There are a slew of storylines and situations to be aware of going into Week 1 of the NFL season. Here’s what’s on my mind:

Buccaneers vs Falcons

 

• Who is the Bucs TE to own? Brate and Seferian-Jenkins are currently running neck and neck.

 

• Is Vincent Jackson a buy low? He’s old and slow, but Winston has loved him this preseason, and the offense is going to be more uptempo than last year.

 

• Has Matt Ryan’s long-ball really improved? He’s been working on his accuracy over the top, but we need to see it to believe it.

 

• Mohamed Sanu. There are going to be plenty of targets to go around in Atlanta’s pass happy offense. He could provide many happy returns in PPR formats.

 

Bills vs Ravens

 

• Does Tyrod Taylor take a step forward in his second season as a starter? He provided QB1 stats inconsistently last year.

 

• Who is the RB2 in Buffalo? Bush and Gillislee have the experience, but Williams fits the profile.

 

• Is Steve Smith back? He’s been through a lot, and common sense will tell you his best days are behind him, but we’ve doubted him before.

 

• Crockett Gillmore. Can he step up in an offense that loves throwing to the TE?

 

• Who is the lead back in B-more? Your guess is as good as mine right now. This week should give us an idea.

 

Bears vs Texans

 

• Alshon’s hamstring. Will it hold up? I’m not putting up with another year of uncertainty every week.

 

• Is Kevin White the beast that we scouted? He has potential to be a game changer.

 

• Does Zach Miller have it for a second year? Or was last year just a blip or the radar?

 

• Can Will Fuller be a consistent fantasy presence?

 

• Is Osweiler worth streaming consideration throughout the season? Is he an overpaid game manager?

 

Packers vs Jaguars

 

• How does Jordy’s knee hold up? Has he lost a step?

 

• Who is Aaron Rodgers targeting in the red-zone? Can Jared Cook be that guy?

 

• Is Eddie Lacy still fat?

 

• Who is the back to own in Jacksonville? A rich contract and goal line carries indicate Ivory, but Yeldon looks good. Can both of them sustain fantasy relevance?

 

• Marquise Lee. Is there enough offense to sustain the preseason star?

 

Chargers vs Chiefs

 

• Will Melvin Gordon keep his touchdown virginity intact? He could be the steal of the draft if he finally puts it all together.

 

• Travis Benjamin. Role player or consistent deep threat?

 

• Spencer Ware. If he comes through, the Chiefs can continue to afford to rest Charles early and often.

 

Raiders vs Saints

 

• Latavius Murray isn’t a very talented back. Can a ton of touches mitigate that fact?

 

• Is Washington purely a pass catching back?

 

• Can Cooper make the leap to weekly WR1, or is he still a WR2 with upside?

 

• C.J. Spiller. If he doesn’t make a splash I’m not going to answer a question or comment about him for the rest of the season.

 

• Is Michael Thomas the new Marques Colston?

 

• Is Fleener the new Graham?

 

Bengals vs Jets

 

• Can Brandon LaFell do enough to maintain an edge on Tyler Boyd for the no.2 spot?

 

• Matt Forte and Bilal Powell. The man in on goal line carries is king.

 

Browns vs Eagles

 

• Is it rookie year phenom RG3 or is it the RG3 everyone is expecting?

 

• Can Corey Coleman put up WR1 numbers with no Josh Gordon? I think so.

 

• Is Terrelle Pryor a real NFL receiver?

 

• Gary Barnidge was magic with McCown, but will RG3 rely on him in a similar manner?

 

• Isaiah Crowell. Fantasy stud? Or more of the same?

 

• Carson Wentz. If he can’t hold his own against Cleveland, the Philly WRs could be in trouble.

 

• Is DGB the red-zone presence we’ve been hearing about?

 

• Nelson Agholor. We had high hopes, but he’s looking more and more like a flop.

 

Vikings vs Titans

 

• Can Shaun Hill hold off Sam Bradford? Does anyone want him to?

 

• Tajae Sharpe or Rishard Matthews? Who’s the no.1?

 

• Murray needs a big showing to slow down the Derrick Henry train. Is the pressure too much?

 

Dolphins vs Seahawks

 

• Are we going to get the Arian Foster of old? Has his injury slowed him down for good?

 

• Is Kenny Stills going to take DeVante Parker’s job? It’s within the realm of possibilities.

 

• Can we trust in Christine Michael? Recent history says no.

 

• Will Doug Baldwin pick up where left off in 2015? It seems unreasonable, but the ‘Hawks’ offense is evolving.

 

Giants vs Cowboys

 

• No more Andre Williams means more goal line carries for Rashad Jennings, or does it?

 

• Can Sterling Shepard live up to the hype? He has to. ODB can’t catch everything.

 

• Dak Prescott. Has there been a changing of the guard in Dallas, or are they going to tread water until Romo returns?

 

• What can Dak do for Dez? Is it another lost season for Bryant?

 

• Can Cole Beasley become a PPR mini-monster?

 

Lions vs Colts

 

• Jones or Tate? My money’s on Jones.

 

• Ameer Abdullah. Bellcow or bust?

 

• Has Ebron made the third year TE turn? He has to stay healthy to find out.

 

• Frank Gore. Is he a fantasy bedrock in this improving offense? I’ve stopped betting against him.

 

• We know Hilton and Moncrief are going to thrive, but will Phillip Dorsett find room to grow in these three wide sets?

 

Patriots vs Cardinals

 

• Who can we rely on in New England until Brady gets back?

 

• Is Martellus Bennett the new Aaron Hernandez? I mean, without the murder part…

 

• Is it going to be musical chairs in the Pats’ backfield? If I know Belichik like I think I do, then yes.

 

• Can Michael Floyd continue his late season run from last year? He could be a top 10 WR if so.

 

Steelers vs Redskins

 

• Wheaton, Rogers, or Coates?

 

• Can Jesse James do enough to make us give up the ghost on Ladarius Green?

 

• Will Kirk Cousins continue to roll, or are we in for another slow start?

 

• Matt Jones. Is it his show, or will Kelley and Thompson factor in big?

 

Rams vs 49ers

 

• Is Tavon Austin worth all the money he was just paid? He’s not coming off the field, so it could be a huge year.

 

• Is there anyone on the 49ers offense worth starting not named Hyde? I’m not optimistic.

 

• Slot WR seems like perhaps the only serviceable pass catcher in a Blaine Gabbert led offense. Hello, Jeremy Kerley…