Nerds! The Dynasty Nerds writers are here to provide you with weekly starts and sits all season long. We will be making our recommendations based on weekly consensus PPR rankings. Here are the wide receiver starts and sits from senior writer Tristan Cook.
QB | RB | WR | TE | IDP
One thing to keep in mind when making start/sit decisions; it will ALWAYS depend on who your other options are. Don’t take the players below out of (or put them into) your lineups unless the alternates are worth it. NOTE: Rankings are sourced from FantasyPros expert consensus rankings (ECR) and our terminology is for a 12-team PPR league.
Reach out on Twitter, Discord, or respond in the comments below with any questions regarding your personal league settings.
Wide Receiver Starts
Amari Cooper | Cleveland Browns | WR 24
Amari Cooper is the first start of the week for the 2024 season. Ranked as WR24, Cooper is likely already in your lineups. However, if you are at all on the fence about starting him or are looking for a DFS option, I expect Cooper to outperform his low-end WR2 ranking.
Cooper’s production was inconsistent last year, posting 6 games under 7.5 fantasy points as well as 8 games over 14.5 points. He did finish the season on a high note with back-to-back 20+ point performances, including scoring 51.5 points in the final game of the season. Some of Cooper’s struggles last year can be attributed to the inconsistency at the Browns’ quarterback position last year. Thankfully, Deshaun Watson is back under center and should elevate the offense as a whole. Additionally, until Nick Chubb returns, I expect the Browns to lean more heavily on the passing game. I anticipate a WR1 performance and will be starting Cooper with confidence this week.
Courtland Sutton | Denver Broncos | WR 39
Next up is the Denver Broncos’ top receiving option, Courtland Sutton. Sutton has been a staple of the start section of this article over the last couple years. This week he’s ranked outside of the top 36 receivers, meaning that he’s not ranked as a start-worthy option. I couldn’t disagree more with consensus.
The Broncos were a massive disappointment on offense in 2023, but Sutton quietly had a strong season. Prior to the benching of Russell Wilson at the end of the season, Sutton posted double-digit fantasy performances in 12 of 14 games. In one of the games in which he failed to hit at least 10, he scored 9.1 points. Without the last two non-Russell Wilson games, Sutton averaged 13.5 PPG which would have ranked him as the WR26. The Sean Payton-led Denver offense with Bo Nix under center should be focused around short, highly-efficient passes. Sutton is the only proven wide receiver, and I expect him to feast.
Christian Kirk | Jacksonville Jaguars | WR 33
You may be sensing a trend with Christian Kirk as the next man on this list. He is another wideout that seems to be perennially undervalued. He put up a clunker in the season opener last year before rattling off six-straight games of at least 13.9 points and 8 out of 10 weeks with at least 12.9 points. His season was cut short with an injury, but he was the WR28 in PPG at the time he got hurt.
This week he faces off against the Miami Dolphins who were an average defense against the pass in 2023. Additionally, with the departure of Calvin Ridley, Christian Kirk is poised to be Trevor Lawrence’s top option in 2024. The matchup isn’t one that should dissuade you and the target share will be there. I’m playing Christian Kirk in all formats.
Diontae Johnson | Carolina Panthers | WR 34
My final start of the opening week is Bryce Young’s best offensive weapon, Diontae Johnson. The Carolina offense was atrocious in 2023 but after bringing in multiple starters on the offensive line during the offseason, the Panthers seem to be moving in the right direction. Diontae Johnson is a reliable weapon that can separate well for Young to throw to all over the field. Johnson had his worst season as a professional last year for the Steelers but still managed to finish as a borderline WR3. This year, with what looks to be a much better offensive scheme and better QB play, I expect Johnson to be a PPR monster. Get him in your lineup this week and every week.
Wide Receiver Sits
Marvin Harrison Jr. | Arizona Cardinals | WR 12
If you drafted Marvin Harrison Jr. in your rookie draft, you’re eager to put him in your lineup and watch him rack up fantasy points for you. However, I would be a bit cautious in his first game. The talent is not a question for me but the ranking of WR12 in his first ever NFL game, on the road, against the Buffalo Bills has me worried.
The Bills allowed the 7th-fewest passing yards per game in 2023 and in their home opener should be extra amped to slow down Harrison and Co. It’s certainly possible that “MHJ” will finish as a start-worthy option this week, but I am expecting a low-end WR2 or worse finish. It would surprise me more if he finishes inside the top-12 wide receivers than if he finishes outside the top-36 this week.
Malik Nabers | New York Giants | WR 27
My other sit this week is another wideout playing his first game. I may be slightly more cautious than your average fantasy manager when it comes to starting rookie wide receivers, but I believe there’s good reason to play the wait-and-see game here. The Giants lost their best offensive weapon in Saquon Barkley and have a quarterback coming off of a season-ending knee injury. We aren’t quite sure what this Giants’ team is going to look like offensively but defenses aren’t going to need to key-in to stop the run like previous years. I would play all of the players in the start section over Nabers this week.
That’s it for Week 1! Feel free to reach out to me on Twitter (X) (@THEtristancook) if you have any specific questions about who I would start.
Are you interested in joining the #NerdHerd? Use the code “tcook” for 15% off any membership. Sign up here and get an edge on all of your league mates today! You can get access to the DynastyGM tool (including our Trade Calculator and new Trade Finder), the Prospect Film Room, an extra weekly podcast, full rankings, and much, much more!
