Fantasy Football: Week One Rankings

The fantasy football season is finally here, and with it comes fresh excitement, steep expectations, and an unwavering will to win. What’s sure to follow for a majority of fantasy owners over the next 13 weeks is lost hope, shattered dreams, and unfortunate disappointment. But not for you my friend, because you have come to the right place. You are going to avoid starting the wrong receiver or benching the breakout running back, and are going to win your flex position each week with the help of our weekly redraft rankings.

Each week I’ll have for you new quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end rankings for both standard and point per reception scoring. Outside of this week, you can expect rankings to be out every Thursday morning, right in time for you to set your lineups for Thursday Night Football.

So with that, below are my week one rankings for standard and PPR scoring. Plus, I’ve added some quick notes on a few players in each position. Also, if you play in an IDP league, we have week one defensive lineman, linebacker, and defensive back rankings for you as well.

Note: players who played in the opening game Thursday are not included in week one’s rankings.

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Aaron Rodgers GB	at CHI
2	Matt Ryan ATL	vs. PHI
3	Tony Romo DAL	vs. NYG
4	Peyton Manning DEN	vs. BAL
5	Andrew Luck IND	at BUF
6	Ryan Tannehill MIA	at WAS
7	Drew Brees NO	at ARI
8	Sam Bradford PHI	at ATL
9	Eli Manning NYG	at DAL
10	Carson Palmer ARI	vs. NO
11	Russell Wilson SEA	at STL
12	Matthew Stafford DET	at SD
13	Joe Flacco BAL	at DEN
14	Philip Rivers SD	vs. DET
15	Teddy Bridgewater MIN	at SF
16	Jameis Winston TB	vs. TEN
17	Cam Newton CAR	at JAC
18	Andy Dalton CIN	at OAK
19	Jay Cutler CHI	vs. GB
20	Colin Kaepernick SF	vs. MIN
21	Alex Smith KC	at HOU
22	Marcus Mariota TEN	at TB
23	Tyrod Taylor BUF	vs. IND
24	Blake Bortles JAC	vs. CAR
25	Derek Carr OAK	vs. CIN

Quick Notes: This is probably the lowest you’ll see Andrew Luck all season. The Bills have a very good defense, and you know they will be fired up in Rex Ryan’s first game as coach…Drew Brees might not have the best game of his career on the road against a very good Arizona Cardinals defense…I might be high on Ryan Tannehill but Washington’s team in general is a mess right now and the Dolphins added some good receiving pieces…I don’t expect Cam Newton to be very successful against the Jaguars. Jacksonville was very good at getting to the quarterback last season, plus the Panthers offensive line is bad. Add in the fact that Newton basically only has Greg Olsen to throw to and you have a recipe for disaster.

