Fantasy football strategy, rankings, and podcasts

Football is back, and with it comes the return of the weekly articles that drinkfive has always tried to provide on a timely basis. With 'Under the Radar' I hope to help raise some awareness of players that could make a leap in performance but are likely still available for cheap or even free on your league's waiver wire. Thanks to FantasyPros player cards, you can take a quick look at all of these guys just by clicking on the icon next to their names. Please leave any questions/comments below and remember to have fun in week 1 and wreak havoc in your leagues this year!

(Listen to the Fantasy Football Podcast, 9/8/15: Week 1 Preview) 

THURSDAY NIGHT

Steelers @ Patriots

Tom Brady’s triumphant return after defeating the evil Roger Goodell? Maybe. The Patriots started slowly last season and will likely do the same thing this year with a depleted secondary, banged up wide receivers and rag tag group of running backs. Under the Radar: DeAngelo Williams, Markus Wheaton, Dion Lewis, Brandon Bolden, Danny Amendola

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SUNDAY MORNING

Colts @ Bills

The Colts have built up their offense with proven veterans like Andre Johnson and Frank Gore in an effort to get to the big game now, rather than waiting to draft and develop talent around Andrew Luck. Might work for them! The Bills have perhaps the best defense in the NFL, and some great offensive weapons in guys like Watkins, McCoy and Harvin but their QB situation with Tyrod Taylor under center is extremely volatile. The Colts defense is a good play here in week 1, as is any defense going up against the new guy. Under the Radar: Phillip Dorsett, Donte Moncrief, Dwayne Allen, Tyrod Taylor, Karlos Williams, Charles Clay

Browns @ Jets

Not the most exciting match-up in NFL history; both teams lost the battle for relevancy pretty early on in 2014. Both teams have very solid defenses and equally unstable situations at quarterback with re-tooled receivers. Josh McCown and Ryan Fitzpatrick are less than interesting, but that doesn’t mean that the game is without standouts at their positions. Under the Radar: Eric Decker, Brian Hartline, Duke Johnson, Chris Ivory

Panthers @ Jaguars

Standout rookie Kelvin Benjamin is gone for the season, leaving Newton and the Panthers with Jonathan Stewart, Devin Funchess and Greg Olsen. That’s not enough on paper to get where they were last year, so without a superman season from Newton, they’re in trouble. The Jaguars are looking better each year, growing a good defense and turning some unfortunate seasons into good draft picks like Allen Robinson. Under the Radar: Cameron Artis-Payne, Corey Brown, T.J. Yeldon, Allen Hurns

Packers @ Bears

Sorry Bears, rebuilding really hurts the fantasy value of your players. The Packers win this one, hands down, even without Jordy Nelson. Does Alshon Jeffery get a chance to play? That news may not come out until game day, unfortunately. Under the Radar: James Jones, Richard Rodgers, Jeremy Langford, Eddie Royal

Chiefs @Texans

The Chiefs upgraded at wide receiver by picking up Jeremy Maclin and ditching Dwayne Bowe. Their other skill positions are filled to the brim with talent with names like Jamaal Charles and Travis Kelce. The Texans have a killer defense that only gets better with Jadeveon Clowney included and one of the best upcoming WRs in DeAndre Hopkins. What they don’t have right now is a quarterback or a running back. Under the Radar: Knile Davis, Cecil Shorts, Jaelen Strong, Garrett Graham

Dolphins @ Redskins

The Dolphins are making strides this season both defensively and offensively. They’ve picked up wide receiver depth and talent as well as strengthening the defense with Suh and bringing on Jordan Cameron. Tannehill has improved every year and looks to keep on going with his new tools. The Redskins are struggling mightily at the quarterback position and it looks as though they have finally decided to ditch RG3 in favor of Kirk Cousins. For better or for worse, it’s a new era in Washington. Under the Radar: Jonas Gray, Kenny Stills, Jordan Reed, Matt Jones

