There is no such thing as a perfect fantasy football lineup.
Each week, there will usually be a player on your bench who outperforms a starter in your lineup, and even though the difference in points may seem minuscule, every point counts in fantasy.
It doesn’t matter if a player was your first overall pick or last, lineup tinkering is a necessity. Even some top picks should be removed from your lineup at times to avoid wasting a spot on a poor performance.
Week 1 is like the preseason for fantasy. It’s when you really get to know your lineup and figure out which players have stepped up their game for the upcoming season. On the flip side, it can also expose the lack of research you did before drafting.
It’s important to adjust your roster based on favorable matchups each week, though this sometimes leads to tough calls that will haunt you through the weekend and beyond. Here’s a look at some fringe starters for Week 1 and some simple advice: start ’em or sit ’em.
Start ‘Em: Markus Wheaton, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Markus Wheaton has been one of my favorite sleepers at wide receiver for the 2016 season since it was announced that Martavis Bryant would be suspended for the entire year.
Last season, Wheaton hauled in 44 receptions for 749 yards and five touchdowns as Ben Roethlisberger’s No. 3 receiver. With Bryant out until 2017, Wheaton should be in line to tack on more yardage and scores, perhaps even eclipsing 1,000 yards on the year.
The Steelers will face off against the Washington Redskins in Week 1, and while the Redskins have shutdown corner Josh Norman in their secondary, it’s important to remember that Norman will likely shadow Antonio Brown the entire game, leaving Wheaton alone to deal with Bashaud Breeland.
While Breeland is no slouch, he’s no Norman. Wheaton should be able to reel in some passes, particularly in the red zone against a Washington defense that allowed the third-most fantasy points to wideouts last season, according to Yahoo Sports.
While Wheaton is listed as questionable in Yahoo fantasy leagues with a minor shoulder injury, the good news is that the Steelers don’t play until Monday. Wheaton should be available for Monday’s regular-season opener against Washington, presumably serving as the No. 2 wide receiver behind Brown.
Sit ‘Em: Arian Foster, RB, Miami Dolphins
While it’s good news for Arian Foster and fantasy owners of the 30-year-old running back that he’s been listed as the starter for the Miami Dolphins over Jay Ajayi, it’s not time to celebrate just yet.
Michael Fabiano of NFL.com is right: The Seattle Seahawks present a terrible matchup for the Dolphins and their run game. While it’s tempting to hold on to that thin thread of hope that Foster might plow his way into the end zone for a touchdown and perhaps 40 yards rushing, that’s a pipe dream against a motivated and tough Seahawks defense.
Not only does Foster have to prove he can shake off the rust after missing 12 games last season, he will have to try to break through a Seahawks defense that allowed the fewest points to fantasy running backs in 2015, according to Yahoo Sports.
For the diehard fans who refuse to listen to reason and are feeling optimistic that Foster can score some points, Foster did have a great game the last time he went up against the Seahawks with the Houston Texans, rushing for 102 yards and hauling in six receptions for 69 yards and a touchdown.
But that was back in 2013, before three surgeries after tearing his Achilles and groin, twice.
Foster has a lost a step, and that’s fine. He will rack up fantasy points down the road. But Week 1 won’t be his week, nor will it be a good week for the Dolphins as a whole. Keep him on the bench.
Start ‘Em: Spencer Ware, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Jamaal Charles will start once he’s 100 percent ready to play. But until then, Spencer Ware should be the bell cow for the Kansas City Chiefs backfield.
Another Fabiano appearance? Well, he is correct. Ware is a No. 1 running back this week against a soft San Diego Chargers defense that allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to running backs last season and ranked 30th in yards per carry, according to Yahoo Sports.
On another team, Ware would be a potential starter, and he has flashed game-changing ability in brief stints with the Chiefs. Last season, Ware carried the rock 72 times for 403 yards, according to ESPN.com.
That’s 5.6 yards per carry for the non-mathematicians out there.
Ware is a capable tailback who, amazingly, is owned in just 66 percent of Yahoo fantasy leagues as of Wednesday morning. Do yourself a favor and plug him into your lineup with confidence.
Sit ‘Em: Golden Tate, WR, Detroit Lions
This is a tough pill to swallow.
Tate has been one of the most consistent and trusted receivers in fantasy football for the last several seasons, and even though he doesn’t always jump off the page and light up the scoreboard, you feel safe putting him in your lineup.
But since the Indianapolis Colts are hosting the Detroit Lions, that means Colts corner Vontae Davis will be tasked with shadowing Tate for extended periods of the game. Now that Calvin Johnson has retired, there is a sizable void in Detroit’s receiving corps. They signed Anquan Boldin during the offseason and are hoping that Marvin Jones can pick up some slack, but this unit is not as strong as one might think.
Tate is as fringe a starter as you’ll see this week.
The argument can be made that since Tate is now Matthew Stafford‘s No. 1 receiver, he will see more targets, which will result in more fantasy points. While that may be true down the road this season, it is crucial to understand the importance of the matchup.
Davis is arguably one of the top five cornerbacks in the NFL today, so why would Stafford want to throw in his direction if he can find Jones or Boldin on the opposite side of the field facing significantly better matchups?
Behind Davis is Patrick Robinson and Antonio Cromartie. Both were good corners during their respective primes, but they’ve reached the tail end of their careers. If the Lions are smart, they’ll have Stafford throw the ball around to other receivers.
This is not a knock on Tate, it’s just all about the matchup.
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