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Vladimir De Wet breaks down the second half of the Week 1 matchups for the 2015 season. Below, you will find part two of our Week 1 NFL matchups & fantasy football start/sit analysis, which should help you prepare your lineups to win this week. Be sure to also check out part one of this week's matchups analysis, diving into the early slate of games.
It’s essential to analyze the weekly NFL matchups to find lineup sleepers and gems, while also avoiding those players who may turn out to be busts. Each week of the NFL season, we will be breaking down each of the NFL matchups and providing you with some fantasy football advice and lineup recommendations based on matchups that we love, matchups that we hate, and some high-risk/high-reward players, as well.
Editor’s Note: Want some more matchups data for your start/sit lineup decisions? RotoBaller's NFL Premium Subscriptions are your secret weapon. Sign up now and get access to our in-house developed tools including the DFS matchups tool, lineup sleepers/streamers tool, DFS lineups picks newsletter, start/sit tool & much more.
Lions @ Chargers - Sunday, 9/13 @ 4:05 EST
Matchups We Love
Yes, Ameer Abdullah may be the second coming of Barry Sanders, but until we know that for sure Joique Bell is the starting running back for the Detroit Lions. Bell should be a RB2 until further notice. He finished last season the 14th-overall fantasy back, so don't let all the rookie hype scare you away from him.
Stevie Johnson is a WR3/flex option in San Diego's pass-happy offense. Johnson had three seasons of over 1,000 yards in Buffalo with no one in the same stratosphere as Philip Rivers throwing him the ball. With no Antonio Gates and a really good preseason, Johnson should shine from his first snap in Charger Blue.
Matchups We Hate
Rookie Melvin Gordon was drafted as the 16th-overall running back making him a RB2 in most leagues. Gordon is still a rookie and after a rough preseason where he averaged less than three yards per carry, expect him to be gradually inserted into the offense as the season goes on. Until then the Chargers will likely go with a three-headed running back monster of Gordon, Danny Woodhead, and Branden Oliver.
Additionally, the Lions have a stout front seven that, even with the loss of N'Damukong Suh, should recreate their fourth-overall run defense from last year. Brandon Pettigrew and all the other Detroit TE's are no-go's for fantasy until someone takes the job or injuries occur.
Key Players/Notes
Expect stars Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate to rack up the points against last season's 21st-ranked pass defense.
Titans @ Buccaneers - Sunday, 9/13 @ 4:25 EST
Matchups We Love
Last year the Buccaneers' secondary gave up the third-most fantasy points to opposing WRs. Kendall Wright and Marcus Mariota established a clear connection in the preseason, making Wright a WR3 with high upside.
The Titans defense was pretty pathetic against the run last year, giving up the second-most fantasy points to opposing RBs. Doug Martin showed flashes of his 2012 form in the preseason and should be relied upon heavily with rookie Jameis Winston at the helm. Martin is a high-end RB3/low-end RB2.
Matchups We Hate
Two rookie quarterbacks on two really bad teams should equal a tire fire of a game. Proceed with caution with all players. These two defenses ranked 25th (TB) and 32nd (TEN) in rotoballer's fantasy football defense rankings. Yes, they're both going against rookie quarterbacks, but don't overthink it--just stay away.
Key Players/Notes
Mike Evans has been hurt most of the preseason and his status still isn't clear for Week 1. If he's out, his targets will be split between Vincent Jackson and Austin Seferian-Jenkins. Delanie Walker is healthy after hurting his thumb early in the preseason and should be a TE1 moving forward. Walker has put up two 60+ reception seasons despite having a QB carnival throwing him the ball. The simple stability of Mariota should see Walker put up even more consistent numbers.
Bengals @ Raiders - Sunday, 9/13 @ 4:25 EST
Matchups We Love
When healthy last year Latavius Murray brought a solid balance to the Raiders offense and has been one of the more trendy options as a RB2, usually coming off the board as the 15th running back selected. Expect him to feature against the Bengals run defense, which came in as the third-worst in the league last year.
Matchups We Hate
Mohamed Sanu, Marvin Jones, Tyler Eifert, and Giovani Bernard are all healthy. Rex Burkhead, Ryan Hewitt, and Greg Little are also healthy plus they looked good in the preseason. Outside of AJ Green and Jeremy Hill there are just too many options to feel comfortable starting one Cincinnati skill player over another.
