Week 1 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: Matchups to Exploit and Avoid in Season Openers

Starting the season off on the right foot is more important than ever in the world of fantasy football.

With most every player healthy (not counting injuries like Jamaal Charles or suspensions like Tom Brady), it is critical for owners to pick up wins before the injury dominoes start to fall and the waiver wire becomes a bigger factor than ever.

The biggest gaffe an owner can make to dash his or her chances at an early win is misplaying the matchups. Bigger names deserve starts in bad situations, but sometimes reason has to override the name.

Below, let’s compare some of this week’s top names and highlight matchups to exploit and avoid.

QB

Matchup to Exploit: Eli Manning, NYG (at DAL) Share Tweet Embed

Next to Oakland’s Derek Carr against New Orleans, this week is all about Eli Manning of the New York Giants. 

Owned in 94.7 percent of leagues, Manning isn’t the first guy owners think of in terms of quarterback dominance. For shame, as the younger Manning rode a weapon set led by Odell Beckham Jr. to 12 double-digit performances last year.

Manning gets the Dallas Cowboys this week, nothing short of good news considering the struggling unit allowed the second-most points to quarterbacks on average last year. To be fair, Manning didn’t manage a touchdown pass against Dallas last year while his ground game carried the load, but it doesn’t change the fact he sits in a top-tier matchup.

Matchup to Avoid: Philip Rivers, SD (at KC)

Interestingly enough, Philip Rivers has also fallen out of favor a bit in recent years despite 12 games of his own with double digits.

One problem—Rivers led the league in pass attempts to get there and actually recorded three games without a touchdown.

Two of those came against the Kansas City Chiefs.

That’s the team Rivers’ San Diego Chargers line up against this weekend, a nightmare matchup against a unit that not only owned Rivers last year, but allowed the fifth-fewest points to quarterbacks on average.

RB

Matchup to Exploit: Christine Michael, SEA (vs. MIA) Share Tweet Embed

Owners should go for broke with Christine Michael of the Seattle Seahawks all things considered.

Michael popped in the preseason to …

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