Fantasy Football Start ’em Sit ’em Week 1
Welcome back my friends. It’s that time of the year again where we draft our fictitious football teams in order to win a weekly matchup. Full disclosure, I am participating in 7 leagues this year, including 2 dynasty leagues and a duos league with the Brain.
I have gone through several instances where I self reflect and ask myself, is this too much to manage? The simple answer would be ‘no’, since I have been in ‘the industry’ for several years now I should be able to multitask my way through the choppy and uncertain waters of the fantasy football season. But at what cost?
The older I get the more I start to realize that life is short, and there will be a time when my decorated fantasy career will come to an abrupt end. In my personal life, I have recently had to suffer the loss of close friends which put in perspective a lot of things, including my love for this seasonal game of chance. Wherever you are in your life, just remember that this is just a game at the end of the day. Never put it in front of your friends and loved ones who matter the most.
Remember to always have fun, draft well, and enjoy the ride.
This column is dedicated to Rey, our reigning Couch League champ. We miss you brother.
Amon-Ra St. Brown – Lions WR
The Sun God looks to shine bright heading into year 2, coming off a rookie season in which he was a Top-5 wide receiver over the final 8 weeks of 2021. With first round rookie Jameson Williams sidelined for at least the first 4 games, St. Brown will get ample opportunity to be the number one target of Jared Goff in Week 1 against the Eagles. The word around Detroit is that St.Brown looked great all camp long and is ready to take the leap and command an even greater target share than the 20.1% he put up in year 1.
St. Brown Week 1 Projections: 12 targets, 9 receptions, 112 receiving yards, 2 TD’s
QBs to Start
Trey Lance
Jalen Hurts
Jameis Winston
Aaron Rodgers
Kirk Cousins
RBs to Start
Travis Etienne
AJ Dillon
Elijah Mitchell
Chase Edmonds
David Montgomery
Josh Jacobs
Antonio Gibson
Rashaad Penny
Clyde-Edwards Helaire
Melvin Gordon
Rhamondre Stevenson
Devin Singletary
Michael Carter
Mike Davis
WRs to Start
Allen Robinson
Jaylen Waddle
Marquise Brown
Darnell Mooney
Adam Thielen
Brandon Aiyuk
Gabriel Davis
Amari Cooper
Jerry Jeudy
JuJu Smith-Schuster
Hunter Renfrow
DeVonta Smith
Chris Olave
Kadarius Toney
Allen Lazard
Christian Kirk
Wan’ Dale Robinson
George Pickens
Josh Palmer
Alec Pierce
TEs to Start
Dallas Goedert
TJ Hockenson
Dalton Schultz
Gerald Everett
David Njoku
Week 1 Sit ’em
Dameon Pierce – Texans RB
The fourth-round rookie out of Florida appears to be the unquestioned bellcow back for aresurging Texans team that recently cut Marlon Mack and only has Rex Burkhead as a threat to the lion’s share of touches. Pierce’s ADP has been skyrocketing up draft boards after a strong preseason which has catapulted him all the way up to the mid to late 4th round in some fantasy drafts.
While I predict he will be a strong candidate for OROTY honors by the end of the season due to his abundant opportunity to be the focal point of the run game, it is best to temper expectations in Week 1 as he will be going against a stout Colts D. With the Texans offense likely to be playing from behind, it is wise to take a wait and see approach before firing up Pierce in Week 2.
Dameon Pierce Week 1 Projections: 15 rushing attempts, 65 rushing yards, 1 reception, 0 TD’s
QBs to Sit
Derek Carr
Matthew Stafford
Justin Fields
Tua Tagovailoa
Ryan Tannehill
RBs to Sit
Cam Akers
JK Dobbins
Kareem Hunt
Cordarrelle Patterson
Miles Sanders
Tony Pollard
Breece Hall
Damien Harris
Rachaad White
Darrell Henderson
Kenneth Walker
James Cook
James Robinson
Kenyan Drake
Isiah Pacheco
WRs to Sit
Chris Godwin
DK Metcalf
Michael Thomas
Rashod Bateman
Tyler Lockett
Elijah Moore
Drake London
Skyy Moore
Isaiah McKenzie
Robert Woods
Christian Watson
Treylon Burks
Garrett Wilson
Tyler Boyd
Chase Claypool
DeVante Parker
Mecole Hardman
TEs to Sit
Dawson Knox
Cole Kmet
Tyler Higbee
Mike Gesicki
Albert Okwuegbunam
If you have any questions about your lineup for this week, you can find me on our Facebook group, Fantasy Couch Fam. My name is Mike Mital on there, by the way.
Make sure to watch the Week 1 waiver wire video in case there are any players on waivers or free agency that you might have missed.
Also check out our podcast, Fantasy Couch Podcast (available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, etc.
