Fantasy Football Start/Sit: DeMario Douglas, D’Andre Swift, Josh Jacobs

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?

DeMario Douglas (WR – NE)

“DeMario Douglas is going to lead the Patriots in receptions this season, and the PPR fun begins against the Raiders on Sunday.”
– Scott Engel (RotoBaller)

“DeMario “Pop” Douglas is a solid sleeper start this week. He draws a favorable matchup against Las Vegas, where he should thrive in the slot with Josh McDaniels running the offense. With Stefon Diggs likely commanding most of the defensive attention, Douglas should see plenty of short-area opportunities. In PPR leagues, I like him as a WR3/Flex play this week in deeper leagues.”
– Brady Auer (BA Sports Podcast)

Week 1 Fantasy Football Duds

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

D’Andre Swift (RB – CHI)

“D’Andre Swift is likely to disappoint in Week 1. The Bears’ offense is in flux with Ben Johnson calling the shots and so many players added in the offseason. The backfield has remained Swift’s leading into the season, but against a division rival Vikings defense, I am leery. Swift is not a bell-cow running back and could be susceptible to losing touches to his supporting cast.”
– Chew Russell (Going For 2)

“D’Andre Swift (34 Flex ranking) is a risky Week 1 start against a tough Minnesota front that consistently limits rushing production. While Swift has the talent to thrive under Ben Johnson long-term, Chicago’s offense looked a little shaky throughout camp and could struggle to sustain drives early. The matchup doesn’t favor explosive plays, and Swift may find himself in a limited role if the Bears are forced into a pass-heavy approach. He’s still adjusting to a new system and may not see enough volume to justify a top-40 Flex start. If you’ve got a safer option with a better matchup, Swift is better left on the bench this week.”
– Lawrence Iacona (Gridiron Experts)

Josh Jacobs (RB – GB)

“Josh Jacobs is coming off a massive 2024 season, finishing the season as the RB5 with 15 rushing scores. This season, the Packers open against a fully healthy Lions defense. Despite being decimated with injuries in 2024, the Lions allowed fewer than 100 yards on the ground in 11 games. More specifically, the Lions allowed the second-fewest rushing yards to the running back position with 68.6 yards per game and the fifth-fewest receptions to the position. Defenses aren’t always sticky year to year, but this team also gets Aidan Hutchinson back. Unless Jacobs finds pay dirt, this could be an ugly yardage performance to start the season.”
– Ellis Johnson (FantasyPros)