Rome Odunze, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ladd McConkey: Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Picks for Fantasy Football Week 1

The bulk of the Week 1 fantasy football slate is here, and Rome Odunze, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Ladd McConkey are hot names ahead of Sunday's games. Each young wideout has a wide range of outcomes for Week 1, leading to tough start-or-sit decisions.

Odunze is a great prospect, but he's in a crowded offense. Meanwhile, Smith-Njigba is looking to take a Year 2 leap, while McConkey could enter the NFL as the Chargers' No. 1 wide receiver. All in all, each player has exciting upside in 2024 and Week 1.

Should you start Odunze, Smith-Njigba, or McConkey in Week 1? Let's dive in.

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Should I Start Rome Odunze for Fantasy Football?

While Odunze is an exciting dynasty-league asset, his outlook for his first-ever NFL game is cloudy. He's set to play with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and compete with D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen (expected to play) for targets. While the Titans were a favorable matchup for wide receivers last year, the team added L'Jarius Sneed, Chidobe Awuzie, and Quandre Diggs to the secondary this offseason and will run a new defensive system under Dennard Wilson.

The former Washington star has upside, but he's projected as a low-end WR4 in Week 1. That makes him an interesting flex option in 12 or 14-team leagues.

He is the WR48 in our half-PPR consensus staff rankings.

Should I Start Jaxon Smith-Njigba for Fantasy Football?

Smith-Njigba didn't boom last year, but he could at least surpass the aging Tyler Lockett as Geno Smith's No. 2 option in the passing game this season. He'll kick off his sophomore campaign against the Denver Broncos, who allowed the 11th-fewest fantasy points per game to wide receivers in 2023.

It's worth noting Lockett is dealing with a thigh injury, but he is expected to play. We'll know more about JSN's potential role after Week 1, but for now, he's a dice roll flex option in 12 or 14-team leagues.

As sweet as pumpkin pie. pic.twitter.com/otCBkm1YVN

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) November 24, 2023

He is the WR39 in our half-PPR consensus staff rankings.

Should I Start Ladd McConkey for Fantasy Football?

McConkey, the former Georgia wideout, is primed to enter his first game as one of Justin Herbert's top targets. DJ Chark (hip) was placed on Injured Reserve ahead of Week 1, and not much is expected out of Quentin Johnston, so it could be a battle between Joshua Palmer and McConkey for the WR1 job.

That said, L.A. is expected to implement a run-first approach, so expectations should be tempered in Week 1. McConkey can be used as a flex option in PPR setups, but he's probably best left on the bench in half-PPR and standard formats.

He is the WR52 in our half-PPR consensus staff rankings.

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