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

Game Info

Kickoff: Sunday, September 10th, 1:00 PM ET

Location: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

Betting Odds: BLT -10, 43.5 total via PFF.com

Network: CBS

Writer: Matthew Cava (@cavaM_ on Twitter/X)

Houston Texans

Quarterback

C.J. Stroud (Sit)

Add the Texans to the list of teams that are diving right into starting their rookie quarterback to open up the 2023-24 season. C.J. Stroud, the No. 2 overall draft pick out of Ohio State, won the starting job this summer, albeit his ‘competition’ was Davis Mills; and we learned on Monday that he was appointed captain by his teammates. Stroud essentially treated the preseason with caution, completing 11 of 20 passes for 89 yards, one touchdown, and an interception over three games. Expect some jitters in his first NFL game, on the road, against a formidable Ravens defense. It’ll take some time before Stroud can be deemed fantasy-relevant.

Running Backs

Dameon Pierce (Start, RB2), Devin Singletary (Sit)

Houston didn’t have themselves a problem last season with the emergence of fourth-rounder Dameon Pierce. His rookie campaign was cut short with an ankle injury, but not before he was able to rack up 939 rushing yards and four touchdowns, paired with 30 receptions for 165 yards and a touchdown. Four fumbles – two lost – didn’t do him any favors, but Pierce proved he can carry the load. Former Bills ‘back Devin Singletary was a free agency signing, and one would imagine his presence in the Texans RB room is veteran-based, as well as having stronger success in the passing game over Pierce. Even so, Pierce is the only fantasy-relevant running back for this team in Week 1. According to Yahoo Fantasy Sports, the Ravens allowed 308.5 total fantasy points to opposing running backs last season, which was good for 24th in the league.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Nico Collins (Start, FLEX), Tank Dell (Sit), Noah Brown (Sit), John Metchie III (Sit), Robert Woods (Sit), Dalton Schultz (Start, TE2)

The Texans wide receiver room is quite different looking than last season. Nico Collins has been with the team since 2021, and truthfully the only receiver out the gate that you can consider a starting option. Robert Woods has bounced around the league over the last few seasons, and he is the veteran in a young room. Noah Brown is new to the Texans as well this season. John Metchie III, who lost his entire rookie year last year due to a bout with leukemia, plus a recovery from a torn ACL in his final game with Alabama, is back in the mix. And then there is third-round rookie Tank Dell, who should mix in as the season progresses. Collins has been Stroud’s preferred target his summer, and that should continue to translate into the regular season.

Former Cowboy and free agent signing Dalton Schultz has been a fairly consistent fantasy option in a forever and always weak position in the game. As per ProFootballNetwork, in the last three years, Schultz has finished as follows: 2020: TE12, 2021: TE3 & 2022: TE11. Tight ends are notoriously safety blankets for rookie QBs, and Schultz should be able to keep that energy for Stroud.

Baltimore Ravens

Quarterbacks

Lamar Jackson (Start, QB1)

This offseason brought quite the drama to the landscape of the Ravens quarterback situation. The scenario was rather simple: Lamar Jackson wanted to be paid. It was finally on April 27th that news broke that Jackson and Baltimore agreed to terms of a five-year, $260M extension. The 26-year-old former NFL MVP, is here to stay, and now has a new offensive coordinator in the fold; Todd Monken, former Georgia Bulldogs offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. The belief is that Monken will be able to elevate Jackson as a passer, and not have his game be so reliant on his legs, as he’s had injuries the last few seasons that have sidelined him. Last season, the Texans surprisingly only allowed an average of 13.8 fantasy points to opposing QBs, which made them the best unit in this category, but I’m willing to think Jackson should have no issue finding success against this defense out of the gate.

Running Backs

J.K. Dobbins (RB2), Gus Edwards (Sit)

Another year, another chance for J.K. Dobbins to actually stay healthy and keep his job at the Ravens RB1. He’s been hurt far too often the last few seasons, but he does have health on his side entering Week 1, as well as a lack of threatening competition behind him. Gus Edwards, who has an injury history as well, and Justice Hill are the backups; Baltimore didn’t spend any draft capital on an RB this year. Surely the Ravens under Monken won’t be running as often as they have in the past, but I think it’s safe to say that Dobbins can be treated as an RB2… until he can’t.

Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends

Rashod Bateman (Start, FLEX), Odell Beckham Jr. (Start, FLEX), Zay Flowers (Sit), Mark Andrews (Start, TE1)

I’ve mentioned his name quite a bit so far, but Monken’s offensive success really should benefit Jackson and co., in comparison to years past with former OC Greg Roman. The Ravens wide receiver room added rookie first-rounder Zay Flowers to the mix, as well as Odell Beckham Jr., who missed all of the 2022-23 season rehabbing his ACL tear suffered in the prior year’s Super Bowl.

Rashod Bateman, still only 23 years old, is returning for his third season but is coming off a recent Lisfranc foot injury (and years of injuries overall). Bateman is trending towards starting Week 1, and you can consider him plus OBJ as potential FLEX options this week. Take the wait-and-see approach with Flowers, but Baltimore has high hopes for him, considering he was the 22nd overall pick in this year’s draft.

Mark Andrews is as sure-fire as they come for fantasy tight ends and an IRL weapon for Jackson. Andrews finished the 2022 season as the TE2 behind Travis Kelce and will continue to be a must-start on the weekly. It’s more than likely that Andrews leads the Baltimore pass-catchers in targets this season.

-Matthew Cava (@cavaM_ on Twitter & Reddit)