It’s crazy, right?  The NFL season is here. Your drafts and auctions are done, so it’s just time to set your lineups for Week 1 with one game in the bag already in Foxboro. I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling 22. OKAY, enough Taylor Swift. I don’t know about you, but I’m sad that draft season is over. It’s by far my favorite time in the fantasy football season. The mocks, the snake drafts, the slow-play drafts, the auctions, the scouting reports and all of the news leading up to the season can’t be matched. Now, it’s time for luck to kick in and play the big part that it does each football season. Each week, I’ll be highlighting different streamers that fantasy players should look at for the upcoming week at quarterback, tight end, defense and kicker. Obviously, some of the guys I write about won’t be available in your league. We do all play in different league sizes and rules, after all. So, if I write about Andy Dalton one week, just shoot me a comment below with your question and I’ll be more than happy to help there.
Let’s get things going, shall we?
Quarterbacks
Marcus Mariota (35.1%) @ TB – Call me a homer, that’s fine. No, not with the Titans, but with the Oregon Ducks. Either way, the matchup is appetizing for the rookie signal caller, as Tampa Bay gave up the 10th most fantasy points to quarterbacks last season. Expect Mariota to score a couple touchdowns and contribute both in the air and on the ground.
I’d start Mariota over: Cam Newton, Philip Rivers, Colin Kaepernick.
I’d sit Mariota for: Teddy Bridgewater, Ryan Tannehill, Carson Palmer.
Sam Bradford (79%) @ Atlanta – Yeah, I get it. He’s owned in most leagues. But if he’s out there somehow in any 10- or 12-team leagues, grab him. If he’s your second quarterback, start him. The Eagles are going to put up so many points Monday in Atlanta that everyone will praise Chip Kelly once again.
I’d start Bradford over: Peyton Manning, Matt Ryan, Drew Brees.
I’d sit Bradford for: Andrew Luck, Aaron Rodgers, Tony Romo.
Tight Ends
Ben Watson (3.4%) at Arizona – The Josh Hill hype train has slowed down, as it looks like it’s going to be Ben Watson that gets the majority of the work. He’s not an every-week player, but he faces the Cardinals, who gave up the sixth-most fantasy points to tight ends last season.
I’d start Watson over: Jason Witten, Delanie Walker, Tyler Eifert.
I’d sit Watson for: Jordan Cameron, Martellus Bennett.
Crockett Gilmore (1.2%) at Denver – Who? Yup, it isn’t Dennis Pitta anymore, and it won’t be Maxx Williams on Sunday. Look for Baltimore tight end Crockett Gilmore to get involved in the passing game for the Ravens against a Denver team that gave up the fourth-most fantasy points to tight ends last year.
I’d start Gilmore over: Richard Rodgers, Heath Miller, Austin Seferian-Jenkins.
I’d sit Gilmore for: Scott Chandler, Owen Daniels, Dwayne Allen.
Defense & Special Teams
Green Bay (48.6%) at Chicago – Jay Cutler is abysmal against the Packers. Not only that, but you take into account his proneness to turnovers and a gimpy Alshon Jeffery, it has all the makings for a big day for the Packers’ defense.
I’d start the Packers over: Jets, Texans, Chiefs.
I’d sit the Packers for: Panthers, Dolphins, Broncos.
Kicker
Chandler Catanzaro (13.5%) vs New Orleans: Kickers are annoying and anyone who has read my work in the past knows that I want them and defenses banned from all fantasy leagues. But, I digress. I’ll take a kicker on a high-scoring team that is playing indoors. Catanzaro fits the bill.
I’d start Catanzaro over: Justin Tucket, Matt Prater, Adam Vinatieri.
I’d sit Catanzaro for: Brandon McManus, Cody Parkey, Mason Crosby.
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