Last-Minute Changes for Week 1 – By FanDuel.com

Last-Minute Changes For Week 1

After all the talk and hype, the 2013 NFL season starts this week. While the season technically starts on a Thursday, things don’t really kick into gear until Sunday. Fantasy football owners already have concluded their drafts, but now is the time to actually set a lineup. Here’s a look at a few last-minute player pickups to make if you are feeling a bit uneasy about your current squad. All players are still available in over 2/3rds of all leagues.

EJ Manuel

This might seem like a stretch to some, but it is all about matchups in Week 1 for the rookie quarterback. The New England Patriots can certainly score the football, but their secondary is the weakest aspect. Buffalo will want to see how their first round pick handles the stage, so expect him to get a lot of chances to throw the ball. Only about 15% of fantasy football owners even have him on their roster right now, so if you are in a deep or two-quarterback league, he is worth the pickup.

Jacquizz Rodgers

Steven Jackson earned the right to start in Atlanta, but Rodgers is going to get a lot of chances to showcase his speed. He is a very small running back, and it helps that he is facing off against perhaps the worst rushing defense in the NFL (New Orleans). As long as he gets touches, he will have a pretty big Week 1.

Reuben Randle

On the outside, it appears as though Randle is the odd man out in New York for the Giants. However, even if Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz stay healthy (a huge if), Randle is going to be utilized by Eli Manning. He might be a guy to pick up now and stash if possible, but he could get the start in Week 1 in deep leagues as well. If the Giants continue to have injury woes, expect Randle to step right in and see a huge boost.