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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.

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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.

 




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Jalen Suggs

Remains Out Wednesday
Draymond Green

Questionable to Suit Up Wednesday
Jalen Smith

Ruled Out for Second Straight Game
Matas Buzelis

Could Miss First Game of the Season Wednesday
Coby White

May Skip Wednesday's Game
Cade Cunningham

Probable for Wednesday
Isaiah Hartenstein

to Remain Out Wednesday
Kelly Oubre Jr.

Could Return to Action Wednesday
Tim Hardaway Jr.

May Remain Out Wednesday
Christian Braun

Listed as Questionable for Wednesday
Aaron Gordon

Iffy for Wednesday
Jamal Murray

Considered Questionable for Wednesday Night
Max Strus

to Miss Another Month
Vince Williams Jr.

Making Return Tuesday Against Spurs
Trae Young

Listed as Questionable for Wednesday
Ja Morant

Ruled Out on Tuesday
James Harden

in Danger of Missing Second Straight Game
Joel Embiid

Considered Questionable for Wednesday's Matchup
Gabe Vincent

Ruled Out Tuesday, Expected to Return Wednesday
New York Giants

John Harbaugh Expected to be Favorite to Become New Giants Head Coach
Herbert Jones

Returns to Action Tuesday
Dean Wade

Back in Action Versus Pacers
Mason Marchment

Out Tuesday
Sean Monahan

Available Tuesday
Jason Zucker

Set to Return From 11-Game Absence
Matvei Michkov

a Game-Time Call Tuesday
Matthew Schaefer

Cleared for Action Tuesday
Baltimore Ravens

John Harbaugh Won't Return as Ravens Head Coach
Adam Fox

Landing Back on Long-Term Injured Reserve
Seth Jarvis

Back for Hurricanes Tuesday
Bo Bichette

Unlikely to Return to Toronto?
Jordan Love

Ready to Start in Wild-Card Game Against Bears
CFB

Jadan Baugh Staying with Florida for Junior Season
Washington Commanders

Commanders "Mutually" Parting Ways With OC Kliff Kingsbury
CFB

Byrum Brown Officially Commits to Auburn
CFB

Austin Simmons Signing with Missouri
Jake McCabe

to Sit Out One Week
Hampus Lindholm

to Miss Time
Christian Dvorak

Flyers Sign Christian Dvorak to Five-Year Extension
Igor Shesterkin

Exits With Lower-Body Injury Monday
Joel Armia

Hurt in Monday's Win
Anze Kopitar

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Monday
Matthew Schaefer

a Game-Time Call Tuesday
Jamie Benn

to Miss at Least Two Games
Seth Jones

Out Week-to-Week
Zach Bogosian

Unavailable Monday Night
Trevor Moore

Remains Out Monday
Aliaksei Protas

a Game-Time Call Versus Ducks
Tom Wilson

Won't Play Monday
CFB

Ty Simpson Undecided on 2026 Plans
CFB

Quarterback AJ Hill Following Ryan Silverfield to Arkansas
Atlanta Falcons

Falcons Have Requested an Interview With Klint Kubiak
Deshaun Watson

Browns Expect Deshaun Watson to be on the Team Next Year
Wan'Dale Robinson

Dealing With Fractured Ribs
Cam Skattebo

Hopes to be Back by Training Camp
Cameron Ward

Won't Need Surgery on his Shoulder
Davante Adams

Rams Expect Davante Adams to Return in Wild-Card Round
Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals Fire Head Coach Jonathan Gannon
Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders Fire Head Coach Pete Carroll
Malik Nabers

Unsure if He Will Be Ready for Week 1 of 2026 Season
CFB

Trinidad Chambliss Will Return to Ole Miss If Granted Sixth Year of Eligibility
Cincinnati Bengals

Zac Taylor Will Return as Bengals Head Coach in 2026
New York Giants

Giants Expected to Show Interest in Former Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski
Daniel Jones

Colts, Daniel Jones Appear to Have "Mutual Interest" in a 2026 Reunion
John Klingberg

to Sit Out at Least Three More Games
Cleveland Browns

Browns Fire Kevin Stefanski After Another Losing Season
Zay Flowers

Goes Off for 138 Yards, Two Touchdowns in Loss
Bo Bichette

Phillies Have Interest in Bo Bichette
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Dominates in Week 18 Win
Cameron Ward

Believed to Have Grade 3 AC Joint Sprain in Right Shoulder
Colston Loveland

Leads Bears in Targets, Receptions, Receiving Yards in Week 18
Kansas City Royals

Matt Quatraro Signs Three-Year Extension With Royals
CFB

Transfer QB Billy Edwards Commits to North Carolina
CFB

Sam Leavitt Visiting Texas Tech on Saturday
CFB

DJ Lagway Expected To Visit Florida State
Kyle Tucker

Blue Jays "Remain the Favorite" to Sign Kyle Tucker
CFB

Joey Aguilar Undergoes Surgery to Remove Tumor on Friday
CFB

Texas the "Team to Beat" for Transfer Running Back Isaac Brown
CFB

Rocco Becht to Follow Matt Campbell to Penn State?
CFB

Texas Targeting Cam Coleman in Transfer Portal
CFB

Former Texas Running Back CJ Baxter Visiting Kentucky
CFB

Beau Pribula Visiting Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech
Bo Bichette

Yankees Showing Interest in Bo Bichette
Houston Astros

Astros Sign Tatsuya Imai to Three-Year Deal

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