🦃 BLACK FRIDAY - TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE THANKS
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

2013 Fantasy Football: Week 1 NFL Thursday Matchup & Sit/Start Advice

Rotoballer.com's week 1 NFL matchups and fantasy football analysis by Lou Cappetta. We bring you comprehensive week 1 fantasy football advice so you can set your week 1 lineup with confidence .

Welcome to the 2013 fantasy football season! The drafts are over, teams are set, and the week one matchups begin tonight Thursday, September 5th, when the Baltimore Ravens begin their NFL title defense against the Denver Broncos.

 

Everyone wants to get a fast start to the season, and wants to get an any edge they can in deciding what matchups to play and who to avoid, so every Thursday here at RotoBaller.com we will be bringing you matchup previews for each week's games, so you can plan your weekly lineups with confidence. For each matchup, we will highlight one set of players we love, one set of players to avoid, and once bye weeks start we'll analyze who is owned in 50 percent of leagues or less for each game.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

So here are the matchups we love and hate for week one. For further questions and advice, comment below or check out the RotoBaller.com chat room!

We will be posting updates to this piece Friday morning with all of the Sunday NFL matchups, and then updating it again over the weekend with the Monday NFL matchups.  Stay tuned!

 

Week 1 NFL Matchups: Fantasy Football Analysis & Sit/Start Advice

Baltimore Ravens @ Denver Broncos, Thursday 9/5 8:30pm

Matchup We Love: Denver's WRs
The Broncos have three stud receivers in Demayrius Thomas, Eric Decker, and now Wes Welker. Throw in QB Peyton Manning, an opposing defense that lost Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, and the game being in Denver, and that sounds like a recipe for success. Analysis: Start Thomas, Decker, and Welker with confidence, and don't be surprised if at least one of them has a big day.

Matchup We Hate: Denver's RBs
Running backs by committee can be a killer for fantasy owners, and the Broncos three-headed monster of Montee Ball, Ronnie Hillman, and Knowshon Moreno are poised to provide plenty of sit/start headaches until somebody puts a stranglehold on the starting halfback job.  Analysis: Montee Ball makes for a decent flex play, but it may be wise to use a different option if you have one. Leave Hillman and Moreno on your bench until their roles are better defined.

Key Injuries:
Dennis Pita TE, BAL (out), Jacob Tamme TE, DEN (probable)

Start 'Em:
Demayrius Thomas, Eric Decker, Wes Welker, Peyton Manning, Ray Rice, Torrey Smith

 

Don't forget to check back at RotoBaller.com this weekend for any last minute updates, Monday night matchups, and our suicide pool pick of the week. Good luck with your decisions in week one.

 




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Isiah Pacheco

Targeting a Return on Thursday
Shohei Ohtani

to Play for Team Japan in 2026 World Baseball Classic
Patrick Williams

Available Monday vs. Pelicans
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Cleared to Play Against Denver
Kevin Huerter

