Week 1 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Advice on Top Fantasy Football Stars in Opening Games

The 2024 NFL season is here. For fantasy managers, this means that it's time to move past the draft and start focusing on lineup decisions.

Those decisions can be notoriously tricky in Week 1 because of the sheer number of unknowns. Many teams have new rosters, new coaches and new schemes, which makes it difficult to predict player roles.

Of course, it'll be worth trusting elite fantasy players like Christian McCaffrey, CeeDee Lamb, Bijan Robinson and Justin Jefferson in any week. No matter what may have changed around them, top players will remain offensive centerpieces.

It's the second- and third-tier fantasy fantasy options who will provide difficult lineup decisions to start the season. Here, you'll find start-sit recommendations for a few star players on the fringe in Week 1.

I believe it will be difficult to trust Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon for the entirety of the 2024 season. The former Cincinnati Bengals star has a lot of point-per-reception (PPR) upside, but I'm not convinced he'll remain an every-down back in Houston.

Based on his strong showing in the preseason, backup Cam Akers feels like a legitimate threat to earn significant playing time this year and perhaps even take over the lead-rusher role.

Mixon averaged a good-not-great 4.0 yards per carry last season, while Akers looked like a powerful, decisive and (most importantly) healthy runner during exhibition play.

That said, the Texans are likely to lean heavily on Mixon early, and he's a must-start against the rival Indianapolis Colts. He should be good for a handful of outlet receptions and may find more running room against the Colts than he will against other teams.

Indianapolis ranked 24th in rushing yards allowed last season and had glaring issues against the run during the preseason. Managers should trust Mixon in Week 1 and evaluate Houston's backfield split moving forward.

Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard should see a dual-threat role similar to the one that Mixon saw in Cincinnati—largely due to the fact that former Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan is now the head coach in Tennessee.

However, there's a very good chance that Tyjae Spears and Julius Chestnut cut significantly into Pollard's workload this season. Pollard was most effective for the Dallas Cowboys when used as part of a committee, so he may not even begin the season with an every-down role.

Managers should exercise caution with Pollard until Tennessee's backfield rotation is better established. They should also wait for a more enticing matchup to take a chance on the 27-year-old.

The Titans open on the road against a Chicago Bears defense that was terrific against the run last season. Chicago finished the year ranked fifth in yards per attempt allowed, first in rushing yards allowed and second in rushing touchdowns allowed.

Pollard may catch enough passes to provide a functional floor in Week 1, but his ceiling is severely limited.

Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins will be a trustworthy flex option for much of the 2024 season. However, managers will want to play the matchups instead of simply leaving him in the starting lineup.

Higgins is a quality No. 2 receiver, but he does have down weeks—he finished with fewer than 50 receiving yards in six of his 12 appearances last season.

This week, though, Higgins may fill the No. 1 role for Cincinnati. Star wideout Ja'Marr Chase held-in for a new contract throughout training camp and well past the preseason.He returned to practice as a limited participant on Wednesday, but Chase has a lot of catching up to do.

Even if he shows up on the gameday roster, the three-time Pro Bowler may not be prepared for a full workload.

Higgins should be Joe Burrow's go-to target against the New England Patriots. And while the Patriots do have a solid defense—they ranked 11th in passing yards allowed and seventh in total yards allowed last season—target volume alone will push Higgins into must-start territory.

As the No. 1 option, Chase averaged just over nine targets per game last season.

Managers who landed Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson late in drafts likely got a tremendous value. While Carolina has other quality receivers in Adam Thielen and rookie Xavier Legette, Johnson should be Bryce Young's No. 1 target early.

According to Johnson, head coach Dave Canales is already planning for Johnson to be the top option.

"Dave told me that as soon as I got here," Johnson said, per Anthony Rizzuti of Panthers Wire. "I'm playing the X, 'You're gonna be the first read in the progression almost every play.'"

However, I don't love Johnson's Week 1 matchup against the rival New Orleans Saints. Young didn't see extensive work in the preseason and may have some growing pains in his first full game with his new receiver.

The Saints also have a terrific cornerback tandem in Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo, which could limit Johnson's immediate impact.

This doesn't guarantee that Johnson will be a Week 1 bust, of course. However, he's a risky play, and managers should look to other flex options if they have them.