Week 1 2018 Fantasy Football Rankings

 

Fantasy Football is finally back!!! Welcome to week 1 of the fantasy football season!

It seemed like the longest offseason ever leading up to the 2018 season, but the wait is over and Fantasy Projection is back with all the analysis you need for week 1. We have already seen plenty of injuries during the pre-season including a season ending injury to 49ers RB Jerick McKinnon. If you are an owner of McKinnon or any other injured stud don’t worry, the below fantasy football rankings are just what you need to win week 1. The below rankings are based on a .5 PPR scoring system and are in a precise order to help you with any start sit questions. Good luck in week 1!

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Quarterbacks
  1. Tom Brady, NE QB vs. HOU
  2. Drew Brees, NO QB vs. TB
  3. Aaron Rodgers, GB QB vs. CHI
  4. Deshaun Watson, HOU QB at NE
  5. Cam Newton, CAR QB vs. DAL
  6. Kirk Cousins, MIN QB vs. SF
  7. Philip Rivers, LAC QB vs. KC
  8. Matthew Stafford, DET QB vs. NYJ
  9. Russell Wilson, SEA QB at DEN
  10. Ben Roethlisberger, PIT QB at CLE
  11. Andy Dalton, CIN QB at IND
  12. Jared Goff, LAR QB at OAK
  13. Andrew Luck, IND QB vs. CIN
  14. Matt Ryan, ATL QB at PHI
  15. Alex Smith, KC QB at ARI

Tom Brady known to Patriots fans as the G.O.A.T is my top play at QB for week 1 of 2018 fantasy season. Although Brady doesn’t have the best weapons at his disposal and his main target at WR Edelman is suspended, he should be able to put up some high marks against a bad Houston secondary. In 2017, the Texans allowed the 9th most yards per game to to opposing QBs (237) and allowed 30 TDs through the air tied for 2nd worst in the NFL. The Patriots are also at home which will help to fuel the team. As long as Chris Hogan and Gronk show up to play I see Brady putting up significant numbers this week. Fantasy Projection: 325 yards 3 TDs.

I expect the game between the Patriots and the Texans to be much more of a shootout than many may think. That’s why I have Deshaun Watson ranked in the 4th position at QB for week 1. The Patriots allowed the 3rd most passing yards per game in 2017 along with 24 TDs. Not only can Watson show off his skills through the air, but he is also a threat on the ground. In 2017, Watson rushed for 269 yards over 7 games good for 39 yards per game and 2 total touchdowns. The Patriots allowed the 13th most rushing yards per game last year and will not be able to contain the dual threat QB. Fantasy Projection: 275 yards passing 2 TDs 45 yards rushing

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Running Back
  1. David Johsnon, ARI RB vs. WAS
  2. Alvin Kamara, NO RB vs. TB
  3. Todd Gurley, LAR RB at OAK
  4. Leonard Fournette, JAC RB at NYG
  5. Melvin Gordon, LAC RB vs. KC
  6. Ezekiel Elliott, DAL RB at CAR
  7. Le’Veon Bell, PIT RB at CLE
  8. Kareem Hunt, KC RB at LAC
  9. Saquon Barkley, NYG RB vs. JAC
  10. Dalvin Cook, MIN RB vs. SF
  11. Christian McCaffrey, CAR RB vs. DAL
  12. Alex Collins, BAL RB vs. BUF
  13. Lamar Miller, HOU RB at NE
  14. Jordan Howard, CHI RB at GB
  15. Devonta Freeman, ATL RB at PHI

David Johnson is back after suffering a season ending wrist injury in week 1 of 2017. In Johnson’s rookie season (2016), he lit the fantasy world on fire with over 1,200 yards rushing and 879 yards receiving on 80 receptions for 20 total TDs. I am not at all concerned about last years injury especially since the injury was not to his lower body. I expect Jonhson to return to full form and with an offense lacking star power he will be the main weapon. Not only is Johnson a fantasy stud, but he takes on the worst defense from 2017 against the run on a rushing yard per game basis in the Washington Redskins. Johnson will be the best RB in week 1 and prove his dominance right out of the gate. Fantasy Projection: 110 yards rushing 1 TD 7 receptions for 60 yards and 1 TD

