USA TODAY Sports Fantasy football rankings for Week 1 are based on the point-per-reception (PPR) scoring used in most seasonal and daily fantasy football formats. One point is awarded for every 10 rushing and receiving yards and one point for every 20 passing yards. Six points are awarded for touchdowns scored, four points for passing TDs and one point for receptions. Rankings are compiled by FantasySharks.com. (*- Be sure to check injury/status before kickoff) QUARTERBACKS 1 Tom Brady N.E. vs. Hou. 2 Ben Roethlisberger Pit. at Cle. 3 Matthew Stafford Det. vs. N.Y.-J 4 Russell Wilson Sea. at Den. 5 Aaron Rodgers G.B. vs. Chi. 6 Dak Prescott Dal. at Car. 7 Andrew Luck Ind. vs. Cin. 8 Drew Brees N.O. vs. T.B. 9 Kirk Cousins Min. vs. S.F. 10 Marcus Mariota Ten. at Mia. 11 Nick Foles Phi. vs. Atl. 12 Cam Newton Car. vs. Dal. 13 Blake Bortles Jac. at N.Y.-G 14 Philip Rivers L.A.-C vs. K.C. 15 Alex Smith Was. at Ari. 16 Andy Dalton Cin. at Ind. 17 Deshaun Watson Hou. at N.E. 18 Ryan Tannehill Mia. vs. Ten. 19 Matt Ryan Atl. at Phi. 20 Derek Carr Oak. vs. L.A.-R 21 Ryan Fitzpatrick T.B. at N.O. 22 Jared Goff L.A.-R at Oak. 23 Case Keenum Den. vs. Sea. 24 Mitchell Trubisky Chi. at G.B. 25 Eli Manning N.Y.-G vs. Jac. 26 Patrick Mahomes K.C. at L.A.-C 27 Sam Darnold N.Y.-J at Det. 28 Nathan Peterman Buf. at Bal. 29 Sam Bradford Ari. vs. Was. 30 Joe Flacco Bal. vs. Buf. Fantasy sizzlers/fizzlers: Adrian Peterson, Alfred Morris on the rise RUNNING BACKS 1 Alvin Kamara N.O. vs. T.B. 2 David Johnson Ari. vs. Was. 3 Todd Gurley L.A.-R at Oak. 4 Ezekiel Elliott Dal. at Car. 5 Leonard Fournette Jac. at N.Y.-G 6 Kareem Hunt K.C. at L.A.-C 7 Alex Collins Bal. vs. Buf. 8 Melvin Gordon L.A.-C vs. K.C. 9 Devonta Freeman Atl. at Phi. 10 Dalvin Cook Min. vs. S.F. 11 Christian McCaffrey Car. vs. Dal. 12 LeSean McCoy Buf. at Bal. 13 *Rex Burkhead N.E. vs. Hou. 14 Kenyan Drake Mia. vs. Ten. 15 Jay Ajayi Phi. vs. Atl. 16 Jordan Howard Chi. at G.B. 17 Adrian Peterson Was. at Ari. 18 James Conner Pit. at Cle. 19 Jamaal Williams G.B. vs. Chi. 20 James White N.E. vs. Hou. 21 Kerryon Johnson Det. vs. N.Y.-J 22 Lamar Miller Hou. at N.E. 23 *Marlon Mack Ind. vs. Cin. 24 Javorius Allen Bal. vs. Buf. 25 Bilal Powell N.Y.-J at Det. 26 Giovani Bernard Cin. at Ind. 27 Joe Mixon Cin. at Ind. 28 Tevin Coleman Atl. at Phi. 29 Saquon Barkley N.Y.-G vs. Jac. 30 Peyton Barber T.B. at N.O. 31 Alfred Morris S.F. at Min. 32 Marshawn Lynch Oak. vs. L.A.-R 33 Theo Riddick Det. vs. N.Y.-J 34 Devontae Booker Den. vs. Sea. 35 Carlos Hyde Cle. vs. Pit. 36 C.J. Anderson Car. vs. Dal. 37 Isaiah Crowell N.Y.-J at Det. 38 T.J. Yeldon Jac. at N.Y.-G 39 Mike Gillislee N.O. vs. T.B. 40 Duke Johnson Cle. vs. Pit. 41 Chris Carson Sea. at Den. 42 Corey Clement Phi. vs. Atl. 43 Kenneth Dixon Bal. vs. Buf. 44 Latavius Murray Min. vs. S.F. 45 Dion Lewis Ten. at Mia. 46 Frank Gore Mia. vs. Ten. 47 Chris Thompson Was. at Ari. 48 Derrick Henry Ten. at Mia. 49 Austin Ekeler L.A.-C vs. K.C. 50 Jordan Wilkins Ind. vs. Cin. 51 Samaje Perine Was. at Ari. 52 Spencer Ware K.C. at L.A.-C 53 Jonathan Stewart N.Y.-G vs. Jac. 54 Tarik Cohen Chi. at G.B. 55 Ameer Abdullah Det. vs. N.Y.