Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Week 1 of the 2023 Fantasy Football season

News

The 2023 NFL season is officially kicking off with a highly anticipated Week 1 Thursday Night Football matchup: Detroit Lions at Kansas City Chiefs (8:20 pm ET). The TNF game will also mark the start of the 2023 Fantasy Football season and MARCA's Start 'Em Sit 'Em for Week 1.

RELATED

Patrick Mahomes can't believe he got left out of the script for the new NFL seasonParker Johnson

With virtually all Fantasy Drafts squared away and funny team names set, it's not time to see who you should start (or sit) to get the win in Week 1. What QB (quarterback), RB (running back), TE (tight end) and D/ST (defense / special teams) units are must-starts this week?

Start 'Em, Week 1 Fantasy Football must-starts:

QB - Quarterback:

  • Tua Tagovailoa: The Miami Dolphins quarterback gave several concussion scares throughout the 2022 season, but is hoping that the judo classes he took in the offseason will pay off in an effort to avoid further head injuries. A Dolphins team packed with offensive weapons will square off against a Chargers squad led by Justin Herbert (QB) in what is predicted to be an offensive shootout.
  • Sam Howell: The Washington Commanders QB feels like a rookie in 2023, despite having played a full regular season game to end 2022. The UNC product will now play his first game as a team captain against an Arizona Cardinals franchise which seems like a clear tanking candidate. Look for Howell to command an underrated squad to victory (and lots of points) in Week 1.

RB - Running back:

  • Jahmyr Gibbs: It's usually risky to start a rookie in Week 1, with the exception of both Jahmyrr Gibbs (Detroit Lions) and Bijan Robinson (Atlanta Falcons). The Lions back has established himself as RB1 in Detroit's depth chart, ahead of David Montgomery, and is poised to be a candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Gibbs will also face a defensive line without Chris Jones, who is still on a holdout due to contract negotiations stalling.
  • Raheem Mostert: The Dolphins RB never disappoints when he has a large workload, and that's what he'll have in a thin Miami RB depth chart dealing with Jeff Wilson Jr.'s injury. Look for Mostert to get over 15 carries in his matchup against the Chargers in Week 1.

TE - Tight End:

  • Kyle Pitts: After a disappointing 2022 season, looks for the Atlanta Falcons tight end to come back in a big way. In an offense revamped by the arrival of rookie star Bijan Robinson, the NFC South team is poised to see lots of points versus division rivals Carolina Panthers in week 1. Head coach Arthur Smith received a lot of criticism for not using Pitts in his offensive scheme, but signs point to that being unlikely in 2023.
  • Tyler Higbee: The Los Angeles Rams tight end was free in many leagues throughout the 2022 season, despite ending the season as TE6 overall. Look for the Ram to take advantage of a Seattle Seahawks defense that allowed the second-most fantasy PPG, most yards (1,177), to opposing tight ends last season.

D/ST - Defense & Special Teams:

  • Washington Commanders: Washington's D and special teams is poised for a big fantasy scoreline against an Arizona Cardinals team with a question mark QB situation.
  • Jacksonville Jaguars: While Colts QB Anthony Richardson is poised to be fantasy force, he will likely have some turnovers in his debut against a stacked (and underrated) Jag, defense.

Sit 'Em, Week 1 Fantasy Football sits:

  • QB - Quarterbacks: Daniel Jones, NYG (vs DAL), Kenny Pickett, PIT (vs SF), Aaron Rodgers, NYJ (vs BUF).
  • RB - Running backs: Najee Harris, PIT (vs SF), Deon Jackson, IND (vs JAX), Jamaal Williams, NO (vs TEN), Rachaad White, TB (vs MIN).
  • WR - Wide Receivers: Marquise Brown, AZ (vs WAS), Michael Pittman Jr., IND (vs JAX), JuJu Smith-Schuster, NE (vs PHI9.
  • TE - Tight Ends: Greg Dulcich, DEN (vs LV), Dawson Knox, BUF (vs NYJ), Chigoziem Okonkwo, TEN (vs NO).
  • D/ST - Defense & Special Teams: Los Angeles Chargers (vs MIA), Cleveland Browns (vs CIN), New England Patriots (vs PHI).

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7rq3RnJhnm5%2BifKa6jqedpWeWlru1rdKyZJ%2Bnn6mvorjLaGlpamNkfXp7j29mb2yWbYNzfcRrbXGdY5qBo3yRcZltbWlpe6nAzKU%3D