2017 Fantasy Football: Sit, Start, and Sleepers from each NFL division
AFC NORTH
The Cleveland Browns open up against their classic rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Baltimore Ravens open up in Cincinnati against the Bengals.
At the end of Week 1, the AFC North will be an even split of two winless and two undefeated teams.
Who are their fantasy football targets?
SIT: Cleveland Browns
Just sit all of them. Even Isaiah Crowell.
START: Pittsburgh Steelers Defense
If I don’t have any faith in the Cleveland Browns, then starting the defense playing them is an easy enough call.
Crowell is the only real threat I see as of now, but with the game getting away from them as they enter the second-half, the Browns will have to air it out.
I feel like this is a ‘Joe Haden gets 2 INTs’ kind of game.
SLEEPER: RB, Joe Mixon – Cincinnati Bengals
Already. I don’t think many disagree Mixon will likely be the starting back for the Bengals by Week 4 or so.
However, he may get enough action to make him worth a start this week. Why? Mainly, because the Ravens have no offense.
Joe Flacco is nursing a back injury, Mike Wallace has been banged up, and Terrance West just doesn’t scare anyone.
I don’t know how much he’ll play, but I suspect he’ll get some solid second-half work as the Bengals look to see what they have in Mixon.
Must Read: 2017 Buccaneers Captains
NFC NORTH
The Green Bay Packers are hosting the Seahawks in their season opener while the Lions host the Cardinals.
Chicago and Minnesota are also home as they welcome the Falcons and Saints respectively.
SIT: QB, Sam Bradford – Minnesota Vikings
The Saints defense isn’t exactly known for stopping opposing offenses.
However, I do feel like they’re better than most expect them to be this season if they can stay healthy.
This being said, the Vikings don’t have an elite wide receiver and their running game still has to be proven.
Minnesota’s offensive line is as suspect as they get, which means Sam Bradford isn’t going to have time to find his limited stock of receivers.
New Orleans has some talented youth on their defense, and one of them is bound to snag at least one interception.
START: WR, Golden Tate – Detroit Lions
This is a pure PPR start. If you’re in a standard league, keep scrolling.
Arizona has a pretty good defense, I’ll give them that much.
Still, the Lions found a way to move the ball pretty well, and Golden Tate was a big part of it.
He’ll use short and intermediate passes to catch the ball, and then his quickness and athleticism to gain more yards and score.
Even the talented Cardinals defense can’t keep him from racking up catches.
SLEEPER: TE, Martellus Bennett – Green Bay Packers
In the battle of the Bennett Brothers, it’s going to be Martellus over Michael in the win-loss category. It might also be Martellus in the stat line too though.
With the Seahawks defense forced to spend many of their resources covering receivers and running back Ty Montgomery, the Packers’ Bennett has a chance to breakout early.
He wasn’t drafted very early in most leagues, and his daily price tag should yield you a pretty good return.