Fantasy: Start, Sit, Stash, Quit - Week 1

SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players you should consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.

For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 1 rankings. You can also listen to the Week 1 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.

Start

Jameis Winston, QB, Buccaneers

vs. 49ers

We'll finally get our first glimpse at the new and improved version of Winston under Bruce Arians' tutelage, and, fortunately, the matchup is a good one against a San Francisco defense that ranked 27th in pass-defense DVOA in 2018. The 49ers-Bucs game has one of the highest projected point totals of the week and a shootout is definitely possible with offensive weapons on both sidelines. Winston was also much better at home last season, posting a 3-2 record with 10 touchdowns to four interceptions. He went winless in six road appearances while throwing nine scores and 10 picks. Make no mistake, there's plenty of pressure on Winston this season with his future as an NFL starter perhaps hanging in the balance, but with a supporting cast that features Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and O.J. Howard, you can allow yourself to get excited about his fantasy outlook, especially in Week 1.

Boone's projection: 332 passing yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 18 rushing yards

Other QBs to start

• Lamar Jackson at Dolphins
• Dak Prescott vs. Giants
• Josh Allen at Jets

Mark Ingram, RB, Ravens

at Dolphins

Starting a running back on a team that's heavily favored tends to lead to a more relaxed Sunday viewing experience. The Ravens have the easiest Week 1 draw as they square off with a Miami squad that has all but announced its intention to tank in 2019. We've talked all offseason about how Baltimore led the league in rushing attempts after Jackson took over at quarterback, and it'll have plenty of opportunities to ground-and-pound the Dolphins, who were bottom-five in fantasy points allowed to the running back position last year. Don't be scared away by Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman saying "everybody is going to contribute" in the backfield, because he made it clear Ingram is the lead back in that same quote.

Boone's projection: 89 rushing yards, 21 receiving yards, TD

Other RBs to start

• Austin Ekeler vs. Colts
• Phillip Lindsay at Raiders
• Matt Breida at Buccaneers

Dede Westbrook, WR, Jaguars

vs. Chiefs

The positive buzz surrounding Westbrook was undeniable throughout the offseason program, and it carried into the preseason when he was thrown to on seven of Nick Foles' 10 attempts in their lone exhibition outing together. If the Jaguars are going to keep pace with Kansas City's high-powered attack, Westbrook will need to be a big part of the game plan. When the Chiefs were on the road last season, they allowed a league-high 17.8 fantasy points per game to slot receivers, according to Jesse Jones of Gridiron Experts. Westbrook ran the majority of his routes from the slot a year ago, scoring all five of his touchdowns there.

Boone's projection: 94 receiving yards, TD

Other WRs to start

• Tyler Lockett vs. Bengals
• DJ Moore vs. Rams
• Dante Pettis at Buccaneers

Delanie Walker, TE, Titans

vs. Browns

Walker was a forgotten man in fantasy drafts, as the 35-year-old tight end is coming off a broken ankle that cost him nearly the entire 2018 campaign. Before going down in the opener last year, Walker had four catches for 52 yards. Though he was out of sight and out of mind for a year, Walker was a fantasy stud with four straight seasons with over 800 yards prior to the injury. He picked up where he left off during the Titans' second preseason game, catching a pair of passes in limited action and finding the end zone. On Sunday, Walker will remind everyone where he stands in the fantasy landscape.

Boone's projection: 64 receiving yards, TD

Other TEs to start

• Jared Cook vs. Texans
• Greg Olsen vs. Rams
• Darren Waller vs. Broncos

Sit

Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons

at Vikings

Julio Jones hinted that he could sit out Sunday but was unclear whether it was due to his contract situation or injury status. For now, we have to assume he'll be suiting up. The bigger problem for Ryan is he enters a road contest against a stout Vikings defense that limited him to 173 yards and no touchdowns in their last meeting. Minnesota was third in passing yards allowed last season - holding opponents to under 200 per game - while also permitting the fewest touchdowns through the air. Ryan will be a solid fantasy option this season, just not in Week 1.

