Start Em’, Sit Em’: Fantasy Football Week 1

It’s finally Week 1, and that means the start of another fantasy season. Every week is its own battle, meaning you need every edge you can on your opponent. Here are some sleepers you should start and sit in Week 1 to come away with a victory in the opening week.

Start Em’: Omarion Hampton, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

It’s Omarion Hampton’s year to take charge of the Chargers backfield. Despite being 2025’s RB35, Hampton is primed for a big year. It all starts in Week 1, when he will face off against an abysmal Cardinals defense that allowed the eighth most rushing yards per game last season.

Not only did they stick with relatively the same front seven, but that group allowed the second most points to running backs in 2025. With LA being at home against a much weaker opponent, expect him to be heavily involved in the passing game early and pick up a ton of late-game carries in the second half. Hampton will certainly go way above his 15.9-point prediction.

Sit Em’: Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers 

No team allowed fewer fantasy points to quarterbacks last season than the Minnesota Vikings at 12.1. Unfortunately, that’s who Jordan Love will be kicking off his 2026 campaign against Sunday. 

With both left guard Aaron Banks and right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele questionable, missing either will mean the Vikings are frequently in the backfield. That’s also not taking into account the loss of Romeo Doubs to New England in the offseason and Josh Jacobs sitting on the commissioner’s exempt list. 

With an unproven running game and receiving core, Minnesota can pile the pressure onto Love. It won’t be pretty. While he may not turn the ball over multiple times, I wouldn’t expect Love to go over his 15.2-point line.

Start Em’: Jaxson Dart, QB, New York Giants 

Dallas’ defense is still terrible. The unit which allowed the third most yards and most points last season is relatively the same unit. Even with the addition of Caleb Downs, New York is primed for a big opening week on the offensive side of the ball.

Jaxson Dart saw success in Week 18 last season in his lone start against the Cowboys, posting 20.4 points without either Cam Skattebo or Malik Nabers by his side. With both fully healthy, he’ll have a plethora of weapons to utilize. With Dallas allowing a league-worst 23.9 points per game to quarterbacks, Dart will surely shoot way over his already high 21.7-point line.

Sit Em’: Quinshon Judkins, RB, Cleveland Browns 

The Browns offense will need to rely heavily on Quinshon Judkins if they hope to move the ball, and that will be his downfall. Cleveland has no good option at the quarterback position, forcing them to try and move the ball on the ground.

That certainly won’t work in Week 1, when they face the NFL’s number one rushing defense from 2025 on the road in Jacksonville against the Jaguars. With the Jaguars’ ability to load the box with no worry that Deshaun Watson can burn them over the top, Judkins will be under heavy fire all day. Projections already have him at a low 10.8 points, but he’ll do even worse than that.

Start Em’: Luther Burden III, WR, Chicago Bears 

The Bears have the utmost confidence in their second-year wide receiver Luther Burden III, and that will be on full display in Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers. Even though their passing defense is strong, allowing the 14th fewest passing yards and 24th most fantasy points to receivers, Ben Johnson will rely on his new slot receiver all day long.

Burden III was one of my highest draft day risers in fantasy, and I’m expecting an Amon-Ra St. Brown type of season from him. The former Missouri Tiger last season earned more and more of Johnson’s trust as the season went on, recording 481 of his 652 yards after the start of November. 

With Rome Odunze’s health still in question, there is no doubt Burden III will be Caleb Williams’ number one option and shoot way above his 13.1-point projection.

Sit Em’: Rashee Rice, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

Even with Patrick Mahomes back from his torn ACL, Rashee Rice will face a tough task in Week 1, lined up opposite of Patrick Surtain II. With Mahomes recovering, I’d expect the Chiefs to lean heavier on the running game, looking to take pressure off the former MVP.

Combining that with the Broncos boasting the seventh-best pass defense last season and fourth-best against wide receivers in fantasy, it’s a bad combo for Rice’s first game. Even at his low 12.9-point projection, I’d steer clear of putting Rice in your lineup this week.