Key Players/Notes
Michael Crabtree has an ADP of 141 overall and isn't owned in most fantasy leagues. He emerged as the clear number two target in a pass-happy offense during the preseason and his performance in Week 1 should be an indicator of whether or not he can regain his old form.
Ravens @ Broncos - Sunday, 9/13 @ 4:25 EST
Matchups We Love
Kamar Aiken is the starting WR opposite Steve Smith and will be getting his fair share of targets. He is still a flier and only start-worthy if you're desperate (or you just want to be the person who gets to say, "I actually started Aiken"). The Broncos had one of the top defenses last season, especially in the secondary (highest-ranked pass coverage), but Joe Flacco and the Ravens always play them tough and someone has to score. High risk/high reward for the Ravens offense.
Julius Thomas was Virgil Green before Virgil Green was Virgil Green. Basically, Virgil Green can step out of nowhere and become that touchdown machine in the red zone for Peyton Manning. Like Aiken, Green is a flier with high potential and upside. Keep an eye on these guys because they may become waiver wire stars after Week 1.
Matchups We Hate
Justin Forsett is going against last year's third-ranked rush defense at Mile High Stadium where the Broncos held their opponents under 75 yards rushing six times.
Key Players/Notes
Emmanuel Sanders should be healthy and ready to go after missing much of the preseason. Breshad Perriman seems to be the exact opposite, with it highly likely he sits out Week 1.
Giants @ Cowboys - Sunday, 9/13 @ 8:30 EST
Matchups We Love
All TEs and WRs are start-worthy in this game with special consideration going towards Reuben Randle and Terrance Williams. Between the two teams it wouldn't be possible to assemble four guys for a decent secondary. Flashy Sunday night lights should lead to big passing plays and lots of points.
Matchups We Hate
Rashad Jennings and Joseph Randle are currently the starters at running back for their teams, but with backups like Shane Vereen and (a healthy) Darren McFadden lurking both starters are boom-or-bust prospects.
Key Players/Notes
Victor Cruz has been in and out of practice and may not play Week 1. Dez Bryant and Jason Witten are healthy and always play well against the Giants.
Eagles @ Falcons- Monday, 9/14 @ 7:10 EST
Matchups We Love
Nelson Agholor played well in the preseason and is expected to get a high volume of snaps right from the start. He should be a WR3 with low-end WR2 potential. Devonta Freeman is hurt and is the clear number two behind Tevin Coleman to open the season. Coleman should see his fair amount of snaps and red zone opportunities. In Week 1 he is a touchdown-dependent RB2.
Matchups We Hate
Darren Sproles and Ryan Mathews will be splitting back-up duties behind Demarco Murray. This split makes them both risky starts in any format. Sproles may only be a viable option in PPR leagues anyway. All of this being said, every time Sproles gets ignored or pushed to the side he seems to end up scoring lots of points. But with a healthy Murray and Mathews there may not be enough snaps to go around.
Key Players/Notes
Julio Jones and Roddy White are going up against an Eagles team that gave up the most fantasy points to opposing wide outs in 2014. Expect both WRs to get the ball early and often in a potential Monday Night shoot-out. The flip side of the shoot-out sees Zach Ertz return to the field alongside Brent Celek and stud WR Jordan Matthews. All three are good bets to produce up to their expected potential in Week 1 against one of the league's worst defenses from a year ago.
Vikings @ 49ers -Monday, 9/14 @ 10:20 EST
Matchups We Love
The Vikings offense is reloaded with Adrian Peterson back and most of its roster healthy and ready to go. This along with a strong rookie campaign has PFF ranking Teddy Bridgewater as the 14th QB in the league. Teddy is due for a big year and there's no better place to start than Monday Night Football.
Matchups We Hate
The 49ers defense lost so much talent over the past year through retirement and cuts it's hard to believe they can be even average in 2015. Adrian Peterson loves the big stage and hasn't played in a year, Bridgewater is solid at not turning the ball over--I don't see many opportunities for the 49ers D to rack up fantasy points.
Vernon Davis was a gigantic disappointment last season and hasn't impressed this offseason. The Vikings defense was one of the better ones last year against opposing TEs and Davis just doesn't seem viable as a fantasy option until he proves otherwise.
Key Players/Notes
Carlos Hyde and Anquan Boldin are solid second options at their positions. Both are healthy and expected to share a heavy work load for the 49ers.
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