Welcome to Week 1 of the 2024 season, and our Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em series. Preseason is done, it’s time to put our draft efforts out on the field, and then massively overreact to the outcome (joking!)
As always, if you are struggling with a decision you can checkout our rankings for each Week. Or, if you want a more personal touch, reach out on social media. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or jump into our Discord server. All stats refer to 1/2 PPR, 6 point per passing touchdown leagues. The number in brackets next to an opponent is that teams rank against the position. Rank 1 is the best possible matchup, Rank 32 is the worst.
Start’Em
Trevor Lawrence (JAX) v MIA (8)
Lawrence made a great step forward in his sophomore season before taking a small step back in his third. Despite this, he still finished as QB13 so reports of his demise are slightly exaggerated. He looks to get a bounce-back season off to a flying start against the Dolphins who were the eighth best matchup for opposing quarterbacks in 2023. Don’t expect either team to play much defense as the Dolphins has gotten significantly worse and are susceptible to giving up tons of points.
Jared Goff (DET) v LAR (10)
Goff and the Lions will start the 2024 season with another heavyweight tilt with former franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford. While the defenses in this game are better than the defenses in the game mentioned above, the end result could still be a shootout. Both quarterbacks are going to want to prove their superiority and that could turn this into an old fashioned, gun-slinging shootout. Goff is going to be a top 10 quarterback this week, take it to the bank.
Russell Wilson (PIT) v ATL (13)
Wilson had the worst season of his career last year in Denver and now finds himself in Pittsburgh. He may lack offensive weapons overall but the Steelers boasts a solid offensive line and with the Falcons defense being incredibly suspect, this is a great get-right spot for Wilson to kickoff the 2024 season. He should find himself in competition as a high-end QB2 in this matchup and the 2024 season.
Sit ‘Em
Caleb Williams (CHI) v TEN (22)
Williams will make his first start after being selected first overall in this years NFL Draft, and while the Bears new-look offense has plenty of talent, I worry it will take them some time to come together as a unit. The Bears offense boasts a rookie quarterback, a free agent receiver, a rookie receiver, and a free agent running back and when that combination faces a Titans defense that was top 10 against quarterbacks in 2023, I expect there to be a learning curve for Caleb Williams. This is a prime spot to leave him on your bench in favor of starting a boring veteran.
Daniel Jones (NYG) v MIN (19)
Jones lit the fantasy world on fire in 2022 before the Giants offense turned into a dumpster fire in 2023. While this offense isn’t considerably better, Jones did add rookie star receiver Malik Nabers to his weaponry and will have a chance to start something special with him. The Vikings were a middling defense in 2023 and lost Danielle Hunter this offseason. This is a great spot for Jones to bounce back and find himself as a high-end QB2.
Bryce Young (CAR) v NO (18)
Young struggled mightily in his rookie season, largely because he didn’t have much help. This year, the Panthers aren’t exactly a star-studded squad although they did add Diontae Johnson and some high-upside rookies. Their divisional rival Saints have traditionally been a tough defense to score on, but the star power on the Saints defense is slowly burning out and they may be the worst they’ve been in years. If Young looks to avoid being labelled a bust, he needs to get off to a running start in Week 1.
Start ‘Em
Joe Mixon (HOU) v IND (3)
Mixon finds himself on a new team for the first time in his NFL career and that new team could be one of the best offenses in the league. In Week 1, he will look to endear himself to the Texans fans early in a matchup with the Colts who allowed the third most fantasy points per game to running backs last season and don’t appear to be greatly improved. Mixon may be teetering on the age-cliff, but this week he is an RB1.
Alvin Kamara (NO) v CAR (4)
Kamara, much like Mixon has found himself on the list of aging running backs who have been largely ignored for fantasy. Fortunately for Kamara, he isn’t done just yet. Expect him to come out of the gate strong in Week 1 against a Panthers defense that was a run-funnel last season and could be considerably worse in 2023.
Zamir White (LV) v LAC (13)
White gets his first shot at being the lead back in Las Vegas and hopes to prove he is the man for the job quickly. He faces the Chargers in the 2024 debut and that was a great matchup in years past. The Chargers have typically been an easy team to run on and should be once again. Fire up White as a solid RB2 this week.
Sit ‘Em
Kyren Williams (LAR) v DET (31)
Williams is likely not someone you can afford to sit because if you roster him, he was likely the first or second player you drafted. Since he is likely to be in your lineup, you should look to make up ground at other positions and temper your expectations with Williams this week. Williams starts the season in a game that should see both quarterbacks go toe-to-toe and if that isn’t bad enough, he faces a Lions defense that is nearly impossible to run against. I get that you most likely can’t afford to bench Williams, but if you can, it’s a great spot to do so.
Isiah Pacheco (KC) v BAL (30)
Pacheco falls into the same category as Williams. You likely don’t have the option to bench him, but you should expect him to get off to a disappointing start in Week 1. The Ravens have been a stingy run defense for as long as I can remember and that shouldn’t change this year. I would temper my expectations and expect a low-end RB2 finish in Week 1 as the best-case scenario for Pacheco.
