Start and Sit is back for my two favorite positions, which are wide receivers and tight ends. The WR landscape is full of value, and so is the TE room. In fact, I waited on WRs and TEs in a handful of drafts due to the amount of value there is in later rounds for these positions. Here are the starts and sits for Week 1 of the fantasy football season.
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Week 1 WR and TE Starts and Sits
WR Starts
Emeka Egbuka (WR28) @ Atlanta Falcons
The time has arrived for Emeka Egbuka to dominate the fantasy football world. Egbuka is ranked as the WR28 on FantasyPros. Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan are out. Egbuka should be ranked as a top-15 WR, and do not worry about Liam Coen not being there anymore. Egbuka has a case to be the WR1 of his class after this season. The Ohio State product is my favorite start amongst all wide receivers in Week 1.
George Pickens (WR31) @ Philadelphia Eagles
George Pickens gets a fresh start in year four as he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys this offseason. Also, Pickens gets a much-needed QB upgrade. Despite never finishing higher than WR35 on a PPG basis, Pickens is now on a team with the worst RB room in the league. Prescott will throw the ball over 35 times a game, especially against the Eagles on opening night. All in all, Pickens is set for a career year. He has had 12 touchdowns through three years, and I think he can match that number this season.
WR Sits
DK Metcalf (WR29) @ New York Jets
For starters, I am a big believer in DK Metcalf for the 2025 season. The issue in Week 1 is that the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Jets have the lowest point total of any NFL game. I believe this will be an extremely low-scoring game with minimal offense. Therefore, I cannot start Metcalf and would rather sit him. Metcalf caught one ball in 2022 against Sauce Gardner, and in 2023, Metcalf had just 4 catches for 66 yards.
Jerry Jeudy (WR25) vs. Cincinnati Bengals
In two games against the Cincinnati Bengals last season, Jerry Jeudy combined for 6.8 fantasy points. In fact, Jeudy’s average WR finish in his past six games, not including his WR81 finish, was 16.8. He just can’t perform when he plays the Bengals, and the Browns will not be able to keep up with the Bengals’ offense
TE Starts
Brenton Strange (TE19) vs. Carolina Panthers
Brenton Strange is a prime candidate to break out with Liam Coen as his head coach. Also, the Panthers allowed the sixth most PPG to TEs in 2024. With all eyes focused on Brian Thomas and Travis Hunter, this is where Strange can capitalize. Strange is my sneakiest start in this series debut.
Hunter Henry (TE14) vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Death, taxes, and Hunter Henry finding a way to stay fantasy relevant every season. Henry faces the Las Vegas Raiders, who allowed the fourth most PPG to TEs in 2024. Now, the Patriots do have Stefon Diggs now, but Henry had 98 targets last season. That was fifth at the position. He was also seventh in redzone targets. I think Henry finds the endzone in Week 1 and should be considered as a start.
TE Sits
Evan Engram (TE9) vs. Tennessee Titans
Evan Engram is one of my favorite TEs for the fantasy football season, but the Tennessee Titans gave up the third-fewest PPG to the position in 2024. I believe the Broncos will decimate the Titans, and that will make it risky to start most of the weapons from the Broncos. The game could very well be out of reach early, and have them take a step off the gas.
Jake Ferguson (TE12) @ Philadelphia Eagles
Jake Ferguson faces the toughest linebacker core in the NFL. Arguably, he is up against the toughest front seven, too. The Eagles gave up less than 7 PPG to TEs in 2024, and I do not see anything changing in 2025. The Cowboys’ passing at a high rate will not change the outcome of Ferguson on opening night. He is a full fade for me and my favorite sit.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 1 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!
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