


This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.
To learn more about our privacy policy Click hereWeek 1 of the 2021 NFL season is here, and with it comes a new set of fantasy football lineup questions. Fortunately, SN NFL writer Vinnie Iyer is back for another season of "The Decider," a weekly start 'em, sit 'em advice column that will you help you get your lineups right. If you making lineup decisions for your drafted Roberto Clemente Jersey team(s) just isn't enough for you, we also haveDFS tips for those who want really want to drive themselves crazy deciding who to start when almost every player in the league is available.
It's tough to evaluate matchups and project usage in Week 1. Obviously, there's a lot we don't know, so the best we can do is make informed decisions based on a variety of factors (recent performance, offseason acquisitions, talent, historical coaching tendencies, etc.). For some players, especially committee backs, touches will be extremely difficult to project, so if po sible, avoid those situations all together.
WEEK 1 STANDARD RANKINGS: | | | | |
Most owners will simply opt to start the players they drafted first at each position. There's nothing wrong, but don't be afraid to play the matchups a little, especially if it's with aguy who's a safer bet for touches and targets.
WEEK 1 PPR RANKINGS: | | | | |
Fantasy Football Week 1 Start 'Em: QuarterbacksQB must-startsPatrick Mahomes, Chiefs (vs. CLE)Kyler Murray, Cardinals (at TEN)Lamar Jackson, Ravens ( Dario Agrazal Jersey at LV)Tom Brady, Buccaneers (vs. DAL)Aaron Rodgers, Packers (at NO in JAX)Josh Allen, Bills (vs.PIT)Dak Prescott, Cowboys (at TB)Ru sell Wilson, Seahawks (at IND)Stronger startsJalen Hurts, Eagles (at ATL). Hurts steps into a terrific opening matchup under new offensive-minded coach Nick Sirianni. He will find ways to do damage in the dome by air and by land.
Ryan Tannehill, Titans (vs. ARI). Tannehill isn't nece sarily an every-week play, but this feels like a high-scoring affair duel with Murray.
Matt Ryan, Falcons (vs. PHI). Ryan loves playing at home and will be looking for immediate succe s against his hometown team. The Eagles aren't well built to cover his top targets.
Kirk Cousins, Vikings (at CIN). Cousins should easily hit 250 yards and two TDs playing off the running game against a Bengals' defense that's improved in some areas but still weak on the backend.
Joe Burrow, Bengals (vs. MIN). A healthier Vikings' defense should get back to a more respectable level under Mike Zimmer, but not at first. Burrow should be busy throwing to his top trio of weapons to keep up with Cousins and his duo.
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars (at HOU). The Texans' defense in 2021 is a perfect way for a rookie No. 1 overall pick to get indoctrinated in the NFL. Lawrence should deliver a Jacob Stallings Jersey solid-to-spectacular debut with his arm and legs.
DFS bargainsBaker Mayfield, Browns (at KC, $7,100 on FanDuel, $5,900 on DraftKings). Mayfield is the most underrated fantasy QB going into the season and will deliver a solid game with the script opposite Mahomes calling for ample pa sing with a few big plays and multiple scores.
Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers (at DET, $6,900 on FanDuel, $5,500 on DraftKings). Trey Lance would be a cheap must-start here should San Francisco go with the rookie in the opener over Jimmy G., but regardle s, this a terrific road matchup for the visitors to light it up playing off the run.
Streamer specialTyrod Taylor, Texans (vs. JAX Richard Rodriguez Jersey ). This is Tayor-made for some garbage points with two stinky AFC South defenses on the field. He should throw often to counterLawrence andis good for some decent rushing production filling in for Deshaun Watson.
WEEK 1 FANTASY: |
Fantasy Football Week 1 Sit 'Em: QuarterbacksWeaker startsJustin Herbert, Chargers (at WAS). This is rough sophomore-opening trip against Chase Young and Washington's swarming defense, especially while trying to operate for the first time when it counts in a new offense.
Matthew Stafford, Rams (vs. CHI). Stafford has a up-and-down track record against the Bears' defense, and his prime-time stats are far from sublime. This also feels like a physical, lower-scoring Sunday night game with L.A. leaning on Sony Michel, Darrell Henderson, and the running game.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Washington (vs. LAC). Count on limited Fitzmagic in the opener, as Brandon Staley gets the Chargers' pa s defense to show plenty of active energy in his coaching debut.
Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins (at NE). Tua vs. Mac Jones will be a defensive slugfest instead of an Alabama celebration with Bill Belichick and Brian Flores scheming in the same AFC East matchup.
Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers (at BUF). Roethlisberger will open a rough and perhaps final season in Pittsburgh with big lumps against the Bills' pa s rush and back-seven Kevin Newman Jersey coverage.
Derek Carr, Raiders (vs. BAL). Keep the Carr parked as the Ravens' defense will cause him to fold Monday night in Vegas.
Zach Wilson, Jets (at CAR). He's making this list because soon he will be in consideration for deep-league streaming. His debut matchup is a little tougher than Lawrence's on the road against a defense with playmakers on every level.
Deep trapsJameis Winston, Saints (vs. GB in JAX). Winston has some thinking he can duplicate some of his high-TD, high-INT fantasy relevance of his 2019 season in Tampa Bay, but Green Bay's pa s defense is legitimate and New Orleans should want to attack heavily on the ground in aneutral-sitegame.
Carson Wentz, Colts (vs. SEA). He's been injured again. He's been on the COVID-19 list. He's going in rusty with his new team's offense with limited weapons. Despite some seemingly favorable numbers, don't take the bait here.
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Fantasy Football Week 1 Start 'Em: Running backsRB must-startsChristian McCaffrey, Panthers (vs. NYJ)Dalvin Cook, Vikings (at CIN)Alvin Kamara, Saints (vs. GB in JAX)Derrick Henry, Titans (vs. ARI)Antonio Gibson, Washington (vs. LAC)Nick Chubb, Browns (at KC)Aaron Jones, Packers (at NO in JAX)Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys (at TB)Saquon Barkley, Giants (vs. DEN)Najee Harris, Steelers (at BUF)Austin Ekeler, Chargers (at WAS)James Robinson, Jaguars (at HOU)Joe Mixon, Bengals (vs. MIN)Jonathan Taylor, Chris Stratton Jersey Colts (vs. SEA)Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs (vs. CLE)David Montgomery, Bears (at LAR)Chris Carson, Seahawks (at IND)Miles Sanders, Eagles (at ATL)Mike Davis, Falcons (vs. PHI)Kareem Hunt, Browns (at KC)Stronger startsRaheem Mostert and Trey Sermon, 49ers (at DET). San Francisco won't be giving up its committee for Kyle Shanahan early, but let's hope it w