-J WIDE RECEIVERS 1 Antonio Brown Pit. at Cle. 2 Michael Thomas N.O. vs. T.B. 3 Julio Jones Atl. at Phi. 4 DeAndre Hopkins Hou. at N.E. 5 Chris Hogan N.E. vs. Hou. 6 Jarvis Landry Cle. vs. Pit. 7 Davante Adams G.B. vs. Chi. 8 Kenny Stills Mia. vs. Ten. 9 Keenan Allen L.A.-C vs. K.C. 10 Odell Beckham N.Y.-G vs. Jac. 11 Mike Evans T.B. at N.O. 12 Terrance Williams Dal. at Car. 13 A.J. Green Cin. at Ind. 14 Marvin Jones Det. vs. N.Y.-J 15 Larry Fitzgerald Ari. vs. Was. 16 Stefon Diggs Min. vs. S.F. 17 Brandin Cooks L.A.-R at Oak. 18 Tyreek Hill K.C. at L.A.-C 19 Keelan Cole Jac. at N.Y.-G 20 Devin Funchess Car. vs. Dal. 21 Doug Baldwin Sea. at Den. 22 JuJu Smith-Schuster Pit. at Cle. 23 Adam Thielen Min. vs. S.F. 24 Demaryius Thomas Den. vs. Sea. 25 Golden Tate Det. vs. N.Y.-J 26 Randall Cobb G.B. vs. Chi. 27 Amari Cooper Oak. vs. L.A.-R 28 Nelson Agholor Phi. vs. Atl. 29 Josh Gordon Cle. vs. Pit. 30 Ted Ginn Jr. N.O. vs. T.B. 31 Robert Woods L.A.-R at Oak. 32 T.Y. Hilton Ind. vs. Cin. 33 Corey Davis Ten. at Mia. 34 Robby Anderson N.Y.-J at Det. 35 Michael Crabtree Bal. vs. Buf. 36 DeSean Jackson T.B. at N.O. 37 Cooper Kupp L.A.-R at Oak. 38 Mohamed Sanu Atl. at Phi. 39 Pierre Garcon S.F. at Min. 40 Allen Hurns Dal. at Car. 41 Tyrell Williams L.A.-C vs. K.C. 42 Emmanuel Sanders Den. vs. Sea. 43 Phillip Dorsett N.E. vs. Hou. 44 Will Fuller Hou. at N.E. 45 Sterling Shepard N.Y.-G vs. Jac. 46 Geronimo Allison G.B. vs. Chi. 47 Kelvin Benjamin Buf. at Bal. 48 Donte Moncrief Jac. at N.Y.-G 49 Michael Gallup Dal. at Car. 50 John Ross Cin. at Ind. 51 *Rishard Matthews Ten. at Mia. 52 Allen Robinson Chi. at G.B. 53 Tyler Lockett Sea. at Den. 54 Sammy Watkins K.C. at L.A.-C 55 Kenny Golladay Det. vs. N.Y.-J TIGHT ENDS 1 Rob Gronkowski N.E. vs. Hou. 2 Zach Ertz Phi. vs. Atl. 3 Travis Kelce K.C. at L.A.-C 4 Jack Doyle Ind. vs. Cin. 5 Evan Engram N.Y.-G vs. Jac. 6 Kyle Rudolph Min. vs. S.F. 7 *Greg Olsen Car. vs. Dal. 8 Delanie Walker Ten. at Mia. 9 Jordan Reed Was. at Ari. 10 O.J. Howard T.B. at N.O. 11 Nick Vannett Sea. at Den. 12 *Austin Seferian-Jenkins Jac. at N.Y.-G 13 Charles Clay Buf. at Bal. 14 Tyler Eifert Cin. at Ind. 15 Jimmy Graham G.B. vs. Chi. 16 Geoff Swaim Dal. at Car. 17 Jared Cook Oak. vs. L.A.-R 18 Antonio Gates L.A.-C vs. K.C. 19 Nick Boyle Bal. vs. Buf. 20 Cameron Brate T.B. at N.O. 21 Eric Tomlinson N.Y.-J at Det. 22 Eric Ebron Ind. vs. Cin. 23 Ricky Seals-Jones Ari. vs. Was. 24 Mike Gesicki Mia. vs. Ten. 25 Ben Watson N.O. vs. T.B. 26 Ryan Griffin Hou. at N.E. 27 Tyler Kroft Cin. at Ind. 28 George Kittle S.F. at Min. 29 Vernon Davis Was. at Ari. 30 Trey Burton Chi. at G.B. KICKERS 1 Stephen Gostkowski N.E. vs. Hou. 2 Wil Lutz N.O. vs. T.B. 3 Justin Tucker Bal. vs. Buf. 4 Chris Boswell Pit. at Cle. 5 Greg Zuerlein L.A.-R at Oak. 6 Graham Gano Car. vs. Dal. 7 Josh Lambo Jac. at N.Y.-G 8 Jason Myers N.Y.-J at Det. 9 Phil Dawson Ari. vs. Was. 10 Robbie Gould S.F. at Min. 11 Matt Bryant Atl. at Phi. 12 Jason Sanders Mia. vs. Ten. 13 Daniel Carlson Min. vs. S.F. 14 Harrison Butker K.C. at L.A.-C 15 Jake Elliott Phi. vs. Atl. 16 Ka'imi Fairbairn Hou. at N.E. 17 Steven Hauschka Buf. at Bal. 18 Chandler Catanzaro T.B. at N.O. 19 Brandon McManus Den. vs. Sea. 20 Dustin Hopkins Was. at Ari. 21 Ryan Succop Ten. at Mia. 22 Mason Crosby G.B. vs. Chi. 23 Matt Prater Det. vs. N.Y.-J 24 Mike Nugent Oak. vs. L.A.