Running Backs

	Standard				PPR
Rank	Player	Opponent		Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Eddie Lacy GB	at CHI		1	Eddie Lacy GB	at CHI
2	Adrian Peterson MIN	at SF		2	Adrian Peterson MIN	at SF
3	Jeremy Hill CIN	at OAK		3	Jamaal Charles KC	at HOU
4	Jamaal Charles KC	at HOU		4	Jeremy Hill CIN	at OAK
5	DeMarco Murray PHI	at ATL		5	Matt Forte CHI	vs. GB
6	Matt Forte CHI	vs. GB		6	DeMarco Murray PHI	at ATL
7	Marshawn Lynch SEA	at STL		7	Jonathan Stewart CAR	at JAC
8	Jonathan Stewart CAR	at JAC		8	Marshawn Lynch SEA	at STL
9	C.J. Anderson DEN	vs. BAL		9	C.J. Anderson DEN	vs. BAL
10	Lamar Miller MIA	at WAS		10	Justin Forsett BAL	at DEN
11	LeSean McCoy BUF	vs. IND		11	Andre Ellington ARI	vs. NO
12	Justin Forsett BAL	at DEN		12	Lamar Miller MIA	at WAS
13	Andre Ellington ARI	vs. NO		13	LeSean McCoy BUF	vs. IND
14	Frank Gore IND	at BUF		14	Frank Gore IND	at BUF
15	Christopher Ivory NYJ	vs. CLE		15	Latavius Murray OAK	vs. CIN
16	Latavius Murray OAK	vs. CIN		16	Doug Martin TB	vs. TEN
17	Doug Martin TB	vs. TEN		17	Giovani Bernard CIN	at OAK
18	Mark Ingram NO	at ARI		18	Ameer Abdullah DET	at SD
19	Alfred Morris WAS	vs. MIA		19	Danny Woodhead SD	vs. DET
20	Carlos Hyde SF	vs. MIN		20	T.J. Yeldon JAC	vs. CAR
21	T.J. Yeldon JAC	vs. CAR		21	Carlos Hyde SF	vs. MIN
22	Joseph Randle DAL	vs. NYG		22	Mark Ingram NO	at ARI
23	Rashad Jennings NYG	at DAL		23	Shane Vereen NYG	at DAL
24	Melvin Gordon SD	vs. DET		24	Christopher Ivory NYJ	vs. CLE
25	Tevin Coleman ATL	vs. PHI		25	Alfred Morris WAS	vs. MIA
26	Isaiah Crowell CLE	at NYJ		26	Rashad Jennings NYG	at DAL
27	Alfred Blue HOU	vs. KC		27	Joseph Randle DAL	vs. NYG
28	Giovani Bernard CIN	at OAK		28	Melvin Gordon SD	vs. DET
29	Ameer Abdullah DET	at SD		29	Tevin Coleman ATL	vs. PHI
30	Joique Bell DET	at SD		30	Isaiah Crowell CLE	at NYJ
31	Bishop Sankey TEN	at TB		31	Alfred Blue HOU	vs. KC
32	Ryan Mathews PHI	at ATL		32	Joique Bell DET	at SD
33	Darren McFadden DAL	vs. NYG		33	Bishop Sankey TEN	at TB
34	Shane Vereen NYG	at DAL		34	Reggie Bush SF	vs. MIN
35	Devonta Freeman ATL	vs. PHI		35	Darren Sproles PHI	at ATL
36	Matt Jones WAS	vs. MIA		36	Ryan Mathews PHI	at ATL
37	Danny Woodhead SD	vs. DET		37	Matt Jones WAS	vs. MIA
38	Tre Mason STL	vs. SEA		38	Darren McFadden DAL	vs. NYG
39	Duke Johnson CLE	at NYJ		39	Devonta Freeman ATL	vs. PHI
40	Benny Cunningham STL	vs. SEA		40	Duke Johnson CLE	at NYJ
41	Reggie Bush SF	vs. MIN		41	Tre Mason STL	vs. SEA
42	Darren Sproles PHI	at ATL		42	Benny Cunningham STL	vs. SEA
43	Denard Robinson JAC	vs. CAR		43	Roy Helu OAK	vs. CIN
44	Charles Sims TB	vs. TEN		44	David Johnson ARI	vs. NO
45	David Johnson ARI	vs. NO		45	Denard Robinson JAC	vs. CAR
46	Roy Helu OAK	vs. CIN		46	Charles Sims TB	vs. TEN
47	Khiry Robinson NO	at ARI		47	Knile Davis KC	at HOU
48	Knile Davis KC	at HOU		48	Ronnie Hillman DEN	vs. BAL
49	Ronnie Hillman DEN	vs. BAL		49	Khiry Robinson NO	at ARI
50	Fred Jackson SEA	at STL		50	Karlos Williams BUF	vs. IND

Quick Notes: Jeremy Hill should have a monster game against an Oakland defense that gave up the third most fantasy points to running backs in 2014…I expect a big game from Jonathan Stewart in both standard and PPR. As mentioned above, Cam Newton has no receivers to throw to and the offensive line is terrible so I expect a lot of check downs and dump offs to Stewart who finally has the running back job all to himself…Frank Gore would probably be ranked higher if he wasn’t facing the Bills defense this week. With that being said, he should still be productive as Buffalo will have to focus on containing the receiving weapons of the Colts…If you’re looking for a deep sleeper, consider Matt Jones. This matchup could easily get one sided quickly and Alfred Morris can’t catch a pass so look for Jones to step in and get a good amount of touches as Washington has to play catch up.

