Video Code Snippet
Note: FanDuel is hosting a one-week Fantasy Football league with $5 million in prizes for Week 1. It's just $25 to enter and first place will win $1 million! Enter now before it fills.
Each week, the Fantasy Cheat Sheet will combine Fantasy analysis and game predictions with a confidence scale to help owners get a definitive answer on whom to start in their leagues.
What do the numbers mean? That's our confidence scale. It slides from 10.0 for a supreme rating to 5.0 for an average rating to a 1.0 for a you-should-start-anybody-else rating.
Is the confidence scale based on a specific scoring system? It is based on standard leagues but is (mostly) applicable to PPR leagues. You should probably consult our PPR-specific rankings for more detail.
Who is listed below? Everyone that matters, but anyone already starting in 90 percent or more of CBSSports.com leagues is considered an obvious must-start. We're not going to waste your time trying to convince you to start Andrew Luck
.What if someone isn't listed below? If someone's missing, it's probably not an accident. Anyone missing is a definitive must sit, if not a must-cut player.
What's the best way to find a specific player on this page? Use your personal search function -- CTRL-F on PCs and Command-F on MACs. If neither of those are options, or if you're on a mobile device, you can search by game. Games are listed by starting times.
What if I am still unsure who to start or sit after reading this? Ask me! Shoot me a note on Twitter (@daverichard) or consult our rankings, too.
And here ... we ... go ...
Chiefs at Texans, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Alex Smith
Brian Hoyer (3.6): Had two games last year with 20-plus Fantasy points, bringing his career total to four.
Running backs
Jamaal Charles
Knile Davis (3.0): Only two ways Davis will make an impact: if the Chiefs build a lead and rely on Davis to help kill the clock or Charles gets ... nah, don't even want to write it.
Alfred Blue (4.7): Figure Blue to get the first shot at being the Texans' run down and goal-line rusher. The Chiefs were stingy at the goal line last year and have the bulk up front to remain that way this year.
Jonathan Grimes (3.2): Grimes should end up working on passing downs. Maybe it makes him a low-end option in PPR formats.
Wide receivers
Jeremy Maclin
DeAndre Hopkins (7.8): Nuk catches a break with cornerback Sean Smith suspended for the game. We'll learn a lot about how Hopkins does against double coverage because he's going to see a lot of it. I'd still start him.
Tight ends
Travis Kelce
Defense/Special Teams
Chiefs (6.6): The Texans averaged 23.2 points per game last year, but that was with Arian Foster
Texans (7.2): Watt, Wilfork and others should make shredded wheat of the Chiefs offensive line, setting up the secondary for a turnover or two. With the game expected to be low-scoring, the Texans are a safe pick.
Colts at Bills, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Andrew Luck
Tyrod Taylor (5.6): There's no reason to start him outside of two-QB leagues but he offers a lot of potential as a rusher and a passer. Should get an extra second or two in the pocket, too. Keep an eye on him.
Running backs
Frank Gore
LeSean McCoy (7.8): Matchup is good for McCoy. He scored on the Colts and totaled 102 yards against them last year, plus has a very good track record vs. defensive playcaller Greg Manusky. But how healthy is he?
Wide receivers
T.Y. Hilton (8.7): A must, even if he's never scored on a Rex Ryan defense or had a big game in Week 1.
Andre Johnson
Sammy Watkins (5.8): He'll probably see plenty of shut-down cornerback Vontae Davis. Between that and Taylor making his first NFL start it's for the best to have modified expectations.
Tight ends
Dwayne Allen
Coby Fleener (3.2): Normally would be a decent option, but how much will he actually play? The uncertainty is scary.
Charles Clay (4.1): The Colts had some trouble covering tight ends last year and could struggle if they stick their linebackers on Clay. He has some legitimate red-zone appeal.
Defense/Special Teams
Colts (5.6): Looks like a good situation as they can contain LeSean McCoy
Bills (6.2): Starting the DST against the high-powered Colts in Week 1 is a tough pill to swallow, but you really have no choice. By the way, the Bills play the Pats in Week 2 ...
