The New England Patriots have won the AFC East for five straight years and 10 of the last 11. The only blip in that time was when the 2008 Miami Dolphins sneaked in with an 11-5 season. Sunday, the Dolphins look to again interrupt the Patriots' dominance, as the teams open their season with a 1 p.m. ET game in Miami. There are, as usual, plenty of fantasy options in the game as well:
Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 1: Patriots vs. Dolphins
The Dolphins look to break up the Patriots’ hold on the AFC East to start the season in Sunday’s game.
Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Patriots
Start in every league: Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Stephen Gostkowski
Start if you're desperate: Shane Vereen, Danny Amendola, Julian Edelman, Defense/special teams
Here’s betting on a strong rebound season for Brady, and it should start Sunday. ... It’s Gronkowski’s first game back from an ACL tear, but he’s a must-start any time he plays. ... No kicker has better value week-to-week than Gostkowski.
Vereen will be the top guy out of the New England backfield, and his value of course rises in PPR, but there are so many mouths to feed that he might not be the best starter to open the season. ... Amendola and Edelman are receivers in a similar vein. Both are healthy to start the season, and both profile as low-end flex plays. ... The Patriots’ defense could easily be a low-end starting unit this season.
Ridley is always only a single fumble away from permanent bench status. Maybe after a couple games of security we can trust him, but right now it’s dicey. ... Dobson, Thompkins and LaFell will all have their moments this season, especially if and when the team’s other pass-catchers get hurt, but for now they’re stay-aways.
Dolphins
Start in every league: ...
Start if you're desperate: Knowshon Moreno, Charles Clay
Bench: Ryan Tannehill, Lamar Miller, Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline, Caleb Sturgis, Defense/special teams
It went back and forth in the preseason as to whether Moreno or Miller would carry the load in Miami, but for now, it looks like the ex-Bronco will lead the way. He’s tough to rely on, but if you are in a bad way, it’s not the end of the world. ... Clay was the Dolphins’ biggest pleasant surprise in 2013. He profiles as a back-end starter at tight end at best, but there’s potential.
Tannehill will have his moments, but a season-opener against a revamped Patriots’ pass D isn’t the right time. ... See the Moreno note above; Miller isn’t likely to get enough touches to be the starter. ... Wallace and Hartline are the prototypical just-outside-of-starting-range wide receivers. ... Sturgis missed eight different field-goal opportunities last year. ... The Dolphins’ defense against that offense is not a good mix.