Boone's projection: 195 passing yards, TD, INT

Other QBs to sit

• Ben Roethlisberger at Patriots
• Jared Goff at Panthers
• Derek Carr vs. Broncos

Derrius Guice, RB, Redskins

at Eagles

Guice has the talent to be a fantasy star, but he'll need to overcome competition for touches with Adrian Peterson and Chris Thompson, as well as a subpar offense with a line that will be without its best player in Trent Williams. Even if Peterson is a healthy scratch, Guice will contend with one of the deepest defensive fronts in the league, led by Fletcher Cox. Despite head coach Jay Gruden suggesting Guice could be a three-down back, everything we've seen from this offense insists Thompson will have a notable role in the passing attack. With the Eagles projected as 9.5-point favorites, Guice has a low ceiling and a concerning floor in his NFL debut.

Boone's projection: 49 rushing yards, 12 receiving yards

Other RBs to sit

• Devonta Freeman at Vikings
• Josh Jacobs vs. Broncos
• Devin Singletary at Jets

Corey Davis, WR, Titans

at Browns

Davis improved in nearly every statistical category as a sophomore. However, he eclipsed 60 yards in only four of his 16 outings, and that was with very little competition in the receiving corps and Walker on injured reserve. In addition to Walker being back in the lineup, the Titans added slot receiver Adam Humphries and drafted A.J. Brown in the second round. Brown's snaps could be limited after he missed part of training camp with an injury, but the battle for targets in Tennessee's low-volume passing offense will still be far more intense in 2019. Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward further complicates Davis' outlook, making the Titans wideout a risky option.

Boone's projection: 51 receiving yards

Other WRs to sit

• Robby Anderson vs. Bills
• Jarvis Landry vs. Titans
• Courtland Sutton at Raiders

David Njoku, TE, Browns

vs. Titans

Njoku is about to experience the Odell Beckham Jr. effect - something tight end Evan Engram dealt with in New York. Engram's targets took a massive hit when Beckham was in the lineup, and the same type of volume cap is coming for Njoku, who will be more touchdown-dependent moving forward than fantasy managers may realize. His Week 1 matchup doesn't help, as he gets a Titans defense that was a top-five unit in terms of fantasy points given up to tight ends in 2018. Njoku's scoring potential still keeps him in the fringe TE1 ranks, but there may be better streamers available this week.

Boone's projection: 38 receiving yards

Other TEs to sit

• Austin Hooper at Vikings
• Eric Ebron at Chargers
• Tyler Eifert at Seahawks

Stash

Dare Ogunbowale, RB, Buccaneers

The Ronald Jones experiment is failing, and without another great option to turn to, Tampa's coaching staff will have to take a hot-hand approach in the backfield. Uninspiring lead back Peyton Barber will see the bulk of the early-down work, with Jones and Ogunbowale battling for a change-of-pace role. The latter is the most effective pass-catcher of the bunch, giving him value as a PPR stash with an outside shot to have his usage grow in the coming weeks.

Preston Williams, WR, Dolphins

The rebuilding Dolphins will be trailing often, creating value if one of their receivers can step up. As an undrafted free agent, Williams earned rave reviews in OTAs and won over many fantasy managers with his play early in the preseason. Miami's decision to trade Kenny Stills helps open up a path for Williams, whose big-time talent was overshadowed by his off-field issues prior to the draft. It may take a few weeks, but Williams is an intriguing end-of-the-bench stash.

Quit

Jordan Reed, TE, Redskins

When healthy, Reed has been one of the top-scoring tight ends in fantasy, but another concussion - this one coming in the preseason - makes him far too dangerous to trust in fantasy lineups.

Demaryius Thomas, WR, Patriots

Thomas is a recognizable name who sparked the interest of fantasy owners with a seven-catch, 87-yard, two-touchdown performance in the preseason. That might explain why he's owned in 25% of fantasy leagues at the moment, but sadly, the cons outweigh the pros here. Thomas is a 31-year-old receiver coming back from a torn Achilles, and most of his preseason production came against backups. In fact, he was released by the Patriots after that outing before they brought him back following final cuts. Thomas is well down New England's depth chart and doesn't belong on fantasy rosters.