Quarterback
Joe Burrow (vs Los Angeles Chargers)
Burrow was the MVP of Bengals camp according to some onlookers, and he has quite an array of weapons to throw to in the passing game with AJ Green on track to play. The offensive line could be a critical point of failure and the Chargers have one of the best sets of defensive ends in the league, but the loss of Derwin James helps Burrow’s case, and he can also add value as a runner. He’s the swing for the fences play among quarterbacks drafted outside of the top 12.
Derek Carr (at Carolina)
Carr has the benefit of a good offensive line and improved wide receiver group despite the loss of Tyrell Williams. The best reason to play him in DFS or 2QB/Superflex leagues this week is the opponent. Carolina has a new head coach and defensive coordinator and new starters all over the defense. If Carr doesn’t look good and produce this week, we can probably leave him for dead in fantasy leagues.
Teddy Bridgewater (vs Las Vegas)
Bridgewater being a starting quarterback in Week 1 of 2020 is a miracle in and of itself, if he becomes a good fantasy quarterback, it will be a revelation. He has a chance because of the offense authored by Joe Brady, who helped make a star of Joe Burrow (and others) at LSU last year, and the addition of Robby Anderson to the passing game. The Panthers should slant pass-heavy this year and Bridgewater has a good blindside protector in Russell Okung. The Raiders defense is spirited but young, so Bridgewater could find open receivers all afternoon.
Mitchell Trubisky (at Detroit)
Believe it or not, Trubisky has three career games with three passing touchdowns against Detroit, and two of them were 300+ yard games. The Lions secondary has been overhauled, and they don’t have an imposing pass rush, so it’s not difficult to picture Trubisky having Week 1 success despite backing into the starting quarterback job. David Montgomery should play, but he could also suffer a reinjury of his groin, or just have less work this week as the team looks to be cautious with the whole season ahead, either of which would help Trubisky’s volume.
Running Back
James Robinson (vs Indianapolis)
Robinson has a clear runway to as much work as he can handle against the Colts. Devine Ozigbo hit injured reserve with a hamstring injury and the team replaced him with Dare Ogunbowale, who is a passing-down back. Robinson could give way to Chris Thompson and Ogunbowale if the game gets out of the hand, but he will get the majority of the backfield work as long as the Jaguars stay within shouting distance.
Zack Moss (vs New York Jets)
The Jets are notoriously difficult to run on, but Moss can still rack up fantasy points by being the goal line back in a game the Bills should control with their defense. The split in the backfield in closer to 50/50 than the ADP gap between Devin Singletary and Moss suggested, and Moss should also be first in line to get the work when the Bills are salting the game away.
Antonio Gibson (vs Philadelphia)
None other than Adrian Peterson said that Washington wanted Gibson to be the lead back and called him a “ a hell of a talent” The team will employ a committee of some sort, but Gibson will have some PPR punch and if he pops early in the game, they could rely on him more as the game goes on. He’s also game script proof as a good receiving back who can also line up in the slot.
Jordan Howard (at New England)
The Dolphins love their new-look offensive line and they’ll be facing a Patriots defense that lost all three linebackers from last year along with their best run stuffer, Danny Shelton. Howard is healthy now and he should get a chance to set the tone early and often for the Dolphins, who will be coming in with their top two receivers and best receiving tight end all on the injury report. Matt Breida also qualifies as a sleeper, especially if he can get more work in the passing game with so many of the Dolphins top targets banged up.
Phillip Lindsay (vs Tennessee)
Lindsay played well enough in camp to force a full-blown RBBC in Denver. Now the question is which back of him and Melvin Gordon will be the preferred option when the team is behind because they are looking at long odds against the Titans. They lost their top pass rusher when Von Miller went down, and Bradley Chubb isn’t 100% coming off of his ACL tear. Lindsay could get a lot of mop-up work and he is the back with more familiarity with his teammates after Gordon was only signed this offseason.