Seahawks @ Rams

The Seahawks got better? Nuts.. Adding Jimmy Graham and Fred Jackson has increased the offensive power of this defensive juggernaut. Teams should be very afraid this year. Kam Chancellor may hold out for some or all of the season, but that’s not enough to push the Seahawks from being Super Bowl favorites. The Rams have some talent to develop in Todd Gurley but he looks like he’ll come along slowly. Their new QB, Nick Foles, is a big question mark in the Rams offense.. will he mesh with #1 WR Brian Quick? Under the Radar: Tyler Lockett, Kenny Britt, Tre Mason

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SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Lions @ Chargers

Megatron and Tate should find all the success in the world this year in Detroit’s offense, especially with newcomer Abdullah adding a threat to the backfield. The Chargers’ offense is a little lacking in 2015 with aging TE Gates suspended for 4 games and Keenan Allen regressing from his rookie season. New acquisition Stevie Johnson should provide a spark as well as Danny Woodhead, who is healthy once again. Under the Radar: Stevie Johnson, Danny Woodhead, Eric Ebron

Saints @ Cardinals

Drew Brees and the Saints had a losing season last year, and it’s not likely that will continue to happen. Even though he lost some important offensive tools in Jimmy Graham and Kenny Stills, Brees has always had the ability to spread the ball around. The Cardinals will need Carson Palmer to stay healthy this season in order to make it to the playoffs, but if he can last the duration of 2015 that could mean big things for this offense. A weak point is at RB, and it’s unclear who will come out on top this year (Ellington, Johnson or Johnson). Under the Radar: Brandon Coleman, C.J. Spiller, John Brown, Jaron Brown

Ravens @ Broncos

Marc Trestman’s offense gets a good test in week 1 against the Denver Broncos – all signs point to Forsett continuing to be productive here and Steve Smith will likely shine early in the season as he has done throughout his career. The major issue here is the lack of depth at wide receiver. Look for Kamar Aiken to surprise if he can play up to the task at hand. Not much has changed for the Broncos except slightly more of a focus on the running game, with the aging Peyton Manning under center. Don’t get me wrong, Manning will still play lights out football but the Broncos will try to be more conservative to keep him healthy all season. Under the Radar: Kamar Aiken, Ronnie Hillman, Owen Daniels

Bengals @ Raiders

The Bengals will look to capitalize on what successes they have already had and keep pushing the running game with Jeremy Hill. The WR2 spot still has yet to be consistently filled and a lot of those targets will fall to TE Tyler Eifert. The Raiders have a new/young offense including guys Amari Cooper and Latavius Murray led by Derek Carr, who could take another step forward this season. Watch out for this team in 2015. Under the Radar: Michael Crabtree, Mychal Rivera, Tyler Eifert

Titans @ Buccaneers

Marcus Mariota is going to lead the Titans to a more successful season than in 2014. The big question is how much more successful? Without a lot of developed weapons, probably not that much more. Kendall Wright could shine here in PPR leagues with the volume of targets that he is slated to receive, but the rest of the team is a toss-up. The Bucs also have a rookie QB in Jameis Winston but they have more established tools on offense (Doug Martin, Vincent Jackson, Mike Evans, etc). The Bucs should enjoy more early success because of this. Under the Radar: Delanie Walker, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Terrance West

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SUNDAY NIGHT

Giants @ Cowboys

The Cowboys jump into the 2015 season with a great passing attack, but a very jumbled backfield. Neither Joseph Randle nor Darren McFadden seem to be the guy that will lead them out of chaos, so it’s more likely that this situation will just be a rotating carousel of running backs depending on who is performing better from week-to-week. The Giants look to improve on their record from last year and should be able to do just that, though they have a similarly muddy looking backfield with Jennings and Williams. Best to focus on the pass with these two teams until their running situations become more fleshed out. Under the Radar: Reuben Randle, Shane Vereen, Terrance Williams, Christine Michael

