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NFL Week 1 Optimal Flex Plays: Xavier (is) Worthy from the Start
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NFL Week 1 Optimal Flex Plays: Xavier (is) Worthy from the Start

We’re back, baby, and back in full force with the weekly Optimal Flex Plays! Even though it’s only Week 1, you may have some decisions to make that will get you off to a good start this fantasy season. Who doesn’t want to start 1-0 in fantasy? Well, I’m going to set you straight and we’ll all enjoy the fruits of our fantasy draft labor.

Seven games with an O/O of at least 45 points for Week 1 is exciting because it shows how far the offense has come in the NFL. If you’re reading this, keep reading, we’ve got fantasy matchups to win.

Xavier Worthy, WR, Chiefs vs. Ravens

Simply put, the Chiefs want to utilize their new young gun and get him a big splash play. While Rashee Rice should of course be in your lineups, it’s even more important that Worthy steps up now that Hollywood Brown is out. When we last saw him on the field (Week 2 of the preseason), Worthy caught 3 of 6 targets for 62 yards and a touchdown, while adding an 11-yard run. That included a 39-yard catch-and-run to Patrick Mahomes and he finished it off with a 22-yard touchdown catch from Carson Wentz. The Chiefs will want to test the Ravens’ secondary to make sure they can handle the young speedster, as Mahomes has his best deep threat (in Worthy) since Tyreek Hill. What will surprise football fans the most? Worthy can run the entire route tree with ease, which should be fun.

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Jayden Reed, WR, Packers at Eagles

I’d like to say “start every Packers receiver” but first of all that would be cheating and second of all it’s unrealistic to expect them all to get 100+ receiving yards. What I do know is that Reed is coming off a rookie season where he went 64-793-8. He added 119 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries. The Packers love getting their young playmaker the ball in a variety of ways. While the Eagles have made a point of bolstering their secondary this season, they’ll need to show that they’ve improved their second-worst pass defense in the NFL from a year ago. If they can’t get a pass rush going, expect Jordan Love to find guys like Reed for big yards. This game has the third-highest O/U of Week 1 at 48.5, but are you really surprised? This game will have a lot of fantasy relevance and Reed is in it.

Greg Dortch or Michael Wilson, WR, Cardinals at Bills

You’d expect the Cardinals to be better this season, but why? Because of guys like Wilson and Dortch. We know Marvin Harrison Jr. and the talent he has. We know Matthew Berry’s “Ride or Die” Kyler Murray and guys like James Conner, but you’re only as good as your weakest (for now) weapons. Wilson is coming off a rookie campaign in which he went 38-656-3 and made 12 starts. Dortch will step in at slot, perhaps taking advantage of a spot where the Bills may have holes after losing franchise safeties Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer in the offseason. They’ll be replaced by Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp, who combined for two starts last season. With one of the highest game-high point totals from Week 1 (48) and two exciting quarterbacks (Josh Allen and Kyler Murray), this game has potential for a track meet.

Zack Moss, RB, Bengals vs. Patriots

There’s been a lot more hype for Moss’ teammate Chase Brown this summer, but the script could work in his favor. The Bengals are 8.5-point favorites against the Patriots, and the game total of 40.5 (tied for the lowest from Week 1) suggests the Patriots’ offense won’t put up much of a fight. Moss is coming off a career-best 794 rushing yards, five touchdowns and was RB4 in total fantasy points scored through Week 8 of last season. We do expect Moss to allow touches to Brown (who could very well have a good game himself), but Moss has at least been brought in to carry the ball on first and second down. The problem for the Patriots won’t be their defense; it could be the amount of time the offense allows them to stay off the field. Expect Moss to wear them down.

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Raheem Mostert, RB, Dolphins vs. Jaguars

If you’re reading this and thinking “Mostert had 21 touchdowns last season, how is he in the FLEX?”… Well, because that’s how he was drafted this summer. Despite his first 1,000-yard rushing season and a RB5 finish in total fantasy points, the 32-year-old Mostert was drafted as an RB22 (as opposed to RB7 for De’Von Achane) according to Fantasy Life ADP. As of this writing HE IS LITERALLY THE DOLPHINS’ STARTING RUNNING BACK on a team that had the best offense in football last season. The Jags had a top-10 rush defense last season, but in a game where the O/U scores 49 points, you’d expect points to be scored. Mostert proved he could score from close range last season, scoring 12 rushing touchdowns on 20 carries inside the 5-yard line. The “old man” will do it in Week 1.

Jameson Williams, WR, Lions vs. Rams

Is this Williams’ year? That remains to be seen, but this could be his game and it will be here on NBC (of course). With a game-high 51 points in Week 1, this Wildcard Round rematch from a season ago is sure to set the stage alight. While the Lions drafted some quality defensive backs, neither they nor the Rams have a top-notch passing defense returning. For the Rams, they brought in veterans like Tre’Davious White to help out, but can he or each of their defenders keep pace with Williams? I don’t think so and they will certainly be tested. Dan Campbell has praised Williams all postseason and we can expect that to pay off starting in Week 1.