Packers at Bears, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Aaron Rodgers
Jay Cutler (4.6): Why risk it? He has an awful track record against the Packers, the health of receiving corps isn't great and his offensive line is in flux.
Running backs
Eddie Lacy
Matt Forte (7.9): Obvious must-start.
Wide receivers
Randall Cobb
Davante Adams (7.6): Seems like Adams will transition to the "Jordy" role as an outside receiver. That's a very good thing for him going up against a very suspect Bears secondary.
James Jones (3.0): I'd lay off on starting him in his first game back with the Pack. Jones has never landed more than 61 yards in a game against the Bears but does own two career multi-score games against them.
Alshon Jeffery (7.5): How healthy is he? Hopefully good enough to play. The Packers have typically held Jeffery to modest stats, nothing more. He seems risky.
Eddie Royal (4.2): Look for Royal to get a bunch of targets and have a shot at seven catches. The matchup against slot corner Micah Hyde can be exploited.
Tight ends
Richard Rodgers
Martellus Bennett (7.0): Bennett has an up-and-down track record against the Packers but tends to play very well to start the season. Gotta go with him.
Defense/Special Teams
Packers (7.6): This should be a Top 5 or 10 unit as it stands, but if Jeffery ends up not playing then they could really bring the hammer down.
Bears (2.0): The last time the Bears held the Packers to under 21 points was when Rodgers didn't play. Before that? A very low-scoring Week 17 game in 2010 that catapulted the Packers into the playoffs and, ultimately, a Super Bowl victory.
Panthers at Jaguars, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Cam Newton
Blake Bortles (4.4): I wouldn't have the guts to start Bortles, but a two-touchdown game wouldn't be surprising given the matchup. Two turnovers also wouldn't be surprising.
Running backs
Jonathan Stewart
Cameron Artis-Payne (2.5): If you're desperate, Artis-Payne should get involved around five-to-10 times. Not the right time of the season to start him.
T.J. Yeldon (6.2): The Panthers front seven is expected to be tough and Yeldon might have a hard time finding a lot of room behind his offensive line.
Wide receivers
Ted Ginn
Corey Brown (2.9): Seems like Brown will get another chance to make some plays after flubbing the preseason. The Jaguars secondary made a bunch of receivers look good last year, but Brown isn't Carolina's best.
Devin Funchess (2.05): With no guarantee of playing time, Funchess figures to be a receiver to wait and see on.
Allen Robinson (6.0): It might not be so easy for Robinson against a pretty decent secondary but expect at least five catches and 70 yards.
Allen Hurns (4.9): One of my big sleepers for the season, you can be sure Hurns will get some deep targets, especially when matched up against old-timer Charles Tillman.
Tight ends
Greg Olsen
Marcedes Lewis (2.7): Carolina did a nice job against tight ends last season and have mostly the same personnel to work with again this year. You can do better than Lewis.
Defense/Special Teams
Panthers (7.7): A very good start against a Jaguars offense that should be a little better than last year but still a work-in-progress.
Jaguars (4.1): You shouldn't have to start the Jags this week with every DST playing, but it wouldn't be a shock if they held the Panthers to under 21 points.
Browns at Jets, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Josh McCown
Ryan Fitzpatrick (4.0): Who in their right mind would start Fitzpatrick going up against a secondary that has Joe Haden in it?
Running backs
Isaiah Crowell
Duke Johnson (3.85): He shouldn't be trusted in his first pro game after suffering a pair of preseason injuries, but this is a great chance for him to show what he can do. He's absolutely worth carrying on your roster.
Chris Ivory (6.3): Just like Crowell, Ivory should be in line for a bunch of work. The matchup is tough but he should be able to grind his way to some numbers and maybe a score.
Bilal Powell (3.4): Figure Powell to get a few receptions as a passing downs back but not much else. It will be interesting to see just how much work he gets.
