It's important to remember that the strength of non-conference schedules can differ wildly from team-to-team. However, don't be fooled by thinking that an SEC team playing a lowly FCS program translates to piles of fantasy points for your respective players. Oftentimes the marquee players are on ice by the time the second half rolls around in these lopsided matchups.

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Accordingly, I prefer to target players on respectable P4 offenses that have something to prove and are facing reasonably competent G6 opponents who can hang around long enough for the starters to stay in the game for three quarters. With that in mind, here are my starts and sits for college fantasy football Week 1.

Start

Quarterback

Demond Williams, Washington vs. Washington State

In last year's Apple Cup, Williams eviscerated the Cougs, completing 16-of-19 passes for 298 yards with four passing touchdowns, while rushing for 88 yards and another rushing score. This prodigious production came against a credible Wazzu defense that allowed 20 PPG and 174 passing yards per game with 31 sacks. This year, Wazzu loses all 11 starters and bring in from Missouri new HC Kirby Moore, who is an offensive-minded coach. I expect the Huskies to do anything they want and give Wazzu a little extra since they're rivals and they want to score some style points in Game 1, meaning Williams should have another huge fantasy game in this year's Apple Cup.

Other QB Options:

Jayden Maiava, USC vs. Fresno State (Friday night)

Maiava ripped San Jose State last week, completing 25-of-29 passes for 286 yards and three total touchdowns (one rushing). Fellow middling G6 program Fresno State should get the same treatment.

Keelon Russell, Alabama vs. ECU

The Crimson Tide faithful are clamoring to see their new five-star prodigy in game action, and I think HC Kaleb DeBoer is happy to oblige and unleash Russell against ECU.

Bryce Underwood, Michigan vs. Western Michigan

New HC Kyle Whittingham will be aiming to get his new prodigy QB off to a fast start. I think we see Underwood used similar to Utah QB Devon Dampier which means ample rushing production for Underwood.

Running Back

Cam Cook, West Virginia vs. Coastal Carolina

West Virginia is going to run the ball with aplomb in Year 2 of the Rich Rodriguez resurgence in Morgantown. WVU went 4-8 last year as Rich Rod reorganized the roster in his visage, but this year the Mountaineers boast 120 line starts after portaling in four FBS starting offensive linemen and hiring OL guru Rick Trickett, which should greatly increase their middling 161 rushing yards per game average last year. For their part, CCU and new HC Ryan Beard are just serviceable enough to keep WVU's starters in the game until Q4. That is important since CCU was gorged for 5.1 YPC and 208 rushing yards per game in 2025. Cook should clear 100-yards and punch in at least one TD against the soft underbelly of the Chanticleers defensive front.

Other RB Options:

Makhi Hughes, Oregon vs. Oregon State

Hughes was put on ice by Oregon last year, but in 2024 he received 20+ carries in 8-of-11 games versus FBS opponents for Tulane. I think we see a similar workload under HC Willie Fritz, who was also his coach for the Green Wave during that magical season.

Kamari Moulton, Iowa vs. Northern Illinois

Iowa is breaking in an inexperienced new quarterback, and could play two QBs depending on how the game goes. The Hawkeyes will be leaning on their established RB1 Moulton in the meantime while figuring out who is best suited for signal-calling duties.

Jamal Roberts, Missouri vs. Arkansas Pine-Bluff

Star RB Ahmad Hardy is out for Week 1 and very much in doubt going forward. I expect to see a steady dose of Roberts throughout the first half and potentially put up a 2-touchdown performance, signifying his arrival as a fantasy asset.

