What to do with Emmanuel Sanders, Tre’Quan Smith in Week 1 fantasy football

Drew Brees and Tom Brady might get all of the attention as the New Orleans Saints host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday afternoon, but it’s the wide receivers for each team that really carry the offense.

For the Saints, Michael Thomas finally has a legitimate #2 wide receiver next to him the likes of which he hasn’t had since Brandin Cooks’s last year in New Orleans. Emmanuel Sanders could be a #1 option on other teams - and he was just that last year for the San Francisco 49ers - but he becomes one of the best #2’s in football in New Orleans.

Fantasy Football analysis: Saints WR Emmanuel Sanders, Tre’Quan Smith

The Saints and Buccaneers have all the makings of being a shootout in the Bayou. Two gunslinger quarterbacks and elite pass-catching options all over the place. Tre’Quan Smith is a bit farther down the depth chart as a distant #3 wide receiver than fantasy owners might prefer, but he’s a still a threat to have a big game in the Saints offense.

Michael Thomas on the other side means opposing secondaries can’t focus in on Sanders, so look for Sanders and Thomas to help each other’s numbers in 2020. The presence of Sanders should take some focus off Thomas as well, like they could in 2019 (when Thomas still set an NFL record for receptions in a single season).

Fantasy Start/Sit Recommendation

Start Sanders as a flex. Sit Smith.