Wide receivers
Brandon Marshall
Eric Decker (3.3): Fitzpatrick tends to play favorites with his receivers and Marshall figures to be the favorite. However, Decker has good size and will definitely draw some red-zone targets. I just wouldn't be excited to start him.
Defense/Special Teams
Browns (5.8): Mike Pettine has a (mostly) spotless track record against Ryan Fitzpatrick
Jets (8.1): We waited all summer for this matchup, ranking the Jets DST as a Top 5 pick, and ... well, it's still a killer matchup. Go with it.
Dolphins at Redskins, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Ryan Tannehill
Kirk Cousins (4.2): Given the state of his offensive line, I'm concerned Cousins will have little time to throw much less throw well.
Running backs
Lamar Miller
Alfred Morris (6.0): I fully expect the Dolphins run defense to be a problem for Morris. And if the Redskins fall behind, Morris won't play nearly as much.
Matt Jones (3.1): No one should start Jones but he's absolutely worth stashing. Maybe he'll get a few runs.
Wide receivers
Jarvis Landry
DeVante Parker (3.15): Everyone's excited to see Parker finally play, but who knows how much he'll play. The Dolphins have a different schedule for Parker than us Fantasy geeks.
DeSean Jackson (4.75): D-Jax's track record in games against cornerback Brent Grimes isn't particularly good (no more than 9 Fantasy points in a game). Who knows if his quarterback will have enough time to hit him deep? It could get ugly.
Pierre Garcon (3.7): I wouldn't trust Garcon until it's evident he's back and in sync with Cousins. Some of his best games last season came with Colt McCoy, not Cousins (or RG3).
Tight ends
Jordan Cameron
Jordan Reed (2.9): Leave him on waivers, and cut him from your team if you have him until he manages to stay healthy and put up some decent stats.
Defense/Special Teams
Dolphins (9.3): The best option of the week against a discombobulated Washington offense.
Redskins (1.8): Aside from maybe a few sacks, the defense isn't expected to deliver a lot of numbers, especially against an improved Miami offense.
Seahawks at Rams, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Russell Wilson
Nick Foles (3.8): It's real hard to envision Foles playing well against the Seahawks, even if he won't face off against safety Kam Chancellor.
Running backs
Marshawn Lynch
Fred Jackson (3.55): The Seahawks seem intent on letting him play. He's impossible to trust but is worth keeping as a handcuff for Lynch.
Benny Cunningham (3.9): Figure Cunningham to get the bulk of the work, especially on passing downs for the Rams. You'd have to be desperate to give him a shot, but he has a teeny bit of PPR appeal.
Wide receivers
Doug Baldwin
Tyler Lockett (3.8): The deepest of sleepers this week, Lockett could end up working as the Seahawks No. 3 receiver and getting a couple of deep targets. He should be blazing fast on that fast track in St. Louis.
Brian Quick (2.35): Seems like Quick has a lot of fans out there, but this isn't even close to the right time to try him in Fantasy.
Kenny Britt (2.2): Hard to get excited over Britt given the matchup against the aggressive Seattle defensive backs.
Tight ends
Jimmy Graham
Jared Cook (2.6): Guess who's never had double-digit Fantasy points in four career games against the Seahawks and has had less than 40 yards in three of those games?
Defense/Special Teams
Seahawks (9.1): This is a terrific Kickoff Weekend matchup for the Seahawks DST. It wouldn't be a shock to see them hold the Rams to under two touchdowns.
Rams (7.0): They'll have their hands full trying to keep the Seahawks under 20 points, but that's exactly what they've allowed on average to Seattle since Wilson's arrival into the NFL.
Lions at Chargers, Sun., 4:05 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Matthew Stafford
Philip Rivers (6.6): Rivers tends to play big in his home openers but Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin has a track record of how to contain Rivers. Missing Antonio Gates will hurt.
Running backs
Ameer Abdullah
Joique Bell (6.4): Bell might start, but he'll lose work to Abdullah and might even see Theo Riddick take some touches. I wouldn't be too confident in starting Bell.
