The Loop Fantasy Football Update Week 1: Last minute moves

UPDATE: 11:49 p.m. Saturday
While the sports world today has been watching the Sun Belt Conference begin to take over the college football universe, there already have been a few notable fantasy football announcements for Sunday’s openers.

The big news is the 49ers will almost certainly not have George Kittle in Chicago today, according to ESPN, because of his injured groin. So one team in every league on Earth will have to scramble to fill its tight end slot.

Need a quick streaming option? How about the guy on the other side of Soldier Field, the Bears’ Cole Kmet? Or the Vikings’ Irv Smith, making his return after missing all of last season due to a knee injury. So what if his torn thumb kept him out of the preseason?

The news is better for two notable wideouts. New Orleans’ Michael Thomas and Atlanta rookie Drake London are now expected to play after nursing injuries the past couple of weeks. Thomas is worthy as a No. 2 or No. 3 receiver, while London is probably only worth using as a flex, at least until he proves he can connect with Falcons QB Marcus Mariota.

We’ll be back in the morning, when most of the questionables will be declared game worthy.

UPDATE: 1:41 p.m. Saturday
We’ve said many times that you should start the fantasy season playing your best players. Don’t overthink your roster. That’s not so easy if you’re star players are playing under the lights.

Sunday night’s Buccaneers-Cowboys game in Jerryworld is one such case. Two of the Bucs’ top three receivers, Chris Godwin (game-time decision) and Russell Gage (questionable), are not a lock to play. And fantasy owners will have to make a decision on their lineup well before the 7:20 p.m. kickoff.

The easy answer is to play it safe and start your other options.

As for Dallas, you can feel safe starting QB Dak Prescott. And the Cowboys were kind enough to rule out WR Michael Gallup early, so you don’t have to sweat out that call.
Two notable out calls so far on Saturday: Arizona WR Rondale Moore and Indianapolis linebacker Shaquille Leonard. The absence of the Colts’ all-pro will be a boost for all Texans, particularly rookie RB Dameon Pierce.

Green Bay WR Allen Lazard is now considered doubtful for the border battle against the VIkings. The most notable questionables include Baltimore RB J.K. Dobbins, San Fran tight end George Kittle, Arizona TE Zach Ertz and Atlanta rookie wideout Drake London.

Among top running backs, Carolina’s Christian McCaffrey and Miami’s Chase Edmonds have both been cleared. The former is a must-start; the latter a strong flex option.

ORIGINAL POST: 8:52 a.m. Wednesday
If there’s one thing NFL schedule makers like, it’s creating drama. That’s why they usually open the season with a Thursday night showcase featuring the defending champions and one of their most prominent challengers to the throne.

It’s also why, when they realized the Denver Broncos and new quarterback Russell Wilson would be playing an interconference game in Seattle this season, they placed that in the leadoff slot for the new season of “Monday Night Football.”

The last time these two teams played in a prominent game, it was Super Bowl XLVIII. Wilson’s Seahawks routed Peyton Manning and the Broncos for their only NFL championship.
Monday night, it should be another Wilson-led rout against Pete Carroll’s leftovers. Expect a big game from Mr. Ciara and his top two receivers, Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy. Same goes for running back Javonte Williams.

We think the hype about the 2022 Broncos has gotten to be a bit much, with a few pundits handing them the AFC West crown. While we don’t see them making it into the playoffs, we do see their new quarterback regaining some of the luster he lost over the past couple of years in Seattle. And that begins Monday night with a little payback, and stat padding.

There are a couple more big quarterback reunions planned for this weekend, though only one is of particular fantasy interest:

Baker Mayfield (Panthers) — It’s a shame Mayfield won’t be playing his old team in the Cleveland stadium where they filmed all those legendary insurance commercials … (pause for sarcastic effect) … But the Charlotte fans should be delighted by the improved Panthers offense, as RB Christian McCaffrey returns to form and WR D.J. Moore begins what should be a breakout season.

