The Tennessee Titans open their regular season this Sunday against the Denver Broncos. They’ll hit the road for the Week 1 matchup and enter a harsh environment.

The air is thinner at Mile High than in Nashville, and the players who haven’t played there before are in for a rude awakening. It’s much harder to breathe when the air is thin if your body isn’t used to it.

And that’s only one of the obstacles I faced when looking at fantasy football options for this game. There’s also the Week 1 factor, which is to say that we haven’t seen any of these teams play for real yet, so it’s hard to gauge what they might do.

Still, there are options in every game and on every team, so let’s dive into which Titans and which Broncos you should start or sit on your fantasy team in Week 1.

Start: QB Bo Nix

Bo Nix is a very consistent quarterback who is playing behind the same offensive line he had last season, each of the linemen playing over 800 snaps. The offensive line that led the league in pass block win rate, run block win rate, and short yardage conversions in 2024. They allowed just 110 pressures in 667 snaps and earned a 90.8 PFF pass-blocking efficiency rating.

Entering his second year, behind the same solid line, and facing a struggling Titans’ pass rush, Nix is going to perform well on Sunday.

Sit: QB Cam Ward

This decision is largely due to the unknowns. We have only seen Cam Ward in spurts during training camp and preseason activity, so it’s hard to justify starting him. Plus, his top target (Calvin Ridley) will most certainly be shadowed by the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Patrick Surtain. The Titans’ rookie simply doesn’t have much fantasy value this week.

Start: TE Evan Engram

Evan Engram is a veteran tight end who is a capable receiver. He catches nearly 68% of the passes that come his way, and that’s with teams like the New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars. In eight seasons, he has 25 touchdowns and six fumbles. He is Bo Nix’s safety valve on short-yardage passes, and with the Titans’ newly forged linebacking corps, Engram will perform well.

Sit: WR Tyler Lockett

Even if Cam Ward plays well, Lockett isn’t likely to see much action. He’s not the top option, and he’s aging. He is a reliable pass-catcher, catching over 70% of the passes thrown his way, but he’s not a high-volume producer. Last year with the Seattle Seahawks, Lockett was targeted only 74 times in 17 games.

Sleeper: WR Elic Ayomanor

Okay, hear me out. Not only did Ayomanor shock everyone by overtaking Van Jefferson for the starting role, but Cam Ward loves to throw to him. With Calvin Ridley being shadowed by Patrick Surtain and Talanoa Hufanga sticking nearby, Ayomanor will be the next man up.

He will be in 1-on-1 coverage with Riley Moss, and while Brandon Jones may be nearby, the Broncos’ defense will be heavily focused on Ridley. This could lead to some explosive plays marking the beginning of a new elite QB/WR tandem in the NFL, and lead to some serious fantasy points.

Get more in-depth fantasy coverage, including rankings and cheat sheets at The Huddle.