Welcome to our Fantasy Football Starts & Sits for Week 1 of the 2022 fantasy football season!
If you’re anything like me, let’s face it, you probably are if you’re reading this, you’ve just finished up your last fantasy football draft of the summer and are eagerly awaiting the start of the 2022 NFL Season. If you are ALSO like me, you’re wondering which players on your rosters are the ones you should start or sit this week. Sure, we’re likely using draft capital to dictate our decision-making process for Week 1. However, for those looking for an inside edge into this week’s competition, here are my Fantasy Football Starts & Sits for Week 1 for all the major offense positions, and our recommended defense starts this week!
Quarterbacks
START: Kirk Cousins versus The Green Bay Packers
In Week 11 in 2021, versus the second-best pass-rushing unit in the NFL, The Green Bay Packers, Kirk Cousins, who was a part of a coaching regime that had a conservative philosophy on offense, lit UP the Packers’ defense for 341 yards, 3 TDs, and 25.2 fantasy points. His top two wide receivers went off in that game, with Justin Jefferson posting 169 receiving and 33.2 pts in half-PPR scoring and Adam Thielen posting 82 yards and 18.2 pts.
With new Head Coach Kevin O’Connell in town, considered one of the next big offensive-minded geniuses in head coaching circles today, look for this Vikings team to stick it to their divisional rivals this week and for Cousins to end his night making the same old victorious statement….
Additional Starting Candidates: Matt Ryan versus The Houston Texans, Jameis Winston versus The Atlanta Falcons, and Trevor Lawrence versus The Washington Commanders.
SIT: Derek Carr versus The Los Angeles Chargers
Look, I get it The Raiders have Davante Adams now to go along with Hunter Renfrow and Darren Waller. That’s wonderful. The Chargers have Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, two future HOFers at their positions who are taking on an offensive line that had the 6th lowest pass-blocking efficiency in the NFL last season and had the second most pressures allowed, per PFF. This looks like one of those games where receiving options on both sides of the ball will find fantasy success, but the Quarterbacks might struggle to get you 20+ points in this game. I’d rather have any additional starting candidates listed above over Derek Carr this week.
Additional Sitting Candidates: Mitchell Trubisky versus The Cincinnati Bengals, Baker Mayfield versus The Cleveland Browns, and Ryan Tannehill versus The New York Giants
Running Backs
START: Clyde Edwards-Helaire versus The Arizona Cardinals
I know, right?!
The stones on me!
However, if there were ever a time to be confident in CEH, it would be this week versus a Cardinals defense that ranked in the middle of the league last year in run defense. In my opinion, the Cardinals’ defensive coaches don’t exactly “get” what they’re doing heading into this season.
Their first-round pick from a few years ago, Isaiah Simmons, looks like he’ll be splitting reps at linebacker and safety, completely negating any steady tackle upside he might have had. Their inside linebackers are Zaven Collins and Nick Vigil, one of whom couldn’t get on the field last season despite being a high draft pick in 2021, and the other average linebacker who was brought on originally to provide depth at the position when he first signed with the Cardinals this offseason.
Combine all that with the fact that I believe the Chiefs will look like a more balanced offense than in any other season in Patrick Mahomes’ tenure by emphasizing the running game more, and with that, all of a sudden, the upside for CEH exists.
You should start him with, dare I say, confidence this week!
Additional Starting Candidates: Kareem Hunt versus The Carolina Panthers, Elijah Mitchell versus The Chicago Bears, and Dameon Pierce versus The Indianapolis Colts
SIT: David Montgomery versus The San Francisco 49ers
Montgomery will be going up against the 6th best run-stopping defensive unit from a year ago, led by linebacker Fred Warner, the LB16 in total tackle rate among qualified candidates in 2021. This Bears team is going to be bad and will be trailing from behind a LOT this week. Look for it to be more the Justin Fields/Cole Kmet show and less of the David Montgomery show.
Additional Sitting Candidates: Devin Singletary versus The Los Angeles Rams, Cam Akers versus The Buffalo Bills, and Chase Edmonds versus The New England Patriots.
Wide Receivers
START: Jaylen Waddle versus The New England Patriots
Most REC YDS by a rookie in Miami #Dolphins hsitory:
— Best of Pro Sports (@pro_sports_best) July 13, 2022
1. 2021 Jaylen Waddle (1,015)
2. 2001 Chris Chambers 883)
3. 1993 Terry Kirby (874)
4. 1967 Jack Clancy (868)
5. 2014 Jarvis Landry (758) pic.twitter.com/qgDvWNOVjq
Do Jalen Mills and Jonathan Jones scare you when it pertains to them covering any wide receivers on the Dolphins, or ANY other team’s wide receivers for that matter?!
No? Didn’t think so.
As this Patriots team will look to stop Tyreek Hill from beating them over the top all game long, Jaylen Waddle, the WR10 in targets last season and the WR7 in receptions, will look to carve them up all game long. This is a no-brainer, start him with confidence this week.
Additional Starting Candidates: Adam Thielen versus The Green Bay Packers, Gabriel Davis versus The Los Angeles Rams, and Hunter Renfrow versus The Los Angeles Chargers
SIT: Amari Cooper versus The Carolina Panthers
If it were Baker Mayfield or Deshaun Watson throwing him the ball, I would be all in for this upcoming matchup between Cooper and CB Jaycee Horn. That being said, it is not, instead, it’s Jacoby Brissett. I see this as a “control the time of possession” type of game that favors the running game more than the passing one.
Sorry, Cooper truthers.
Additional Sitting Candidates: Kenny Golladay versus The Tennessee Titans…or anybody for that matter, Darnell Mooney versus The San Francisco 49ers, and DeVante Parker versus The New England Patriots
Tight Ends
START: Cole Kmet versus The San Francisco 49ers
If this Justin Fields-Cole Kmet connection translates to the regular season, I’m going to be insufferable. pic.twitter.com/lzrPMvE1wi
— Dave Kluge (@DaveKluge) August 28, 2022
All I had to do was watch the preseason game between the Bears and the Seahawks a few weeks ago to learn two important things about the Bears’ offense this year:
- Justin Fields will be running for his life this season
- Cole Kmet will be his top receiving option
Eventually, this game against the 49ers will get out of hand, and the passing volume will have to increase for Justin Fields. Enter his top target in this offense: Cole Kmet
Start him this week and watch him return Top 10 TE value.
Additional Starting Candidates: Pat Freiermuth vs. The Cincinnati Bengals, Zach Ertz versus The Kansas City Chiefs, and Dawson Knox versus The Los Angeles Rams.
SIT: Evan Engram versus The Washington Commanders
Drops, drops, and more drops. That is all I’ve heard about Evan Engram from Jaguars camp this summer. Until I see/hear something positive that I can rely on, he’s a definitive fade for me this season.
Additional Sitting Candidates: Mike Gesicki vs. The New England Patriots, Mo Alie-Cox versus The Houston Texans, and Austin Hooper versus The New York Giants.
Thanks for reading our Fantasy Football Starts & Sits for Week 1.
Good luck this week!
