By Zack Cimini
notjustagame23@gmail.com

Thursday’s NFL kickoff has fantasy owners drooling. Not because your going to see the same flash this weekend, but because you’re already buried in points behind. As your squad steps out onto the field Sunday, you have to think of it like a team being blown out. A gradual climb to chip away at that amount of points your behind. Here is a look at some players to start and sit week one.

Start- Matt Cassel QB
Cassel really started to emerge towards the latter part of the season. He is finally getting settled in as a Kansas City Chief, and will be ready to be a leader with his play this season. He isn’t a top ten or fifteen fantasy quarterback, but his matchup this week should get him to crack the top twelve or fourteen quarterbacks for week one.

Sit- Matt Hasselbeck QB
Hasselbeck should of went undrafted in the majority of leagues. Don’t be confused about the money spent on Hasselbeck. The Titans just needed a game manager, and that’s what Hasselbeck is.

Start- Sam Bradford QB
Bradford had one of the better rookie campaigns of a quarterback in a long time. Almost leading the Rams to a playoff berth. The Rams are young all around, but look for Bradford to stretch the field a bit more. They have an intermediate weapon with Lance Kendricks, their Wes Welker in Danny Amendola, and their over the top big play guy in wideout DeNario Alexander. Free agent pickup Mike Sims-Walker should be an added boost as well. Look for Bradford to put up better than expected numbers against the revamped Eagles.

Sit- Mark Sanchez QB
One statistic that I don’t think ever will erase in Sanchez’s game is turnovers. The Cowboys are going to take the ground game away from Sanchez and force him to throw more. Expect a couple turnovers from Sanchez to offset a decent amount of yards.

Start- Ben Tate RB
It’s not a good sign when a team is mum on their starting running back’s playing time this late in the week. Tate electrified the field in preseason and will bring that on the field starting Sunday. In a game that should be a blowout, Tate could get extra carries based on the scoreboard. Garbage fantasy points are delightful to all fantasy owners.

Sit- Michael Turner
All the carries over the years will begin to take it’s toll for Turner. The injury issues have nagged him a bit over the last few years, but now will see it in his on the field play. Facing Chicago’s defense week one isn’t a pleasant matchup either.

Start- Tim Hightower RB
The Giants are decimated in the secondary, meaning their linebackers will be exposed even more. Hightower is going to have a field day rushing with the Redskins zone blocking scheme. Don’t be surprised to see Hightower in the top five to seven fantasy backs for week one.

Sit- Joey Addai
Addai has been fairly consistent his career but the Colts have been ready to find that new replacement. They thought it was first round pick Donald Brown, but he has proven to be a disappointment. Now the Colts have Syracuse rookie Delone Carter and believe in him. Even though the Colts will likely run the ball more with Collins, Addai’s value still stays as a borderline third running back in leagues. He just doesn’t have the burst to pose a threat outside the ten yard line, where the Colts will have a hard time getting this season.

Start- Brandon Jacobs RB
Jacobs is extremely under rated backs for this season. He has the nimbleness back in his feet and will take more and more carries away from Bradshaw. This matchup of the Redskins/Giants should produce monster rushing games from both sides.

Sit- Plaxico Burress- WR
The Jets aren’t going to give Burress a ton of plays to start the season. He’ll likely be in for situations that look good, like third downs and red zone opportunities. Expect the Cowboys to be ready and shut him down to start the season.

Start- Lance Kendricks- TE
Rookie tight ends have made the transition extremely well the last few seasons. Kendricks may be the best of all the last few years. He’ll be the over the middle threat Bradford leans on week one.

Sit- Austin Collie- WR
The spread attack takes a huge hit without Manning, which drops Collie like a plunging stock. Owners that drafted Collie high to use as their third wide receiver have to be sick to their stomachs.

Start- Malcolm Floyd- WR
Philip Rivers is going to have a field day week one against the Vikings. Start all possible Chargers weapons including Floyd.

Sit- AJ Green- WR
Green is on a team that you’ll never be able to anticipate a good game from him. Do yourself a favor and release him or let him stay on the waiver wire. It’s not worth driving yourself crazy all season when he catches a touchdown in a certain game, or has one of his four one hundred yard receiving games.