Every Saturday morning, I'll take a quick look at all the week's games, offering my own take on what I think will happen, as well as touching on significant injury news since our Weekly came out. I'll check in every so often over the course of the day to answer questions, too.
Welcome to another year of this column. Here's the drill: our official rankings and projections are in Fantasy Index Weekly. That's the content you're paying for. My goal here is to answer questions on players who are close, and on occasion I will have opinions that clash with the rankings -- sometimes I like a player a little more than Ian. Or a little less. If you ask me Who to Start? between Player A and Player B, and Player A is 15 spots higher in the rankings, then I will probably skip the question; answer is right there.
In short, I'm here to give opinions and help as best I can, but when in doubt, I suggest you favor the official rankings. That's what we put the most research and blood, sweat and tears into. OK, on to the games!
Buccaneers at Falcons: I sort of like the Bucs as a sleeper team this season. I think Jameis Winston is going to take a step up, love the wide receiver duo, think the defense might be a little better than expected. And hard to feel good about the Falcons, really, especially on defense. I would start usual players in this game, steering clear of the Bucs tight end situation. Think Jacob Tamme is underrated in PPR leagues.
Bills at Ravens: Don't have a great feel for this one. I respect John Harbaugh and suspect the Ravens will get the win; still got some defensive talent, and some capable players on offense. But I don't know how you could strongly consider using any member of the Ravens offense, with a likely committee at running back and tight end and probably wide receiver, too. Sammy Watkins and LeSean McCoy, that's what we're looking at in this game. Next.
Bears at Texans: I will occasionally discuss my suicide pool, which I've won or shared the money in a couple of times in the past. Seattle is the best pick this week, I think, but I gave my wife that pick and took Houston (we will never pick the same game). I'm on board with our feeling the Bears are going to be bad, and I think Houston will be amped from the moment J.J. Watt comes out onto the field. I like Houston's main offensive players, though I'm little nervous about Brock Osweiler. But I don't think Chicago has the defense to take advantage. Langford, Jeffery and maybe Zach Miller in PPR, that's about it for me here.
Packers at Jaguars: Chris Ivory is questionable for this game. I'm thinking he'll play, but there's some risk, and I'm more apt to use T.J. Yeldon, who I somehow ended up with as a starter in one league. It's not a great matchup for the Packers with Jacksonville's rebuilt defense, and if you followed our rankings you probably didn't draft Jordy Nelson or Jared Cook anyway. I'm starting Rodgers and would use Lacy or Cobb. Jacksonville's passing game, if you drafted them, go ahead; the matchup is fine. Gonna be hot, just as it is here in the Northeast, where I'm probably going to the pool this afternoon.
Chargers at Kansas City: I've been down on the Kansas City defense, but they've got some talent, and they've had some recent success against the Chargers. So I'd be limiting my starting options to Rivers and Allen and Gates, and that's it. Not really buying Gordon yet, but maybe he'll prove me wrong. The big story here is yesterday's report that Kansas City might use a Spencer Ware-Charcandrick West timeshare. It's scary, but I've decided I'm going to roll with Ware anyway. I still think he'll get most rushing attempts and carry near the goal line. So maybe he loses some change of pace carries and passing downs work to West. So be it. Ware should get 60-70 percent of the snaps at a minimum and I'm willing to take my chances.
Raiders at Saints: I won't talk a lot about my daily fantasy teams, though I do dabble. And you can bet I'll be looking at low-priced players facing the Saints on a regular basis. So Derek Carr and Michael Crabtree are options. For the Saints, I'm fine with Cooks, Snead and Ingram, and Brees at home is usually fine. I am starting the Raiders defense in one league where I tend to stream different ones, but may switch to Tennessee.
Bengals at Jets: I also have Jeremy Hill as a starter in a league or two, and this is like the worst possible matchup for him. But I'll start him and hope the ball ends up near the goal line and he gets me a short score. Better to use Bernard in PPR, though. Usual options for the Jets - Marshall, Decker and sure on Matt Forte.
Browns at Eagles: I think the Eagles are like 7.5 points favorites in this game, or at least they opened that high. I agree that the Browns will be bad, but maybe we should see Carson Wentz get in an actual NFL game before assuming he's going to be fine as the starting quarterback. I like Ryan Mathews and that's really about it for Philly, no I'm not using Jordan Matthews until I see more of Wentz. For Cleveland, Crowell and Barnidge. No way was I making Philly my suicide pick.
Vikings at Titans: I'm really thinking about putting Derrick Henry into a lineup. Tough to start a No. 2 running back, but I'm a believer in this Thunder and Thunder backfield stuff. Titans have started out strong in recent years, they're home, the Vikings might be still shell-shocked from the Bridgewater injury. I will quietly avoid both passing games if possible.
Dolphins at Seahawks: Rough early slate of games for Miami: at Seattle and New England the first two weeks before a home tap-in against Cleveland. Arian Foster and Jarvis Landry are about it for me. For Seattle, I'd rather start Michael this week than Rawls. Will Marshawn Lynch unretire, maybe, we'll see. No inside info, beyond you'd think Seattle has moved on. Happy reports about Jimmy Graham in practice. Whatever. Last year Graham didn't do a lot in this offense -- didn't score from Week 4 through Week 12 -- so not a player I'm interested in even if he's healthy.
Giants at Cowboys: I was impressed by Dak Prescott in the preseason, but let's see if he can keep things going. I'll be using Odell Beckham Jr., obviously. Would also use Rashad Jennings, lead back until he gets hurt. Am using Bryant, Witten and Elliott. These games have been fairly high-scoring of late.
Lions at Colts: Indy's offense has the talent on this team; its defense does not. So I'm expecting a high-scoring shootout and am all over players on both teams, especially the passing game. Lions will use too much of a committee for me to get excited about the backfield, Colts using an old guy. Sneaky potential in targets like Anquan Boldin and Dwayne Allen, methinks.
Patriots at Cardinals: The Sunday night game. Would be a little more appealing if Tom Brady were playing, but whatever. The big news is that Rob Gronkowski won't play either, so nice week to be facing him. Start Martellus Bennett if you have him, obviously. Love Chris Collinsworth's voice but watching a game the other night he referred to somebody as a "thrower of the football," which just makes me shake my head. Traded for David Johnson in dynasty this week and gave up a mint so I hope he has a good/healthy game. Risky using Patriots receivers aside from Bennett and Julian Edelman, and I'm avoiding the backfield, too. Maybe you try Chris Hogan, but I would personally like to see his usage first.
Steelers at Washington: I think Washington will be pretty good this year, but this is a game I like the passing game, and I want no part of Matt Jones. Pittsburgh's offense should be fine across the board, and I'm sneaking slot receiver Eli Rogers into a lineup or two -- especially if it turns out Markus Wheaton can't go. It's always something with Wheaton, it seems.
Rams at 49ers: Todd Gurley and Carlos Hyde are the only gotta start options. There's maybe some PPR value in Tavon Austin and Jeremy Kerley, who could be San Francisco's most targeted wide receiver, but if you start either player and get burned, you can't complain too much. We know the Rams won't have a good passing offense, and it's hard to get too excited about San Francisco's either.
As always, I will check back in later today to answer questions. Good luck to you in all your Week 1 matchups, and enjoy the games.
--Andy Richardson