Fantasy Football Start/Sit: Tyler Warren, James Cook, Brenton Strange

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?

Tyler Warren (WR – IND)

“My favorite Week 1 sleeper target is Colts rookie tight end Tyler Warren. The first-round pick was a dominant force at Penn State and faces no significant competition for targets in his rookie season. My theory for a sleeper tight end is to target tight ends who could be second or better on their team in targets. Well, heading into Week 1, it’s conceivable Warren is not only second but first in targets from Daniel Jones. Warren will see ample volume in Week 1 in a matchup against the Miami Dolphins. Miami isn’t the easiest matchup for a tight end, but this game should be a high-scoring affair that leaves plenty of room for Warren to produce.”
– Aaron St Denis (Fantasy Sports Advice Network)

“Tyler Warren. Fantasy managers should stick him in their starting lineups and never look back. The Colts’ first-round draft pick had an incredible final college season at Penn State, catching 104 passes for 1,233 yards and producing 13 touchdowns (eight receiving, three rushing, one throwing). Warren reportedly had a great training camp, and he played almost every snap with the starters in preseason games. People who didn’t follow Warren’s college career are about to find out what an absolute demon he is after the catch.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)

Brenton Strange (TE – JAC)

“Brenton Strange sitting at 127 overall just hurts my soul. Here’s someone who is the No. 2 target in this offense behind Brian Thomas Jr. and playing in a scheme where the head coach wants to throw it all over the yard. In addition to this, he gets a matchup against Carolina’s defense, which, while improved, still barely qualifies as an NFL-level defense. Don’t forget that Strange played over everyone’s rookie tight end darling, Tyler Warren, in college. He’s got the goods.”
– Lou Brunson (Optimus Fantasy Football)

Week 1 Fantasy Football Duds

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

James Cook (RB – BUF)

“James Cook is currently the RB16 for Week 1 and coming off a great season. However, he faces the Baltimore Ravens, which could leave fantasy owners with a sour taste in their mouths. Baltimore is always known to slow the running game of opposing offenses, and it probably won’t be any different for Buffalo. Cook is also riding high on a season where he scored 18 total touchdowns, which is going to be a challenge to repeat. High expectations and a stingy Baltimore defense could lead to disappointed Cook owners after Week 1.”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)