Danny Woodhead (5.7): Ultimately, the Chargers should play in their no-huddle offense and throw a good amount. That bodes very well for Woodhead, who is the most prepared running back they have.
Melvin Gordon (4.8): Don't expect a slew of touches from Gordon after the difficult preseason he had. The Lions run defense appears to be pretty solid, making matters worse.
Wide receivers
Calvin Johnson
Golden Tate (6.1): Given the likelihood that the Lions will build a lead with their passing game, Tate might not be such a risky start after all. Forget about Calvin -- he'll be a big test for the Chargers secondary.
Keenan Allen (5.7): Through two seasons Allen has proven to be a slow starter. I'm not so sure Gates' absence will help him a lot. Consider other options.
Steve Johnson (5.0): Rivers seemed to have eyes for Johnson in the preseason, and he could end up being the big winner from Gates' suspension. If he sticks in the slot he'll have a good matchup to exploit.
Malcom Floyd (2.8): I wouldn't expect a ton from Floyd, even in a game where Rivers is bound to take some deep shots.
Tight ends
Eric Ebron
Defense/Special Teams
Lions (6.0): The Chargers should find ways to put some points on the board == it'll take a very solid effort from the defensive line to deliver a strong performance.
Chargers (3.8): Knowing how explosive the Lions can be, the Chargers DST isn't worth the unnecessary Week 1 risk.
Saints at Cardinals, Sun., 4:05 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Drew Brees
Carson Palmer (7.0): Saints assistant Dennis Allen has had Palmer's number in previous meetings but the Saints' lack of a strong pass rush and quality secondary make Palmer tough to resist. Still, there are better choices at quarterback.
Running backs
Mark Ingram
Khiry Robinson (3.95): Robinson will get a shot to play as a part-timer to Ingram. He can catch the ball and take some of Spiller's workload but shouldn't be counted on for more than 40 or 50 yards.
Andre Ellington (8.0): Bruce Arians' coaching track record versus Dennis Allen and/or Rob Ryan coached defenses suggest a strong game for Ellington as Arians' rushers have at least scored once in three of four battles. Ellington's a candidate for 20 touches.
David Johnson (3.75): Johnson will be interesting to watch. Will they use him beyond short yardage/goal line duty? He has the hands to be a great third down back. If he's on your waiver wire, go get him.
Wide receivers
Brandin Cooks
Marques Colston (4.5): Expect to see a bunch of Colston in the slot, but if that means going one-on-one with Tyrann Mathieu it could make for a long game.
Brandon Coleman (4.4): Coleman might have had a poor preseason but if he gets his 6-foot-6 body against 5-foot-10 corner Jerraud Powers it will definitely draw attention from Brees.
John Brown (6.7): Brown has a shot at a big game given the personnel problems in the Saints secondary. New Orleans' corners are big but not necessarily speedy, something Brown should be able to capitalize on.
Larry Fitzgerald (5.9): Fitz is worth trying as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver. He had most of his good games with Palmer last year and should see plenty of close-range targets.
Michael Floyd (4.05): Floyd is a wild card given his lack of prep time this summer as he makes his way back from finger injuries. You're probably better off giving him a week to knock off the rust.
Tight ends
Benjamin Watson
Josh Hill (3.7): The hunch is that Hill won't play as much as Watson but can still figure into some end-zone looks. He's a sleeper for the week.
Defense/Special Teams
Saints (4.0): A defense missing key pass rushers and defensive backs shouldn't be trusted against a high-powered Cardinals offense.
Cardinals (6.4): It's unlikely the Cardinals defense will completely shut down the Saints offense but they should nab a few sacks and some turnovers.
Bengals at Raiders, Sun., 4:25 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Andy Dalton
Derek Carr (4.8): There's a bunch to get excited about but Carr is an unnecessary risk to start in Fantasy, especially against a healthy and deep Bengals defense.
