Fantasy Football: 10 Tips You Need to Know for Week 1

The 2021 NFL season kicks off in about a week. You have probably already completed your fantasy drafts and are eager to make a championship run. However, much like in real football, it is important that we take the season one week at a time. So let’s get right to it. Here are 10 things that you should know heading into Week 1:

1. Start all your Bucs

The defending Super Bowl champs host the Dallas Cowboys for the annual Thursday night opening game. I would feel more than comfortable starting all of the Buccaneers’ offensive players. Plug in Tom Brady as a QB1, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin as WR1s, and Antonio Brown as a WR2. I’d even be okay with throwing in Ronald Jones and Leonard Fournette at RB if you are thin at the position due to preseason injuries.

The Cowboys’ defense ranked in the bottom five in rush yards given up and points allowed last year. They added some promising rookies like LB Micah Parsons but they should still be no match for the high-flying Bucs’ offense. If you have any Tampa Bay players on your fantasy team you will have an edge over your opponent in Week 1.

2. Start your studs

Now isn’t the time to get cute. It’s Week 1 and the season is not going to go how we all expect it to. It never does. There will be more injuries and surprises than any of us would like to admit.

Make it easier on yourself and start your best players. This includes players like Saquon Barkley and Dak Prescott. If you had enough confidence drafting them with their questionable health entering the season, then you might as well trust your process all the way through and throw them in your lineup. This is unless they are unable to play.

3. Be cautious starting your rookies

There is always a hesitation to start rookies until they “prove it” to us. It can take a while to get adjusted to the level of competition in the NFL. I would consider leaving your rookies on the bench until after they break out. The rare exception to this would be someone like Najee Harris who is locked into an every-down role.

Last year gave us a ton of great rookies and even a few record-breaking ones. However, they did not have great starts to their rookie campaigns. Justin Jefferson only hauled in two catches for 26 yards in his first game. Jonathan Taylor only had 22 rushing yards on nine carries. Don’t give up on your rookies too early, but don’t count on them helping you out much in Week 1 either.

4. Look for shootouts

One of my favorite strategies is to look at the over/under betting odds for all the games and see which ones are expected to be shootouts. A few matchups to keep an eye on are the Chiefs vs. Browns, Cardinals vs. Titans, and Packers vs. Saints. These games have the highest scoring spreads for Week 1.

If you have a player on a high-scoring offense, then you are likely going to start him more often than not. The added bonus of that player playing against another high-scoring offense just assures that neither team is going to be able to let off the gas for the entire game.

5. Temper expectations for Chargers

The Chargers are one of my favorite offenses going into this season. They have an upgraded offensive line, an ascending QB, and ample weapons. However, they draw the Washington Football Team Week 1 and that defensive line is dominant.

Let’s be real, if you have Justin Herbert, Austin Ekeler, or Keenan Allen on your team, then you are starting them. See “start your studs” above. I would be cautious about putting Mike Williams or Jared Cook in my lineup due to the matchup though. If Herbert, Ekeler, or Allen disappoint don’t worry they get a nice bounce-back game against the Cowboys in Week 2.

6. Start all your Niners

Much like the Bucs, the Niners draw a highly favorable matchup in their first game. The Lions gave up by far the most points and total yards a season ago. San Francisco is locked and loaded to produce some great offensive production this season and they should get off to a tremendous start.

George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, and Deebo Samuel are the obvious starts here. But I would also consider Raheem Mostert and even Jimmy Garoppolo as borderline must-starts given the matchup. If you are in a Superflex league, Jimmy G is a solid QB2 for the week.

7. Bench your Bears

The Bears draw the best defense in the league from a year ago, the Rams. If you have David Montgomery or Allen Robinson, then chances are you are going to have to start them given what they likely cost you at ADP. Just temper expectations given the tough matchup and the fact Chicago insists on starting Andy Dalton at quarterback.

If you have an RB3 close to Montgomery like James Robinson for example, then I would start him in Week 1. Likewise, if Robby Anderson is sitting in your WR4 slot it might not be a bad idea to leapfrog him over Robinson just for the week.

8. Don’t expect a big week from Zeke

Ezekiel Elliot has been an RB1 since entering the league but this is going to be a tough matchup against the Bucs. Tampa gave up the fewest rushing yards in 2020. Not to mention the Cowboys will likely be trailing the entire game. Zeke is evolved in the passing game somewhat but I would not expect more than a 15 point outing for the week.

9. Bench your Giants

Maybe the Giants will be able to get things going on offense at some point but it won’t be this week against the Broncos. Daniel Jones looked shaky in his limited preseason play and Saquon is coming back from injury. Besides Barkley, all other players are an easy fade for me.

10. Start your Jaguars

The Jaguars’ homecoming game comes early this year as they play the Houston Texans Week 1. They ranked bottom five in just about every important defensive statistic in 2020. There aren’t many fantasy “studs” on the Jaguars this season but they do have some intriguing options. James Robinson is a must-start, Trevor Lawrence and Marvin Jones should also put up solid numbers.

If you enjoyed this article, then you’re in luck! Be on the lookout for weekly installments of “10 tips to know” throughout the season. Feel free to follow me on Twitter @jaltorfer1. Any and all feedback is welcome.

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