Do you have tough lineup decisions to make on Sunday? We’ve got you covered. Welcome to your for Week 1 fantasy football cheat sheet for start/sit advice. In this article, we’ll highlight players to start and sit at each position and provide fantasy rankings. Find Week 1 start/sit picks at QB, WR, RB and TE below.
Week 1 Start/Sit QB Picks
Start: Jaxson Dart vs. Cowboys
If Jaxson Dart can stay on the field, he has a clear path to QB1 production. The reason his ADP fell somewhere between the eighth-to-10th round in fantasy drafts this season is that he has struggled to do exactly that. Dart went to the blue medical tent in an astounding five of his 10 games as a rookie, and he continued that tradition in a 2026 preseason outing. The guy takes a lot of big hits.
However, he still ranked as QB13 in PPG last season with 17.6. Dart’s rushing upside is immense, raising his fantasy ceiling (and floor) considerably. In Week 1, he draws a matchup against Dallas, who allowed by far the most fantasy points to QBs in 2025. Fire Dart up with confidence ahead of this extremely favorable matchup, with a stronger supporting cast at his side.
Sit: Patrick Mahomes vs. Broncos
Patrick Mahomes’ triumphant return to the field after tearing his ACL in Week 15 last year is going to be met… with some obstacles. The schedule makers didn’t do Kansas City any favors, as they host one of the NFL’s most fearsome defenses to open the season.
Denver allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks in 2025, and the Broncos are gearing up for another dominant campaign on that side of the ball. Meanwhile, Mahomes will have plenty of weapons to work with for this matchup, but it’s hard to imagine him trusting his legs early in the season coming off the ACL tear. That will leave the former two-time MVP with a limited fantasy ceiling. Against this defense, I don’t love his chances of defying the fantasy odds.
Find our full Week 1 QB fantasy rankings here!
Week 1 Start/Sit RB Picks
Start: Kenny Gainwell at Bengals
Gainwell was one of my favorite value backs in fantasy drafts this year, and it’s not hard to see why. The veteran is more of a receiver disguised as a running back. He saw a career high in rushing attempts and yards last season, but the immensely talented pass-catcher finally showcased his full abilities on that front.
Gainwell hauled in a ridiculous 73 receptions on 85 targets for 486 yards. Heading to a new home this offseason, Baker Mayfield and the Bucs are going to take full advantage of what he brings to the table. Gainwell’s rushing opportunities may be limited, but he has a clear path to five-plus receptions per game. In this offense, that’s enough to warrant fantasy production. Gainwell should start off strong in Week 1 against a porous Cincinnati defense. Fire him up as a FLEX with upside.
Sit: Quinshon Judkins at Jaguars
This has absolutely nothing to do with Judkins talent, and everything to do with the situation he finds himself in. The Browns are not going to be good this year… to say the least. Cleveland’s offensive ceiling is capped, they’re not going to move the ball efficiently, and they will likely find themselves down early in most contests.
That’s not a recipe for success when it comes to fantasy running backs. Judkins is everything you’d look for in a young bell cow, boasting fantastic vision, elite athleticism and toughness. The deck is just stacked against him this year. Jacksonville allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to running backs in 2025, and I expect similar numbers from that unit this year. Judkins will still be a matchup-dependent start against some teams, but I hate his outlook against the Jaguars.
Check out the rest of our Week 1 RB start/sit picks here!
Week 1 Start/Sit WR Picks
Start: DK Metcalf vs. Falcons
Metcalf was a relative disappointment throughout his first season as a Steeler, but there’s hope that his rapport with Aaron Rodgers will improve in Year 2. The Steelers are also shaping up to be a more efficient, productive offensive unit with Mike McCarthy now calling the shots.
Metcalf will get a great opportunity to start the season off on the right foot against Atlanta. The Falcons were poor against the pass last year, surrendering the ninth-most fantasy points to receivers. If Metcalf can simply garner a few more targets weekly and bump his TD production from six closer to 10, he’ll bounce right back into strong WR2 range. I anticipate an outing like that in Week 1.
Sit: Jayden Reed at Vikings
Reed has turned into quite the fantasy enigma over recent years. At times he looks like one of the most talented receivers in football, stringing together elite stretches. Then, he disappears for weeks. Is that more on the player, or the system? It’s hard to tell, as Green Bay certainly spreads the love across its WR room.
Christian Watson enters the 2026 season as the apparent clear No. 1 receiver for Jordan Love. That leaves Jayden Reed and Matthew Golden to fight for the No. 2 role. Until the former first-rounder proves it, I would give the edge to Reed. Still, the versatile speedster’s usage is frustrating more often than not. On top of all of that, he draws the Vikings in Week 1. Brian Flores’ fearsome unit allowed the fewest fantasy points to receivers in 2025, setting the stage for an underwhelming opening game for Reed.
Check out the rest of our Week 1 WR start/sit picks here!
Week 1 Start/Sit TE Picks
Start: Isaiah Likely vs. Cowboys
With Jaxson Dart being my start of the week at, it should come as no surprise that one of his top targets earns the same title at a different position. Likely was an under-the-radar offseason acquisition for the Giants, but one that could pay major dividends.
Likely is one of the best athletes at his position, offering a rare combination of size, speed, fluidity and hands. Injuries derailed his opportunity to claim the TE1 spot in Baltimore from Mark Andrews, but he’s locked into that opportunity with his new team. Dart should be able to take advantage of a porous Dallas secondary, giving Likely TE1 upside in his Giants debut.
Sit: Dalton Kincaid at Texans
One of the most frustrating fantasy assets in recent memory will remain that way to open the 2026 season. Consider all of us shocked!
The talent is clearly there with Dalton Kincaid. No one questions his abilities. The actual output in an NFL game is a different story. For whatever reason, it just hasn’t clicked for the 2023 first-rounder. He does enough to warrant starting consideration as the top tight end for the best quarterback in the league, but more often than not his production falls short. I expect that to remain the case in Week 1 against a dominant Texans defense. Houston should disrupt Buffalo’s game plan throughout the contest, giving Kincaid little opportunity to make a real fantasy impact outside of a touchdown. There are better players and better matchups out there to start the season.
Find our full Week 1 TE fantasy rankings here!
That’s our Week 1 fantasy football start/sit cheat sheet! Stay tuned for more fantasy advice and start/sit picks next week.