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MONDAY NIGHT

Eagles @ Falcons

We could talk about the Eagles forever – the combination of explosive talent and fast-paced play running that Chip Kelly has bottled right now in Philadelphia could catapult the Eagles to the top of the charts pretty quickly. Bradford’s health and Murray’s production will ultimately determine whether or not this team makes it in the post-season. The Falcons have a comfortable passing attack and one of the best NFL receivers in Julio Jones, but they have major issues at the running back position. It looks like Tevin Coleman will start off the season with the job, but can he really make it his? Under the Radar: Jacob Tamme, Ryan Mathews, Leonard Hankerson

Vikings @ 49ers

The Vikings have impressed in the preseason (which doesn’t mean a whole lot) with good performances from Teddy Bridgewater and Co. The return of Adrian Peterson definitely adds an air of confidence for the team, and their defense has been looking like a cohesive unit lately. Looks like the battle of the NFC North might end up between Green Bay and Minnesota this year. San Francisco has lost a ton of players on offense and defense and I’m not sure that they can successfully recover this year. One bright spot is the addition of Torrey Smith, and the sure-handed Anquan Boldin is still kickin’. Nope, things do not bode well for the 49ers in 2015. Under the Radar: Reggie Bush, Charles Johnson, Vernon Davis

Now that the yearly fantasy drafts are wrapped up it’s time for the degenerate gamblers in us all to turn our attention to our daily fantasy picks for week 1. I believe the early weeks in the season provide a perfect opportunity to pad your account with some easy money. Whether it’s Fanduel, or any other daily fantasy site, they are limited in the way they increase salaries for certain players without current year statistics backing it up. Good for you and me because we can grab some obvious value players in the early weeks before their salaries start to level off with their production. In my week 1 lineup I have a handful of such players.

Sam Bradford, PHI - $7,500 at ATL

I almost always try to find the best value pick at quarterback on Fanduel.  Passing touchdowns are only worth 4 points as opposed to 6 points for rushing and receiving so I like to save cap space at quarterback when I can. There is plenty to like about Sam Bradford in week 1. He has had a productive preseason and his talents fit very well in Chip Kelly’s offense. The Atlanta defense gave up the most passing yards last season. Philadelphia was second worst in passing defense last season so this game is shaping up to be a shootout. Lastly Sam Bradford’s injury concerns have very little merit in daily fantasy, unless he goes down early on Sunday (knock on wood).

Jeremy Hill, CIN - $8,600 at OAK

Jeremy Hill made his debut last season in week 9 and Giovani Bernard never stood a chance. Hill is the Bengals feature running back and received all the goal line work in the dress rehearsal game. This is a plus for week 1 as Oakland gave up 17 rushing touchdowns last season. He is toward the top of the cap for RB’s this week but this is prime example of why saving money on QB pays off.

Christopher Ivory, NYJ - $6,400 vs. CLE

Chris Ivory has risen to the top of the depth chart for the Jets to start the season. He is a beast with the rock and will likely see plenty of opportunity as Ryan Fitzpatrick was forced into the starting role. The Jets have a fantastic matchup this week against the Browns who ranked dead last in run defense last season. His hit against the cap is minimal for the amount of work we can expect to see and the favorable matchup.

Julio Jones, ATL - $9,000 vs. PHI

Very rarely will I recommend spending top dollar on any player. This week I am making that rare exception when it comes to Julio Jones. The Falcons/Eagles game has the highest projected point’s total (55) of any other game in Week 1. Atlanta prefers to get work done through the air and the matchup is perfect against the Eagles pass defense that finished 2^nd to last in 2014. Spend the cap space and gain yourself a clear cut elite WR1.

Jarvis Landry, MIA - $6,900 at WAS

Landry happens to be one of my favorite WR2’s heading into the season. He is entering into his second season as the clear #1 in Miami. Tannehill looks Landry’s way early and often making him a PPR favorite week in and week out. Week 1 in particular is a favorable matchup as the Redskins gave up the most passing touchdowns (35) last season.

