Fantasy Football Start ’em, Sit ’em: Week 1 WRs Include Michael Thomas

With NFL Week 1 upon us, it’s time to set your lineup to get the season started with a W. If you have Cooper Kupp, Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase or any other elite WR, you already know you are starting them. This fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em article will help you make the tough decisions for who to start on the fringes of WR2/Flex territory.

Welcome to our weekly fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em WR article!

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Fantasy Football Start ’em Sit ’em: Week 1 WRs

Start: Michael Thomas at Falcons

For the first time in over a full year and a half, Michael Thomas will take the field on Sunday. This time, he won’t have Drew Brees throwing him the ball. While there is some risk involved with playing anyone who hasn’t played in such a long time, Thomas is reported to be healthy and ready to go. With a good matchup against the Falcons, who finished in the bottom third against WRs last season, you can start him and expect at least WR2/Flex results this week as Jameis Winston will look his way early and often.

Start: Amon-Ra St. Brown

Over the final six games of last season, Amon-Ra St. Brown was the WR2 in fantasy football, averaging 25.2 fantasy points per game (fppg), and he was targeted at least 10 times per game. During this time, the Lions were without several key players, such as T.J. Hockenson, and D’Andre Swift missed time as well. Clearly, St. Brown established a role for himself going forward. While he may not reach the type of numbers he did to end last season, he makes for a solid WR2 start this week.

RELATED | Week 1 Fantasy Football Rankings — PPR + Half PPR

Sit: Allen Robinson II vs. Bills

While Allen Robinson II is going to be playing with by far the best QB he ever has, he is best left on the bench this week in his first game with Matthew Stafford. The Los Angeles Rams did not play any of their starters in the preseason and, for a QB-WR connection in a timing-based offense, it makes this an especially tough matchup against the Bills, who gave up the fewest fantasy points to opposing WRs last week. Keep him on the bench this week, if you have a better option at WR2.

Sit: Amari Cooper at Panthers

With Deshaun Watson suspended for the first part of the season, the Amari Cooper fantasy football stock has fallen from WR2 range to a low-end Flex option. Jacoby Brissett is a significantly lesser talent than Watson and Cooper’s QB last year, Dak Prescott. The Cleveland Browns also feature one of the best one-two RB punches in the league and will look to run it a large percentage of the time. Last season, Cooper was the WR27 in fantasy football PPR scoring, which feels like his ceiling this season, at least while Watson is suspended. This fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em article suggets you keep Cooper on your bench this week.