Fantasy football Week 1 rankings: Who to start and sit

Which big-name players should you bench this week? Who should be the first names in your lineup?

We are just a day away from real, live NFL action. That means fantasy football is back, and we all want to get a win under our belt right away. You’ve drafted your teams and no doubt it looks great at this stage of the year (just like everyone else’s), but who do you start? Who do you drop? We help you to make some decisions.

Sit: Joe Mixon

The Ravens were a top five rushing defense last year, and they should continue the trend of being dominant in that area in 2017. To prove how ready they are, Baltimore finished as the top rushing defense and top passing defense over this year’s four preseason games. They are a force to be reckoned with.

While Mixon is one of the hot rookie running back names this season, and should go on to have a solid year, there are too many risks to play him in Week 1. First, it’s the quality of the Ravens defense. Next, will Jeremy Hill play? If he does, there’s no doubt he’ll see some action, even if the Bengals know Mixon is the better talent. Even if Hill is out, does Cincinnati still want to give the bulk of the work to their rookie? It’s likely veteran Giovani will be involved, and according to the team website, it’s still a Hill-Bernard 1-2 punch.

There’s every chance Joe Mixon takes over the Bengals backfield at some point this year. He might even be a league-winner by the end of the season. But if he struggles in his first start, don’t say I didn’t warn you.