You have lineup questions, we have lineup answers -- at least we hope so. Start 'Em, Sit 'Em is here to help fantasy managers make difficult roster decisions. And you know what is a good move? Starting Christian McCaffrey. But that's too obvious, so you won't see such simple analysis here. Instead, we're exploring more debatable situations. And if you can't find a player you are looking for, please check out the latest NFL Fantasy lineup rankings.
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Rice should be in your fantasy lineups, despite the matchup. With Marquise Brown banged up, I expect Rice to see a ton of safe volume. Last season from Week 12 on he was the WR8, averaging 18.5 fantasy PPG. From Week 3 on he was among the leading receivers in red-zone targets. He out-targeted Travis Kelce 61 to 49 from Week 11 to Week 18. And if the matchup has you really scared, remember it is Baltimore’s first game with a new DC. Plus, Rice put up eight catches for 46 yards on nine targets against the Ravens in last season’s AFC Championship Game. I expect similar volume in this one.
There are plenty of reasons to get excited about Ridley in this one. First, both he and Will Levis looked great in the preseason. Second, new head coach Brian Callahan -- coming over from Cincinnati -- will want to throw a lot more than the Titans have in recent years and has said Ridley will play the Ja’Marr Chase role in the offense. Third, last season Levis led the league in deep-pass attempts and first-read throws from Week 8 on. Ridley is the Titans’ best field-stretcher and will be Levis’ first read on a lot of plays. Last season Ridley had the fifth-highest passer rating when targeted on passes of 20-plus yards and the Bears had the 11th-lowest defensive success rate on deep passes, per Next Gen Stats. Ridley brings a very high ceiling.
McLaurin is coming off a down season by his standards, but he has a new play-caller and QB now. There is a very good chance Jayden Daniels proves to be the best QB McLaurin has ever been paired with during his NFL career. He has been a top-30 receiver in fantasy PPG in all five of his seasons, showing he brings a safe floor. We know the ceiling is high, too. He could show that this week, as the Bucs allowed the fourth-most yards to receivers last season and parted with starting CB Carlton Davis in the offseason. The Commanders could also be chasing points. I would start McLaurin in Week 1.
Another rookie you can start! Nabers is special. He can stretch the field, win after the catch and is a threat to go the distance anytime he touches the ball. We got a glimpse of his abilities in the preseason. I expect the Giants to build their offense around Nabers and that should lead to a ton of volume going his way. Last season the Vikings allowed the fourth-most fantasy PPG and fifth-most yards to receivers. I would continue to start receivers against them until they prove it’s not a good idea.
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This is one that could blow up in my face, especially after what Flowers did against the Chiefs in the playoffs last year (5 catches for 115 yards, TD). But shooters shoot, especially coming out the gate. Part of what worries me with Flowers is the fantasy splits with and without Mark Andrews. Last year Flowers averaged 11 fantasy PPG when Andrews played. That jumped to 17.4 when Andrews was sidelined. Flowers had a low number in air yards per target (8.7), which makes it tougher to count on big plays from him. Plus, even without L’Jarius Sneed, the Chiefs are a strong defense that has made life very tough on receivers. If you have another option you like, I would take it.
I’m a big fan of Odunze and his game. I think there is a very good chance he finishes the year as the Bears’ WR2. But he is certainly not going to start the year as the WR2, not with DJ Moore and Keenan Allen healthy. Not only that, but it’s the first NFL game for him and his QB. Plus, new Bears OC Shane Waldron ran a slow-paced offense that struggled to elevate a third WR in Seattle. Just ask Jaxon Smith-Njigba about last season. Be patient. There will be plenty of weeks to start Odunze as he carves out a role that grows as the season progresses.
Just so you can all say I’m not a homer! Coleman is another rookie that I believe can blossom into an every-week starter. But I’m not sure we’ll see him play to that level right off the bat. Coleman is a big-bodied receiver who can do a lot of things well, but he does struggle to create separation. You should expect to see a good amount of tight-window and contested catches. Josh Allen has the arm to make that style work, but it could take a little time for that connection to fully get going. Even in a good matchup, I would try to go in another direction. I like Coleman’s teammate Khalil Shakir more this week.
Last season Addison averaged 10.5 fantasy PPG in games without Kirk Cousins in 2023 (15.8 with him). He also had a 15 percent target share when Justin Jefferson played, compared to 23 percent when Jefferson was out. Additionally, Addison topped 70 yards in just four games last season. He was heavily propped up by his 10 touchdowns, but that is tough for fantasy managers to rely on. So, in his first game with a new QB and the target vacuum that is Jefferson healthy, I would stay away from Addison in what could be a low-scoring game.
