Fantasy Football Start/Sit: David Montgomery, Garrett Wilson, Xavier Legette

Week 1 is here, and that means it’s time for the annual tradition of second-guessing your lineup decisions before kickoff. Should you trust that shiny sleeper you drafted in the 12th round, or stick with the “safe” option who could quietly torpedo your week? To help separate sneaky starts from sneaky duds, our Featured Pros have weighed in with their picks. Think of it as your fantasy football GPS: They’ll point out the shortcuts, warn you about the potholes and maybe even save you from driving your roster straight off a cliff.

Fantasy Football Week 1 Start/Sit Advice

Week 1 Fantasy Football Sleepers

Which player outside of the top 100 in the FantasyPros Flex rankings is a good sleeper start and why do you think he has upside this week?

Xavier Legette (WR – CAR)

“It is Week 1 of the fantasy football season, so don’t try to be cute, or you will start the year on a sour note. That being said, if you are looking for a sleeper to win your Week 1 matchup, look no further than Xavier Legette. He is being extremely overlooked due to the drafting of Tetairoa McMillan, but with a matchup against a porous Jacksonville Jaguars defense, he could lead teams to victory. Many owners miss that he had 84 targets last year, which is a telling stat for wide receivers. He is starting the season without his biggest competition, Jalen Coker, and the confidence of Bryce Young. All those factors point to a great start for Xavier Legette and fantasy owners.”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)

“Xavier Legette (117 Flex ranking) is a sneaky Week 1 sleeper with a four-star matchup against Jacksonville’s porous secondary. With Adam Thielen traded to Minnesota and Jalen Coker on injured reserve (IR), Legette steps into a prime opportunity to command targets in a thin Carolina receiving corps. Bryce Young has shown chemistry with Legette throughout camp, and Jacksonville allowed the most passing yards per game in 2024, making this a soft-landing spot for a breakout. Legette’s blend of size and after-catch ability gives him real upside as a Flex play in deeper formats. If you’re looking for a Week 1 dart throw, Legette has a clear path to volume in a favorable matchup and could pop as a great Flex play right out of the gate.”
– Lawrence Iacona (Gridiron Experts)

Week 1 Fantasy Football Duds

Which player inside the top 40 in the FantasyPros Flex rankings is likely to disappoint fantasy managers this week?

David Montgomery (RB – DET)

“My pick to disappoint in Week 1 is Lions running back David Montgomery. He missed the last three games of the 2024 season due to an MCL injury and looked far from his usual self when he returned in the playoffs. Carry that over to Week 1, and I expect Montgomery to be far less explosive than he was when he was healthy. Add in the combination of an increased role for Jahmyr Gibbs and a weaker Lions’ offensive line, and this seems like the perfect storm for Montgomery to be a bust in Week 1 against a stout Packers defense that has just added Micah Parsons to their defensive front. David Montgomery, ranked as the RB23 in the FantasyPros Flex rankings, is a candidate to disappoint fantasy managers in Week 1 of 2025. Despite his consistent touchdown production (25 rushing touchdowns over two seasons with Detroit), his role as the Lions’ No. 2 RB behind Jahmyr Gibbs limits his upside. The departure of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to the Bears and the loss of key offensive linemen Kevin Zeitler and Frank Ragnow could disrupt Detroit’s run-heavy scheme under new offensive coordinator John Morton. Montgomery’s 2024 season saw a dip in carries (185 vs. 219 in 2023) and an increased reliance on receiving (36 catches, 341 yards), but his 15.8 touches per game may shrink further with Gibbs’ rising usage. Facing a tough Rams defense in Week 1, Montgomery’s lack of big-play ability and potential for fewer goal-line opportunities make him a risky RB2/Flex start. His RB3 projection feels more realistic, especially if the Lions’ offense leans more on Gibbs.”
– Aaron St Denis (Fantasy Sports Advice Network)

“I believe David Montgomery is going to disappoint fantasy managers in Week 1. While he’ll still be involved in the offense, this should be the Jahmyr Gibbs show moving forward. We saw what Gibbs could do as the featured back last season, and it would be criminal if that doesn’t carry over into this year. Montgomery simply lacks the explosiveness that Gibbs brings to the table.”
– Nick Penticoff (Fantasy Football Astronauts)

Garrett Wilson (WR – NYJ)

“Stretching this out to include a player at 44th overall in the expert consensus rankings (ECR) for Week 1. Both Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall look poised to fall flat in Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Jets are tied with the Saints for the lowest implied team total on the slate (17.5), and they just lost starting guard Alijah-Vera Tucker to a season-ending injury. This horrible matchup at Pittsburgh doesn’t project to be a high-scoring affair between two teams that want to establish the run and play defense. Not a ton of upside for either Hall or Wilson in Week 1, especially if Justin Fields struggles in his debut with the Jets.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)

“Garrett Wilson is likely to disappoint fantasy managers this week with a tough matchup against the Steelers. In two career games versus Pittsburgh, he’s managed just seven catches on 15 targets for 102 yards. Mike Tomlin has a history of taking away the opponent’s top weapon, and I expect him to do the same here, forcing the Jets to win elsewhere. This game currently has the lowest total for Week 1 at 38.5 points, lining up for a slugfest. He is a fringe WR3/Flex play this week.”
– Brady Auer (BA Sports Podcast)