Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 1: Quarterbacks

Week 1 of the fantasy football season is here, and we’re back with another crop of start/sit options. Week 1 is always the most challenging week to find quality under-the-radar picks and traps to avoid, but this weekend, those spots seem pretty clearly defined.

With that in mind, we’ll pick quarterbacks who should exceed expectations in Week 1, along with three you should probably sit.

Both quarterbacks, Carr and Marcus Mariota, are primed for huge performances in this game, which has all the makings of a true shootout. My only concern for Mariota is Tennessee’s commitment to DeMarco Murray and the running game, which could depress Mariota’s overall numbers. He’s still a terrific start, but Carr, as the road QB, is more likely to be playing from behind and his team is geared more toward the pass. Carr looked great in the preseason, so any injury concerns should be dismissed. He’s locked and loaded.

The sneaky shootout should take place in Washington, and again we look to the road QB who should be playing catch-up. Kirk Cousins is also an excellent start candidate this week against a traditionally poor Eagles secondary, but Wentz draws an equally favorable defense and has an upgraded receiver corps, led by Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith, and an improved run game. A 300-yard, three-touchdown game is definitely in play here, on both sides.

If you have Manning really late in your draft (like I did, 11th round), you are about to be rewarded in a big way for your patience and savvy shopping. With a sub-standard running game, the Giants are going to put the ball in Eli’s hands perhaps more than any other quarterback in the league. Manning threw a ridiculous amount last year, too, but he didn’t have a No. 2 receiver like Brandon Marshall and a pass-catching tight end like rookie Evan Engram. Add in Sterling Shepard as the No. 3, assuming Odell Beckham Jr. is healthy enough to play, and Manning could easily rip the Dallas secondary to shreds.

The narratives in this game are just not lining up for a solid Cam Newton performance. Recent history suggests the 49ers at home in Week 1 are a defensive buzzsaw. Newton is coming off shoulder surgery and barely threw the ball in his preseason appearances (two attempts in the Week 3 “dress rehearsal”). And it certainly seems the Panthers are committed to running the ball with Jonathan Stewart and rookie Christian McCaffrey, who already looks like a star and will almost certainly siphon away a chunk of Newton’s rushing totals. Let’s see how the shoulder looks first before committing to Newton in our lineups.

The Giants are fantasy death to opposing quarterbacks, and Prescott was not immune from that last season, posting two of his poorest performances of his brilliant season against Big Blue. This week, you have to think Ezekiel Elliott is going to be the engine of the offense, not least of which because he might not play again for six weeks. I suspect Prescott takes a supporting role in this one and comes in with a disappointing fantasy number. Wait until Elliott is out and Prescott has to do everything, then collect his big totals.

If there is a Fantasy Under-the-Radar Hall of Fame somewhere near Canton, Ohio, Rivers goes in on the first ballot. All he does is put up fancy numbers, even in games when he throws three picks and the Chargers lose by 20. Except in Denver. The three picks? Sure. The fancy numbers? Not so much. Rivers has always struggled on the road against the Broncos. Don’t expect that to change on Monday night.