In general, you never want to sit your top talents in fantasy football. But every once in a while, a matchup is so tough or a player is playing so poorly that you need to put them on the bench.
Is this the week you’ll bench a star?
Probably not. But it’s certainly possible. Below, we’ll go through the consensus top-10 rankings for each position this week, my projections for the players and start ’em, sit ’em advice. It’s like three articles in one!
And as always, may the fantasy points be with you.
Consensus Quarterback Rankings
1. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
My Projection: 22 Points
Verdict: Start
It’s hard to recommend ever sitting Rodgers, even against a solid Atlanta Falcons defense. Don’t overthink things.
2. Tom Brady, New England Patriots
My Projection: 24 Points
Verdict: Start
There may not be a safer bet in all of fantasy than Brady coming off a loss and facing a New Orleans defense that gave up 25 fantasy points to Sam Bradford last week.
3. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
My Projection: 20 Points
Verdict: Start
The Packers stifled Russell Wilson last week, but that was at Lambeau Field. Expect Matt Ryan to post solid numbers in Atlanta, where he averaged 22.5 fantasy points per game last year.
4. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
My Projection: 22 Points
Verdict: Start
The Patriots just gave up 31 fantasy points to Alex Smith at home. Brees, at home, has crazy upside this week.
5. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
My Projection: 19 Points
Verdict: Start
San Francisco limited Cam Newton to 14 fantasy points in Week 1, and Wilson managed just eight points against the Packers. It’s a bit early in the season to panic when it comes to Wilson or overrate the Niners defense, however. Start Wilson without worry.
6. Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders
My Projection: 19 Points
Verdict: Start
Carr faces a New York Jets defense that gave up 19 fantasy points to Tyrod Taylor. He’s a safe bet after a solid start to the season in Week 1.
7. Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
My Projection: 18 Points
Verdict: Start
The Bears have an improved defense, but Winston has a fantastic assortment of weapons and the Bucs ended up having a Week 1 bye. Winston’s a solid pick.
8. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
My Projection: 17 Points
Verdict: Start
Newton showed some rust after his offseason shoulder surgery, scoring just 14 fantasy points, while the Bills held Josh McCown to just 11 points in Week 1. Expect a stronger showing from Newton in Week 2, however, as he gets into more of a rhythm.
9. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
My Projection: 18 Points
Verdict: Start
Never sit Roethlisberger at home. In six home games last year, he averaged 24.5 fantasy points per contest. Even against a tough Minny defense, keep him in those lineups.
10. Philip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers
My Projection: 15 Points
Verdict: Sit
Frankly, Rivers gets the “sit” designation because I’d start Marcus Mariota over him. If he’s your top option this week, you could do way worse, but he just missed out on being a QB1 for me in 10-team standard leagues.
Consensus Running Back Rankings
1. Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers
My Projection: 14 Points
Verdict: Start
You never sit Bell. Never, never, never. Minnesota has a tough defense, but even coming off a rough week, Bell is a safe bet.
2. Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys
My Projection: 15 points
Verdict: Start
See above. Elliott is a must-start every week.
3. Melvin Gordon, Los Angeles Chargers
My Projection: 12 points
Verdict: Start
Miami has a solid front seven, but Gordon has made himself one of the no-brainer starts at running back over the past two seasons.
4. LeSean McCoy, Buffalo Bills
My Projection: 11 points
Verdict: Start
The Panthers won’t give up any easy yards to McCoy, but it’s not like the Bills have a better option on offense. Be it through the ground or through the air, McCoy will get his touches and production.
5. Devonta Freeman, Atlanta Falcons
My Projection: 10 points
Verdict: Start
Spoiler alert: It’s very rare you’ll ever want to sit your top running back, even against tough matchups. Freeman is no exception.
6. Jay Ajayi, Miami Dolphins
My Projection: 9 points
Verdict: Start
The Chargers have a ton of potential defensively, but C.J. Anderson did rush for 81 yards last week. It’s hard to imagine Ajayi failing to hit double-digit points, either through sheer yardage or with a touchdown added to the mix. Ajayi is certainly at great risk of not posting huge numbers, but even if he doesn’t, it’s hard to imagine him failing to be a top-20 running back. He’s worthy of your starting lineup.
7. Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs
My Projection: 13 points
Verdict: Start
Hunt isn’t going to score 40 fantasy points again this week, but he’ll still be a huge part of the game plan. Until he proves otherwise, he’s a must-start.
8. Marshawn Lynch, Oakland Raiders
My Projection: 10 points
Verdict: Start
The Jets are bad. The Raiders will probably pass the ball at will on their young secondary, so I could see Lynch taking a backseat in the game plan this week. He’s still a safe bet to put up solid enough numbers to make him a viable starter, however.
9. Leonard Fournette, Jacksonville Jaguars
My Projection: 14 points
Verdict: Start
Fournette is going to be the centerpiece of Jacksonville’s offense. There’s no reason to ever sit him.
10. Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams
My Projection: 10 points
Verdict: Washington is tough against the run, so Gurley’s upside is limited, but not so limited that there are enough other running backs pushing Gurley out of starting consideration.
Consensus Wide Receiver Rankings
1. Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons
My Projection: 15 points
Verdict: Start
What would it take for you to justifiably consider sitting Jones? Injury, retirement or a bye week, right? Start him. Always start him.
2. Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers
My Projection: 14 points
Verdict: Start
Sitting Brown should be a punishable offense in a court of law.
3. Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers
My Projection: 15 points
Verdict: Start
Packers-Falcons has shootout written all over it. That’s good news for Nelson owners.
4. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
My Projection: 16 points
Verdict: Start
Evans is going to have a huge season. That starts in Week 2.
5. Brandin Cooks, New England
My Projection: 12 points
Verdict: Start
Brady and Cooks are going to have fun against the wideout’s former team. Expect Cooks to post strong numbers.
6. Amari Cooper, Oakland Raiders
My Projection: 12 points
Verdict: Start
The Raiders are going to own the Jets through the air. Cooper’s an easy start.
7. Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints
My Projection: 10 points
Verdict: Start
I really don’t love this matchup for Thomas, as New England has a solid secondary. The Patriots had more issues with their linebackers than anything else in Week 1, and it’s hard to imagine the entire defense posting that poor of a performance again. On the other hand, Brees and the Saints should turn to the air plenty at home. Thomas has very high potential, though he could also bust.
8. Odell Beckham, New York Giants
My Projection: 10 points
Verdict: Start
Beckham has earned must-start status every time he’s healthy. If he plays, you start him.
9. Doug Baldwin, Seattle Seahawks
My Projection: 11 points
Verdict: Start
Few players in the top echelon of receivers are more boom-or-bust than Baldwin, but he torched the Niners for 22 fantasy points in Seattle last year. Keep him in those lineups.
Consensus Tight End Rankings
1. Rob Gronkowski, New England
My Projection: 15 points
Verdict: Start
Never sit Gronkowski. Don’t even think about it.
2. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
My Projection: 6 points
Verdict: Start
The Eagles are very good against tight ends and held Jordan Reed to five catches for 36 yards last week. But there aren’t many better options than Kelce, who is an instrumental part of Kansas City’s offense. Keep him in your lineup but temper your expectations.
3. Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers
My Projection: 10 points
Verdict: Start
Few players have been more consistent than Olsen in recent years. At tight end, he’s an easy choice to start every week.
4. Jimmy Graham, Seattle Seahawks
My Projection: 10 points
Verdict: Start
Graham was on the back of a milk carton in Week 1, but he’ll bounce back. You don’t have a better option on your bench.
5. Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles
My Projection: 7 points
Verdict: Start
Ertz showed growing chemistry with Carson Wentz in Week 1. The talent has always been there for Ertz, and last weekend he looked like he would be a focal point of Philly’s offense. Kansas City is a tough matchup, but Ertz should get enough targets to have a solid showing.
6. Jordan Reed, Washington
My Projection: 8 points
Verdict: Start
Philly is tough against tight ends, so Reed’s slow start to the season isn’t major cause for concern. He’ll have a bigger day against the Rams.
7. Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings
My Projection: 8 points
Verdict: Start
Rudolph is always a risk because he remains fairly touchdown-reliant. Nonetheless, betting on him has become a better bet than everyone else behind him in the rankings in the past two seasons.
8. Delanie Walker, Tennessee Titans
My Projection: 6 points
Verdict: Start
Walker racked up 98 receiving yards and a touchdown in two games against the Jags last season. He’s a safe start this week.
9. Martellus Bennett, Green Bay Packers
My Projection: 7 points
Verdict: Start
As mentioned previously, I expect this game to be a shootout. Bennett is a nice option.
Consensus Defense Rankings
1. Seattle Seahawks
My Projection: 15 points
Verdict: Start
Seattle’s defense is nasty, and Brian Hoyer is San Fran’s starter. This is an obvious decision.
2. Arizona Cardinals
My Projection: 14 points
Verdict: Start
The Colts will be starting Scott Tolzien or Jacoby Brissett. This is another obvious choice.
3. Baltimore Ravens
My Projection: 13 points
Verdict: Start
Baltimore dominated the Bengals, and now they get a rookie quarterback in Cleveland’s DeShone Kizer. They’re a great choice in Week 3.
4. Oakland Raiders
My Projection: 9 points
Verdict: Start
Oakland is a bit high on this list for my tastes, but then again, they face the Jets. So feel free to start them.
5. Carolina Panthers
My Projection: 8 points
Verdict: Start
Carolina’s defense is already off to a solid start. The Bills should provide a bit more of a challenge than the Niners did, but not enough of one to make the Panthers a poor choice to start.
6. Denver Broncos
My Projection: 7 points
Verdict: Start
Another tough call, but the fact that this game is in Denver—where teams tend to struggle adapting to the altitude—is the only reason I’d consider starting them against a fantastic Dallas offense. Still, this is a low-upside pick.
7. New York Giants
My Projection: 5 points
Verdict: Sit
Maybe New York’s pass rush bothers Matthew Stafford. But I could easily see this contest becoming a shootout. I’d stay away.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars
My Projection: 5 points
Verdict: Sit
Marcus Mariota and the Titans are for real this season. This isn’t a matchup against Savage; don’t trust the Jags defense this week.
Consensus Kicker Rankings
(Note on kickers: I agree with all the rankings, so consider them all starting-worthy options.)
1. Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens: 15 points
2. Stephen Gostkowski, New England Patriots: 15 points
3. Matt Bryant, Atlanta Falcons: 14 points
4. Mason Crosby, Green Bay Packers: 13 points
5. Giorgio Tavecchio, Oakland Raiders: 13 points
6. Blair Walsh, Seattle Seahawks: 12 points
7. Dan Bailey, Dallas Cowboys: 11 points
8. Wil Lutz, New Orleans Saints: 11 points
9. Cairo Santos, Kansas City Chiefs: 10 points
10. Graham Gano, Carolina Panthers: 10 points
All consensus rankings via FantasyPros.com. All point totals and points-against statistics for standard-scoring leagues according to Yahoo.
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