Davante Adams, GB - $5,500 at CHI

We haven’t been able to see much Adams this preseason. The packers were devastated by the loss of Nelson and Cobb had an injury scare too so Green Bay saw fit to protect their receivers. That being said I like his value this week. He is the #2 wide receiver on a high powered passing offense with one of the best quarterbacks throwing to him. His value is increased this week more than some based on the favorable matchup against the Bears. The Bears defense was bad last season and with coaching changes and scheme changes I don’t see the improvement necessary to prevent the Packers from embarrassing them once again.

Martellus Bennett, CHI - $6,200 vs. GB

Bennett is the small shining light at the end of the long dark tunnel that is the Chicago Bears fantasy value this season. Bennett’s athleticism makes him a good option at TE but week 1 in particular has advantages. The Bears have injury concerns at wide receiver and Bennett’s role was increased in game 3 of the preseason. He is a favorable target in the end zone for Jay Cutler. Finally, he historically plays his best ball in September. Last season his September stat line was 29 rec. 295 yards and 4 TD’s; in 2013 he was 20/225/3. If there was any time to bet on Bennett it is week 1.

Cody Parkey, PHI - $5,000 at ATL

I follow two basic rules when finding value for a kicker in daily fantasy leagues. I look at the odds boards to see what games have high point’s projections and I particularly look for favorable games that are in domes. Cody Parkey is a fantastic find for week 1 that exceeds expectations for both of my criteria. No matter what other advice you may listen to or ignore this is the piece of advice you will want to take.

Miami Dolphins DST - $4,700 at WAS

People might forget that for about half the season last year Miami was a pretty stout defense. Injuries and overall lack of depth failed them at the end of the season, but they have bolstered that defense this off season. I can tell you in two words why I like this match up. Kirk. Cousins. If that isn’t enough then I will also site the fact that Washington has had a world of distractions and “miscommunication” involving RGIII leading up the start of this season. The Redskins are a mess. Miami defense is strong. 

Welcome back to the Rookie Report! It’s been a long offseason, but hopefully you’re ready for the season to kick into gear. If you aren’t familiar with the column, each week I’ll break down the matchups that the relevant fantasy rookies face and tell you which ones you should play, which you should sit, and which ones you should think twice about. Always fit the recommendations to your team, and read the reasoning before blindly starting a player based on the word ‘Start’ in my recommendation.

Week one is always the toughest one to project the rookies. We don’t always know how their skills will translate, we don’t have a track record of usage to go off of, and we have a hard time trusting players like that. Because of that, the list of players to consider for week one is a little shorter than it will be for the rest of the season…so guess what? You get a bonus section this week! Before we get to the matchups for week one, here’s a look at my top 10 fantasy rookies for 2016 season:

Ezekiel Elliot is set to impress1. RB Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys: Zeke is the easy number one option here. He’s the clear cut number one back in the most running back-friendly offense in the league. Darren McFadden ran for nearly 1,100 yards and caught 40 passes for another 328 last year, and he doesn’t have the same talent as Elliott and wasn’t the starter to open the year. I expect Dallas to try and repeat their formula from 2014 when they tried to dominate time of possession by pounding the rock with DeMarco Murray. Murray was the best RB in football that year, and that’s Elliott’s ceiling this year. Thanks to volume and that Cowboys o-line, his floor should still be an RB1.

2. WR Sterling Shepard, New York Giants: Shepard was a phenom at Oklahoma. He’s probably the best route-runner in this draft class and uses his savvy and quickness to get separation consistently. He enters an offense that has been desperate for a number 2 receiver to take pressure off Odell Beckham and they finally found one. It’s a long shot that Victor Cruz ever regains his previous form, so there is a huge role there for Shepard to take. Rueben Randle was awful as a Giant, and he was targeted 90 times last year. During the 2015 season at Oklahoma, the QBs throwing the ball had the equivalent of a 135.9 NFL passer rating when targeting Shepard. Eli is going to get attached to this kid quickly, and I expect him to top 100 targets as a rookie and be a solid WR3 in most fantasy leagues.