Get more start/sit advice with Eric's Week 1 Rankings

  • Quarterback
  • Running Back
  • Wide Receiver
  • Tight End
  • Team Offense
  • Defense/Special Teams

Wide Receiver

Ryan Coleman-Williams, Alabama vs. East Carolina

Head coach Kalen DeBoer enters Year 3 of his Alabama tenure and has the pleasure of breaking in five-star phenom QB Keelon Russell against a retooling ECU defense that loses all but two starters from a year ago. ECU brings in new OC Jordan Davis, who orchestrated North Texas' potent offense the last three years and could conceivably score a touchdown or two to keep Alabama engaged for the first three quarters of play before bringing in the backups. We've been hearing rave reviews about Coleman-Williams all summer after his 10-drop sophomore slump last year. I think DeBoer force-feeds RCW in order to get him and Keelon on the same page right out of the gate before Bama travels to Kentucky next week in their SEC opener.

Other WR Options:

Dallas Wilson, Florida vs. FAU

Wilson was hurt for much of last season, but was targeted heavily, drawing 23 targets over three games when he was in the lineup. With Florida facing off against an up-tempo FAU who can score if you aren’t ready for their spread attack, I think Wilson punches in a touchdown and is a viable Flex option in P4 leagues.

Tre Spivey, Arizona vs. Northern Arizona

The steady drumbeat from Arizona camp is saying Spivey is ready to take over as their true WR1. With the Wildcats drawing in-state FCS program NAU, expect to see Spivey catch at least one touchdown to set the tone for the upcoming season.

Christopher Barnes, Oklahoma State vs. Tulsa

Barnes commanded a gigantic 30% target share, created 17 chunk gains and averaged a pristine 8.9 yards after catch last year. He was listed as an uncontested starter on OSU’s depth chart, and is poised to explode against Tulsa.

Tight End

Jamari Johnson, Oregon vs. Boise State

I like that Oregon's powerful offense faces a good G6 program in the opener, as the Ducks should need to score 40+ points to distance themselves from the Broncos before pulling the starters. For his part, Johnson was lethal as a downfield weapon despite being lightly used early in the season behind NFL first-round draft choice Kenyon Sadiq. Johnson created at least one explosive pass play in each of his final nine games, and now has the primary TE role all to himself. I expect Johnson to log a full snap load and receive 6+ targets with a touchdown for good measure, making him a must-start for CFF purposes.

Other TE Options:

Benjamin Brahmer, Penn State vs. Marshall

Marshall is a competitive Sun Belt program and has the ability to potentially keep the game respectable against a retooled Penn State. The Nittany Lions will likely want to get the new offense humming before they enter Big Ten play, which means Brahmer should see 6+ targets.

Willie Rodriguez, Kentucky vs. Youngstown State

TE-friendly HC Willie Stein enters the picture, which is good news for Rodriguez, who paces all returning P4 tight ends who received 20+ targets with an 11.2-yard average depth of target.

Sit

Quarterback

Sam Leavitt, LSU vs. Clemson

I am very bullish on Leavitt from a season-long perspective, as I think he bears all the hallmarks of a successful Lane Kiffin quarterback, i.e. Matt Corral and Jaxson Dart. However, early in the year there are simply too many other quarterbacks facing lower-level G6 opponents to start Leavitt against a top-25 opponent with a solid defense. Be safe and sit Leavitt while starting a less-heralded QB like Malik Washington (FCS Hampton) or Steve Angeli (FCS UNH), players who should gas it up against inferior competition.

Other QB Sits:

Gunner Stockton, Georgia vs. Tennessee State

Georgia will easily dispatch an overmatched Tennessee State team and have its starters on ice by halftime, leaving precious little opportunity for the veteran QB to rack up substantial yardage totals.

CJ Carr, Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin

Wisconsin plays slow and will attempt to grind the game to a snail's pace in order to corral Notre Dame’s potent offense. I don’t think we see Carr run much against the Badgers, leaving many superior options to consider starting at the QB position.

Running Back

Micah Ford, Stanford vs. Miami

Ford played only nine games in each of the last two years due to multiple nagging injuries that cut short two more games in both 2024 and 2025. In last year's opener he received 26 carries for 113 yards at Hawaii. In his next game (two Weeks later following Bye) he only saw 12 carries for 21 yards vs. an excellent BYU defense.

