NFL Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 1: Wide receiver sleepers, matchups, and more

After waiting months and months, the NFL is back, which also means the return of scrutinizing every lineup decision for fantasy football. With not all matchups being created equal, here are our top start ’em and sit ’em plays at WR for Week 1 of fantasy football.

Week 1 Start ‘Em | Wide receivers

Which WRs have favorable matchups in Week 1 and need to be started across the board in fantasy?

Start ‘Em | Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Although Chris Godwin gave us a scare when he popped up on the injury report on Tuesday, after a full participation the following day, Godwin is firmly back inside the must-start conversation for fantasy football in Week 1. Furthermore, he might very well explode against the Cowboys.

This week, against CB Jourdan Lewis on TNF, Godwin has one of the best matchups around the NFL. In four seasons, Lewis has allowed nearly 70% of passes to be completed for an average of 11.1 yards per reception. As a defense, the Cowboys were No. 28 in fantasy points allowed to WRs last season (41.9) but were dead last in points per target (2.11), points per reception (3.31), and TDs to WRs (29). 

In a game that could see some fireworks, Godwin is a high-end WR2 with top-eight upside in Week 1.

Start ‘Em | Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers

Every week, look at the matchups. Find whoever is playing the Detriot Lions and start the WRs going against them in fantasy. For Week 1, that is the San Francisco 49ers. The Lions are abysmal on defense and were No. 32 in total points allowed (112.26), QB points (23.8), and RB points (32.47) last season. They were also 30th against WRs, allowing 44.11 points per game.

Deebo Samuel is one of the best receivers in the NFL after the catch. In fact, he had more yards after the catch (404) in 2020 than he had total receiving yards (391). That’s what happens when you have a 2.3 aDOT (average depth or target) but averaged 12.2 yac/rec (yards after the catch per reception). Samuel is a high-end WR3 with WR2 upside in a cakewalk matchup.

Start ‘Em | DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles

Expect the reigning Heisman Trophy winner to get off to a hot start in Week 1 against a porous Falcons secondary. Last season, the Falcons were 32nd in points allowed to WRs (45.2) and 31st in points to QBs (23.3). More importantly, they were last in the NFL in receiving yards allowed to WRs (209.4) and allowed 21 touchdowns. If anything, the defense got worse in the offseason — losing Ricardo Allen, Keanu Neal, and Darqueze Dennard.

Expect to see the Eagles put the pedal down as both head coach Nick Sirianni and offensive coordinator Shane Steichen each ranked top 10 in pace last season. Throw in the expected improvement and breakout of Jalen Hurts, and Smith could see over 8 targets in his NFL debut. I like Smith as a WR3 this week and should be started in all fantasy football leagues.

Start ‘Em | Laviska Shenault, Jacksonville Jaguars

Do you know how I said to target the Lions? Well, add the Houston Texans to this equation as they resemble Bishop Sycamore more and more each day. The Texans were 26th in points vs. WRs last season (40.1) and allowed the third-most points overall (104.6). Even as recently as this week, they continued to deplete their depth by trading away Bradley Roby.

While normally I would avoid rookie QBs making their NFL debut and especially when paired with a rookie coach, I can’t pass this opportunity up. If you watched the preseason, then you already know Shenault will be force-fed the ball this year. Even more so after the loss of rookie Travis Etienne, who HC Urban Meyer planned on using at receiver quite extensively. Add in his rushing ability and how he carries the ball more like an RB than a WR, and Shenault should pile up the YAC this week. He is a solid flex play this week.

Start ‘Em | Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts

One WR going a bit more under the radar is Colts’ second-year receiver Michael Pittman Jr. With T.Y. Hilton out (neck surgery), Pittman is the unquestioned “X” for the Colts in Week 1. 

I really like his matchup as he likely takes on Seahawks CB Tre Flowers. After losing it twice last season, Flowers was a surprising winner of the starting job and wasn’t even in the conversation for the role at the beginning of camp because Ahkello Witherspoon signed for $4 million guaranteed. Yet, with Witherspoon now on the Steelers, it’s Flowers’ role to lose. 

Seattle did get better as a unit towards the end of the season but still finished as the 29th-ranked defense against opposing WRs, allowing 43.2 points per game. Pittman is a sneaky WR3 play in Week 1 for fantasy football with WR2 upside should he find the end zone.

Week 1 Sit ‘Em | Wide receivers

After seeing the upside players at WR for Week 1, who should fantasy football managers think twice about plugging into their lineups in Week 1 as start ’em or sit ’em decisions?

Sit ‘Em | Marquez Callaway, New Orleans Saints

I must be crazy, right? After lighting up the preseason and everyone and their grandma hyping up Marquez Callaway as a sleeper for this season. I get it. I have been one of those same people, and this one game does not change my stance. However, for Week 1, in his first game as a leading WR, I am pumping the brakes.

Not only do the Saints have a new QB for the first time in basically a half-century with Jameis Winston, but the Green Bay Packers have a solid defense, especially against the pass, ranking No. 5 in points allowed (32.5) last year.

The problem for Callaway is that he will likely see coverage from Jaire Alexander, one of the NFL’s elite cornerbacks. Yet, if the Packers don’t have Alexander shadow Callaway all game, he could exploit Kevin King. Callaway is a risky low-end flex play this week, and given the depth at WR, he falls in the sit ’em category for me in Week 1.

Sit ‘Em | Kenny Golladay, New York Giants

Having not played since Week 8 of last season and heading to a new team in the offseason, the last thing Kenny Golladay could afford was missed time. Unfortunately, that was exactly what he got by missing the majority of August with a hamstring injury. Those lost reps with Daniel Jones could be paramount if Golladay were to get off on the right foot in 2021. 

The matchup doesn’t get any easier, either. The Broncos have one of the better defenses in football and added first-round pick Patrick Surtain II to fellow CBs Kyle Fuller and Ronald Darby. They also have arguably the best safety pairing in the NFL with Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson.

Add in the likelihood of Daniel Jones facing pressure all day, and Golladay managers could be looking at a sub-par performance in Week 1. 

Sit ‘Em | Curtis Samuel, Washington Football Team

While we have been excited for the debut of Curtis Samuel, I would not count on that happening in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers. A nagging groin injury has hampered Samuel this summer, and early in Thursday’s practice, Samuel pulled up lame while running a route. 

With one practice in the last four months under his belt and an injured groin — even if Samuel is a game-time decision — make sure he is out of your lineups for Week 1. There is no reason to take on unnecessary risks this early in the fantasy season.

Sit ‘Em | Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh Steelers

Chase Claypool is as electric as they come. Even in a talent-packed 2020 class, he led all rookie WRs in touchdowns (9) and was fourth in yards (873) while seeing 109 targets. I do not doubt his talent, but I have severe doubts about the matchup.

This week, the Steelers take on the Buffalo Bills, which means that Claypool will see shadow coverage from Tre’Davious White, one of the NFL’s top-five corners. Last season, when these two teams met in Week 14 — with the Steelers clinging to playoffs hopes — Claypool was shut down by White, recording 3 receptions for 15 yards on 6 targets.

The Steelers have enough surrounding talent with JuJu Smith-Schuster and Diontae Johnson to let Claypool get a few targets, but he’ll be a decoy most of the game. Claypool is much closer to flex territory than he is WR2, as many have him ranked. I would take a hard look at other options when making start ’em, sit ’em decisions in Week 1 at WR.