This Starts and Sits column does not involve the obvious players we should all be starting weekly. These are players you are either afraid to play or just need some confidence in putting them into your lineup. The players who make these lists are played by me if I roster them. Week 1 is always tricky as last year’s data can be skewed. Teams can improve or even get worse than the previous year. Nonetheless, here are the starts and sits for Week 1 of the 2024 season.
Week 1 Fantasy Football Starts and Sits
Quarterback Starts
Matthew Stafford @ Detroit Lions
This has the perfect script written all over it. Matthew Stafford made the Detroit Lions relevant for the better part of a decade. After his time on the Lions, he found himself traded to the Los Angeles Rams where he won a Super Bowl. Now, Stafford makes his way back to the Motor City with a fully healthy offensive arsenal at his disposal. The Detroit Lions gave up the third most fantasy ppg to opposing Quarterbacks last season and lost C.J. Gardner-Johnson in the secondary. Stafford is a must-start in Week 1.
Trevor Lawrence @ Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins gave up the ninth-most fantasy ppg last year to quarterbacks, but have a healthy defense to start the season after the plague of injuries that struck them in 2023. With that being said, Lawrence has two new weapons that enjoy going deep. Gabe Davis and Brian Thomas should open the field up for Evan Engram and Christian Kirk. People expect the Dolphins to blow the Jaguars out, but I beg to differ. This sunshine state battle will feature a lot of offense and Lawrence is a must-start with a QB1 week to start his fourth NFL season.
Quarterback Sits
Dak Prescott @ Cleveland Browns
Dak Prescott was one of, if not the best quarterback in fantasy football from Week 6 till the end of the season. The Cleveland Browns on the other hand were one of the better defenses last season. Besides Ceedee Lamb and Jake Ferguson, there is not much for Prescott to work with. This does not mean he is a bad fantasy option at the position this season. It just means Mr. Prescott makes my sit list in starts and sits to start in what might be his final season on the Cowboys.
Justin Herbert vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Las Vegas has a LETHAL defensive line and signed Christian Wilkins this past off-season. The Los Angeles Chargers have an elite offensive line. This screams an ugly, run-dominant game with minimal passing. Justin Herbert from a numbers standpoint has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL in his first four seasons.
I cannot find myself starting him in this first week of the season. He finds himself on my bench in starts and sits until further notice. Once this offense plays a game, we can dictate how to treat Justin Herbert moving forward for 2024.
Running Back Starts
Alvin Kamara vs. Carolina Panthers
The crowd on Alvin Kamara is split down the middle. You have people saying he is “washed” and others saying he is still elite. I am here to say Alvin Kamara still has another RB1 season in him. This offense is Chris Olave and then who I believe to be the team’s WR2, Alvin Kamara. Kamara will be peppered with over 100 targets this season and has a great shot at seeing another 80 receptions.
Fire him up in your lineup vs a Carolina Panthers who simply cannot stop the run game. Expect Kamara to live with dump-offs from Derek Carr.
Joe Mixon @ Indianapolis Colts
Joe Mixon has seen three consecutive RB1 seasons and people think he cannot do it again. His going from the Cincinnati Bengals to the Houston Texans is a lateral move. He will still be the only running back seeing over 230 carries on the roster. Expect the Texans to be dominating teams all season with Mixon living at the goal line and running the clock out. Going against one of the worst run defenses from 2023, please start Joe Mixon everywhere even on draft kings, and enjoy what he does in Week 1.
Running Back Sits
D’Andre Swift vs Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans have had a dominant run defense way before my hair fell off my head. Now, they will try to replicate the same thing they did when Mike Vrabel was the head coach.
They gave up the seventh-fewest fantasy ppg to running backs last season and now face rookie quarterback, Caleb Williams. The running back, D’Andre Swift had a great season last year behind the best offensive line in the Philadelphia Eagles. Things will be different this season and I am sitting Swift in all my leagues to start 2024. This is my most confident sit in starts and sits this week.
Chuba Hubbard @ New Orleans Saints
The word on the street is that Chuba Hubbard will fill in nicely while Jonathan Brooks recovers. Hubbard did not do anything last season to rave over, but I understand the concept. The Saints were one of the few teams last year to be top ten in offense and defense last season.
If you went with the zero-RB strategy, Hubbard might be a decent option, but that is if you NEED to start him. Hubbard had over a 75% snap share vs the Saints in Week 14 last year to only finish as the RB25.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 1 Fantasy Football Rankings and analysis!