-R 25 Sebastian Janikowski Sea. at Den. 26 Randy Bullock Cin. at Ind. 27 Adam Vinatieri Ind. vs. Cin. 28 Brett Maher Dal. at Car. 29 Cody Parkey Chi. at G.B. 30 Aldrick Rosas N.Y.-G vs. Jac. DEFENSES 1 Carolina Panthers vs. Dal. 2 Washington Redskins at Ari. 3 Pittsburgh Steelers at Cle. 4 New England Patriots vs. Hou. 5 New Orleans Saints vs. T.B. 6 Chicago Bears at G.B. 7 Detroit Lions vs. N.Y.-J 8 Denver Broncos vs. Sea. 9 Jacksonville Jaguars at N.Y.-G 10 Arizona Cardinals vs. Was. 11 Baltimore Ravens vs. Buf. 12 Seattle Seahawks at Den. 13 Tennessee Titans at Mia. 14 Cincinnati Bengals at Ind. 15 Los Angeles Rams at Oak. 16 Atlanta Falcons at Phi. 17 Indianapolis Colts vs. Cin. 18 Los Angeles Chargers vs. K.C. 19 Dallas Cowboys at Car. 20 Miami Dolphins vs. Ten. 21 Philadelphia Eagles vs. Atl. 22 San Francisco 49ers at Min. 23 Green Bay Packers vs. Chi. 24 Kansas City Chiefs at L.A.-C 25 Minnesota Vikings vs. S.F. 26 New York Jets at Det. 27 Buffalo Bills at Bal. 28 New York Giants vs. Jac. 29 Tampa Bay Buccaneers at N.O. 30 Oakland Raiders vs. L.A.-R 31 Cleveland Browns vs. Pit. 32 Houston Texans at N.E.<doc-sep>It’s hard to believe it, but we’ve finally made it to the start of the NFL season. All of the jabbering and mumbo-jumbo that you’ve heard throughout the offseason means nothing now, as dreams are about to be shattered for countless fantasy teams. Seriously, ADP will mean absolutely nothing after Week 1 is played. Already drafted? Get a free analysis of your team with My Playbook >> As the weeks go on, we’ll have a better idea as to which players are getting the snaps/targets, which will in-turn make rankings more accurate. But doing my best to project what each player’s situation will look like with all the new changes, here’s my stab at the Week 1 rankings. This page will continually be updated throughout the week, so feel free to bookmark it for sit/start questions. If you’re like me and want to hear the reasoning behind where a player is ranked, I’ve got you covered. The Primer, which has a paragraph from every player from every game, will be out every Thursday by noon EST. If you missed what that article will entail, click here for a link to the introduction. Until then, enjoy the snapshot of my rankings! Subscribe: iTunes | Google Play | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | TuneIn | RSS Mike Tagliere is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeTagliereNFL.<doc-sep>
Our long wait has ended. The seemingly interminable preseason is over. Week 1 has arrived. It’s time to plant our first flags of the regular season with our Week 1 rankings. We’re going to do something a little different this season. Before getting into the weekly rankings this year, 4for4’s John Paulsen and I will have a quick series of debates about a few players on whom our rankings differ for the week ahead. Rankings are great, but you should have the thinking behind them, as well. We’ll give you that every week to help you make your decisions this season. If you want just want to get straight to the rankings, they are immediately after the debates. Matt Ryan, Falcons (Paulsen: QB17, Beller: QB11) Paulsen: Despite my ranking, I’m not super down on Ryan this week. He plays pretty well on the road and all of