3. WR Corey Coleman, Cleveland Browns: Coleman was statistically the most prolific receiver in college in 2015, blowing by defenses in Baylor’s aggressive spread attack to the tune of 1,363 yards and 20 touchdowns. He follows in a line of Baylor WRs that includes Josh Gordon, Kendall Wright and Terrance Williams…and he’s likely to end up as the best one of the group. He gets dropped behind Shepard for this year because the Browns’ offense remains suspect, and Josh Gordon will return before long and take a large share of his targets. I expect Coleman to have similar target numbers to Shepard (maybe even more of them), but expect that Shep will be more efficient with his chances due to playing in a more efficient offense.

4. RB Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans: Henry was a bruiser in college, but there were a lot of concerns about his workload as a junior (395 carries) and his lack of agility, but he has put most of those concerns to bed with a torrid preseason. He has been terrorizing opposing defenses with 216 yards and 3 scores on 6.35 yards per carry in the exhibition season. In my opinion, his impressive camp has earned him a share of the workload this season despite the team acquiring DeMarco Murray, and he can be a touchdown machine if the Titans give him that chance. He should be drafted as an RB 3 or with the upside to become a strong RB2 if his role increases.

5. RB DeAndre Washington, Oakland Raiders: While Washington’s role to open the season seems larger than Derrick Henry’s, he lacks the same top-end upside. Washington will open the season as the team’s passing down back, which likely has him ticketed for 50-60 catches and a few TDs, but if he can’t steal some of Latavius Murray’s early down work, he won’t be much more than a weekly flex consideration. Washington ran for nearly 1,500 yards last year at Texas Tech, but their Air Raid offense is known for lining up 4+ wide receivers often, which creates some pretty soft fronts for the RB to run through. I’m yet to be convinced that he will run inside as effectively against NFL defenses. As I mentioned, he’s a weekly flex consideration, and should be drafted as such.

6. WR Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints: Thomas isn’t the flashiest wideout who was drafted this year, be he may have landed in the best situation (at least as long as Drew Brees is around). He seemed ticketed to play the ‘Big Slot’ role as a rookie, but reports have him playing on the outside in 3-WR sets. Still, with Coby Fleener’s struggles in camp he should see a nice target share in a very efficient passing offense. He replaces Marques Colston, who even through his decline averaged 60-788-4.7 over the past 3 years. Those numbers would have been good enough for WR37 last year, ahead of Donte Moncrief, Tyler Lockett, Marvin Jones and Alshon Jeffrey. Thomas should be in that ballpark. He will certainly have some usable weeks this year, and should be drafted as a WR4, or really good number 5.

7. WR Tajae Sharpe, Tennessee Titans: It was widely believed that the Titans were listing Sharpe ahead of Dorial Green-Beckham on the depth chart as a motivational tactic for the gifted 2^nd year WR…but it turns out they were more than willing to stick with Sharpe if DGB didn’t get his act together. Green-Beckham has been shipped off to Philly, and Sharped looks locked in as a starter alongside Rishard Matthews. It’ll be an up and down year for both Titans WRs. The offense will certainly want to focus on the run game with Murray and Henry, and when it’s working there will be some rough weeks due to low volume, but Sharpe caught 196 passes for 2,600 yards over the past 2 years at UMass. He’ll make the opportunities count when he gets them. He should be drafted shortly after Thomas.

8. WR Will Fuller, Houston Texans: I’m not a big believer in Fuller. I think the dropsies that he showed last year in college will re-surface in the NFL, but hey, that happened to Kelvin Benjamin in his rookie year and he still produced as a top fantasy target. Fuller’s speed is legit. He can take the top off the defense, and he has DeAndre Hopkins on the opposite side of the field to draw coverage away. Fuller will be boom-or-bust, and while I like my fantasy players to have a bit more consistency, there will be some strong games that can help your team, especially in DFS and best-ball formats.

