The Biggest Start/Sit Decisions for Week 1 (Fantasy Football)
Football is BACK, and so am I, ready to tackle another season of the Footclan’s toughest Start/Sit calls. (Yeah, I said tackle… told you I was hyped.) Man, I missed sweating those last-minute flex debates or picking the QB who could carry you to victory. There’s no better rush than getting those tough calls right and watching it swing a fantasy matchup.
We are SO back!
This year, I’ll be leaning on the Fantasy Footballers Start/Sit tool—plus my own analysis—to help you set the sharpest lineups possible. It’s time to lock in. Week 1 is finally here, and the mission is simple: keep that undefeated record alive—with a W. Let’s dive into the slate’s toughest calls and kick this season off on top.
Week 1 has the Footclan torn: nobody can decide what to do with Emeka Egbuka. He was the most searched start/sit player multiple times… against literally everyone. That’s why: *hit the lights*
Do You Want To Play A Game: Emeka Egbuka or …?
Egbuka has been the talk of camp and social media all offseason, so seeing him headline Week 1’s start/sit debates wasn’t a surprise. Chris Godwin still isn’t ready to return from last year’s ankle injury, Jalen McMillan just hit IR with a neck issue, and now even Cade Otton is showing up on the injury report with a groin issue. What was once a crowded receiver room has suddenly cleared for the rookie Tampa Bay drafted 19th overall. Last season, this offense ranked third in total yards and fourth in scoring.
Sure, some TD regression is likely for Baker Mayfield in 2025, but the Bucs’ identity isn’t changing. They’re still going to push for yards, points, and TDs—and Egbuka is set to benefit. The Buccaneers now head to Atlanta in what Vegas projects as a shootout, with a 46.5-point total. The Falcons gave up the fifth-most fantasy points to WRs last year. New defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich brought in rookies to help, but it’ll take time for that unit to gel. You couldn’t ask for a better matchup and opportunity for Egbuka going into Week 1.
Emeka Egbuka or Tetairoa McMillan
The Battle of the Rookies.
Unlike Egbuka, Tetairoa McMillan was drafted by Carolina with one clear purpose: to step in as their WR1 from Day 1. The Panthers desperately needed a go-to option coming out of the draft. Adam Thielen, Jalen Coker, Jonathan Mingo, Xavier Legette, and Diontae Johnson weren’t moving the needle. Now with Thielen and Johnson traded away and Coker landing on IR with a quad injury, the path is wide open. McMillan should be absolutely buried in targets. The matchup is juicy, too. Carolina takes on Jacksonville, a defense that gave up an average of 29.7 fantasy points per game to WRs in Weeks 1–17 last season.
Matthew Betz is predicting a hot start from TMac as a DraftKings Cash Pick this week:
“It’s not difficult to see McMillan earning 25+% of Bryce Young’s targets right out of the gate, and the matchup is obviously quite nice against a Jags secondary that gave up the third-most yards to WRs a year ago.”
Verdict: If Betz is putting his money on TMac, then so am I. I love everything about the matchup and opportunity for Egbuka, but McMillan gets the edge. He’s locked in as his team’s WR1 with almost no target competition. His matchup is just as favorable, and even the Ballers are leaning his way. Start TMac with confidence.
DK Metcalf or Emeka Egbuka
When it comes to opportunity, DK Metcalf is stepping into a brand-new one after being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. This team has completely reshaped its offensive identity. Gone are George Pickens, Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, and Najee Harris. Enter Aaron Rodgers, rookie RB Kaleb Johnson, and TE Jonnu Smith. Metcalf (aka Jason’s Fantasy MVP) has produced top 24 WR finishes every season except last year since 2020. Even then, he still averaged 12.8 fantasy points per game and finished as WR30, despite battling through multiple injuries. The Steelers decided to sit their starters during the preseason, so we haven’t seen the Rodgers-to-Metcalf connection yet.
Week 1 gives us the first look as Pittsburgh heads to New York to take on the Jets. This has a revenge game written all over it—both QBs against the teams that gave up on them—but Vegas isn’t as enthusiastic about this matchup. The total is set at just 38.5, the lowest of the entire week. Woof. The Jets’ defense isn’t exactly terrifying. That’s good news for Metcalf, right? Perhaps. But with the Steelers defense keeping the game under wraps, I expect limited scoring on both sides, which could cap Metcalf’s ceiling.
Verdict: Emeka Egbuka. Both receivers have opportunity, but the edge goes to Egbuka. Metcalf’s debut with Aaron Rodgers comes in a game projected to be one of the lowest-scoring of the week, and we haven’t even seen a single preseason snap to gauge their chemistry. Egbuka, on the other hand, walks into a much clearer fantasy setup. The Buccaneers’ offense is already proven, the receiver room has thinned out due to injuries, and Vegas projects his game to push points. If I’m making the call, I’m siding with the rookie upside in a high-scoring environment.