Alex Collins is back as the lead runner for the Baltimore Ravens in 2018 after a 2017 season where he rushed for over 950 yards and 6 TDs while adding 187 yards through the air. Collins had a very successful season and has won the job for the Ravens which is one reason why I have him as a top 12 RB in week 1. The other reason is the defense he is facing in the Buffalo Bills who were 4th worst in the NFL against the rush on a rushing yards per game (125 ypg) basis in 2017. I expect Collins to get the majority of the carries an to make the most of each touch. Fantasy Projection: 68 yards rushing 1 TD

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Wide Receivers
  1. DeAndre Hopkins, HOU WR at NE
  2. Michael Thomas, NO WR at TB
  3. A.J. Green, CIN at IND
  4. Keenan Allen, LAC WR vs. KC
  5. Antonio Brown, PIT WR at CLE
  6. Davante Adams, GB WR vs. CHI
  7. Odell Beckham Jr., NYG WR vs. JAC
  8. Larry Fitzgerald, ARI WR vs. WAS
  9. Stefon Diggs, MIN WR vs. SF
  10. T.Y. Hilton, IND WR v. CIN
  11. Golden Tate, DET WR vs. NYJ
  12. Chris Hogan, NE WR vs. HOU
  13. Mike Evans, TB WR at NO
  14. Allen Robinson, CHI WR at GB
  15. Tyreek Hill, KC WR at LAC
  16. Jarvis Landry, CLE WR vs. PIT
  17. Amari Cooper, OAK WR vs. LAR
  18. Brandin Cooks, LAR WR at OAK
  19. Doug Baldwin, SEA WR at DEN
  20. Demaryius Thomas, DEN WR vs. SEA
  21. Nelson Agholor, PHI WR vs. ATL
  22. Adam Thielen, MIN WR vs. SF
  23. Robby Anderson, NYJ WR at DET
  24. Keelan Cole, JAC WR at NYG
  25. Michael Crabtree, BAL WR vs. BUF

DeAndre Hopkins is my number 1 receiver in week 1. Hopkins is back with Deshaun Watson at the helm after the duo saw much success in 2017 while Watson was healthy. Hopkins has 7 TDs in the 7 games while Watson was healthy in 2017 and I’m sure another offseason has only helped their connection. The Texans are also taking on the Patriots who were the worst in 2017 on a receiving yards allowed per game basis. As mentioned before, I expect this game to be a shootout with DeAndre playing a big role for the Texans. Fantasy Projection: 10 receptions 115 yards 1 TD

Keelan Cole has emerged as one of the best receiving options for the Blake Bortles and the Jaguars. Cole came onto the scene late in 2017 receiving for over 99 yards in 3 of the last 4 games. Bortles seems to have a strong connection with Cole and now that he is one of the top options I expect his success to continue into 2018. It definitely helps that Cole is taking on the 3rd worst team in 2017 against opposing receivers in the New York Giants. The Giants allowed 262 receiving yards per game and a league worst 32 TDs through the air. I see Cole breaking onto the 2018 scene in a big way week 1. Fantasy Projection: 6 receptions 65 yards 0.5 TD

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Tight Ends
  1. Rob Gronkowski, NE TE vs. HOU
  2. Travis Kelce, KC TE at LAC
  3. Zach Ertz, PHI TE vs. ATL
  4. Delanie Walker, TEN TE at MIA
  5. Jimmy Graham, GB TE vs. CHI
  6. Greg Olsen, CAR TE vs. DAL
  7. Kyle Rudolph, MIN TE vs. SF
  8. Jordan Reed, WAS TE at ARI
  9. Trey Burton, CHI TE at GB
  10. Evan Engram, NYG TE vs. JAC
  11. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, JAC TE at NYG
  12. David Njoku, CLE TE vs. PIT

Rob Gronkowski is easily the best TE in week 1 of 2018. Houston was the 9th worst against receivers in 2017 and I expect that this trend will continue into week 1 of the 2018 season. Gronk will also be the main target alongside Chris Hogan in the Patriots passing game with Julian Edelman suspended for week 1. I expect Gronk to see plenty of targets making him the best option at TE. Fantasy Projection: 8 receptions 75 yards 1-2 TDs.

 

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