9. WR Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals: Boyd was ultra-productive at Pitt, but a lot of experts question if he has the speed to separate from NFL defenders. His year one outlook is hurt by the fact that the Bengals are likely to be more run-heavy after losing their number 2 and 3 WRs (and missing their TE to start the year). It’s also hurt by the fact that he hasn’t passed Brandon LaFell on the depth chart yet. While he has an immediate role, it’s possible that someone not ranked in this top-10 moves ahead of him if injury strikes or if they move into a starting role (Treadwell, Doctson, Leonte Carroo, Malcolm Mitchell, etc.).

10. QB Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys: The Dak Attack appears to be for real, and he is opening the year as the starting QB of an offense that is set up for success. Dak will be asked to hand off to Zeke, and occasionally throw to Dez Bryant and Jason Witten to keep the sticks moving. They won’t put too much on his plate too soon, but he’s passed every test so far this preseason. He completed 78% of his throws and threw for 5 TDs, 0 INTs, and also ran for 2 scores. The rushing upside makes him playable in 2-QB leagues when the matchup is right. I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing that with Carson Wentz just yet. Jerry Jones has left open the possibility that Dak remains the starter once Romo returns if he plays well, so this might be a guy who starts all year. I think I’d still be afraid to draft him in a 10-team, 1-QB league even as a backup, but I’d be fine with it in deeper leagues. He has a solid shot to be a top-20 QB

Honorable Mention: K Roberto Aguayo, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: I wouldn’t feel right putting a kicker in the top-10 rookies, but he is one of the best college kickers of all-time, was drafted in the 2^nd round, and appears to be past his scuffles from early in camp. The offense there is improving, and Aguayo should have plenty of chances to put up points this season. He’s likely to finish in the top half of the league in fantasy points for kickers.

Alright, on to week one…

Rookies to Start:

RB Ezekiel Elliott, DAL (Wk. 1: vs. NYG): You have to start Zeke this week. If you drafted him, it was in the first two rounds, and you didn’t do it to sit him. His only competition for carries is from Alfred Morris, and the Giants allowed 19 fantasy points per game to opposing backs last year. The Cowboys are going to get back to their ball control formula from 2014, when they ran the ball on 49.64% of their offensive plays. With the workload expected for Elliott, he’s an RB1 play this week.

Borderline Rookies:

Can Dak succeed in Dallas?QB Dak Prescott, DAL (Wk. 1: vs. NYG): The Giants allowed the 2^nd most quarterback fantasy points in the league last year and  their pass defense ranked just 28^th in Football Outsider’s DVOA stat which measures defensive efficiency. Dak likely won’t have to throw a lot, but his rushing ability gives him a higher floor, and he has a shot at a strong QB2 day. I wouldn’t consider him in anything but the deepest of 1-QB leagues though. This is more for 2QB formats.

WR Sterling Shepard, NYG (Wk. 1: @Dal.): Shepard should get fed the ball if the defense doubles up on Odell Beckham. The Cowboys were 30^th in DVOA vs. #1 WRs last year, and 10^th vs. #2’s, so Beckham has a plus matchup, but there should be enough to go around for Shep. 70-80 yards out of Sterling would be a success in week 1.

WR Corey Coleman, CLE (Wk. 1: @Phi.): The Eagles were shredded by WRs in 2015 to the tune of almost 2,900 yards and 24 TDs (25.9 fantasy points allowed per game), but they upgraded the secondary this offseason. Both of their starting safties got grades of over 80 from Pro Football Focus in 2015(0-100 scale), so they should do a good job of limiting big plays, which are Coleman’s specialty. The Browns will look to get him involved, but 5-60 sounds about right for this week.

Rookies to Sit:

QB Carson Wentz, PHI (Wk. 1: vs. Cle.): The matchup looks good on paper, but don’t be fooled. Wentz isn’t ready yet. He will play in one of the slowest offenses in the league. Head Coach Doug Pederson’s Kansas City offense ran just 57.4 plays per game last year at home, 2^nd fewest in the NFL. That’s still about 20 more snaps than Carson Wentz has played against better than FCS-level competition. I’d expect a run-heavy attack and some growing pains for the rookie QB along the way. If everything goes right for him, he might be a low-end QB2. The upside just isn’t there this week (or probably for the next few weeks).

