Fantasy Football Starts & Sits for Week 1 (2023)

September 7, 2023 Kyle Zeigler
2023 Starts and Sits Week 1 | Fantasy In Frames

Welcome to our first Start & Sit article at Fantasy In Frames for the 2023 fantasy football season!

This week, I, Kyle @KZ1180 on Twitter/X, will be giving you my start and sit recommendations on offense and defense/special teams. I know you are as excited as I am for the fantasy football/NFL season to kick off, so let’s get to what you are all here for. Here are my Fantasy Football Starts & Sits for Week 1 (2023).

Start

  1. Jared Goff @ KC
  • Highest betting total on the entire slate for week one at 54.5 OU.
  • He was QB6 last season for pass attempts for 20+ yards.
  1. Derek Carr vs. TEN
  • According to PFF, the Titans were the worst team in the league at allowed yards per game with 290.3 yards.
  • The Titans only added Sean Murphy-Bunting to the secondary in free agency. Carr should do just fine.
  1. Russell Wilson vs. LV
  • Head Coach Sean Payton is now running the offense for the Broncos.
  • Even in a down season, Wilson still threw for over 3,500 yards and has a very nice matchup against the Raiders to start the year. A Raiders team that was rated the 9th worst unit per PFF in total defense last season.

Sit

  1. Dak Prescott @ NYG
  • FantasyData.com shows that Dak Prescott only averages 15 fantasy points against the Giants in the last two seasons with only one high-scoring game.
  • With the Giants’ additions to the defense in free agency and an improved defensive line, I expect another low-scoring bout between these two division rivalries on SNF.
  1. Daniel Jones vs. DAL
  • Like Dak, Daniel Jones hasn’t blown the doors off in his matchup against the Cowboys either, averaging only 14 points per game.
  • The offense runs through Saquon Barkley, who reported to camp late and did not play any snaps in the preseason; therefore, I could see this offense getting off to a slow start.
  1. Aaron Rodgers vs. BUF
  • We haven’t seen enough this preseason to warrant a season-opening start, especially against a top-notch defense with the Buffalo Bills.
  • I expect Aaron Rodgers to do well in New York, just not in week 1 where he is still getting acclimated to the offense

Start

  1. Jamaal Williams vs. TEN
  • Alvin Kamara is suspended, and rookie Kendre Miller hasn’t looked spectacular, averaging just 2 yards per carry during the preseason.
  • Expect Jamaal Williams to work in a 3 down back type role, where he dominated last year as the RB1 in total TDs.
  1. Samaje Perine vs. LV
  • The Broncos will limit Javonte Williams’ touches in week 1, so Perine will see the majority of the RB snaps in the season opener.
  • According to PFF, the Raiders last year allowed 122 yards on the ground per game, and was the league’s worst of allowed yards of at least 350 total yards in a single game.
  1. Khalil Herbert vs. GB
  • Flashed some greatness this preseason taking a short catch out of the flat resulting in a 56-yard TD against Tennessee.
  • Over his short two-year career, Khalil Herbert has maintained a 5 yards per carry basis and now gets his opportunity as the RB1 for the Bears in a decent matchup against the Packers.

Sit

  1. James Conner @ WAS
  • The Cardinals are traveling east for an early kickoff in a game where the Cards are expected to struggle putting points on the board. 
  • According to PFF, the Washington Commanders run defense was 11th best in the league for allowed rush yards per game and that was without Chase Young for majority of the season. I would rather start James Cook, Rachaad White, or Khalil Herbert.
  1. Josh Jacobs @ DEN
  • Has been away from the team the entire offseason in a contract dispute, and I’m not certain he will get a full workload. Sit Josh Jacobs in Week 1, then reevaluate.
  • Yes, Josh Jacobs was the RB1 last year, but is it sustainable? You can’t expect a 3 down type role in week 1 like he received last year 
  1. Breece Hall vs. BUF
  • You must be careful here, as the Jets signed Dalvin Cook for a reason, and Breece Hall may be eased back in. 
  • There’s no denying how great he looked in the first half of his rookie season rushing for 463 yards in 7 games before tearing his ACL. The question is, how many snaps will he take in the season opener on MNF?

Start

  1. Mike Evans @ MIN
  • Evans has a terrific matchup as the Vikings last year allowed 2nd most passing yards in the league with 279.8 yards, per PFF.
  • 9 straight seasons of 1,000 + yards under multiple different QBs so should see lots of volume coming his way.
  1. Zay Flowers vs. HOU
  • He has popped off in training camp and in preseason showing his elusiveness to juke defenders.
  • Flowers can be used all over the field in Todd Monken’s offense where his blazing speed of 4.42 40 can beat this defense deep at any time.
  1. Courtland Sutton vs. LV
  • Jerry Jeudy dealing with a hamstring injury making Sutton the WR1 in a plus matchup.
  • PFF shows that Courtland Sutton not only led the Broncos in targets last season but he was also tied at WR7 for end-zone targets. 

