ACC
Start 'EmSean Renfree, QB, Duke vs. Elon
Renfree is a good player who’s inheriting an ideal situation. He has skilled receivers in Donovan Varner, Conner Vernon and Austin Kelly, and a Week 1 matchup against FCS opponent Elon will be the perfect chance for him to get warmed up for BCS competition.
Ted Stachitas, QB, Wake Forest vs. Presbyterian
Like Renfree at Duke, Stachitas is being broken in as the new starting quarterback for Wake Forest. Also like Renfree, Stachitas will get a shot to find his rhythm against what will likely be an overmatched FCS opponent.
Sit 'Em
Bert Reed, WR, Florida State vs. Samford
Reed caught 60 passes for 711 yards last year and was long expected to be the team’s feature wideout in 2010, but he has drawn the ire of new coach Jimbo Fisher lately and has since had his starting spot drawn into question. Willie Haulstead was recently moved ahead of Reed on the depth chart.
Kyle Parker, QB, Clemson vs. North Texas
We list Parker on here not because he’d have any trouble throwing against the Mean Green, but rather because the Clemson offense will run so easily through the North Texas defense that Parker’s throwing ability will be entirely unnecessary.
Big 12
Start 'EmT.J. Moe, WR, Missouri vs. Illinois (Neutral Field)
Jerrell Jackson will be limited in this game with a wrist injury, and Moe is the team's top pass-catcher from the slot in that case. Moe was highly impressive in the offseason, and there have been whispers that he could lead the team in receptions this year.
Jay Finley, RB, Baylor vs. Sam Houston State
Finley’s 2009 season was wrecked by injuries, but he should be ready to go by this game. Before the ankle troubles struck last year, Finley was off to a brilliant start, taking 22 carries for 212 yards and a touchdown against Wake Forest and Connecticut.
Sit 'EmNiles Paul, WR, Nebraska vs. Western Kentucky
It’s a great matchup on paper, for sure, but the issue is that Nebraska will have no need at all to pass against Western Kentucky. Running backs Roy Helu and Rex Burkhead will easily carry the offense.
Lyle Leong, WR, Texas Tech vs. SMU
Texas Tech could very well need to throw it constantly to stay ahead of what could be an explosive SMU offense, but there are better options among the Red Raider receivers than Leong, who has been dealing with a concussion lately.
Big East
Start 'EmJoe Martinek, RB, Rutgers vs. Norfolk State
Martinek normally isn’t an exceptional fantasy option, but he could put up big numbers in Week 1 as Rutgers takes on Norfolk State at home. After running for 967 yards and nine touchdowns in 2009, Martinek is poised to start 2010 on a very strong note.
Bradley Battles, RB, South Florida vs. Stony Brook
Battles is the third running back on the South Florida depth chart, so this is really going out on a limb. But the Bulls will be playing at home against the FCS’ Stony Brook, meaning the third-stringers could be getting plenty of snaps.
Tom Savage, QB, Rutgers vs. Norfolk State
Savage will probably have an easy time throwing in this game, but he probably won’t throw it too many times, either. When Rutgers took on a similar opponent in Howard last year, Savage attempted only 13 passes.
Pittsburgh DST at Utah
The Pittsburgh defense should be tough this year, but it allowed 27 points on the road against Buffalo last season early in the year, and this game poses a similar threat. Except Utah is a lot better.
Big Ten
Start 'EmAdam Robinson, RB, Iowa vs. Eastern Illinois
With starter Jewel Hampton suspended for this game and Brandon Wegher’s availability in doubt, Robinson should have this FCS beatdown all to himself.
Robert Bolden, QB, Penn State vs. Youngstown State
Bolden appears to be leading the quarterback competition at Penn State. The Nittany Lions will look to instill confidence in whoever is ultimately the starter, and that’s what playing FCS teams is for.
Sit 'EmNick Toon, WR, Wisconsin at UNLV
The UNLV defense allowed 2,647 yards and 27 touchdowns on the ground in 12 games last year, so it's doubtful that Wisconsin will do much more than constantly hand the ball off to John Clay and Montee Ball.
Dan Persa, QB, Northwestern at Vanderbilt
We like Persa quite a lot for just about every game after this one, but this is a tough first start for him. At night and on the road against the SEC is an intimidating order.
Conference USA
Start 'EmJameel Owens, WR, Tulsa vs. East Carolina
This matchup features two high-flying offenses, as well as two less than great pass defenses. Tulsa needs someone besides Damaris Johnson to step up at wideout, and Owens is a former four-star recruit who transferred from Oklahoma to do just that.
Darryl Freeney, WR, East Carolina at Tulsa
From the same contest as Owens is Freeney, the more under the radar of East Carolina’s top two receivers. With Tulsa obsessing over wherever Dwayne Harris is on the field, Freeney should get plenty of opportunities.
Sit 'EmMartin Ward, RB, Marshall at Ohio State
Ward is a good talent who should eventually put up good numbers in a traditionally productive Marshall rushing attack, but the Thundering Herd is playing against the Buckeyes. Don’t even think about playing him.
Sam McGuffie, RB, Rice vs. Texas
The former Michigan transfer ought to do big things in Conference USA soon enough, but the Longhorns defense will make sure he does next to nothing in Week 1. Keep him on the bench until he sees North Texas in Week 2.
Independents
Start 'EmArmando Allen, RB, Notre Dave vs. Purdue
Allen has been a disappointment so far in his career, but few coaches get the best out of their players like Brian Kelly does. Kelly has expressed confidence in Allen this offseason, and a mediocre Purdue defense will give him a chance to show why.
