Sit/Start Week 1: Reviewing All Fantasy Relevant Players In Every Single Game

Game Info

Kickoff: Sunday, September 11th at 1 PM ET

Location: Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, OH

Betting Odds: PIT, -6.5, 44.5 Total on Oddsshark

Network: CBS

Writer: Justin Herrera (@Semtexmex93 on Twitter)

Pittsburgh Steelers

Quarterback

Mitchell Trubisky  (Start, QB2)

Mitchell Trubisky is a starter, this time for a historically good organization led by a competent head coach. Trubisky will look to take it to a Bengals defense that allowed the second-highest completion percentage (69.1%) to opposing quarterbacks last year. On top of that, Trubisky has a receiving weapon in every area of the field and will look to take advantage of the Bengals’ secondary that allowed 3,551 yards to opposing receivers (second most). The Bengals will score many points in this game, and Trubisky will have to deliver if he’s going to keep the Steelers in this divisional game. FantasyPros has him ranked QB28, and I think I’m a little more bullish in thinking he could be a serviceable QB2 in Superflex.

https://twitter.com/BrunoIs61310668/status/1564163575366778880

Running Backs

Najee Harris (Start, RB1)

https://twitter.com/maybemartymcfly/status/1480314367942045702

Najee Harris is a volume machine who got 86% of the touches for Steelers running backs last year. In one of his best games of 2021, Harris went for 102 yards on 14 receptions against these same Bengals. While I don’t think Trubisky will be as dependent on Harris, it’s good to know that Harris has the upside to get you 14 points in one game off receptions alone. Harris, for that reason, is a solid RB1 option, and on FantasyPros, he’s RB9.

Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

Diontae Johnson (Start, WR2), Pat Freiermuth (Start, TE1), Chase Claypool (Sit), George Pickens (Sit)

Mitchell Trubisky dropping DIMES to Diontae Johnson 🎯 pic.twitter.com/uMztloqXpj

— PFF (@PFF) August 28, 2022

Diontae Johnson has a shoulder injury going into 2022 and an uncertain status going into Week 1. If Johnson plays, it’s an easy start, he averaged 10.5 targets/game in 2021, and I don’t think Trubisky will buck that trend. In his lone game against the Bengals, he was targeted 14 times with nine catches for 95 yards. FantasyPros has him ranked WR21, and I think he’ll be a WR2 with some WR1 upside. Pat Freiermuth is the other guy I want on this receiving core. With 20 red zone targets in 2021, Freiermuth was the most targeted TE in the scoring area; once again, I doubt Trubisky bucks that trend. In two games against the Bengals, he tallied seven catches, 62 yards, and two touchdowns. He’s a TE1 for me this week; currently, he’s TE10 at FantasyPros. Both George Pickens and Chase Claypool are upside players that have shaky consistency. They are two guys I’d rather sit and see do well rather than start and feel dumb when they don’t pop off. I think they both become starters if Johnson does not play.

Cincinnati Bengals

Quarterback

Joe Burrow (Start, QB1)

Random reminder…@JoeyB ➡️ @Real10jayy__ is a problem! pic.twitter.com/Xy22oIYNzS

— NFL UK (@NFLUK) September 5, 2022

Joe Burrow is coming off a Super Bowl bid and will look to get off to a big start against the Steelers in Week 1. Burrow didn’t fare great last year against the Steelers, averaging 18 points in their two meetings last year. I expect Burrow to be better against the Steelers in Week 1. Last year Burrow completed 76% of passes from a clean pocket, which was first. That figures into this game because the Steelers only sacked Burrow twice last year. The Bengals have gotten some help on the interior offensive line, which should lead to Burrow staying upright more often. I think Burrow starts the season strong and has a QB1 week. FantasyPros currently has him at QB9.

Running Backs

Joe Mixon (RB1, Start)

Joe Mixon had the Steelers’ number last year, totaling 257 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns, leading to 42.7 total fantasy points. Last season the Steelers were exceptional against the run, allowing the fifth-fewest yards and TDs (1,338 and 7). I look for Mixon to be utilized heavily in this game through the air and on the ground. Mixon is an easy start in Week 1 and FantasyPros has him as their RB6.

Joe Mixon ended his 2021 as RB4 and set career highs in:

🔶Rushing Att (292)
🔶Rushing Yards (1205)
🔶Rushing TDs (13) pic.twitter.com/1Y4B4OPkMO

— Lobo’s Fantasy Football Den (@LobosFFDen) September 2, 2022

Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

Ja’Marr Chase (Start, WR1), Tee Higgins (Start, WR1), Tyler Boyd (Start, Flex), Hayden Hurst (Sit)

Ja'Marr Chase (top of the screen) leaves the CB grasping at air pic.twitter.com/67zzoytmnB

— mike (@bengals_sans) September 2, 2022

Ja’Marr Chase has gotten nothing but great praise from his team for his work this offseason. Last year against the Steelers, he caught four balls for 65 yards and two touchdowns, scoring 22 fantasy points in Week 3; however, in Week 12 he caught all three of his targets for just 39 yards. How will Chase handle Cameron Sutton in their Week 1 matchup? I think he’ll be fine and a WR1; currently, FantasyPros has him set in as their WR2. Tee Higgins exploded in his last matchup against the Steelers, going for six catches, 114 yards, and a TD. Higgins might be the true lock as he’ll most likely face the second corner. Last year when Chase and Higgins played against James Pierre, they had their best games. Hence why Higgins is a WR1 as well this week, and FantasyPros agrees with their ranking of WR12. Tyler Boyd is the guy I see as the “tight end” on this team; I think he’ll be the one taking a lot of red zone targets. Boyd took 75% of his snaps out of the slot, and I look for that to continue in 2022. He’s best left for the flex slot; Boyd is WR47 on FantasyPros. Hayden Hurst resides at TE23 on Fantasypros, and I tend to agree that he’s not startable.