Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
It’s Week 1, so no teams are on a bye, meaning there are so many options to choose from in your fantasy lineups. It’ll be very difficult to bench proven studs, despite tough matchups, but what if you are in a deeper league? Say a 14 or 16-teamer? If that’s the case, each team will have at least one hole in their lineup, forcing them to take a chance on someone in their opening week lineup.
But which under the radar guys are legitimate? Let’s investigate.
Ryan Tannehill vs New England Patriots- Don’t look now, but the young Tannehill is starting to figure out this New England defense. In two meetings last year, Tannehill threw for 504 yards and five touchdowns. Of course, this secondary has brought in both Darelle Revis and Brandon Browner, but Tannehill could still do well. The Dolphins have a new style of offense coming, as the often predictable Mike Sherman is out of the equation. New coordinator Bill Lazor will implement a fast-paced style of offense, one that should help Tannehill progress even more in year three. Last year, the Patriots finished just outside the bottom-10 in terms of fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks.
Pierre Thomas @ Atlanta Falcons- Thomas is clearly the Saints go-to back on passing downs. He led all running backs in receptions last year, and now Darren Sproles and his 70-plus receptions are gone, too. During the Saints third preseason game, the team threw the football on all 15 of Thomas’ snaps. I love him this week against a weak Falcons defense that surrendered the 10th-most fantasy points per game to opposing rushers last year, while also letting backs haul in almost five balls per game. And in two games against the Falcons last year, Thomas averaged 4.5 grabs. A potential shootout, Thomas could make a big impact in this one.
Carlos Hyde @ Dallas Cowboys- It may be a bit risky, seeing as we have no clue how he’ll be used, but Hyde offers some sleeper appeal in a heavenly matchup against the Cowboys defense. Sure, Frank Gore is still in town and the starter, but with other injuries to the running back position, Hyde is clearly the backup, and should see enough work to matter this week. He only needs 10 carries to make an impact against a Dallas run defense that allowed nearly 130 rushing yards per game, as well as a league-leading 25 fantasy points per game to opposing rushers. There have also been some rumblings that Hyde will get some goal line work, making it a very real possibility he finds the end zone against a unit that allowed offenses to average four red zone trips per game last year.
DeAndre Hopkins vs Washington Redskins- I love me some Hopkins this year, pegging him as one of my biggest breakout candidates. As a rookie in 2013, the numbers certainly weren’t mind-blowing, but one number was– 969. Hopkins saw 969 offensive snaps as a rookie, good for the 7th-most among all wide receivers. He and new quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick are building a nice rapport, while the Redskins secondary can certainly be had, surrendering the 8th-most fantasy points to wideouts last year, while coughing up 26 passing scores, the 7th-most in football.
Markus Wheaton vs Cleveland Browns- Wheaton didn’t have the greatest preseason, but still easily won the second wideout job, which means there’s value t be had. A talented playmaker, 4.45 burner, Wheaton may see a handful of targets this week against the Browns. Shutdown corner Joe Haden will likely be shadowing Antonio Brown, and while Brown does have a good history against him, Wheaton will draw a matchup against rookie corner Justin Gilbert, who allowed three touchdowns in the preseason. Wheaton could find the end zone this week.
Adam Pfeifer is a lead fantasy sports writer for Rant Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @aPfeiferRS.
