Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 1: Saints vs. Falcons

Two teams that have been rivals in recent years have also had all-fall-apart seasons recently. Both appear to have improved, and their matchup features a lot of fantasy goodness.

The New Orleans Saints had their disaster season in 2012. Their NFC South neighbors, the Atlanta Falcons, followed with a disaster of their own in 2013. At 1 p.m. ET on Sunday in Atlanta, the two teams face off to open their season. The Saints look like they're in good shape this time around while the Falcons have a lot of rebounding to do. And, as it often does in games between these two, fantasy intrigue abounds:

Saints

Start in every league: Drew Brees, Jimmy Graham, Shayne Graham

Start if you're desperate: Pierre Thomas, Marques Colston, Brandin Cooks, Defense/special teams

Bench: Mark Ingram, Khiry Robinson

You don't like Brees nearly as much on the road (15.25 point per game last year on the road; 28.25 at home), but it's still Drew Brees. Start him. ... Graham and Graham have nothing in common besides their names and employer. And the fact that they are must-starts.

"Desperate" is a bit harsh for Thomas, who could be a machine in the pass-catching game this season but is still in the mid-20s among running backs. ... Colston and Cooks have been inextricably linked in the preseason, with many wondering if the newcomer will overtake the veteran. But I would be much more likely to start Colston (WR24) than Cooks (WR40) until the youngster proves himself. ... The Saints' defense was a good unit a year ago, and should be similar this year, but against a strong Atlanta offense they're far from a sure thing.

Both Ingram and Robinson have been getting some publicity ever since Darren Sproles left town, but I don't remotely see it. Not yet, anyway.

Falcons

Start in every league: Julio Jones, Roddy White, Matt Bryant

Start if you're desperate: Matt Ryan, Steven Jackson

Bench: Devonta Freeman, Levine Toilolo, Defense/special teams

The biggest question for Jones entering the season is whether he can keep his foot healthy. But for opening week, he's on the field, and he ought to be fine. ... Betting on a big bounce-back year for White. ... Falcons kicker, in a dome. Dream job for Bryant.

I rank Ryan as my No. 12 quarterback for the week. In his favor is the fact that he often opens his seasons strong, but he just doesn't have the ceiling of some of his positional counterparts. ... Jackson could easily have a rebound season now that he's healthy, but he no longer has RB1 potential.

I'm not at all in on Freeman, despite all his preseason publicity. I think Jacquizz Rodgers and Antone Smith will be heard from as well. ... Toilolo is an interesting sleeper candidate replacing Tony Gonzalez, but you can't possibly use him yet. ... Awful Falcons' defense against great Saints' offense? No thanks.

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