Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 1: Packers vs. Seahawks

It's football season! A big game kicks off (football term) the 2014 NFL season.

FOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTBBBBBBBAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL

There, it's out of everyone's system.

FOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTBBBBB...

Crap, I was wrong.

Anyway, Thursday night is the start of the season. The defending champion Seattle Seahawks host the Green Bay Packers at 8:30 p.m., and the game will feature some big-name fantasy options:

Packers

Start in every league: Aaron Rodgers, Eddie Lacy, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Mason Crosby

Start if you're desperate: ...

Bench: James Starks, Jarrett Boykin, Richard Rodgers, Brandon Bostick, Andrew Quarless, Defense/special teams

Sure, playing against Seattle hurts, but you burned your high draft picks on your studs for a reason. The guys who should be benched against superstar defenses are the second-tier guys. Start your studs. And that includes Rodgers, Lacy, Nelson and Cobb. It's where they belong. Frankly, Crosby probably belongs in that list as well.

As a handcuff type, Starks is interesting, but something would have to happen to Lacy to have any fantasy playability. There's some reason to take a flyer on Boykin this year, but he's the kind of guy you definitely bench in this situation. The Packers' tight ends are all wait-and-see guys, with Rodgers the likely one to pop, but he, Bostick and Quarless are still not close to starting caliber yet. The Packers' defense is already subpar, and facing a decent Seattle team it's even moreso.

Seahawks

Start in every league: Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch, Percy Harvin, Steven Hauschka, Defense/special teams

Start if you're desperate: Doug Baldwin

Bench: Robert Turbin, Christine Michael, Zach Miller

Sure, it was preseason, but danged if Wilson didn't look great. He'd be a must-start anyway, but things sure were exciting. This might be Lynch's last year in Seattle, but he's still a sure-fire RB1 while he's there. The worry about Harvin is perpetually injuries, which is what dinged his draft stock. But as long as he's healthy, you're using him. No matter what else is going on, Hauschka has always gotten his. You were thinking of benching the Seahawks' defense? That's silly.

Odds are really good that starting Baldwin would be a waste, but he's only one Harvin play away from being the team's top receiver. There's crazy downside, but there's a bit of upside as well.

People have been hyping Michael, even though Turbin is still next in line by all appearances. Neither is playable yet, though. Miller is a bottom-end tight end. No value.

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