Joe Flacco (Jets) — Zach Wilson made all the preseason headlines for the J-E-T-S, whether it was for getting injured or for dating his mom’s friend. But he’s very likely to sit in Week 1 after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery on Aug. 16. That means ancient Joe Flacco could be lining up against his old team, just 10 short years after leading the Ravens to the Super Bowl. No matter who plays QB, you should steer clear of using any Jets, even rookie RB Breece Hall.

SITTING STARS
As a rule, you should always start your best players in Week 1, without overthinking matchups. That said, you might want to think twice before starting a quarterback with a sore elbow (Rams’ Matthew Stafford vs. Buffalo) or one with a depleted offensive line and receiving corps (Cowboys’ Dak Prescott vs. Tampa Bay). … New Orleans’ Michael Thomas is back after two years of injuries, but you might want to leave him on your bench in his first game back vs. Atlanta. …. With Pittsburgh turning to Mitchell Trubisky at quarterback, we’d probably lay off any Steelers receivers vs. Cincinnati. … And New England will likely wilt in the Miami heat again, so there are no Patriots offensive starters we’d use against a tough Dolphins defense.

MATCHUP GAME
While Green Bay frets about Justin Jefferson, the Vikings’ Adam Thielen might actually do the most pass-catching damage against the Packers. … The Loop’s fantasy team is counting on the Indy combination of Matt Ryan and Michael Pittman against the lowly Texans, and you should too. … But that game will also be the coming-out party for this year’s rookie of the year: Houston RB Dameon Pierce. … We like the matchups for two running backs who didn’t impress anyone during the preseason: Washington’s Antonio Gibson vs. Jacksonville and Kansas City’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire vs. Arizona. … And we expect big numbers from Buffalo WR Gabriel Davis vs. the Rams and Detroit RB D’Andre Swift against Philadelphia.

INJURY WATCH
There is uncertainty about three prominent running backs: San Francisco’s Elijah Mitchell missed the preseason, and though he’s expected to play Sunday, Jeff Wilson could take a big share of his work … Green Bay’s only returning wide receiver, Allen Lazard, may be out Sunday, which means Aaron Rodgers will be relying on oldsters Randall Cobb and Sammy Watkins a lot against the Vikings … Jacksonville’s James Robinson is questionable, which means Travis Etienne will be busy in his NFL debut. … Others listed as questionable include Philly RB Miles Sanders, San Fran WR Deebo Samuel, Dallas wideout CeeDee Lamb, Cincy WR Tee Higgins, Pittsburgh’s Diontae Johnson, Miami receiver Jaylen Waddle, Tampa Bay veteran Chris Godwin, Atlanta rookie WR Drake London, and two prominent tight ends: Las Vegas’ Darren Waller and Arizona’s Zach Ertz.

THE DEEPEST SLEEPER
Baltimore’s hurting at running back with J.K. Dobbins coming back from injury and Gus Edwards on the physically unable to perform list. So they could be turning to journeyman Mike Davis in Week 1. Since the Ravens’ opponent is the baby-soft New York Jets defense, Davis could be in line for any goal-line opportunities that QB Lamar Jackson doesn’t hog for himself. Baltimore added Kenyan Drake to the backfield last week, but we doubt he’s going to be a huge factor in the opener. Davis’ days in the sun will not likely last, but he could post nice numbers on Sunday.

THE THURSDAY PICK
Bills at Rams (+1½):
Pick: Bills by 3

BREAKING NEWS
We’ll be updating our column, based on the latest injuries and innuendo, right up until Sunday’s kickoff. Go to TwinCities.com/theloop.

You can hear Kevin Cusick on Wednesdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on Twitter — @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.

Related Articles

• Minnesota Vikings | Charley Walters: For Vikings, it’s either playoffs or a 2023 rebuild

• Minnesota Vikings | Vikings elevate safety Myles Dorn from practice squad following injury to Lewis Cine

• Minnesota Vikings | Legendary Vikings coach Bud Grant talks about ‘honor’ of meeting Queen Elizabeth II

• Minnesota Vikings | Vikings’ Irv Smith ‘can’t wait’ to play in first regular-season game since January 2021

• Minnesota Vikings | Vikings rookie guard Ed Ingram has reached his first NFL goal: becoming a starter