Ruled Out With Pelvis Soreness
Nicolas Claxton

Cleared to Face New York
Dean Wade

Sidelined Monday
Nikola Vučević

Nikola Vucevic Unavailable Against Pelicans
Landry Shamet

Sidelined Against Nets
Tyler Herro

Making 2025 Debut on Monday
Caris LeVert

Jaden Ivey, Caris LeVert Available Versus Indiana
Kevin Love

Out Monday Versus Warriors
Grayson Allen

and Ryan Dunn Sidelined vs. Rockets
Lamar Jackson

Now Dealing With a Toe Injury
Anthony Davis

Downgraded on Monday Night
Lonzo Ball

Set to Suit Up Versus Toronto
Jake Walman

to Remain Out Tuesday
Draymond Green

Ruled Out With Foot Sprain
Sam Merrill

and Craig Porter Jr. Out Monday
RJ Barrett

Sidelined Versus Cleveland
Ridly Greig

Still Out Monday
De'Andre Hunter

Out Versus Raptors
Baker Mayfield

Dealing With Low-Grade Shoulder Sprain
Thomas Chabot

Misses Monday's Matchup
Mitchell Robinson

Under the Weather, Out Versus Brooklyn
Kirill Marchenko

Out Monday
Jarrett Allen

Out of Action Again on Monday
J.T. Miller

Unavailable Monday
Andrew Wiggins

Norman Powell Out on Monday Night
Brayden Point

Out Against Flyers
Darius Garland

Sidelined on Monday
Nikita Kucherov

Good to Go Monday
Chris Godwin

Buccaneers Plan to "Ramp Up" Chris Godwin's Usage
Colorado Rockies

Warren Schaeffer to Stick Around as Rockies Manager in 2026
Ashton Jeanty

Ankle Injury isn't Severe
Jayden Daniels

to Practice This Week, Considered a Long Shot for Week 13
C.J. Stroud

Remains in Concussion Protocol
Mike Evans

Could Return Before End of Regular Season
J.J. McCarthy

in Concussion Protocol
Tyrod Taylor

to Remain the Jets' Starting QB
Shedeur Sanders

to Make Another Start for Browns in Week 13
Tee Higgins

Won't Play on Thanksgiving
Joe Burrow

Bengals Expect Joe Burrow to Play on Thursday
Baker Mayfield

Not Being Ruled Out for Week 13
CFB

Chris Bell Out for Rivalry Matchup Against Kentucky
New York Giants

Giants Fire Defensive Coordinator Shane Bowen
Tee Higgins

in the Concussion Protocol
Scott Wedgewood

Gives Avalanche Second Consecutive Shutout
Macklin Celebrini

Makes History During Multi-Point Performance
Joey Daccord

Posts Shutout in Losing Effort
David Rittich

Keeps Kraken Quiet
Jesper Wallstedt

Picks Up Third Shutout of the Season
Rasmus Andersson

Extends Point Streak With Three Assists
Davante Adams

Catches Two Touchdowns in Sunday Night Win
Baker Mayfield

has Sprained Shoulder, Will Undergo MRI Monday
Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders Fire Offensive Coordinator Chip Kelly
Ryan Helsley

Tigers Eyeing Ryan Helsley as a Starter
Quinshon Judkins

Salvages his Day With Two Trips to the End Zone
Alvin Kamara

Dealing With MCL Sprain, Timetable Unclear
Dan Hooker

Suffers Second-Round Submission Loss
Marcus Semien

Shipped to the Mets on Sunday
Arman Tsarukyan

Gets Submission Win
Brandon Nimmo

Traded to Texas
Belal Muhammad

Loses Back-to-Back Fights
Belal Muhammad

Ian Machado Garry Outpoints Belal Muhammad
Alonzo Menifield

Suffers First-Round Knockout Loss
Volkan Oezdemir

Gets Back In The Win Column
Jack Hermansson

Gets Knocked Out
Jack Hermansson

Myktybek Orolbai Knocks Out Jack Hermansson
Shamil Gaziev

Suffers First-Round Knockout Loss
Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Shines At UFC Qatar
Tagir Ulanbekov

Suffers Third-Round Submission Loss
Kyoji Horiguchi

Makes Triumphant UFC Return
MON

Alexandre Texier Joins Canadiens
Jason Dickinson

Returns to Action Sunday
Elias Lindholm

Activated From Injured Reserve
Mikko Rantanen

Suspended for One Game
Neal Pionk

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Sunday
Jean-Gabriel Pageau

Out Week-to-Week
Alexander Romanov

Out 5-6 Months Due to Shoulder Surgery
Sidney Crosby

Records 500th Multi-Point Game
Adolis García

Rangers Non-Tender Adolis Garcia on Friday
CFB

Beau Pribula Expected to Start Against Oklahoma
Dan Hooker

An Underdog At UFC Qatar
Arman Tsarukyan

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Ian Machado Garry

A Favorite At UFC Qatar
Belal Muhammad

Looks To Bounce Back
Alonzo Menifield

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Volkan Oezdemir

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Myktybek Orolbai

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Jack Hermansson

Makes His Welterweight Debut
Kyoji Horiguchi

Returns To The UFC
Elly De La Cruz

Played Through Partially Torn Quad to End 2025
Tarik Skubal

Tigers "Doubtful" to Trade Tarik Skubal
Raisel Iglesias

Returning to the Braves on One-Year Deal
Sahith Theegala

Looking to Continue Fall Run at RSM Classic
Stephan Jaeger

Looking to Bounce Back at RSM Classic
Tom Hoge

Looking to Regain Form at RSM Classic
Joe Highsmith

Searching for Turnaround at RSM Classic
Adam Hadwin

Looking to Build on T11 Finish in Bermuda
Austin Eckroat

Searching for Momentum at RSM Classic
Joel Dahmen

Trying to Find Form at the RSM Classic
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Doubtful to Play Against Western Kentucky
Michael Thorbjornsen

Hopes to End 2025 Campaign With Another Solid Finish
Andrew Novak

Looks to End 2025 Season on High Note at RSM Classic
Harry Higgs

Teetering for PGA Tour Card in 2026
PGA

Nico Echavarria has the Potential to Contend at the RSM Classic
Sam Stevens

Finishing Out Year in Georgia
Seamus Power

Playing Better at the Right Time
Beau Hossler

Roller Coaster Comes to Saint Simons Island
Quade Cummins

The Time is Now for Quade Cummins in Georgia
Austin Cook

Needs a Win at the RSM Classic
Cameron Champ

on the PGA Tour Card Bubble

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP