Assembling a championship-winning fantasy football roster in the draft is only half the battle. Now, knowing which of your players to start and who to sits on a weekly basis is the best way fantasy football managers can improve their winning odds.
Here are some undervalued players to consider starting and others to sit in Week 1 of the 2021 season.
Start
Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB) Washington Football Team
Fitzmagic is perhaps the most boom or bust quarterback in the NFL rivaled by only Jameis Winston. He has a history of starting hot and making NFL teams and Fantasy owners alike believe he’s the real deal. Coming off a strong stint in Miami, Fitz is now paired with the passing weapons of Terry McLaurin, Logan Thomas, and Curtis Samuel.
Fitz isn’t viewed as a QB1 and generally not even a QB2 by many. However, he has QB1 upside any given week. If you’re looking for a spot start in a one QB league it’s tough to imagine you can find a much better option that is potentially streamable. In SuperFlex leagues you need to plug him in and ride Fitz until the magic runs out.
Ty’Son Williams (RB) Baltimore Ravens
What a rough stretch for the Baltimore backfield. Gus Edwards was all ready to post RB1 numbers in the opener before suffering a devastating season-ending injury in practice on Thursday. While the Ravens have signed Le’Veon Bell, Devonta Freeman, and are also looking at Latavius Murray, undrafted rookie Ty’Son Williams should receive the lion’s share of touches against a suspect Raiders’ defense.
Baltimore won’t change their run-first mentality despite the carnage, so Williams looks like a good bet to rack up 15-plus touches and looks like a very good bet to post top-15 fantasy numbers.
DeVante Parker (WR) Miami Dolphins
With all the new weapons and rumors swirling around Miami this summer, it feels like people have forgotten about Parker. He is still the Dolphins WR1 and everything is lining up for him in Week 1. The newly acquired Dolphins’ wideout Will Fuller is suspended for the opener leaving a heavier target share for Parker. Patriots’ star cornerback Stephon Gilmore will also be sidelined for this one making Parker’s job a bit easier.
The Miami passing attack led by Tua Tagovialoa is expected to take a major step forward this season. If that is to be the case Parker when healthy will be a major part of that progression. If you are thin at receiver and looking for a flex option don’t just discount him Week 1. He’s being almost completely ignored in drafts and is still a valuable fantasy asset.
Tyler Conklin (TE) Minnesota Vikings
This start is all about opportunity. Teammate Irv Smith is likely out for the year and all Minnesota was able to add to help fill the void was Chris Herndon who has shown a distinct inability to catch or block. Conklin will be the starting tight end in Minnesota this year and has almost no competition this week being that Herndon was just recently acquired.
In the final four games last season with Smith also active, he saw 21 targets converting them into 15 receptions for 168 yards and a TD. With a larger opportunity and a terrible opponent in the Bengals, he is a fantastic streaming option this week for teams that either drafted Smith or just don’t invest much into tight ends.
Sit
Joe Burrow (QB) Cincinnati Bengals
With Burrow coming off a major knee reconstruction and less than glowing reviews of his performance this summer, I’m in wait-and-see mode with the second-year quarterback. This isn’t so about the matchup, just the player and the team around him. While he has the weapons to succeed, a balky knee and an atrocious offensive line is a dangerous combination for a quarterback who reportedly has struggled with confidence in his body this summer. If he looks good plug him in next week, but I’m waiting to evaluate him after I see him do something productive on the field.
D’Andre Swift (RB) Detroit Lions
My concern with Swift is the injured groin that forced him to miss all of the preseason. There are reports he was not expected to be a full go Week 1 and just because he’s active doesn’t mean he’ll see a full workload. Expect to see a heavy dose of Jamal Williams this week in Detroit to alleviate some of the stress off Swift as he works his way back into football shape.
A matchup against the 49ers should only make matters worse. They have one of the most talented defensive fronts in the league and the Lions’ offense should be no match for them. The only saving grace for Swift this week could be an abundance of targets in PPR leagues in the likely scenario Detroit is trailing in the second half.
J’Marr Chase (WR) Cincinnati Bengals
It’s no coincidence both Chase and his quarterback find themselves as sits this week, but Burrow’s potential struggles aren’t my biggest concern with Chase. Granted he had a poor preseason and training camp, but even that isn’t my biggest concern. Granted, if he lit it up all summer I would feel much more comfortable starting a guy that hasn’t played a meaningful game in well over a year.
My biggest concern with Chase is I don’t expect the Bengals passing attack to light the world on fire early in the season and I believe he will fall behind both Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd in targets this season. I project Higgins as the big-play WR1 and Boyd the target hog out of the slot. I’m not sure how much that leaves Chase, especially early in the season.
Dallas Goedert (TE) Philadelphia Eagles
Everything we’ve seen and heard out of Philadephia this summer says Goedert is not the top receiving tight end on the team no matter how much fantasy owners try to will it into reality. Zach Ertz was reportedly much more targeted in training camp and we got to see with our own eyes this preseason.
If you have Goedert on your fantasy roster there is a strong chance you overpaid for him. That’s okay, it happens. What’s not okay is staying committed to a mistake. There is still a chance he works out and is everything you hoped he would be. Nonetheless, if the warning signs are there do not be afraid to pull the plug. Don’t let him or any player sit in your lineup and hurt your team because of where you drafted them.
Lastly, If you have time to prepare, make sure you mock in our Mock Draft World Championships. No better way to practice for the real thing.
