Fantasy Football: Who to Sit or Play on Gameday Week 1

One of the toughest decisions each week for fantasy football team owners is deciding who to start and who to sit. Hopefully this article will help make your decisions a little easier.

The article will be broken down into positions. Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, Team Defense and Kickers.

Quarterbacks

Play

Matt Leinart, Cardinals

The San Francisco 49ers were the 28^th ranked pass defense last season and have only added Nate Clements. Leinart should be able to use his weapons and have a big game. Arizona quarterbacks faired well against Arizona last season.

Alex Smith, 49ers

Arizona was ranked behind the 49ers in pass defense last season and this game should become a shootout very fast.

Donovan McNabb, Eagles

All that needs to be said: Last season against the Packers McNabb had 288 yards passing for two touchdowns and 47 yards rushing for two touchdowns.

Steve McNair, Ravens

This is probably one of the few spots were McNair could be started. The Bengals had the 31^st ranked pass defense last season and McNair had over 400 yards in two games against them last season.

Sit

Jon Kitna, Lions

The Raiders had one of the best pass defenses last season and they are looking to have a good one again. Kitna was awful on the road and outdoors last season and this game has both.

Philip Rivers, Chargers

Rivers is facing the Bears defense who should be in Rivers's face. Sit him if you have a better alternative.

Rex Grossman, Bears

Grossman is a sit most weeks but the Chargers defense will give him all he can handle. He will probably throw a pick or two to the Chargers.

Vince Young, Titans

Young had some terrible games against the Jaguars last season. In one he had one touchdown and three interceptions and in the other he threw for 85 yards and no TDs or INTs.

Runningbacks

Play

LaMont Jordan, Raiders

The Lions were 21^st against the run last season and Dominic Rhodes is out for the first 4 games of the season.

Laurence Maroney, Patriots

Maroney ran for 65 yards and a touchdown against the Jets on limited carries last season. The Jets also allowed 19 rushing touchdowns last season.

Edgerrin James, Cardinals

James should be able to get some yardage and some scores against the 49ers. The Niners were 19^th against the run last season.

Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars

The Titans were 30^th against the run last season and Jones-Drew will be giving them all they can handle out of the backfield on Sunday.

Sit

Warrick Dunn, Falcons

The Vikings were ranked first in run defense last season. Dunn is also losing carries to Jerious Norwood. He is a no-play on Sunday.

Cedric Benson, Bears

Benson will have a tough time gaining yards against the Chargers defense. If you have a better option go with it.

Rudi Johnson, Bengals

Same as with Benson, Johnson has a bad matchup. If you have an alternative now is the time to start him.

Wide Receivers

Play

Deion Branch, Seahawks

The Bucs pass defense is getting old and the Bucs allowed the second most receiving touchdowns last season.

Joe Horn, Falcons

If you can get past that queezy feeling of relying on Joey Harrington Horn might make a good start. The Vikings pass defense is awful and the Falcons should throw.

Hines Ward, Steelers

The Browns were number 29 in pass defense last year and Ward should find the endzone this Sunday.

Jerry Porter, Raiders

Porter was the raiders number one receiver before his attitude problem. A new coach should help that problem and a mediocre Lions pass defense should help him on the field.

Sit

Brandon Jones, Titans

Vince Young struggles against the Jaguars and if he struggles, so does Brandon Jones.

Bernard Berrian, Bears

Grossman will be throwing against the Chargers defense. This means a tough night for Berrian.

Vincent Jackson, Chargers

Jackson may not put up big numbers against the Bears defense.

Lee Evans, Bills

The Broncos should be able to defend against Lee Evans with Champ Bailey and Dre Bly. Sit him.

Tight Ends

Play

Randy McMichael, Rams

McMichael will benefit from moving to the Rams and he should pay dividends to his owners immediately against the suspect Panthers defense.

Owen Daniels, Texans

Daniels will be Shaub's number 2 receiving option and since they are playing an easy Chiefs defense this could mean some serious points.

David Martin, Dolphins

The Redskins allowed 30 touchdowns last season so David Martin has a good chance at finding the end zone.

Sit

Heath Miller, Steelers

The Browns have Heath Miller's number. In his last four games against the Browns he has only three catches for 53 yards.

Kellen Winslow, Browns

Kellen Winslow has a hard time against the Steelers. Pittsburgh seems to know how to shut him down. He only gained 55 yards in two games last season.

Defense

Play

Denver

The Bills offense looked horrible in the preseason and Lynch isn't ready to be a stud. If Denver can cover Lee Evans they should have no problem.

Seahawks

Tampa Bay will have trouble moving the ball and that is good news for Seahawks defense owners.

Raiders

The Raiders match up well with the Lions and Kitna. If you have them or are looking for a defensive replacement, this is the week to use them.

Sit

Panthers

The Panthers defense will be tested against the Rams offense. It is best to bench them for the week and try again later.

Packers

The Packers got torched by McNabb and the Eagles last season and expect more of the same this season.

Redskins

The Redskins defense gave up a lot of scores last year and the Dolphins could exploit their weaknesses this weekend. They are not worth the risk to start on Sunday.

Kickers

Play

Neil Rackers, Cardinals

He was 6-for-6 in field goals last season against the Niners.

Jason Elam, Broncos

Elam is 10-for-10 in field goals in the first week since 2002

Sit

Rob Bironas, Titans

Bironas was only 1-for 2 last season against the Jaguars

Lawrence Tynes, Giants

Tynes did not do well going into Dallas last season where he went 0-for-1 in field goals.

Hopefully this article will help you to make the right decision for who to sit and who to play on gameday. Good luck.