Fantasy Football Week 1 Sleepers

Welcome in, LAFB Network fam. This week is the week where we get our beloved football back! I know you’re pumped but I may be just a little more. I tried my hand at fantasy baseball and am the laughing stock in my league.

I need me some fantasy football in my life so I can be good at something again. That, and the fact that I’m in like five leagues so I have a lot banking on this season being played through.

Anyways, let’s get back to why you’re here.

Fantasy Football Week 1 Sleepers

Quarterback

Jimmy Garoppolo vs Arizona Cardinals

Jimmy G has easy pickin’s this Sunday against one of the worst passing defenses in the league last season. The Cardinals gave up an average of 281.9 passing yards a game and it doesn’t look like they made any huge defensive additions this offseason. Let’s not forget Arizona’s 70.1% completion rate. That was 3^rd last, last season in completion rate behind the Chargers and Colts.

Teddy Bridgewater vs Las Vegas Raiders

We all saw Big Teddy keep Michael Thomas fantasy relevant when Drew Brees was out for a month and a half. More importantly, every game he started in Brees’ absence, he won. He concluded his five-game stretch with 1,384 passing yards, nine TDs, and only two picks.

Not too shabby when considering Bridgewater against the Raiders and their 8.3-yard passing average. The Raiders are also very kind versus QBs when it comes to turnovers. They had only nine picks last season and 33 passing TDs against them.

Running Back

Marlon Mack @ Jacksonville Jaguars

We all know Jonathan Taylor is being groomed to take the top spot out of Marlon Mack’s hands but we have to believe that Mack is going to do everything to keep that from happening. This week might be the first of many that he will need to prove his worth.

The Jags could be considered a leaping pad for whoever lines up at the opposing RB spot. Last season they finished with 5.1 rushing yards per attempt against, an average of 139.3 rushing yards a game, and a whopping 23 rushing TDs.

Malcolm Brown vs Dallas Cowboys

With all the Cam Akers hype, it might be easy to sweep Malcolm Brown and Darrell Henderson under the rug. Both players were expected to be in a committee with Akers but Henderson has been banged up throughout camp. Now it’s just Brown and Akers leading the Rams backfield.

This means some primetime for Malcolm Brown. Especially after the Rams spilling some details about Brown and Akers sharing the load on the depth chart. Akers will most likely make the “start” but both Cam Akers and Malcolm Brown are startable in this week’s matchup.

James Robinson vs Indianapolis Colts

Let’s line up the fortunes of young James Robinson. Chris Thompson, known change of pace back, was added this offseason to the Jaguar roster. Leonard Fournette found his way on the Tampa Bay roster.

Devine Ozigbo has been wishy-washy with the IR nursing a hammy injury. Now Ryquell Armstead is on the COVID list again. No matter the angle you look at it, James Robinson is going to start the Jag’s year off as the primary back.

Wide Receiver

Kendrick Bourne vs Arizona Cardinals

If Jimmy G is on the sleepy list then you know a Frisco receiver should be as well. This week is no exception. The only change is who the starting man should be. It SHOULD be Deebo Samuel but he has been on the no-fly zone because of his foot. Or it COULD be Brandon Aiyuk, but he too is left with a questionable status. Take the shot on Bourne this week and hope he stays relevant when the young WR corps return.

N’Keal Harry vs Miami Dolphins

Last season the Miami Dolphins gave up 39 receiving TDs; that’s 2.4 TDs through the air a game. With their offensive additions, it doesn’t seem they have brought any help to their defensive front. On the opposite side, Harry has a new QB in Cam Newton tossing him the ball. This gets me pumped because we know that Cam can support a fulltime WR in his ranks, so let’s see if this sophomore can catch some heat in Week 1.

DeSean Jackson @ Washington Football Team

Speaking of hot flashes in a pan, veteran DeSean Jackson finds himself as the top WR for Carson Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles. Rookie sensation Jalen Reagor has been nursing a shoulder injury, while Alshon Jeffery has been hobbled with a foot injury. Reagor is still questionable to suit up but Jeffery will not.

Let’s not forget DeSean Jackson’s first and only game last season. Week 1 vs the same Washington squad and he finished with nine receptions, 154 receiving yards, and 2 scores.

Tight End

Eric Ebron @ New York Giants

If Big Ben is back to 100% I want all I can get in that Steelers offense. That includes the new Steeler TE, Eric Ebron. Ebron has the reputation that every QB would want, feed him targets and he’ll produce for you. In the 2018 season, the Indianapolis Colts gave the man over 100 targets and he finished the season with 66 receptions, 750 yards, and 13 TDs. Ben Roethlisberger is more than capable of moving the ball around so don’t sleep on Ebron.

Ian Thomas vs Las Vegas Raiders

Say adios to Greg Olsen, Ian Thomas is the new man for the Carolina Panthers. He has been taught by the man that just left but who better of a teacher? Thomas has been healthy for the majority of his career so he’s logged plenty of game time over his two years. Now Bridgewater is manning the team but QBs love to dump it off to their TEs. Snatch Thomas before another coach thinks to pick him up.