Boston Scott (at Washington)
Miles Sanders is on track to play, but the Eagles won’t push him with the whole season lying ahead. Corey Clement had a great summer and was forcing a committee behind Sanders before he too landed on the injury report this week. Scott is the healthiest Eagles back and he could make hay in the passing game against Washington because throwing to the running back is a great way to slow down a relentless pass rush.
Wide Receiver
Laviska Shenault (vs Indianapolis)
Shenault could get some run as a back with the Jaguars backfield depleted, and he has been the first-team slot receiver during his impressive camp. Jacksonville seems willing to use Shenault in a variety of ways, and he could be a garbage-time special this week if the Colts run away with this game.
Mecole Hardman (vs Houston) **Thursday**
Hardman’s second-year leap could be greater than a typical receiver because he was so new to the position, having only converted to wideout part way through his collegiate career. The Chiefs showed last year that they can score at will on the Texans, and Hardman could be a big part of that with both Sammy Watkins and Tyreek Hill suffering soft tissue injuries during training camp. It only takes one well-placed target from Patrick Mahomes II for Hardman to make your week.
Anthony Miller (at Detroit)
Miller already has two 100 yard games vs. Detroit, riding the coattails of Mitchell Trubisky in the one matchup that is his sweet spot. The Lions should be more focused on Allen Robinson, and like Trubisky, Miller could have a bigger week to open the season because the running game will rely on a potentially compromised David Montgomery
Randall Cobb, Kenny Stills (at Kansas City) **Thursday**
Brandin Cooks could play, but how effective will he be? How many targets will he get? Will he finish the game after barely practicing this summer. Cobb is already an exciting sleeper without Cooks status being in question as the best slot receiver Deshaun Watson has played with in the NFL, and Stills might get the best matchups in the Chiefs secondary if Cooks plays part-time. This could be the highest-scoring game of the week and both of these plays could hit in a shootout.
Miles Boykin (vs Cleveland)
Boykin had a terrific camp and could be ready to make an impact for the Ravens. The Browns have big injury issues in the secondary, which sets Boykin up for a massive game this week if Denzel Ward is on Marquise Brown and Lamar Jackson decides to target the weak links in the secondary. Don’t be surprised if Boykin is one of the hottest waiver pickups of Week 2.
Bryan Edwards (at Carolina)
As long as the Panthers use their fastest corner, Donte Jackson, on Henry Ruggs, Edwards will have the benefit of facing Rasul Douglas, who wasn’t even on the Panthers roster last week. The Raiders should have a very good week in the passing game, and Edwards could lead the way after a tremendous summer.
Tight End
Jack Doyle (at Jacksonville)
Doyle was going to face target competition from Trey Burton, but Burton landed on injured reserve with a calf injury. Philip Rivers loves to target his tight ends, and Doyle should be a prominent target in the red zone and in general with the Colts going more conservative in the passing game. Expect a lot of red-zone visits against a rebuilding Jaguars team.
Eric Ebron (at New York Giants)
Ebron had a great summer and riffed well with Ben Roethlisberger, which could translate to production right away against a Giants defense that has a lot of turnover at linebacker and safety this year. Ebron has been an athletic mismatch and he could also see a few more targets shake free if Diontae Johnson is limited or out after missing practice with a foot injury.
Jonnu Smith (at Denver)
The Broncos are always bad against the tight end, and now they don’t have the edge rush threats to force the Titans to keep a player like Smith in to block. Smith could also get extra targets after Corey Davis showed up on the injury report with a hamstring injury. It only takes one touch for Smith to break a long play, which is a rare quality in a tight end.
O.J. Howard (at New Orleans)
Rob Gronkowski got all of the press among Buccaneer tight ends, but Howard had the more impressive camp and he could have a big role in the passing game with Mike Evans hamstring hurting and Gronkowski possibly playing a part-time role. Howard could also be a more frequent target week if Brady avoids the strength of the Saints secondary at cornerback.
