The start of the 2020 NFL season is just around the corner. Many fans around the United States and the world are getting excited to watch the NFL. Besides watching the NFL and cheering on for their teams, another exciting aspect that accommodates the start of the season is the start of Fantasy Football. Every player of fantasy football knows that keys to success are drafting wisely, but also picking your matchups week in and week out. He are the best week one fantasy football league matchups at every position in PPR (point-per-reception) leagues.
Best Week One Fantasy Matchups
Quarterback
Carson Wentz vs. Washington Football Team
This game should be very successful for Carson Wentz and he should end up with north of 20 fantasy points. Last year, the Washington Football Team gave up the tenth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Quarterbacks averaged 19.7 points against them. These are very favorable for Wentz, in addition, he will have a boatload of offensive weapons consisting of healthy receivers, superstar tight end Zach Ertz, and the skillful Miles Sanders. The biggest reason that this matchup is favorable is that last year Carson Wentz averaged 23.28 fantasy points against the Washington Football Team, and this included three passing touchdowns in each of the two games.
Running back
Josh Jacobs vs. Carolina Panthers
Josh Jacobs had a very successful rookie season in which he averaged 14.7 points per game. He is a very solid running back that any fantasy owner should have. Besides being a solid fantasy running back, the main reason Jacobs has the best matchup is the Panthers’ defense. It is a defense that allowed 28.4 points per game to running backs, which was the most among all teams. In general, the Panthers had the worst run defense in the league and they allowed 31 rushing touchdowns. Though they add Derrick Brown to their interior, he is still a rookie and the Panthers have a questionable linebacking group. Jacobs will go up against the worst run defense that has had personnel changes, so the Panthers’ chemistry probably won’t be good enough in week one, so Jacobs will have himself a great game.
Wide Receiver
Michael Thomas vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This is a fantastic matchup for Michael Thomas for many reasons. First of all, he was the best fantasy receiver last year as he averaged a remarkable 23.4 fantasy points per game. Specifically against Tampa Bay, Thomas put up 41.2 points in week five. This and week 11 against Tampa Bay averaged out to 33.3 points a game versus them. Besides these two big reasons, Tampa also allowed 29.4 points a game to receivers which was the most among all teams. The best fantasy receiver versus the worst defense against receivers should always be a great matchup. Michael Thomas should have himself a field day against a below-average Buccaneers secondary, and, in general, against the Buccaneers defense.
Tight End
Mark Andrews vs. Cleveland Browns
Mark Andrews was one of the leagues’ most productive fantasy tight ends as he averaged 13.8 fantasy points a game. In week one, he will go up against an overall decent Cleveland Browns defense. It is a defense that allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to tight ends in the league. In addition, unfortunately for the Browns, they also have suffered with many injuries, and are likely to have a couple of starters out. Andrews averages 20.2 fantasy points versus the Browns. With Andrews going up against a beat-up Cleveland Browns’ defense, he should get between 13 to 16 points.
Defense/Special Teams
Pittsburgh Steelers Defense/Special Teams vs. New York Giants
Last season, the Steelers had an explosive defense that had the second-most fantasy points in the league. They will face a New York Giants team that was in the bottom third of the league in fantasy scoring. The Steelers were known for forcing many fumbles and they are going up against a quarterback by the name of Daniel Jones, who led the league with 18 fumbles. Additionally, Jones is only entering his sophomore season. He is a very unsure quarterback that will collapse under the Steelers’ great pass rushers and he will be forced to make erratic throws that are likely to end up in the hands of the Steelers top-five secondary. A young quarterback versus a super bowl-caliber defense never bodes well. With Jones’ fumbling issues and inexperience, I expect the Steelers defense to have at least one interception and two fumble recoveries.
Kicker
Wil Lutz vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It is always very hard to pick a favorable matchup for a kicker. To find one, you must find a kicker that is going up against a team that will allow touchdowns for extra-point attempts and a team that will allow field goals. In the case of week one, Wil Lutz has a favorable matchup. A key factor in this is that the Buccaneers allowed the most points to kickers in the league at 10.3 points a game. Lutz averaged nine fantasy points a game against Tampa Bay in 2019. The reasoning to this all is that the New Orleans Saints versus Tampa Buccaneers game should be a high scoring one. It is a game where the Saints will score a couple of touchdowns, allowing Lutz to attempt the extra point, but also at some points in the game, the Buccaneers defense should stop the Saints allowing Lutz, who is great at short and long-distance, to attempt a field goal.
Best Week One Fantasy Matchups Recap
Fantasy Football players that own at least one or two of these players should have a fantastic week. The key factors in these matchups were not really the player’s talent, but more about the opposing team that they are facing. Of course, the players listed above aren’t the only ones that have great fantasy matchups, but they do have the best matchups and the greatest potential for the most points. It is key to get favorable matchups for fantasy players every week, because if that can happen, then Fantasy Teams will be productive and should get the win.
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