Week 1 Fantasy Picks: Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Giants vs Titans

The New York Giants visit the Tennessee Titans in Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season. FanDuel Sportsbook's NFL odds have the Titans listed as 5.5-point home favorites in a game that is full of intriguing playmakers on both sides of the ball.

If you need some help with your fantasy lineups, here's our start 'em, sit 'em advice for this Week 1 showdown.

Saquon Barkley Fantasy

Start Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants: This comes down to the fact that there's nobody else to trust on the Giants' offense except for Saquon Barkley. He's the only G-Man ranked anywhere in The Duel's Week 1 PPR rankings, slotting in at RB14. Last year was not Barkley's year, a year that saw him finish RB34 in PPR formats. It's time for a fresh start, headlined by a head coach that understands Barkley is the team's best offensive weapon. In the five games that Barkley managed at least 15 carries last year, he averaged 12.66 PPR points. While that may not be the most appetizing figure, it's a positive sign for his usage. Barkley also ranked fourth on the team with 57 targets--the same number as Kadarius Toney and more than Sterling Shepard. Tennessee had a great rush defense last year and allowed the second-fewest PPR points to opposing RBs, but there's just nobody else to trust in New York. Consider Barkley a safe RB2 or FLEX.

Robert Woods Fantasy

Start Robert Woods, WR, Tennessee Titans: This may not be considered a popular pick, but I like Robert Woods to get off to a decent start with his new team. He's coming off an ACL injury, but he enters the Titans' offense as a clear No. 1 option for Ryan Tannehill. A.J. Brown departed for the Philadelphia Eagles, bringing 105 targets with him. Behind Woods on the depth chart is rookie Treylon Burks and the unproven Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. Brown averaged 14.43 PPR points in the eight games he played with Derrick Henry last year, so I'm expecting at least a similar output from Woods. That's a comfortable low-level WR2 or FLEX option. The fact that the Giants ranked 31st in pass-defense DVOA a year ago only sweetens this matchup.

Kenny Golladay Fantasy

Sit Kenny Golladay, WR, New York Giants: Remember when Saquon Barkley was the only trustworthy fantasy option on the Giants roster? Well, that rings true for every wide receiver on the depth chart, even WR1 Kenny Golladay. Golladay led the team with 76 targets a year ago but only turned in a dismal 37 receptions, ultimately ending the year as WR86. Considering the 5.5-point spread, this game calls for a heavy dose of Henry and the Titans' offense staying on the field for long periods of time. Even playing catch-up won't help Golladay's fantasy outlook in Week 1.

Ryan Tannehill Fantasy

Sit Ryan Tannehill, QB, Tennessee Titans: Don't overthink this Week 1 matchup. With the return of a healthy Henry comes times to steer Ryan Tannehill away from your starting lineup. Tennessee has ranked top five in rush percentage every season dating back to 2018. Tannehill has a pair of top-12 QB finishes under his belt in that span, but one in a year where Henry played only eight games. With unproven options at wideout, it won't be surprising to see Tannehill lean heavily on his rushing attack. Considering the Giants ranked 30th in rush-defense DVOA last year, there's no reason for this game to follow a pass-heavy script.

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Adam Taylor McKillop is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Adam Taylor also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username atmckillop. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.