Last week, Ford rushed 25 times for 99 yards vs. Hawaii. Stanford now has the displeasure of playing on a short week vs. a vicious Miami Hurricanes defense that is going to be living in its backfield. Stanford ranked second to last in yards per successful rush and dead last with an almost impossible .01 yards before contact last year. That is a recipe for disaster for Stanford and Ford. Don't get swayed by his three-touchdown performance against Hawaii, the sugar high wears off Friday night against the U.

Other RB Sits:

LJ Martin, BYU vs. Utah Tech

Martin is the clear, unquestioned RB1 for BYU and will handle a landslide of carries this season. There is absolutely no reason to run him into the ground against lowly Utah Tech, so leave him on the bench, which is where he will be most of the game as BYU eviscerates UTU.

DeSean Bishop, Tennessee vs. Furman

In similar fashion, DeSean Bishop is a made man in Tennessee’s backfield and the Vols will focus on getting new freshman starting QB Faizon Brandon rolling in this cake walk. We will see more action from backup RB Javin Gordon than Bishop, who has nothing to prove and needs to remain healthy for the SEC grind.

Isaac Brown, Louisville vs. Ole Miss

There isn’t much nuance to this sit decision, as there is no reason to trot Brown out against a stout Ole Miss defense unless you’re desperate for a flex play.

Wide Receiver

Tre Richardson, Louisville at Mississippi

Richardson is one of my favorite CFF wideouts this year, as he has an unnatural ability to create separation out of his breaks and now has the pleasure of playing for the Brohm brothers at Louisville. While his 38% deep target rate at Vanderbilt last year is enticing, the prospect of starting Richardson on the road at The Grove vs. Pete Golding's upper-tier SEC defense is a dangerous proposition. Best leave him on the bench in Week 1 and deploy Richardson next week against Villanova if he gets a steady stream of targets versus the Rebels.

Other WR Sits:

Wyatt Young, Oklahoma State at Tulsa

Arguably the biggest faller of the Week 1 depth chart releases, Young was listed behind fellow North Texas transfer Miles Coleman on the initial OSU depth chart. There is speculation that this is injury related, but you cannot take the chance in Week 1 with little information available. Wait and see on Young’s playing time and adjust accordingly.

Jayce Brown, LSU vs. Clemson

While Brown is listed as a starter, it’s anyone’s guess as to how the target distribution will play out in new HC Lane Kiffin’s transfer-laden WR room. Plus with LSU taking on a credible Clemson defense, it’s better to play it safe and see how the snap counts shake out this week before relying on Brown.

Bryant Wesco, Clemson vs. LSU

I’m concerned about new starting quarterback Chris Vizzina, as it’s entirely possible that true freshman dual-threat QB Tait Reynolds gets some reps if Vizzina falters. There is too much uncertainty for me to trust Wesco against a DC Blake Baker-led LSU defense given the QB conjecture.

Tight End

Randy Pittman Jr., SMU at Florida State

At Florida State, 65% of Pittman's snaps came from the slot and another 5% out wide, creating a 70% flex rate. An 8.2-yard average target depth and 18.5% deep-target rate supplied intermediate and vertical access. However he's now at SMU and has to compete for snaps with inline viking Theo Melin Ohrstrom. Throw in a somewhat compromised QB Kevin Jennings, who suffered a broken finger in camp, and there's too much conjecture to trust Pittman in Week 1 before we have a better idea of his snap count and usage rate.

Other TE Sits:

Hunter Andrews, Utah vs. Idaho

We don’t know what to expect from the new regime at Utah regarding TE usage. I think it’s entirely possible that Utah focuses on getting its inexperienced offensive line going, which means a steady dose of Dampier, Wayshawn Parker and backup QB Byrd Ficklin.

Brody Foley, Louisville at Ole Miss

Similar to Isaac Brown, it’s better off to play it safe against Ole Miss’ defense. Plus, we don’t know how intriguing transfer TE Brock Foley will fit into the Brohm offensive scheme that prioritizes an Alpha WR1 target hog in the passing game.

Source: Yahoo Sports