Running backs
Jeremy Hill
Giovani Bernard (5.9): The dump-off pass will be Dalton's friend this week and Bernard should capitalize. His value seems safer in PPR formats because of it.
Latavius Murray (6.9): There's uncertainty in Murray's workload and the matchup appears to be challenging. Start him with No. 2 running back expectations.
Wide receivers
A.J. Green
Marvin Jones (3.05): In a game where the Bengals might not throw more than 30 times, Jones is a risky choice.
Amari Cooper (6.6): The targets should be there for Cooper, but so should coverage by Cincy's quality secondary. Dre Kirkpatrick could make things awfully tough.
Tight ends
Tyler Eifert
Defense/Special Teams
Bengals (7.4): Start them because they're a talented unit, and because the Raiders offense will probably commit a couple of turnovers.
Raiders (4.4): The Raiders figure to be better defensively, especially up front, but let's see what they can do before we think about starting them. They do play the Browns in Week 3.
Ravens at Broncos, Sun., 4:25 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Joe Flacco
Peyton Manning (9.2): Obvious must-start, especially since Kubiak coached in Baltimore last year and knows a thing or two about the Ravens defense.
Running backs
Justin Forsett
C.J. Anderson (8.8): Obvious must-start.
Ronnie Hillman (4.0): If this were a bye week Hillman would be a sneaky play. Expect the Broncos to run the ball a good amount, meaning Hillman gets some extra work to keep the wear-and-tear off of Anderson. 60 total yards isn't out of the question.
Wide receivers
Steve Smith
Demaryius Thomas (9.1): Obvious must-start.
Emmanuel Sanders (8.0): There might be some light weeks from Sanders this season but this shouldn't be one of those weeks. He's a perfect quick-hitter slot target to help Peyton avoid the pass rush.
Tight ends
Crockett Gillmore
Owen Daniels (5.6): Even though the Ravens were top-notch against tight ends last year, Daniels has a great shot to score and add another 30 or so yards on top. He's worth the risk if you're streaming.
Defense/Special Teams
Ravens (3.6): Not against Peyton in Week 1 at Denver. Save them for when they play the Raiders in Week 2.
Broncos (8.0): It's tough to envision the Ravens coming up with more than 21 points. Now that Wade Phillips is calling the shots, the Denver defense should be a lot of fun.
Titans at Buccaneers, Sun., 4:25 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Marcus Mariota
Jameis Winston (5.8): The Titans have a fearsome defensive coaching staff, but not necessarily a fearsome defense. Bank on Winston running a simple game plan and letting his receivers make plays after the catch against an underwhelming and banged-up Titans secondary.
Running backs
Bishop Sankey
Antonio Andrews (2.0): He has a shot to score, so if you're somehow in a major pinch at running back already, give him a look.
Terrance West (1.6): He's worth stashing if you don't like anyone else on your waiver wire, but there's a reason the running back-needy Browns opted to trade him.
Doug Martin (8.1): Expect a big game from Martin as he turns the volume of work he gets into numbers. There's no reason not to start him against Tennessee.
Wide receivers
Kendall Wright
Harry Douglas (3.2): Trusted veteran Douglas should play quite a bit and has some familiarity with the Bucs from his days with Atlanta. Two of his six career 100-yard games came against Tampa, along with four of his eight career touchdowns.
Dorial Green-Beckham (2.3): He's far from a safe starting option but he should figure in about 20 snaps as he starts to acclimate to the pro game. In time, he should be a very good player.
Mike Evans (7.9): Obvious must-start (provided he's healthy).
Vincent Jackson (4.8): There's appeal with V-Jax because of his size advantage over Tennessee's corners, plus if Jason McCourty is out then he should ramp up his stats against the likes of Perrish Cox and Coty Sensabaugh.
Tight ends
Delanie Walker
Austin Seferian-Jenkins (4.2): It's just a matter of targets for Seferian-Jenkins, who didn't do a whole lot to impress in the preseason. Owen Daniels and Scott Chandler have a better shot of scoring this week than ASJ.
