Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, September 8th, 2024, 1:00 PM ET
Location: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
Network: CBS
New England Patriots
Quarterback
Jacoby Brissett: Sit
Brissett isn’t a starting quarterback for fantasy football in your standard 12-person league. There is no need to expand on this one.
Running Back
Rhamondre Stevenson: Start, RB2
The Patriots don’t have much to get excited about during the early stretch of fantasy football games. Stevenson is the only player you can throw in your lineup without overthinking it. He has a solid matchup and should be relied on in every phase of the game. If he can stay healthy, we have seen him be an impact player. He lands as my RB22 with a limited ceiling in this offense.
Wide Receiver
Demario Douglas: Sit
Ja’Lynn Polk: Sit
The Patriots’ wide receivers are exciting in dynasty leagues. The issue is that in Week 1 we have tons of questions about who will be the top target. Douglas and Polk may go target for target, and while that could mean big things once Drake Maye is leading the team, they both are low-ceiling FLEX plays with Brissett.
Tight End
Hunter Henry: Sit, TE2
Henry is the most senior pass catcher on the Patriots. He should be one of the top targets in the red zone, but the issue is that the Patriots may not make too many trips there all season long. In Week 1, Henry could contend to be the top target, but it doesn’t look to be enough to warrant being in your lineups right now.
Cincinnati Bengals
Quarterback
Joe Burrow: Start, QB1
Burrow lands near the top of tier 2 of quarterbacks for Week 1 (QB8). Ja’Marr Chase appears to be set to return to the field after an extended hold in this offseason. It is a defense that Burrow should be able to take advantage of early. The question I keep asking myself is how much will the Bengals ask him to do in a game that they should have wrapped up before halftime. There isn’t much concern for your fantasy roster, but the ceiling may not be peak Burrow this week.
Running Back
Zack Moss: FLEX Option
Chase Brown: FLEX Option
The Bengals running backs post-Joe Mixon leave fantasy managers wondering what to do. Unfortunately, the answer for Week 1, at least, is that there is no correct answer. Both Moss and Brown should get regular touches against the Patriots, and they may be asked to put the game away in the latter parts of the game as well. The issue is that there is a limited ceiling and a reasonably low floor. They can be used in FLEX spots for teams who play two FLEX spots, or if you punted at the RB position, they can be a desperate RB2 play.
Wide Receiver
Ja’Marr Chase: Start, WR1
Tee Higgins: Start, WR3/FLEX
Yesterday brought the good news that Chase returned to practice. Chase is set up for an absolute smash spot against the Patriots. He is a top-five option at wide receiver, and if you drafted him in round one, you are breathing a sigh of relief today. The one thing fantasy managers should keep an eye on is how many snaps he gets out of the slot. If this increases, managers in full PPR leagues should expect a potential WR1 overall season.
Higgins is healthy and should retain his role as the WR2 for the Bengals. He may also benefit from Tyler Boyd’s departure. Higgins is one of my favorite wide receivers in the NFL. If he can stay healthy in a contract year, he could be a breakout candidate. Week 1 provides him with the perfect scenario to do just that. Higgins should make his way to the endzone in Week 1 and could see an increased target share in his final year with the team.
Tight End
Mike Gesicki: Sit
We have all fallen for the Gesicki experiment at this point, haven’t we? He just barely clocks in my top-30 tight ends. He is off the radar right now and should remain there most of the season.
Will Dustin be back to this column this season? I love his creative ways of insulting poor performances.