WagerEdge Sports is a leading provider of free premium sports betting content from fans and bettors of dedicated sports. Our experts will pick spreads, totals, and props for every NFL game all season long including weekly fantasy football rankings. Win or lose, you can trust that we are carefully analyzing each game to provide you with our most confident take.
Week 1 QB Starts
START OF THE WEEK: Jalen Hurts (@DET) – Hurts lead all QBs with 784 rushing yards in 2021, and opens against a Lions defense that surrendered the 5th-most rushing yards last season. This could be a major statement game for Hurts, who looks to solidify himself as Philadelphia’s franchise QB for years to come. The integration of AJ Brown into the Eagles offense should elevate Hurts’ ceiling in Week 1 and beyond, as he looks to make a huge jump in Year 3.
Russell Wilson (@SEA) – Wilson instantly gets his revenge game on the Seahawks, who shipped him out of town for slew of draft picks this offseason. His return to Seattle will be be featured on Monday Night Football, as Wilson faces a rebuilding Seattle defense who just moved on from 8-time Pro Bowler Bobby Wagner. The biggest unknown is how quickly Wilson will get acclimated and clicking with his young, talented supporting cast in Denver.
More Starts: Jameis Winston (@ATL), Kirk Cousins (vs GB)
Week 1 RB Starts
START OF THE WEEK: Alvin Kamara (@ATL) – Obviously you’re rolling with Alvin anytime he’s active, but his off-field legal concerns allowed him to slip to as late as the 3rd round of fantasy drafts this summer. With any suspension now unlikely to occur in 2022, Kamara is once again locked-and-loaded as a top-tier RB, and should feast out of the gate against a hapless Atlanta squad. He’s got a ton of potential to emerge as the PPR RB1 in Week 1.
James Conner (vs KC) – Conner looks to pick up where he left off in 2021, after amassing 18 TDs in his first season with the Cardinals. His productivity instilled enough confidence in the Cardinals front office to move on from Chase Edmonds, and grant Conner a 3-year extension. Injuries have always been a concern, but he’s a must-start when active, and is in a smash spot at home against Kansas City in what projects to be a high-scoring affair.
Dameon Pierce (vs IND) – After being selected as a 4th-rounder just over 3 months ago, no one’s draft stock has ascended more expeditiously than Pierce’s this offseason. The Texans are smitten with the former Florida Gator, who should immediately slot in as a high-volume RB2. Pierce has little competition for touches, especially after the release of Marlon Mack, and should rack up the touches from day one.
More Starts: Antonio Gibson (vs JAC), Rashaad Penny (vs DEN)
Week 1 QB Sits
SIT OF THE WEEK: Trey Lance (@CHI) – It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster offseason for Lance who was given the keys to the Niners franchise, only to falter a bit in the Preseason, leaving the door open for Jimmy Garoppolo to return on a 1-year deal. Lance’s floor is certainly elevated by his rushing abilities, but given his recent struggles, I’d like to see it to believe it even against a mediocre Bears defense.
Tua Tagovailoa (vs NE) – Few QB seats are hotter than Tua’s, as he enters a make-or-break 2022 campaign. It’s a bit of a thankless role for Tagovailoa who is largely expected to succeed given the influx of speed he’s being surrounded with at key skill positions. The Patriots are historically strong at taking away an offense’s top target, and if Tyreek Hill and/or Jaylen Waddle are neutralized, Tua could obviously struggle mightily.
More Sits: Dak Prescott (vs TB), Matt Ryan (@HOU)
Week 1 RB Sits
SIT OF THE WEEK: Breece Hall (vs BAL) – Despite being the first RB selected in the NFL Draft at 36th overall, Hall’s path to consistent touches looks murky early on. The Jets’ OC recently declared 2nd-year RB Michael Carter the “heartbeat of their offense”, which is certainly unsettling for Hall owners. Breece looks to open the season as the 1B to Carter’s 1A, on a mediocre Jets team that has already lost blue-chip tackle prospect Mekhi Becton for the season.
Miles Sanders (@DET) – Sanders has been outshined by Kenneth Gainwell this offseason, and I’m a firm believer that Kenny G is the Eagles RB to own. Sanders’ limitations in the passing game keep him off the field in key moments, and this is the spot where Gainwell shines the brightest. When Philadelphia employs a hurry-up offense, I don’t see Sanders getting those snaps, which would obviously be a big blow to his value.
James Robinson (@WAS) – After going down with a torn Achilles in December, I’d say the general consensus was that Robinson would open the season on the PUP and be brought along slowly. But in an unpredictable turn of events that’s nothing short of a medical miracle, Robinson is now expected to suit up in Week 1. This progress has really slowed the Travis Etienne hype-train, and although I’m all aboard the Big-Game-James train, I’d really like a glimpse of this workload before trusting it.
More Sits: Chase Edmonds (vs NE), Damien Harris (@MIA)