Defense/Special Teams
Titans (4.2): The Titans are squarely a middle-of-the-pack defense. They have a lot of good players but not necessarily a lot of great ones. Use Week 1 to judge them for use in Week 2 when they play at Cleveland.
Buccaneers (2.2): Yep, the Titans offense doesn't have a great run game and has a rookie quarterback. But it doesn't mean the Buccaneers defense should be counted on.
Giants at Cowboys, Sun., 8:30 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Eli Manning
Tony Romo (9.1): One of the safest quarterbacks in Fantasy this week, Romo has had at least 20 Fantasy points in seven of his last eight against the Giants. New York's secondary is a mess and its pass rush is weak.
Running backs
Rashad Jennings
Shane Vereen (4.2): Vereen has a shot at 50 receiving yards playing as Big Blue's passing downs back. He's at best a desperation flex play in PPR leagues.
Joseph Randle (6.8): DeMarco Murray had over 120 rush yards in each game against the Giants last season, and the Giants run defense is about the same now as it was then. If Randle is getting the first crack at running the ball, he should be in a position to have a nice game.
Darren McFadden (4.75): If you're not a believer in Randle, then McFadden has to be a consideration. No promise of playing time or touches make him a risk, though.
Wide receivers
Odell Beckham
Rueben Randle (4.0): If desperate, Randle figures to at least get a lot of playing time with Victor Cruz hurt. He has never scored against the Cowboys but does have at least five catches in each of his last two games in Dallas (both high-scoring Giants losses). He's a much safer start in PPR.
Dez Bryant (9.7): Obvious must-start.
Terrance Williams (4.7): Not a good track record for Williams, who has seven Fantasy points or less in four career games against the Giants. With Dez healthy and the Cowboys figuring to run a lot, don't expect a big change.
Cole Beasley (2.4): There's a pretty good chance Romo leans on one of his favorite short-area targets this week. Beasley is a decent low-end PPR flex.
Tight ends
Larry Donnell
Jason Witten (6.8): The Giant-killer has a touchdown in three of his last four against the Giants and at least nine Fantasy points in four of his last five against them.
Defense/Special Teams
Giants (1.4): The Giants have lost five of their last six against the Cowboys, giving up an average of 28.3 points per game. And they have a limited pass rush. Run away!
Cowboys (5.4): Look for the Cowboys to pick up a few sacks and a turnover, but they've allowed 24.5 points per game to the G-Men over their last six games.
Eagles at Falcons, Mon., 7:10 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Sam Bradford
Matt Ryan (8.1): You have to expect Ryan to throw a ton given the uncertainty of the Falcons run game. Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan has a modest track record of throwing deep on Philadelphia's defense.
Running backs
DeMarco Murray
Ryan Mathews (6.1): Expect Mathews to get a pretty decent dose == maybe a dozen touches == as the Eagles aim to wear down the Falcons run defense. There's also a chance he scores.
Darren Sproles (4.1): Always a home-run type of threat, Sproles has posted at least seven Fantasy points in Week 1 over each of the last four seasons. Might be a good PPR sleeper.
Tevin Coleman (5.0): Bank on Coleman working as the running downs back for the Falcons. If they fall behind, however, his playing time could be limited. No doubt there's a lot of boom-or-bust potential.
Devonta Freeman (3.8): Should end up playing and working passing downs -- and more if Coleman can't get into a groove early on.
Wide receivers
Jordan Matthews
Nelson Agholor (6.2): We think and hope Agholor will see a slew of targets, especially after the vote of confidence from Chip Kelly this week. Expectations are slimmed down for his first NFL game; when he lines up against Dallas in Week 2 we might all be very excited.
Julio Jones (9.8): Obvious must-start.
Roddy White (5.5): White doesn't have a poor matchup and the Falcons should end up throwing a ton.
Tight ends
Brent Celek
Jacob Tamme (2.8): Tamme isn't a reliable sleeper by any means but tight end numbers typically come to pass in Kyle Shanahan-coached offenses. We'll see if he contributes.