RB Derrick Henry, TEN (Wk. 1: vs. Min.): I’m a huge fan of Derrick Henry’s season-long potential to steal a big chunk of DeMarco Murray’s workload and become a TD machine, but week one might not be his best opportunity. The Vikings allowed just 5 RB rushing scores in ’15, and the 8^th-fewest fantasy in the league to opposing running backs. Their defense should be stronger this year as their young core gains experience. He would have to find the end zone to have a usable day.

RB Rob Kelley, WAS (Wk. 1: vs. Pit): Kelley had a strong preseason, prompting one beat writer to project a 60-40 split of early down work with Matt Jones this season. He will likely have some big weeks, especially if Jones spends any time banged up this year, but week one is not an ideal matchup to make an impact. The Steelers are very vulnerable on the back end of the D, but they allowed the 2^nd-fewest running back fantasy points a season ago. Kelley’s a stash for now in deeper leagues.

WR Michael Thomas, NO (Wk. 1: vs. Oak.): Thomas will have an opportunity to make an impact in week one if reports of Coby Fleener’s camp struggles are to be believed, but I’d be hard pressed to start him against Oakland’s ascending defense. It sounds like Thomas will line up outside in 3-WR sets,  which means Willie Snead will square off with the weak link of the Raiders’ secondary, DJ Hayden. Thomas should still be 3^rd in the pecking order for targets, and I’d have a hard time pulling the trigger on him this week.

WR Tyler Boyd, CIN (Wk. 1: @NYJ): Boyd has some upside this week, but like Thomas I’m just not comfortable making the call to put him in this week. AJ Green will likely get the Revis Island treatment, and it may be tough sledding to run against the Jets’ front, but they certainly will try to establish the run and Boyd is still running behind Brandon LaFell on the depth chart. I’m not sure he sees enough volume to be start-able.

WR Laquon Treadwell, MIN (Wk. 1: @Ten.): After failing to beat out Stefon Diggs and Charles Johnson for a starting role, Treadwell won’t be playable in fantasy in the early part of the season. The Vikings are just too run-heavy for their WR3 to be of value in the lineup.

WR Josh Doctson, WAS (Wk. 1: vs. Pit.): Much like Treadwell, Doctson is yet to carve out a role with the first-team offense. His struggles, however, have been related more to health than on-field performance. He’s going to work his way into the rotation sooner than later, but it likely won’t happen in week one.

Deep League Sleepers and Cheap DFS Plays:

RB DeAndre Washington, OAK (Wk. 1: @NO): The Saints allowed a league-high 910 receiving yards to opposing backs last season and 7 receiving TDs (tied for league-high). They also allowed the 3^rd most fantasy points to the position. While Latavius will be the lead back, Washington figures to have a prominent role in the passing game right away. He could make a decent flex-play in PPR leagues this week.

WR Will Fuller, HOU (Wk. 1: vs. Chi.): Fuller is a boom-or-bust punt play for DFS tourneys this week. His hands are an issue, but the Texans are likely to take a couple shots downfield against a suspect Bears defense. Fuller will have a chance to make a big play or two, and should cost the minimum on most DFS sites.

WR Tajae Sharpe, TEN (Wk. 1: vs. Min.): Like Fuller, Sharpe is more of a punt play in DFS tournaments. The Vikings were strong against WR1s in 2015, but they struggled vs. WR2s, ranking 25^th in DVOA on passes to the number 2 wide receiver. If we assume Rishard Matthews is the number one, that makes Sharpe the de facto number 2. Delanie Walker will undoubtedly lead the team in targets in this one, but Sharpe will cost just the minimum in DFS and has some upside for a respectable day.

That’s all I’ve got for this week. If there are any rookies not listed above, I wouldn’t recommend playing them this week. Now it’s time to sit back, put your feet up, and enjoy some NFL football that means something for the first time in 7 months. As always: Good luck, trust your gut, and have fun. It’s just a game.