Jameson Williams or Emeka Egbuka?
We saw glimpses of a true breakout from Jameson Williams last year when he finished as WR23. How did he get there? Pure efficiency. According to PlayerProfiler, his 17.3 yards per reception ranked sixth in the league. Despite only 58 catches, he still racked up 1,001 yards and seven TDs. Now imagine if Detroit actually gives him more volume.
Dan Campbell seems ready to make it happen:
#Lions OC John Morton on Jameson Williams:
“He has been unbelievable. Unbelievable… I’m so excited to see him this year. It’s gonna be a breakout year for him. So, I can’t wait. I just can’t wait, man.” pic.twitter.com/jpfi4dOD2G
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) May 13, 2025
That said, Week 1 won’t be a walk in the park. Green Bay’s defense is no joke. The Packers ranked 4th against WRs last season, and now they’ve added none other than Micah Parsons to the mix. That’s terrifying. The last time Jamo faced them (Week 14), he managed five catches for 80 yards and no TDs. Honestly, that feels like his ceiling in this matchup. The Packers only allowed 2 WRs to go over 100 receiving yards last year. I don’t expect Jameson Williams to do so in Week 1.
Verdict: It’s Emeka Egbuka for me and The Ballers. Jamo is running straight into a defensive buzzsaw. Egbuka, on the other hand, is stepping into an opportunity and volume in a plus matchup.
That was fun. Hope we’ve got all your Egbuka problems squared away that were Emeka-ing you crazy. Now onto some other start/sit dilemmas:
Justin Fields or Trevor Lawrence
Verdict: Trevor Lawrence. Next question.
No, but seriously, I understand the “rushing upside” for Justin Fields is intriguing, but not when it’s against the Pittsburgh Steelers in a game with the lowest implied total of the week. Meanwhile, Trevor Lawrence gets the Carolina Panthers, who gave up the 2nd most fantasy points to QBs last season. Oh, did we also forget the Jaguars traded up for Travis Hunter? Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter?!
Yes, please.
Isiah Pacheco or RJ Harvey
The stench of Isiah Pacheco’s lackluster fantasy production after returning from injury last season has lingered into this year. After missing 10 games with a broken fibula, Pacheco returned in Week 13 when fantasy managers needed him most. The result? RB47, RB31, RB39, RB56, and RB64. Woof. His snap percentages were down, and it was clear he wasn’t fully healthy. He went from playing 60-80% of the snaps to 30-40%. It was obvious Pacheco wasn’t at 100%.
Now with a full offseason to recover, in a contract year, and with reports out of camp that his burst is back, the Pacheco comeback tour can hit the ground running. In Week 1, the Chiefs will face a Chargers defense that struggled against the run, allowing 4.6 yards per carry (25th). Fast-forward to 2025, and the picture looks much brighter. Pacheco finally had a full offseason to get healthy, he’s playing for a new contract, and camp reports indicate that his burst is back. If there’s ever a spot for Pacheco to reintroduce himself, this is it.
On the other end of the hype spectrum, R.J. Harvey was climbing draft boards all summer, often going ahead of Pacheco. The Broncos invested a 2nd-round pick in him—earlier than most expected—but Sean Payton clearly had a vision, handpicking Harvey as a building block for his offense. Denver then added J.K. Dobbins to round out the backfield, crushing any hope of Harvey being a true workhorse.
Although a committee, Payton’s track record with RBs keeps this backfield interesting. We all know how he loves to funnel targets their way. The big question: who gets them? Both Harvey and Dobbins split first-team reps throughout camp. Still, in the Broncos’ final preseason game against the Saints, Harvey handled the opening carry and played exclusively with the starters. That usage hints at a lead role heading into Week 1 against a soft Tennessee defense.
Verdict: This one was close, but I’m siding with the Ballers and rolling with Pacheco in Week 1. He’s looked explosive all camp, and with no real competition behind him, it’s tough not to trust the experience. Add in the fact that Rashee Rice is out to start the season, and the Chiefs may lean on the run a bit more. As for J.K. Dobbins vs. Harvey, there’s too much uncertainty for me right now. I’ll take the wait-and-see approach there to see what that split looks like. Forget the late-season slum of last year, Pacheco’s healthy, motivated, and ready to roll. Fire him up.
As we set our sights on Week 1, it’s time to make every decision count.
Look for those soft matchups, factor in the latest injuries, and most importantly, trust your gut. If you still need help with any Start/Sit decisions, feel free to reach out to me on X—or check out Mike’s Sunday morning pre-kickoff show! Let’s lock in those lineups, say a prayer to the fantasy gods, and make this season unforgettable.
