QBs to start in Week 1
Lions’ Matthew Stafford (vs. Jets): Matthew Stafford is always underrated when it comes to fantasy and in the NFL. Stafford has seven straight seasons of throwing for 4,000-plus yards and 20 touchdowns. That’s pretty impressive when considering he lacks a running game to help him every year. Last season, he was the seventh-ranked fantasy-scoring QB. This week he faces off against a New York Jets defense that allowed the third most points to QBs last year.
Stafford is a nice play in Week 1.
Vikings’ Kirk Cousins (vs. 49ers): Kirk Cousins will be playing in his first game for the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1. Cousins comes into this year, having thrown for 4,000-plus yards and 25-plus touchdowns three years in a row. Last season, he was the sixth-highest scoring QB in fantasy. He’s a solid option in fantasy but has problems with turnovers. Cousins has 31 fumbles (not all of them were lost) and 36 interceptions since 2015. I love his matchup in Week 1, though, as he goes against a weak 49ers secondary, which allowed the fourth most points to QBs last year.
Chargers’ Philip Rivers (vs. Chiefs): Philip Rivers is usually a nice option when it comes to fantasy. The last five years, Rivers has thrown for 4,000-plus yards and 25-plus touchdowns. Like Cousins, though, his turnovers aren’t where I’d like it to be. But he still puts up good fantasy numbers. Rivers was the eighth-highest scoring QB last year. The Chargers face off against their division rivals in the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1. Rivers has a great matchup in a game that will likely turn into a shootout. The Chiefs allowed the ninth most points to QBs last year, plus they lost cornerback Marcus Peters in their secondary.
Rivers should perform well in Week 1.
Under-the-Radar QBs
Rams’ Jared Goff (vs. Raiders): Jared Goff had a nice rebound year last season. It was his first year under head coach Sean McVay, where he thrived in the new Rams offense. Goff wasn’t elite last season but definitely held his own. He ranked as the 12th-highest scoring QB in fantasy, ahead of the Atlanta Falcons’ Matt Ryan. The Rams will go up against the Oakland Raiders who recently just traded their best defensive player in Khalil Mack. It’s been quite the start for Raiders head coach Jon Gruden. The Raiders allowed the eighth most points to QBs last year.
Broncos’ Case Keenum (vs. Seahawks): Case Keenum will play his first game in the Mile High City in Week 1. If I would’ve said to start a QB against the Seattle Seahawks the past four or five years, I’d be called crazy or a lunatic. Now, I will be starting a lot of QBs against this depleted Seahawks defense this season. The Seahawks lost defenders Richard Sherman, Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril and Kam Chancellor just this offseason. Those are a lot of holes that need to be fixed. Keenum is now in Denver where he does have a talented group of WRs.
If Keenum continues where he left off last year, he’ll be a sneaky play in Week 1.
QBs to sit in Week 1
Giants’ Eli Manning (vs. Jaguars): Eli Manning is a guy I’d definitely avoid in Week 1, unless you want to take a risk in DFS. Manning ranked as the 23rd-highest scoring QB last year behind guys like Jacoby Brissett and Josh McCown. Hopefully, with the addition of running back Saquon Barkley and the return of Odell Beckham Jr., Manning can rebound this year. I’d avoid him in Week 1, though, against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who allowed the least amount of points to QBs last year.
49ers’ Jimmy Garoppolo (vs. Vikings): Jimmy Garoppolo absolutely got paid this offseason. He’ll get a chance to show his worth in Week 1 when he faces a stingy Vikings defense. Garoppolo is a tough QB to gauge as he has such a small sample size. I think people will need to scale back expectations for Garoppolo, especially in Week 1.
The Vikings allowed the third least amount of points to QBs last year.
