It's the Dexter McCluster-and-Ryan Succop Bowl! The long-time Kansas City Chiefs return to their old stomping ground now as members of their rival ...
Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 1: Titans vs. Chiefs
It’s a midwest battle Sunday, as a Tennessee team travels to Kansas City for a season-opener.
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Okay, I'm being silly. But you find an angle on a random Tennessee Titans-Kansas City Chiefs season opener. The two teams play at 1 p.m. ET Sunday in Kansas City, and several players -- perhaps even McCluster -- could have fantasy relevance:
Titans
Start in every league: ...
Start if you're desperate: Shonn Greene, Kendall Wright
Bench: Jake Locker, Bishop Sankey, Dexter McCluster, Justin Hunter, Nate Washington, Delanie Walker, Ryan Succop, Defense/special teams
Despite all the Sankey love coming out of the draft, everything points to Greene carrying the load to start the season for the Titans. Everyone has occasionally taken a flyer on Greene and been disappointed, and odds are this season is no different, but he could be a very low-end flex play. ... Wright had significant trouble finding the end zone last year, scoring only twice despite plenty of catches. He’ll need to overcome that to be a worthwhile fantasy play this season.
Locker just hasn’t proven enough to be a starter, even in two-quarterback leagues. ... Maybe Sankey overtakes Greene down the road, but it clearly hasn’t happened yet, and he shouldn’t be used in fantasy. ... Aw, no love for McCluster, who has gotten some sleeper attention, but can’t possibly be started yet. ... Hunter is really interesting in the long run, but he’s a wait-and-see guy for now. ... The time has passed on Washington. ... Walker’s decent season last year feels like a fluke, to me. ... Succop has only been on a team for less than a week. ... Nope, not the Titans’ defense.
Chiefs
Start in every league: Jamaal Charles, Defense/special teams
Start if you're desperate: Alex Smith, Travis Kelce
Bench: Knile Davis, Donnie Avery, Cairo Santos
In a standard league, Charles is of course a must-start. In a PPR league, with Dwayne Bowe suspended, Charles is a super-duper-uber-no-doubt must-start. Enjoy. ... The Chiefs' defense isn't as good as it looked early last season, but it's still a must-start in a decent matchup.
Smith put up good numbers a year ago, but it’s not like he’s a fantasy dynamo. It’s hard to imagine a scenario in which you’d be using him, but hey, stranger things. ... Kelce has been a drafter’s darling leading up to the season, and I’m in on him as well, but if I have the option I’d rather use a proven commodity in Week 1.
Davis is close to a must-own if you have Jamaal Charles, but unless and until Charles gets hurt, Davis is unusable. ... Even with Bowe out, Avery (and Junior Hemingway, A.J. Jenkins, et al) can't be in your lineup. ... A kicker is a kicker is a kicker, but I want to see Santos' performance.