his weapons are healthy, so he should produce decent numbers in Philly on Opening Night. However, the matchup isn’t good, so his ceiling seems low. Last season, the Eagles were 25th in fantasy points allowed per pass attempt, they yielded the third-lowest yards per attempt and were fifth in interceptions. Ryan offers next to nothing as a runner, so he’s not going to be able to score fantasy points if his receivers can’t get open. Beller: For me, this comes down to a belief that the Falcons are going to win this game. Now, of course, quarterbacks can play poorly in a team win, especially from a fantasy perspective. I don’t think that’ll be the case on Thursday, though. Ryan’s a pretty clean quarterback, and he has the right weapons to counteract the Eagles’ strong YPA stats from a year ago. I like him as a low-end QB1 this week, and would roll with him confidently if I drafted him to be my regular starter. Peyton Barber, Buccaneers (Paulsen: RB22, Beller: RB31) Paulsen: Despite their improvements on defense, the Saints still yielded 4.4 yards per carry last year and gave up 11 rushing touchdowns. Barber is going to get the bulk of the touches after being named the starter during the preseason. He produced in that role last year, turning an average of 18.0 touches for 84 total yards in the final five games of last season, including 19 touches for 89 yards and a touchdown against the Saints in Week 17. Beller: John, I totally hear what you’re saying on Barber handling a full workload against the Saints. Chances are if I drafted him, I’d be playing him this week. I just wouldn’t be all that confident. Again, this comes down to my expected game result, which is a comfortable Saints win. They’re favored by 9.5 points at press time, and I think the Buccaneers are going to struggle to keep it near that number, let alone within it. Barber is a fine player capable of holding off Ronald Jones all year, but game script is going to be his enemy in this one. The Buccaneers won that Week 17 game from last year that you mentioned. They’re not going to win on Sunday. Robert Woods, Rams (Paulsen: WR29, Beller: WR39) Paulsen: Woods posted a top 20 per game average and surprisingly became the clear No. 1 target for Jared Goff in 2017. Including the playoffs, he averaged 5.0 catches (on 7.6 targets) for 71 yards and 0.38 touchdowns per game. That works out to 14.4 PPR fantasy points, which would be good enough to finish in the top 12 when prorated over a full 16-game season. Yes, Brandin Cooks is likely to gobble up more targets than Sammy Watkins did, but a great Week 1 matchup against the Raiders means that fantasy points should be easy to come by. Week 1 Fantasy Football Streaming Options Beller: I agree that the Week 1 matchup with the Raiders is a great one, and I don’t think Woods is a total stay-away. I just think there are more unknowns that most Woods or, for that matter, Cooper Kupp drafters want to admit. Look at what the Rams did with Brandin Cooks this year. They traded a first-round pick to get him, and then signed him to a huge extension before he played a down for the team. Forget about last season. This team is going to have more of a No. 1 than it did at any point last year, and it’s not going to be Woods or Kupp.