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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.

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

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Compare Any Players
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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Quinshon Judkins

Won't Face Formal Charges
Sam LaPorta

To "Miss a Little Bit of Time"
Rashee Rice

Disciplinary Hearing Scheduled For Late September
Chris Godwin

Likely to Start the Season on PUP List?
Kevin Durant

Rockets Not Interested in Keeping Kevin Durant with Max Extension
Paul Goldschmidt

Could Land on the Injured List
NBA

Isaiah Mobley Joins Turkish Team
NBA

Cole Swider Links Up with EuroLeague Powerhouse
Ethan Thompson

Joins Heat for Training Camp
Los Angeles Clippers

Clippers Add Jason Preston for Training Camp
Stefon Diggs

Unsure About Availability for Week 1
Jakob Marsee

Homers Twice in Seven-RBI Night
Owen Caissie

Cubs Promoting Owen Caissie to Majors
Miguel Amaya

Going on 10-Day Injured List With Sprained Ankle
Max Muncy

Scratched With Side Soreness on Wednesday
Josh Hader

Will be Out Longer Than Two Weeks
Matt Chapman

Out in Series Finale With Hand Soreness
Justin Jefferson

Won't Practice This Week, Will be Re-Evaluated Next Week
Oneil Cruz

Placed on Seven-Day Concussion Injured List
Wyatt Langford

Out Wednesday With Forearm Tightness
Adolis García

Adolis Garcia Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Sprained Ankle
Nolan McLean

to Make MLB Debut on Saturday
Akshay Bhatia

a High-Upside Play at BMW Championship
Robert MacIntyre

a Safe Play at BMW Championship
PGA

Sungjae Im a Risky Play at BMW Championship
Xander Schauffele

Chases Big Week at BMW Championship
Shane Lowry

Aims to Rebound at BMW Championship
Si Woo Kim

Looks to Build Momentum at BMW Championship
Matt Fitzpatrick

Looking to Rebound at BMW Championship
Patrick Cantlay

Eyeing Another BMW Championship Victory
Jac Caglianone

Tallies Four Hits in Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday
Jacob Misiorowski

Scheduled to Throw a Bullpen on Tuesday
Neemias Queta

Wants to Raise His Free-Throw Attempts
Anfernee Simons

Celtics Stuggling to Trade Anfernee Simons
James Cook

Bills Agree on Four-Year Extension
Cole Anthony

Focuses on Winning with Bucks
NBA

Jesse Edwards Moves to Australia
Kessler Edwards

Joins Nuggets
Brice Turang

Dealing With Pinky Injury
Willson Contreras

Exits Early Tuesday With Right-Foot Bruise
Oneil Cruz

Leaves Tuesday's Game with Apparent Head Injury
Bradley Beal

Feeling Rejuvenated in Los Angeles
Frankie Montas

Moves to Bullpen, Hopes for Reset in Relief Role
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Looking "Incredible"
PIT

Chad Ruhwedel Retires From NHL
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. to be Activated Soon
MIN

Jack Johnson Signs Tryout Deal with Wild
Ryker Evans

Kraken Extend Ryker Evans with Two-Year Deal
Josh Hader

Astros Place Josh Hader on Injured List With Shoulder Strain
Rondale Moore

Out for the Season With Knee Injury
Félix Bautista

Felix Bautista Won't Return This Year With "Significant" Shoulder Injury
Zach Eflin