Sit

  1. Terry Mclaurin vs. ARI
  • He’s battling a turf toe injury and is listed as Questionable, even if he plays, I could see limited snaps or risk of making it worse, so sit Terry Mclaurin Week 1.
  • The Cards did allow almost 246 yards in the air on a per-game basis last season, but I want to be very careful here as turf toe injuries tend to linger for weeks.
  1. Calvin Ridley @ IND
  • Can we pump the brakes on Calvin Ridley? This will be his first full NFL game since being suspended for gambling on games.
  • He’s on a new team with other great pass catchers like Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, and even Evan Engram at TE. 
  1. Drake London vs. CAR
  • One of the lowest betting totals on the slate at OU 40, so I don’t see much fireworks in this one.
  • Both Carolina and Atlanta are going to run the ball early and often, so we won’t see a high-volume passing attack.

Start

  1. Hayden Hurst @ ATL
  • Hayden Hurst had 68 targets with a lot more weapons in Cincinnati. That number should rise with a rookie QB, where history shows they lean heavily on their TE. 
  • Carolina looks to be rebuilding this offense, so there isn’t a lot of competition with the ball catchers. Hayden Hurst can be a sneaky start against the Falcons.
  1. Cole Kmet vs. GB
  • According to PFF, last season, Cole Kmet was tied for TE10 on end-zone targets.
  • Week 13 last year against Green Bay, he went for 6 catches for 72 yards. Start Kmet in week 1 as he continues to build chemistry with Justin Fields.
  1. Gerald Everett vs. MIA
  • The 2nd highest total OU on the betting slate at 50.5, so we should see a shootout at Sofi Stadium. 
  • Everett was TE9 last year in targets with 82 in a matchup where we should see a lot of scoring. Start Everett with confidence.

Sit

  1. Kyle Pitts vs. CAR
  • With the addition of Bijan Robinson and the offense being run by Head Coach Arthur Smith, I expect many more run plays than passing in this one.
  • Desmond Ridder took over the QB job in week 15 and finished with 708 passing yards averaging out to 177 yards per game with only 2 total TDs. 
  1. Evan Engram @ IND 
  • Engram has never been a huge factor in the red zone, in fact, PFF shows he only had 12 targets in the red zone last year and seven in 2021.
  • I don’t expect a lot of opportunities for Evan Engram to find the end-zone. I would rather start Pat Freiermuth, Tyler Higbee, or Gerald Everett. 
  1. Dalton Schultz @ BAL
  • Rookie QB CJ Stroud really struggled to get the ball out in preseason, going 11 of 18 for 89 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT in 8 series.
  • I like Dalton Schultz going forward, but I don’t feel comfortable starting him here in Week 1 against a solid defensive unit with the Baltimore Ravens. Sit Schultz here in the season opener.

Start

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars @ IND
  • With Jonathan Taylor on the PUP list, this offense is going to find it to be very difficult to move the chains. 
  • Jags defense was 6th in fantasy scoring, and they now have a chance to feast on a rookie QB in week 1. Start with confidence.

       2. Atlanta Falcons vs. CAR

  • Any chance I can stream a defense against a rookie QB getting his first start, I’ll happily do it. Perfect streaming option with the Atlanta Falcons.
  • With the betting total at OU 39.5 this game could be the lowest-scoring games of the week.

        3. Washington Commanders vs. ARI

  • Kyler Murray is out; Insert Josh Dobbs or Clayton Tune. Commanders feast with turnovers and sacks. My favorite D/ST start of the week.
  • PFF shows us that the Commanders’ defense finished as a top 12 D/ST in fantasy last season, with Chase Young only playing in 3 games. Young should be back from his preseason stinger injury to deliver you big fantasy points.

Sit

  1. Miami Dolphins @ LAC
  • There’s no way I would start this Miami defense against that LA Chargers high-powered offense with the betting slate on the OU now over 50 points.
  • Justin Herbert was tied for 3rd last season with most 300-yard passing games.
  1. New York Jets vs. BUF
  • Last season Josh Allen was tied for 2nd most TD passes with 35. 
  • Josh Allen on prime time on MNF is not one I would want to bet against. Start Washington, Atlanta, or even Carolina over NYJ.

      3. Kansas City Chiefs vs. DET

  • I am expecting a thrilling game to kick off the 2023 NFL season between the Lions and the Chiefs. I don’t want to start either defense when we are expected to have a shootout in Ford Field.
  • The Lions have the kind of firepower to keep up with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs as Jared Goff last season was QB6 in passing yards, throwing 4,438 yards.