Fantasy football advice, Week 1: Who to start for Bears vs. Texans
Dan Ciarrocchi reviews who needs to be in your lineup or on the bench for a game with more than a few fantasy options
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Start ‘em
Much to Jeremy Langford’s chagrin, J.J. Watt is expected to start without any limitations on Sunday. Despite that, Langford’s share of the backfield duties projects to be high enough to put up RB2-worthy numbers. Langford has a high floor and low ceiling for Week 1 against a stout Texans defense, but that still puts him in the conversation to start.
Alshon Jeffery’s talent is among the NFL’s elite at the receiver position, but the question with him will always be health. Slated to start Week 1, and with a dearth of proven options surrounding him, Jeffery projects to log several targets amid a game script that looks to lean toward pass-heavy.
Start ‘em?
Zach Miller could be a meaningful safety valve for Jay Cutler, who may very well spend the day under duress. However, Miller missed much of the summer due to a concussion, and Week 1 may not present an ideal scenario for him to get back to speed. He is a dart throw TE1/TE2 this week for fantasy owners who waited to address the position in drafts.
Sit ‘em
Cutler on the road against a ferocious front seven spells disaster. Keep him sidelined, as is the case with Kevin White, who should prove his worth first after a slow summer.
Houston Texans
Start ‘em
Even with offensive line concerns, the Texans have a fabulous matchup on paper with their new-look offense. Lamar Miller thrived behind a woeful line in Miami and could be fed early and often in a game that the Texans could run away with. DeAndre Hopkins faces a banged-up Bears secondary that is already thin to begin with, and has great odds of being the No. 1 receiver in all of fantasy for Week 1.
Start em?
Will Fuller has battled a hamstring injury and fantasy owners aren’t sure what his share of targets will be. However, this matchup is so tantalizing that he could be in line for flex consideration for teams that may have gone heavy on running backs in the beginning of drafts.
Sit ‘em
It’s easy to imagine Brock Osweiler getting love in DFS leagues due to his low cost and plus-matchup, but in season-long leagues, he is best relegated to the bench due to the depth at the position.
