Fantasy points

It is the week that football fanatics have been waiting for, the NFL season openers.

It began Thursday with the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots. Sunday’s games included New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets and Buffalo Bills, Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals and Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans, Oakland Raiders and Tennessee Titans, and Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins.

Most football fanatics use fantasy football applications on their phones. The apps give you the option to choose your own players, a specific team’s offense and defense, and your own team name. People use these apps to compete against other people’s teams throughout the season.

Now, with the season on its way the only question left to ask yourself is who to start on your fantasy team and who to sit out for the season.

Marcus Mariota had 2,818 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2015, and 3,426 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2016. Football fanatics should keep an eye on him; he could be explosive this year.

Russell Wilson had 4,024 yards and 34 touchdowns in 2015, and 4,219 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2016. With Wilson’s stats, it should be a no-brainer to start him.

Kirk Cousins had 4,166 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2015, and 4,917 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2016. Cousins scored an average of 19 points per game in 2016.

Derek Carr had 3,987 yards and 32 touchdowns in 2015, and 3,937 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2016. Carr was ranked 10th last year in fantasy points.

Eli Manning had 4,432 yards and 35 touchdowns in 2015, and 4,027 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2016. Manning scored an average of 18 fantasy points per game, he is the man you want on your starting lineup.

Wide receiver Michael Crabtree had 922 yards and nine touchdowns in 2015, and 1,003 yards and eight touchdowns in 2016. Crabtree has been one of the top fantasy wide receivers for two consecutive seasons.

Tight end Jason Witten had 713 yards and three touchdowns in 2015, and 673 yards and three touchdowns in 2016. He averaged nine to 13 fantasy points each game.

Running back Dalvin Cook, who was an outstanding college player at Florida State, goes against the Saints’ defense, who on average give up 21 fantasy points to running backs, giving Cook an advantage.

These athletes are certain to give you the points you need and have the stats to prove it. Let the fantasy football excitement continue as the season goes on.