Fantasy football analyst Sal Vetri will use this space to deliver his keys to victory each week of the 2024 NFL season.
Best RB of Week 1 Belongs to… James Cook
This is the best matchup you’ll find in Week 1. James Cook is facing the Cardinals, who may have the worst defensive line in football. Cook is coming off a season where he threw for nearly 1,600 yards and now gets to follow that up with a game against a defensive line that would likely be a backup on most teams.
The Bills are a six-point favorite and are projected to score 27 points this week. Historically, this is a good spot for fantasy RB production. Expect an efficient game from Cook, with an increased chance of scoring a touchdown.
The biggest imbalance between the offensive and defensive lines in Week 1 is… Lions vs. Rams
The Lions offensive line has a huge advantage against the Rams defensive line this week. That will especially benefit Lions RB David Montgomery. I’m worried about the Rams defensive line without Aaron Donald. It’s a unit that has a lot of question marks and now they’re facing the best offensive line in the league. That’s the biggest imbalance in the trenches in Week 1.
I think David Montgomery is an incredible player in all formats this week. Not only because of the matchup, but the Lions could limit Jahmyr Gibbs’ workload as he returns from a hamstring injury. This would directly benefit Montgomery in Week 1.
The toughest spot of week 1 belongs to… Aaron Jones vs. NYG
As long as Aaron Jones is healthy this season, he’ll be a top-20 pick most weeks. But in Week 1, you may want to temper your expectations when he goes up against the Giants’ defensive line. That Giants’ defensive line is a bright spot for the team, led by Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns.
There is a risk that the Giants could pack the zone against Sam Darnold, which would hurt Jones’ effectiveness. But there is some good news. The Vikings have a solid offensive line. Minnesota has one of the best left tackles in the game in Christian Darrisaw and a solid right tackle in Brian O’Neill. If the line holds up, Jones could still have a good day, but the matchup is riskier than most people think.
Rookie to watch in Week 1 is… Malik Nabers
Malik Nabers will start his NFL career with a favorable matchup against the Vikings. According to PFF, Minnesota has the 27th-highest ranked secondary entering the season. That Vikings secondary has had a miserable offseason.
Subscribe to Yahoo Fantasy Predictions on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Or wherever you listen.
Mekhi Blackmon tore his ACL on the first day of training camp, and Shaq Griffin tore his hamstring on the second day. Not to mention the team cut 2022 first-round pick Lewis Cine and lost rookie Khyree Jackson in a tragic car accident in July.
The Vikings still need time and resources to fix their defensive secondary, but Week 1 is already here. Expect the Giants’ first-round receiver to get plenty of targets in a favorable matchup. If Daniel Jones gets time to throw,…