The 2024 NFL season is finally here! You've drafted your teams and now it's time to set your Week 1 lineups.
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Jamey Eisenberg has all the Start 'Em & Sit 'Em insight you'll need to make sound decisions at running back ahead of Week 1, right here. His Waiver Wire column can also direct you to the best options that may be available in your leagues. And don't forget to check out Heath Cummings' wide receiver preview for more help with matchup notes, Week 1 numbers to know and more. Plus check out Heath's Week 1 projections over at Sportsline.
WRs to Start
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Nabers has the chance to make a splash in his NFL debut at home against the Vikings. While Stefon Gilmore was brought in to help Minnesota's secondary, the Vikings still allowed the fifth-most Fantasy points to opposing receivers last year. We should get a glimpse in Week 1 of what we'll see all season, which is Daniel Jones targeting Nabers a lot. And that volume should help Nabers perform like a top-20 Fantasy option in Week 1.
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Nico Collins is an obvious start this week, and he destroyed the Colts in 2023 with 16 catches, 341 yards and two touchdowns in two games. Tank Dell also beat up the Colts in his lone appearance against them with seven catches for 72 yards and a touchdown in Week 2. You can start all three Houston receivers in this matchup, and Diggs should have a solid debut in this AFC South rivalry. I expect the Texans to show off their new toy, and Diggs should be able to exploit the Indianapolis secondary on the perimeter.
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We get to see Godwin back in the slot, and hopefully he can challenge Mike Evans to lead Tampa Bay in targets this year. Both receivers should go off in this matchup with the Commanders at home, and last year Washington was No. 2 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers. No team allowed more touchdowns to opposing receivers than the Commanders with 29, so hopefully Godwin and Evans can both find the end zone in Week 1.
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I'm glad Kirk is no longer dealing with a calf injury, and hopefully he's 100 percent ready for Week 1. I like Brian Thomas Jr. as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver against the Dolphins, but Kirk is a borderline starter in all leagues. When healthy, he should be the go-to option for Trevor Lawrence, and this should be a good week for the Jaguars passing game since Miami's pass rush could be sluggish without Bradley Chubb (ACL) and potentially Jaelen Phillips (Achilles). Kirk has top-20 upside in PPR given this matchup.
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Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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Let's hope Watson stays healthy all season because he could be a standout Fantasy receiver in all leagues. In his last two healthy games with Jordan Love in the regular season in 2023, Watson combined for 12 catches for 165 yards and three touchdowns on 16 targets against the Lions and Chiefs. This week, I'd start Watson in all three-receiver leagues against the Eagles in Brazil, and Philadelphia was No. 1 last year in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers. Jayden Reed is also worth starting in three-receiver leagues, while Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks should be stashed on your bench.
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I'm hopeful that all of the buzz about Williams stepping up this season pays off because it could be a big third year given his expanded role in the offense. He's locked in as a starter opposite Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Williams could develop into a quality Fantasy option, starting this week. The Rams defense is going through a major transition with Raheem Morris, Aaron Donald and Ernest Jones all gone, and the Lions should take advantage of the changes in this matchup at home. Williams is worth using as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues.
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We'll finally get to see what Buffalo does with its revamped receiving corps for a full game since Curtis Samuel (toe) will be active, and this will be rookie Keon Coleman's NFL debut. I expect Shakir to have a prominent role, and he's worth starting as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in this matchup with the Cardinals. I would also use Coleman as a No. 3 receiver also, and Samuel is a solid reserve to stash on your bench for now.
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We'll see if Tyler Lockett (thigh) will play in Week 1 against Denver, but even if he's active, I still like Smith-Njigba as a potential No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues. Smith-Njigba will likely avoid facing top cornerback Patrick Surtain II for most of the game -- be a little wary of DK Metcalf this week -- so Smith-Njigba should be a go-to option for Geno Smith in Ryan Grubb's new offense. Coach Mike Macdonald said this offseason that Smith-Njigba will be "a massive piece" of the offense, and hopefully that starts in Week 1.
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There's a lot of hype around Palmer this season, and he's become a popular sleeper given his expected role in the Chargers' offense with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams gone. For Week 1, Palmer is worth using as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in deeper leagues, and hopefully he can have success against the Raiders like he has the past three times he's faced them. Over that span, Palmer has 14 catches for 250 yards and a touchdown on 27 targets, and he scored at least 13 PPR points in two of those outings. In Week 15 last year, Palmer had 21.3 PPR points without Allen and Williams on the field, which is a good sign for this week.
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WRs to Sit
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Aiyuk is more of a bust alert than a must-sit Fantasy option, but two things are working against him this week. We'll see if there's any rust from his contract situation, which kept him out of practice in training camp, and his snaps could be limited in Week 1. And then he has to face a tough matchup against the Jets, which could mean lining up against Sauce Gardner. I would only start Aiyuk in three-receiver leagues in Week 1.
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In two games against the Texans last year, Pittman got a lot of volume, with not much to show for it. He had 18 targets in two games against Houston and 13 catches, but he combined for just 100 yards and no touchdowns. In PPR, the 13.6 points that he scored in Week 2 isn't horrible, but I would still only start Pittman in three-receiver leagues in this matchup. This secondary, which is led by talented cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., allowed the second-fewest touchdowns to receivers in 2023 with 10, and the pass rush improved with the addition of Danielle Hunter. Pittman could again struggle against the Texans this week.
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DeAndre Hopkins (knee) is hopeful of playing in Week 1 at the Bears, but no matter what happens with him, I'd still only start Ridley in three-receiver leagues this week. The matchup against Chicago's secondary, which is led by standout cornerback Jaylon Johnson, will be tough, and the Bears pass rush should be improved now that Montez Sweat had a full offseason with the team. There's a lot to like about Ridley's outlook for the season, but he shouldn't be considered a must-start Fantasy receiver in Week 1.
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The Saints secondary, which is led by cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo, is tough, and Johnson could struggle in this matchup on the road. New Orleans was No. 8 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers in 2023, and Johnson is only worth starting in three receiver leagues in Week 1, with his value higher in PPR. We'll see how quickly he established a rapport with Bryce Young, and I'm excited about Johnson's outlook for the season. But hopefully you don't need to start him against New Orleans this week.
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Bust Alert (Start/Sit)
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Moore is still worth starting in three-receiver leagues in Week 1, but this Titans defense, especially in the secondary, will look dramatically different compared to last year when Tennessee was No. 6 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers. The Titans got two new starting cornerbacks in L'Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie and a new starting safety in Quandre Diggs. And new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson should help as well. Moore should be the top target for Caleb Williams, but it's a crowded receiving corps with the additions of Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze, who will take away targets from Moore. He's not a must-sit Fantasy receiver by any means, but he could struggle given the changes to the Tennessee secondary this season.
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