Defense/Special Teams
Eagles (5.2): Philadelphia's offense will put up a ton of numbers. The defense? It might still be a work in progress, namely in the secondary. They'd be fine as a bye-week replacement or if you're in a major pinch, but no one should be in that situation.
Falcons (4.8): You can bet your bippie there will be weeks where the Falcons defense will dominate. This won't be one of them, and the next two weeks don't look so hot either.
Vikings at 49ers, Mon., 10:20 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Teddy Bridgewater
Colin Kaepernick (4.9): The Vikings were really good at containing mobile quarterbacks last year == they'll put a premium on keeping Kap contained. His deep passing game is still under construction, meaning his chances of having a monster stat line through the air are slim.
Running backs
Adrian Peterson
Carlos Hyde (6.6): This is a big test for Hyde. The Vikings allowed 10 rushing touchdowns to running backs all of last year and seem better defensively this year. Keep expectations in check.
Reggie Bush (3.7): Bush figures to get in the mix as a passing downs back and that's it. There's very little appeal, PPR or otherwise, until he gains some snaps from Hyde.
Wide receivers
Charles Johnson
Mike Wallace (5.1): Wallace will probably work a little more as a deep threat than Johnson, and if the Vikings aren't throwing much then his appeal sinks.
Anquan Boldin (6.3): If the Niners are to play from behind then Boldin should be in position to rack up catches in the short- and mid-range as Kaepernick's top target. Boldin has had at least nine Fantasy points in Week 1 over each of his last five (and was a yard shy in 2014 of making it at least 10 points).
Torrey Smith (4.3): The location's changed but Smith is still the same == a deep ball threat with an inconsistent track record. Except now his quarterback isn't quite as solid. He might be a better start next week at Pittsburgh.
Tight ends
Kyle Rudolph
Vernon Davis (3.6): No one is starting Davis until he picks up more targets and delivers bigger numbers. That doesn't seem very likely this week as the Vikings should remain solid against tight ends.
Defense/Special Teams
Vikings (6.8): Given the 49ers' offensive line and quarterback imperfections, along with Mike Zimmer coordinating the unit, the Vikings DST (which includes a good return game) isn't such a bad choice.
49ers (5.0): Let's see how this defense looks after having so much turnover from a year before. They might be better given they got younger but after going over their schedule we're not eyeballing them for a start anytime soon.
Steelers at Patriots, Thu., 8:30 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Ben Roethlisberger
Tom Brady (9.6): An absolute must-start. With no run game to lean on, Brady should continue his dominance over the Steelers == at least 350 yards and three-plus scores in three of his last four against them.
Running backs
DeAngelo Williams
Brandon Bolden (3.6): When the Patriots need a fill-in, they call on Bolden. Your Fantasy team, however, can find better.
Dion Lewis (4.25): Figure Lewis to start the year in the Vereen role. Might not result in anything more than a handful of catches.
Wide receivers
Antonio Brown
Markus Wheaton (4.6): Had 97 yards in Week 1 last year, didn't get more than 66 yards in any game after and scored only in Roethlisberger's six-touchdown performances. Can he get to 70 yards?
Julian Edelman (6.8): Has started each of the last two seasons with at least 9 Fantasy points. He should be regularly targeted given Brady's lack of receiving threats.
Danny Amendola (4.1): More targets come with more opportunity to play, but he had 18 targets in his last two games last year and turned it into just 87 yards.
Tight ends
Heath Miller
Rob Gronkowski (9.9): Obvious must-start.
Scott Chandler (4.7): Gronk will get his but Chandler is a definite sleeper as a second mismatch-type of tight end. I guarantee he'll get at least one end-zone target.
Defense/Special Teams
Steelers (3.4): Brady and the Patriots typically have the Steelers' number. The DST can't be trusted on the road and with a new play-caller.
Patriots (4.6): Aside from a turnover or two, the Patriots figure to give up a good number of points. You can do better.
