2017 Fantasy Football: Sit, Start, and Sleepers from each NFL division
AFC WEST
The Oakland Raiders open up their season in Tennessee against the Titans while the Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers finish out the week on Monday Night Football.
This division bookends the week with the Chiefs visiting the Super Bowl Champs to start the year on Thursday Night Football.
SIT: Oakland Raiders Defense
The Tennessee Titans have built quite the offensive unit, and the Raiders get to be the first in 2017 to face it.
They do so on the road as well.
Marcus Mariota, DeMarco Murray, Derrick Henry, Rishard Matthews, Eric Decker, Corey Davis and Delanie Walker are all the weapons Oakland will throw at Oakland.
I mean, the Raiders could win the game, but it’s not going to be a defensive affair I can assure you that.
START: QB, Derek Carr – Oakland Raiders
Remember the offensive game I mentioned above? Well, this is the AFC West quarterback in the game.
Derek Carr returns from his season ending injury in 2016, and he’s looking to get the Raiders back on a championship contending track.
Facing the defense which the Fantasy Footballers rank as 29th in the entire league will help him do so.
If you got Carr late in your league draft, you’re about to be very happy with your investment. If you’re a daily player, I think you’ll be just as happy.
SLEEPER: Los Angeles Chargers Defense
Trevor Siemian is the Broncos starting quarterback, but don’t think this position is all sewn up for the year.
Denver brought back Brock Osweiler after failed stints with the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns.
A rough start for Siemian could result in Broncos faithful calling for Osweiler to enter the game, and unfortunately it could actually happen.
Of course, this is all good news for those of us brave enough to put the Chargers defense on the line, in primetime, on the road.
Must Read: Hurricane Irma's Effect
NFC WEST
This division provides our fantasy football fans the first shot at four games as there are no divisional match-ups for the NFC West this week.
Instead, we get Arizona visiting the Detroit Lions noon this Sunday. Meanwhile, the Rams, Seahawks and 49ers all play in the late afternoon slot on the same day.
SIT: Seattle Seahawks Defense
This isn’t an indictment of the Seahawks. Richard Sherman, Michael Bennett and all those guys are still a solid unit.
My advice to sit the Seattle defense is all about offense. Namely, Green Bays and the lack of one in Seattle.
I don’t have any faith in the running game from the Pacific Northwest, and if they can’t get it figured out on the road, then the Legion of Boom is going to bust from fatigue.
Aaron Rodgers is still the best fantasy football quarterback there is, and he’s going to get way too many opportunities against this defense not to capitalize.
START: QB, Carson Palmer – Arizona Cardinals
I don’t think anyone in Arizona was happy with how the Cardinals season went last year. Especially, Carson Palmer.
With only a few years left if he’s lucky, Palmer doesn’t have many more runs at the title left in him.
He’ll look to get his 2017 attempt off to a solid start on the road, but he’ll do it against the fifth worst fantasy football defense in 2016.
This defense is soft to opposing quarterbacks, and with so much attention being paid to David Johnson, there should be some solid opportunities for Palmer to get you points on.
SLEEPER: WR, Pierre Garcon – San Francisco 49ers
Many people think the Panthers defense will be better in 2017 than it was last year, including me.
Still, it isn’t going to be the greatest secondary in the league, and a year ago they gave up the third-most receptions in the NFL.
If there’s a player on the 49ers roster who can take advantage of this fact, it’s Pierre Garcon.
The former Redskin turned San Francisco wide-out should be able to bring in at least six passes against this defense, and if any of those go for a score, then you’ve got pretty good value in PPR formats.