D’Andre Swift (CHI) v TEN (22)
Swift finds himself in what could be a three-way running back committee, with a rookie quarterback, and a receiving corps full of options. Add in two tight ends that are both capable of producing and a matchup against the Titans who are a bottom 10 matchup for opposing running backs and you should leave Swift on your bench this week if you can. This Bears backfield is going to be a backfield to avoid for the 2024 season.
Start ’em
Keenan Allen (LAC) v TEN (8)
Allen has been left for dead by fantasy managers as his age and history of injuries has made him far less appealing than Rome Odunze. However, the Bears will have a rookie making his NFL debut at quarterback in Week 1 and it’s far more likely that he leans on the reliable veteran than another rookie. The Bears are a top 10 matchup for opposing wide receivers and should allow Allen another WR2 level finish to start the season.
Brian Thomas Jr. (JAX) v MIA (9)
Thomas Jr finds himself as the WR2 on the Jaguars as he gets set to make his NFL debut. Not only should that role provide him with opportunities to produce, but a matchup with a Swiss-cheese like Dolphins secondary should allow him to make his debut in style. Look for BTJ to be a top 20 receiver in his first ever NFL start.
Demario Douglas (NO) v CAR (10)
Douglas was the lone Patriots receiver that was usable for fantasy last season, and while they have added rookies to the squad, he should still find himself as the top target for Jacoby Brissett in Week 1. Brissett isn’t exciting for fantasy and neither is Douglas, but against a weak Bengals defense, Douglas should be flex-worthy at a minimum this week.
Sit ’em
Rashid Shaheed (NO) v CAR (30)
Shaheed had a breakout of sorts in 2023 and should now find himself as the WR2 for the Saints. The problem there is that the Saints have Derek Carr at quarterback and face the Panthers in Week 1. That’s a bad combination. Bad quarterback vs Good defense typically isn’t a great spot to fire up an inconsistent WR2. Don’t expect Shaheed to factor heavily into your score this week.
Jerry Jeudy (CLE) v DAL (26)
Jeudy isn’t a receiver that I’m out on in 2024 despite most fantasy managers being done with him. I think there is potential with him as a WR2 in Cleveland and he could be a great buy-low after this game. Unfortunately, he could be a buy-low because he will likely be a bust in Week 1 against a Cowboys defense that is a bottom 5 matchup for opposing receivers.
DK Metcalf (SEA) v DEN (25)
Metcalf is still the WR1 in Seattle, but a newly extended Patrick Surtain figures to celebrate his new contract extension by shadowing Metcalf and Metcalf has been terrible in situations like this in the past where he gets shadowed by a teams star. Expect Metcalf to put up a dud while Jaxon Smith-Njigba is allowed more room to operate.
Start ‘Em
Noah Fant (SEA) v DEN (1)
Fant is not a tight end I expected to see in this column ever, let alone in Week 1, but the matchup with Denver is just too good. Patrick Surtain is likely to shadow DK Metcalf which should leave Fant as open as he could be and able to put up a solid Week 1..
Zach Ertz (WAS) v TB (6)
Ertz is going to do it again. He is going to spend the first half of the season ruining a good, young tight end for fantasy football. He starts the seasons against the Buccaneers who were a great matchup for tight ends this season and should be a safe and reliable veteran target for a rookie quarterback making his debut. Start Ertz early, and then sell high before rookie Ben Sinnott finally finds his way into a larger role.
Dalton Schultz (HOU) v IND (10)
Schultz has traditionally been nothing more than a high-volume producer for fantasy, and while he is likely to have the lowest volume of his career this season he should see enough targets in Week 1 to warrant a top 12 finish. The Colts are a mediocre defense and will be doing their best to cover a talented group of receivers which should leave Schultz as the easy option on many plays.
Sit ’em
Juwan Johnson (NO) v CAR (31)
Johnson has slowly moved up my tight end rankings this offseason and now that he appears healthy, I have him as a borderline TE1 for fantasy. The problem in Week 1 is that the Panthers just don’t give up anything to the tight end position. There are better days ahead for Johnson, but this game isn’t going to be one of them.
Theo Johnson (NYG) v MIN (28)
Johnson is an impressive physical specimen who wowed scouts at the NFL Combine and could prove to be the second-best tight end in the 2024 class. Unfortunately for Johnson, he gets a tough matchup in Week 1 against a Vikings team that allows so many fantasy points to other positions that tight end production becomes unnecessary. Continue to stash Johnson for the future.
Cade Otton (TB) v WAS (22)
Otton has had plenty of opportunities in the past but has never really turned that into high-level fantasy points. In Week 1 he faces a Commanders defense that could be the leagues worst and is sure to see a high-volume of targets. If he can’t produce in this scenario, it’s time to call it quits on Otton.
Well, that’s it for our Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em for Week 1 of the 2024 season. Remember, you can check out rankings for each Week. Reach out on social media, you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or jump into our Discord server.
Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em 2022 Week 14
