:15 p.m. ET Monday

There's plenty of excitement surrounding the 2022 second-rounder in fantasy this season as he'll assume the role of Buffalo's primary running back now that Devin Singletary is out of the picture. Yet, Cook still has his limitations as a player, and oddsmakers anticipate he won't have much impact in the season opener.

According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Cook's rushing total is set at just 44.5 yards. While he'll likely get a few fantasy points from receptions, the possibility that quarterback Josh Allen or running back Damien Harris steal a goal-line touchdown should not be overlooked. Cook will need to score a touchdown to truly be a viable starter, and unless that comes off a long run, it's difficult to imagine that happening, especially against this Jets defense.

Philadelphia Eagles running backs

Eagles at Patriots | 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday

The revamped Philadelphia RB room could produce several viable fantasy assets this season, though it will likely cause its fair share of headaches. With four talented runners, the Eagles are implementing a committee-based approach. Unless Boston Scott is playing the Giants, the situation is far too ambiguous to accurately predict which back will be the most effective each week.

On top of that, Philadelphia is going against one of the worst matchups for running backs, facing an improved Patriots defense that gave up the second-fewest fantasy points per game to the position last season (13.3).