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Buccaneers at Falcons: 5 best fantasy options

By John Buhler

Aug 11, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) shown on the sidelines during the game against the Washington Redskins during the second half at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons defeated the Redskins 23-17. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 11, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) shown on the sidelines during the game against the Washington Redskins during the second half at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons defeated the Redskins 23-17. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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When the Atlanta Falcons host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1 of the 2016 NFL season, here are the five guys to play in fantasy football this week.

Week 1 of the 2016 NFL season starts on Thursday night, with the defending Super Bowl 50 Champions Denver Broncos hosting the NFC juggernaut Carolina Panthers at Mile High Stadium in primetime. It also means the start of fantasy-football season, which is why you clicked on this here link.

There should be plenty of great players competing in a great NFC South matchup in Week 1 when the Atlanta Falcons host rivals in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a 1:00 PM ET kickoff at the Georgia Dome. Which player on either the Falcons or the Buccaneers should one start on their fantasy team in Week 1?

Aug 11, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) shown on the sidelines during the game against the Washington Redskins during the second half at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons defeated the Redskins 23-17. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 11, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) shown on the sidelines during the game against the Washington Redskins during the second half at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons defeated the Redskins 23-17. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

. Wide Receiver. Atlanta Falcons. Julio Jones. 5. player. 44

Julio Jones

The best offensive player in Week 1’s game between the Buccaneers and the Falcons is easily Atlanta wide receiver Julio Jones. Jones might be a top three wide receiver in the NFL today, but don’t expect him to be gangbusters in Week 1 coming off a preseason ankle injury.

On NFL.com, Jones is projected to have 10.2 points on Sunday against a below-average Buccaneers secondary. ESPN, meanwhile, has Jones is slated to do slightly better with 12.9 points.

Jones could be fed early and often by Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan in offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan’s West Coast system. Ryan’s favorite target through the air last fall was Jones, with the latter nearly setting an NFL record for receiving yards in a season. The problem is that Jones has never been spectacular about getting into the end zone with great regularity.

Could Jones have 10-plus catches for over 100 yards? Absolutely, but that’s only 10 fantasy points against a sub-par Buccaneers secondary. Tampa Bay is likely going to put its best cover corner (possibly rookie Vernon Hargreaves, III) on an island to contain Jones. Surely Jones will get his yards, but Atlanta’s struggles in the red zone will keep its best player from recording his first touchdown of the year in this tight ball game.

Next: 4. Matt Ryan

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