Welcome to the week 1 fantasy football rankings! The following rankings have taken into account all of the most recent trades and preseason performances. These rankings are all based on 4pt passing and .5 PPR settings and are all backed by intense data modeling to give you the best chance at winning. Use the rankings as your guide for stat sit decisions and good luck in week 1!
Quarterbacks
- Deshaun Watson HOU at NO
- Patrick Mahomes KC at JAX
- Cam Newton CAR vs. LAR
- Russell Wilson SEA vs. CIN
- Drew Brees NO vs. HOU
- Aaron Rodgers GB at CHI
- Jameis Winston TB vs. SF
- Carson Wentz PHI vs. WAS
- Jared Goff LAR at CAR
- Lamar Jackson BAL at MIA
- Baker Mayfield CLE vs. TEN
- Dak Prescott DAL vs. NYG
- Ben Roethlisberger PIT at NE
- Kirk Cousins MIN vs. ATL
- Matt Ryan ATL at MIN
- Mitchell Trubisky CHI vs. GB
- Josh Allen BUF at NYJ
- Tom Brady NE vs. PIT
- Philip Rivers LAC vs. IND
- Kyler Murray ARI vs. DET
Deshaun Watson sits atop the Week 1 FantasyProjection QB rankings. This was an extremely close call between Watson and Mahomes, but in the end I believe the much better matchup is the deciding factor. Watson will warm up against the Saints in week with a healthy Hopkins and Fuller. With the move of Clowney to the Seahawks I expect this game will be a shootout especially since the Saints are currently ranked as the 27th passing defense in the FantasyProjection analytcis. Watson will destroy the Saints and although they may not win, he will have a great day for fantasy. Fantasy Projection: 279 passing yards 2 TDs 37 rushing yards .4 Rushing TDs
Baker Mayfield is the main QB that seems to be much lower in the FantasyProjection rankings than in other experts rankings. I know there has been a ton of hype around Baker and the Browns in general, but I think I’m going to have to see it to believe it. Baker is facing the 7th best passing defense in the Titans based on FantasyProjections rankings and they can really make this a low scoring game. I believe that Baker can be good and this team will be good, but I am not ready to say that they are matchup proof. I still have Baker as a QB1 in the first week of action and think that there is more upside to be had. Fantasy Projection: 275 passing yards 2 TDs 10 rush yards.
Running Back
- Saquon Barkley NYG at DAL
- Christian McCaffrey CAR vs. LAR
- Ezekiel Elliott DAL vs. NYG
- Alvin Kamara NO vs. HOU
- Todd Gurley LAR at CAR
- Nick Chubb CLE vs. TEN
- James Conner PIT at NE
- Chris Carson SEA vs. CIN
- Dalvin Cook MIN vs. ATL
- Le’Veon Bell NYJ vs. BUF
- Leonard Fournette JAX vs. KC
- Kerryon Johnson DET at ARI
- David Johnson ARI vs. DET
- Joe Mixon CIN at SEA
- Aaron Jones GB at CHI
- Mark Ingram BAL at MIA
- Derrick Henry TEN at CLE
- David Montgomery CHI vs. GB
- Devonta Freeman ATL at MIN
- Sony Michel NE vs. PIT
Besides Baker Mayfield, the other guy I seem to be low on is David Johnson. After watching last season and the pre-season I struggle to put Johnson anywhere near the stats he had in 2016. Instead he seems to be a casualty of a faulty line and bad play calling. I do believe Kyler Murray can be a game changer for this offense, but again as a rookie QB I don’t think his impact is immediate. I have DJ just outside the top 12 at the position this week even while he is going against a mediocre run D in the Lions. Fantasy Projection: 67 rushing yards .5 TD 4 receptions 31 yards .24 TD
I really like Aaron Jones this year, so I don’t want this week 1 rankings of him to be taken out of context and have people think I hate him, but he is my 15th RB in week 1. When Jones was allowed to be the workhorse in 2018 he was extremely efficient and he needed to be especially in such a pass heavy offense. I have a feeling the new coaching regime will see this ability and feed him the ball. I’m not sure if the volume is going to matter in week 1 when he faces the Bears. The Bears are easily the best Run D in the league and will make for stiff competition. I think Jones struggles, but finds himself in the top 15 at RB. Fantasy Projection: 68 rushing yards .74 TD 2 receptions 20 yards
Wide Receivers
- DeAndre Hopkins HOU at NO
- Michael Thomas NO vs. HOU
- Davante Adams GB at CHI
- JuJu Smith-Schuster PIT at NE
- Mike Evans TB vs. SF
- Odell Beckham CLE vs.TEN
- Julio Jones ATL at MIN
- Tyreek Hill KC at JAX
- Antonio Brown OAK vs. DEN
- Adam Thielen MIN vs. ATL
- Amari Cooper DAL vs. NYG
- Keenan Allen LAC vs. IND
- Julian Edelman NE vs. PIT
- Chris Godwin TB vs. SF
- Robert Woods LAR at CAR
- Tyler Lockett SEA vs. CIN
- Stefon Diggs MIN vs. ATL
- Cooper Kupp LAR at CAR
- Brandin Cooks LAR at CAR
- Alshon Jeffery PHI vs. WAS
- Kenny Golladay DET at ARI
- T.Y. Hilton IND at LAC
- Allen Robinson CHI vs. GB
- Tyler Boyd CIN at SEA
- Josh Gordon NE vs. PIT
- D.J. Moore CAR vs LAR
Seeing the ranking of Deshaun Watson above it was probably easy to expect that I also had DeAndre Hopkins in the FantasyProjection top 3 at a minimum this week. Hopkins lands at number 1 on the week not only due to his incredible skill set, but also his JUICY matchup against the 28th receiving defense in the Saints. I expect Hopkins will ball out in week 1 and will flourish in a shootout in New Orleans. Fantasy Projection: 8 receptions 98 yards 1 TD
Tyler Boyd is one of my favorite under the radar plays at WR this week. Boyd doesn’t seem to be getting much attention even with the absence of star receiver A.J. Green. Boyd should get a huge number of targets even if they are not of the best quality from QB Andy Dalton. Boyd will take on a Seattle defense in week 1 that is currently ranked as the number 14 receiving defense and is only slightly above average. I have Boyd as a low end WR2 this week, but will have the target share to have much more upside. Fantasy Projection: 5 receptions 66 yards .4 TDs
Tight Ends
- Travis Kelce KC at JAX
- George Kittle SF at TB
- Zach Ertz PHI vs. WAS
- O.J. Howard TB vs. SF
- Evan Engram NYG at DAL
- Jared Cook OAK vs. DEN
- Hunter Henry LAC vs. IND
- Vance McDonald PIT at NE
- Delanie Walker TEN at CLE
- David Njoku CLE vs. TEN
- Mark Andrews BAL at MIA
- Eric Ebron IND at LAC
Regardless of Travis Kelce’s horrible week 1 matchup against the number 2 ranked receiving defense in the Jaguars, I expect Kelce will be the number 1 TE on the week. Kelce is in the perfect offense and has a huge role in it. Kelce is one of Mahomes go to options and is a game changer at the TE position in fantasy. The Jaguars will have trouble containing Kelce. Fantasy Projection: 6 receptions 78 yards 1 TD.
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