Sure, it might be summertime, but it has been cold and gray for months on end in the Madman’s world. That is because there has been no football. 

Ah, but now the clouds part, the birds start singing and the warmth of pigskin action washes over us and our fantasy squads. At last, the miserable football drought has come to an end. So let’s dive right into the warm water of Week 1. 

If you drafted a player in the first few rounds, you plan to start them every week — or at least you should, otherwise why spend so much to acquire them? Hence, the tricky decisions come with guys drafted later. But just because someone has a lower draft spot doesn’t mean they can’t be relied upon out of the gate. 

One of the guys we drafted often and plan to use at the season’s kick off — in seasonal and DFS formats — is Ricky Pearsall (FanDuel $5,300/DraftKings $4,500). The only real immediate competition for receptions to the start the season likely will be tight end George Kittle and running back Christian McCaffrey — and CMC is questionable Sunday.