Sit 'Em
Robert Hughes, RB, Notre Dame vs. Purdue
After being the touchdown vulture in the Notre Dame offense the last two years, Hughes now finds himself No. 3 on the Notre Dame depth chart behind Allen and Cierre Wood. Hughes’ days of (already slight) fantasy relevance are over.
Mid-American
Start 'EmSpencer Keith, QB, Kent State vs. Murray State
Keith showed promise as a freshman last year, and he ought to be improved as he heads into his sophomore season. Keith and receiver Tyshon Goode should tear through this FCS opponent.
Matt Brown, RB, Temple vs. Villanova
In what should be a pushover game for Temple, Brown will get plenty of work while the Owls give rest to star starting running back Bernard Pierce.
Sit 'Em
Zac Dysert, QB, Miami (OH) at Florida
Mix the MAC and the SEC, and bad things happen for the MAC. This will get really, really ugly. Save Dysert for his in-conference games.
Chandler Harnish, QB, Northern Illinois at Iowa State
Not only does Harnish face off against a tough Big 12 defense in this game, but he’s also perpetually at risk of losing snaps to Northern Illinois’ running specialist, DeMarcus Grady.
Mountain West
Start 'EmAsher Clark, RB, Air Force vs. Northwestern State
Clark heads into this game not only with a great matchup, but also with recent production that rivals that of any player in the country. In his last four games of 2009, Clark totaled 406 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.
Jereme Brooks, WR, Utah vs. Pittsburgh
This is a tough test for Brooks and the Utes, for sure, but the Utah offense has stood up strong against tough defenses in the past, and Brooks is the clear-cut No. 1 wideout for the team.
Sit 'Em
Matt Asiata, RB, Utah vs. Pittsburgh
While Brooks should find some success through the air, we doubt the Utah running game will be as productive. Pittsburgh allowed just 3.25 yards per carry last year.
Ed Wesley, RB, TCU vs. Oregon State
Wesley struggled to run effectively against the tougher defenses he faced last year, and Oregon State is definitely a tough defense, particularly against the run.
Pac-10
Start 'EmKenjon Barner, RB, Oregon vs. New Mexico
LaMichael James is suspended for this game, and Oregon is playing against New Mexico, which allowed 35.9 points per game last year. It’s easy to guess what happens next.
Marc Tyler, RB, USC at Hawaii
Tyler probably won’t hold onto the starting job all season, but a knee injury to Allen Bradford has given him the chance in practice to be the feature back in Week 1.
Sit 'Em
Kevin Prince, QB, UCLA at Kansas State
Prince has been limited by a back strain recently and, though he heads into this game as the starter, it’s doubtful that he’ll be at full strength. You can find someone better while Prince recovers.
UCLA DST at Kansas State
The Bruins defense lost a great deal of talent this offseason, and it heads into 2010 with injuries limiting its best remaining players. The team’s top defensive lineman, Datone Jones, is out for this game, and star safety Rahim Moore has dealt with groin and hamstring issues lately.
SEC
Start 'EmMario Fannin, RB, Auburn vs. Arkansas State
Fannin heads into this year as the top Auburn running back, and Arkansas State will obviously be an easy matchup. Onterio McCalebb and Michael Dyer could also produce in this one.
Chris Rainey, WR, Florida vs. Miami (OH)
Florida offensive lineman Mike Pouncey recently stated that Rainey would be the center of the Gators offense. When the Gators offense takes on the MAC, that means good numbers for the center of the Gators offense.
Sit 'Em
Richard Murphy, RB, LSU at North Carolina
Although Murphy heads into this year as the starting LSU running back, he’ll face stiff competition from Michael Ford, and the Tar Heel defense is very tough.
Stephen Garcia, QB, South Carolina vs. Southern Mississippi
Steve Spurrier seems to have lost his patience with Garcia, and said Connor Shaw would rotate with him at quarterback. Quarterback rotations are never good.
Sun Belt
Start 'EmFrank Goodin, RB, UL-Monroe at Arkansas
Yes, Arkansas will score tons of points on Monroe. But Monroe sticks with Goodin at all times, as seen in last year’s big losses against Texas and Arizona State, when Monroe still gave Goodin 15 carries per game.
Rob Housler, TE, Florida Atlantic at UAB
Housler redshirted in 2009, but he posted 519 yards and four touchdowns as Florida Atlantic's second tight end in 2008. He should get a lot of work this year.
Sit 'EmLance Dunbar, RB, North Texas at Clemson
This isn’t NFL fantasy football. You have to be ready to bench your first pick sometimes, because your backups will have much better matchups occasionally. Dunbar ran for five yards against Alabama last year. We’d be surprised if he ran for more than 50 or 60 against Clemson.
Bobby Rainey, RB, Western Kentucky at Nebraska
Like Dunbar, we love Rainey almost any other week this year. But pitting a Sun Belt squad against one of the better defenses in the BCS conferences is asking for a blowout.
WAC
Start 'Em
Steven Ensminger, QB, Louisiana Tech vs. Grambling State
Ensminger was surprisingly named starter recently over Ross Jenkins, and in Sonny Dykes’ spread offense, he should put up big numbers against this FC opponent.
Princeton McCarty, RB, Idaho vs. North Dakota
The Idaho offense should be explosive this year and McCarty is in line for big numbers now that DeMaundray Woolridge, who ran for 18 touchdowns last year, is no longer on the team.
Sit 'Em
Michael Smith, RB, Utah State at Oklahoma
See the comments on Lance Dunbar and Bobby Rainey. Smith will go off after Week 1, but the Sooners defense is very strong and might be too tall of an order for Utah State.
Bryant Moniz, QB, Hawaii vs. USC
Moniz was not impressive as a starter last year, and playing against USC is not exactly the greatest way to shake off the rust. This could get ugly.