to Undergo Back Surgery, Out for the Year
Christian Watson

Likely to Begin Season on PUP List
Jordan Love

Undergoes Procedure on Left Thumb
Bud Cauley

Needs a Big Result in Maryland
Harris English

Confident for BMW Championship
Jason Day

Faces Uphill Battle at BMW Championship
Cameron Young

Hot at the Right Time
J.J. Spaun

Rolls in After Near Miss in Memphis
Brian Harman

is a Longer Shot Heading to Maryland
Corey Conners

Appears Safe This Week in Maryland
Daniel Berger

Must Play Better at BMW Championship
Miami Heat

Kai Jones Works Out for Heat
Sacramento Kings

Russell Westbrook Likely to Join Kings
Golden State Warriors

Al Horford Expected to Sign with Warriors if He Doesn't Retire
Jonathan Kuminga

Reportedly Leaning Toward Accepting Golden State's Qualifying Offer
Cam Thomas

"Increasingly Interested" in Signing Qualifying Offer
Sepp Straka

Withdraws From BMW Championship
Maverick McNealy

Finishes Tied for 28th at FedEx St. Jude Championship
Scottie Scheffler

Finishes Tied For Third at FedEx St. Jude Championship
Collin Morikawa

Finishes Tied For 22nd at FedEx St. Jude Championship
Rory McIlroy

Finishes Tied For Seventh at Open Championship
Brandon Aiyuk

Could Return in Week 6
Boston Celtics

Miles Norris Waived by Celtics
Javonte Green

Inks Deal With Pistons
Anthony Hernandez

Extends His Win Streak To Eight
Roman Dolidze

Submitted At UFC Vegas 109
Ode' Osbourne

Drops Decision At UFC Vegas 109
Steve Erceg

Gets Back In The Win Column
Angela Hill

Outclassed At UFC Vegas 109
Angela Hill

Iasmin Lucindo Dominates Angela Hill
Christian Rodriguez

Loses Back-To-Back Fights
Andre Fili

Gets Back in the Win Column
Miles Johns

Drops Split Decision At UFC Vegas 109
Miles Johns

Jean Matsumoto Edges Out Miles Johns To Win Split Decision
Eryk Anders

Suffers First-Round TKO
Christian Leroy Duncan

Scores First-Round TKO Win
Alexander Mattison

Will Miss Entire Season With Neck Injury
Zayne Parekh

Has Sights Set on Making Flames Roster
Hampus Lindholm

Fully Healthy for New Season
NHL

Nathan Bastian Joins Stars on One-Year Contract
Christopher Bell

Good Pit Strategy Helps Elevate Christopher Bell to Second
William Byron

Extends Championship Lead with Fourth-Place Finish
Ryan Blaney

Despite Finishing Sixth, Watkins Glen Might've Been Ryan Blaney's Best Road Race
Alex Bowman

Loses Ground Above Playoff Cutline, but Still Pretty Safe
Kyle Larson

Finishes Last After Brake Failure and Spin
Chris Buescher

Scores Another Top-5 Run At Watkins Glen
Ryan Preece

Earns Stage Points, but Loses Ground to the Playoffs At Watkins Glen
William Byron

Keeps the Regular Season Points Lead After Watkins Glen
Chase Briscoe

Continues His Hot Streak With A Top-5 Finish At Watkins Glen
Chase Elliott

Top-20 Streak Ends at Watkins Glen After Pit Struggles
Josh Giddey

Bulls Still Apart In Contract Negotiations
Jeremy Sochan

Expected To Miss EuroBasket With Calf Injury
Matthew Stafford

Will Return to Practice on Monday
Tyjae Spears

to Miss a Couple of Weeks
Rondale Moore

Expected to Miss Season
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen the Heavy Favorite to Win at Watkins Glen
Kyle Larson

Is Kyle Larson a Must-Play in DFS at Watkins Glen?
Chase Elliott

an Easy Pick to Make in DFS at Watkins Glen
Chris Buescher

Trying to Repeat at Watkins Glen
Tyler Reddick

Struggling to Find Speed at Watkins Glen
Michael McDowell

a Legitimate Threat at Watkins Glen
Joey Logano

Has Been Solid at Watkins Glen in Next Gen Car
Todd Gilliland

Has Upside at Watkins Glen
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

. has Favorable Watkins Glen Record
Justin Haley

Fastest in Practice at Watkins Glen
Riley Herbst

Could Be A Sneaky DFS Play
Tyjae Spears

Picks Up High-Ankle Sprain in Loss
Jayden Reed

Wearing Walking Boot
Tyjae Spears

Carted Off on Saturday
Rachaad White

Won't Return on Saturday
James Cook

Not Willing to Play During Contract Dispute
Anthony Richardson Sr.

Plans to Practice Saturday
NHL

Jakub Vrana Signs Two-Year Deal in Sweden
COL

Avalanche Bring Back Joel Kiviranta on One-Year Deal
Matthew Tkachuk

Could Miss 2-3 Months with Surgery

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