Week 1 Fantasy Football Matchups: Start/Sit Advice (Games 9-12)

Drafts are done, and the NFL season is finally upon us! All the hard work and preparation put into your selections on draft day is about to get real. Just like your fantasy season, our job here at RotoBaller.com doesn't end after draft day. Each week we will offer you the best coverage on who to start, who to avoid, and who to keep an eye on as we break down every NFL match-up each week.

Below is part two of our Week 1 start/sit and fantasy football matchups analysis, providing advice and recommendations on matchups that we love, matchups that we hate, and some high risk/high reward players as well. Check back for part three of our matchups piece tomorrow.  Part One: Start/Sit Analysis for Games 1-8, and Part Three: Start/Sit Analysis for Games 13-16

Editor's Note: make sure to also bookmark our famous fantasy football waiver wire pickups list to find those waiver wire gems, and dominate your football leagues. Our waiver wire list is updated throughout each week of the fantasy football season, for all positions. Good luck RotoBallers!

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) fantasy football rankings
• Tight end (TE) fantasy football rankings
• Quarterback (QB) fantasy football rankings
• FLEX fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• Kicker (K) fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Redskins @ Texans, Sunday 9/7 1PM

QB Robert Griffin, III - RG3's mechanics and results during preseason have been a mess. He could play well if he avoids the rush, so there's upside here, but in week 1 in a new system against a solid Houston defense, he's only startable in 14+ team and 2 QB leagues.

RB Alfred Morris and Roy Helu - Washington will need to run the ball a lot if RG3 isn't right, and that's good for Alfred Morris. While Roy Helu could see more time this year, especially in passing situations, Morris is the only must start. Helu is a sit until his role is more defined.

WR Pierre Garcon and Desean Jackson - You didn't draft these two to bench them. Start them both.

TE Jordan Reed - If RG3 is struggling against a tough Houston pass rush, he'll rely on Reed's hands for quick routes and dump offs. Reed is a must start.

Redskins DST - They stink, but if you're streaming defenses in a very deep league, you could do worse than a matchup against turnover prone Ryan Fitzpatrick.

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and Ryan Mallett - Ryan Fitzpatrick is not startable, not even in a two QB format. The same can be said for Mallett right now, although he is worth keeping an eye on.

RB Arian Foster - I'm all in on Foster this year while he's healthy as he seems to be going into week one; he's a must start.

WR DeAndre Hopkins and Andre Johnson - Both guys are must starts vs. the Redskins defense , even with Ryan Fitzpatrick throwing to them.

TE Garrett Graham - Graham is a solid tight end going against a weak defensive unit. He plays with other offensive weapons who will command most of the defensive attention.. start him with confidence.

Texans DST - A unit with JJ Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, and Brian Cushing going against an offensive unit still figuring things out smells like a must start to me.

Titans @ Chiefs, Sunday 9/7 1PM

QB Jake Locker - Love his offensive line, big arm, and receivers, but I don't love this matchup. I'd only start him in 2 QB leagues.

RB Shonn Greene and Bishop Sankey - Greene is just keeping the starting spot warm until rookie Bishop Sankey is ready, and by the way he looked in preseason, he's not there yet. Top it off with a tough defense, and I'd say Greene is nothing more than a flex option in very deep leagues. Sit Sankey.

WR Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter - Absolutely love both these young wideouts against any defense, even the Chiefs. Both guys are must starts.

TE Delanie Walker - Solid tight end in a tight end friendly system. If there isn't a guy available with a better matchup, start him.

Titans DST - You have to worry about Jamaal Charles, and the QB doesn't turn the ball over, but I think this ends up being a low scoring game. Start them.

QB Alex Smith - Ho-hum quarterback who won't hurt you with turnovers. He's startable, but you could do better.

RB Jamaal Charles - Duh.

WR Junior Hemingway, Donnie Avery, and Albert Wilson - Yuck. Stay away. Dwayne Bowe is the only solid receiver here and he's suspended for 1 game.

TE Anthony Fassano and Travis Kelce - Fassano will get overtaken by Kelce, who is not a start yet but could be as soon as week 2 with a couple big plays. He has big time potential.

Chiefs DST - The Titans have weapons, but this should still be a low scoring game. Start them.

Patriots @ Dolphins, Sunday 9/7 1PM

QB Tom Brady - Must start, period.

RB Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley - Neither guy is more than a flex option this week. In standard formats I'd go with Ridley. In PPR formats, I'd use Vereen.

WR Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, Kenbrell Thompkins and Aaron Dobson - I like all of these guys in the order listed. Edelman is a must start, especially in a PPR format. Amendola is a very good WR2 when healthy, and Thompkins and Dobson make for  decent boom or bust flex plays, but the volume likely won't be there for the latter two.

TE Rob Gronkowski and Tim Wright - If Gronk is healthy and ready to go, he's a must start especially against a Miami defense that struggles against tight end. Keep an eye on Wright, but only start him if Gronk is out.

Patriots DST - Miami's offense will be better, but I still like this matchup. Never bet against the defensive mind of Bill Belichick. Start them.

QB Ryan Tannehill - Seen him on many sleeper lists, but I'm not a fan, except in a 2 QB league. Sit.

RB Knowshon Moreno and Lamar Miller - If Montee Ball could block and Ronnie Hillman hadn't had fumbilitis, Knowshon Moreno would have sat the pine last year. Lamar Miller had six games where he rushed for fewer than 20 yards last year. Neither guy is more than a bye week fill in right now.

WR Mike Wallace and Brian Hartline - Wallace is the number one receiver, and the 'Phins have said they plan to get him the ball as much as possible in 2014. He's a must start. Hartline isn't, but he makes for an interesting flex option in PPR leagues.

TE Charles Clay - Pats are always tough on opposing tight ends, and held Clay to 43 total yards in two games last year. I'd sit him.

Miami DST - The Brady/Gronk combo poses plenty of problems for this defense. I'd look elswhere.

Panthers @ Buccaneers, Sunday 9/7 4:25pm

QB Cam Newton - If you read my QB tiers article, you know I love him this year. The broken rib worries me a bit, but he's traditionally toasted Tampa Bay in the past. He's a must start, if he starts.

RB DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart - I won't touch either guy until bye weeks start. The best running back on Carolina this year will be Cam Newton.

WR Kelvin Benjamin - He's the only Carolina wideout worth owning, even in deep leagues. The Tampa defense will be better this year, but I still think Benjamin makes for a nice WR2 or flex play.

TE Greg Olsen - Greg Olsen was very good against the Bucs last year and makes for a nice low end TE1 this week. Start him.

Panthers DST - Probably second best defense in fantasy. You drafted them to start them.

QB Josh McCown - He will have just as many weapons in Tampa as he had in Chicago last year, and he was terrific. He also has spent the better part of a decade in the NFL riding the bench. I'm not sold, and I'm not starting him against the Panthers D.

RB Doug Martin - Martin is going to bounce back this year, and could end up the steal of most drafts. Don't love him against Carolina's defensive front, but he's worth starting. He makes for a low-end RB2, but I like him much more as a flex play this week.

WR Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans - Vincent Jackson is a must start every week. I'm almost as high on rookie Mike Evans as I am on Kelvin Benjamin, and since Jackson is sure to command much of the defenses attention, the matchup doesn't worry me. Start Evans too as a flex.

TE Brandon Myers - Meh.

Buccaneers DST - Tampa D should be better this year, and as much as I like guys like Newton and Benjamin, the running game and o-line are not good. Newton has traditionally put up good numbers against this squad. They're a decent play, but I think there are better matchups out there.