Wide Receivers

	Standard				PPR
Rank	Player	Opponent		Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Julio Jones ATL	vs. PHI		1	Julio Jones ATL	vs. PHI
2	Dez Bryant DAL	vs. NYG		2	Dez Bryant DAL	vs. NYG
3	Demaryius Thomas DEN	vs. BAL		3	Odell Beckham Jr. NYG	at DAL
4	Odell Beckham Jr. NYG	at DAL		4	Demaryius Thomas DEN	vs. BAL
5	Calvin Johnson DET	at SD		5	Randall Cobb GB	at CHI
6	Randall Cobb GB	at CHI		6	Calvin Johnson DET	at SD
7	Jordan Matthews PHI	at ATL		7	Brandin Cooks NO	at ARI
8	A.J. Green CIN	at OAK		8	A.J. Green CIN	at OAK
9	Alshon Jeffery CHI	vs. GB		9	DeAndre Hopkins HOU	vs. KC
10	Brandin Cooks NO	at ARI		10	Jordan Matthews PHI	at ATL
11	Mike Evans TB	vs. TEN		11	T.Y. Hilton IND	at BUF
12	T.Y. Hilton IND	at BUF		12	Jarvis Landry MIA	at WAS
13	DeAndre Hopkins HOU	vs. KC		13	Alshon Jeffery CHI	vs. GB
14	Emmanuel Sanders DEN	vs. BAL		14	Emmanuel Sanders DEN	vs. BAL
15	Jarvis Landry MIA	at WAS		15	Mike Evans TB	vs. TEN
16	Keenan Allen SD	vs. DET		16	Keenan Allen SD	vs. DET
17	Andre Johnson IND	at BUF		17	Andre Johnson IND	at BUF
18	Davante Adams GB	at CHI		18	Allen Robinson JAC	vs. CAR
19	Amari Cooper OAK	vs. CIN		19	Jeremy Maclin KC	at HOU
20	Jeremy Maclin KC	at HOU		20	Davante Adams GB	at CHI
21	Vincent Jackson TB	vs. TEN		21	Golden Tate DET	at SD
22	Steve Smith BAL	at DEN		22	Amari Cooper OAK	vs. CIN
23	Golden Tate DET	at SD		23	Larry Fitzgerald ARI	vs. NO
24	Brandon Marshall NYJ	vs. CLE		24	Steve Smith BAL	at DEN
25	Larry Fitzgerald ARI	vs. NO		25	Vincent Jackson TB	vs. TEN
26	Allen Robinson JAC	vs. CAR		26	Anquan Boldin SF	vs. MIN
27	DeSean Jackson WAS	vs. MIA		27	Brandon Marshall NYJ	vs. CLE
28	Sammy Watkins BUF	vs. IND		28	Kendall Wright TEN	at TB
29	John Brown ARI	vs. NO		29	Charles Johnson MIN	at SF
30	Anquan Boldin SF	vs. MIN		30	Nelson Agholor PHI	at ATL
31	Roddy White ATL	vs. PHI		31	Sammy Watkins BUF	vs. IND
32	Charles Johnson MIN	at SF		32	DeSean Jackson WAS	vs. MIA
33	Nelson Agholor PHI	at ATL		33	John Brown ARI	vs. NO
34	Mike Wallace MIN	at SF		34	Roddy White ATL	vs. PHI
35	Marques Colston NO	at ARI		35	Pierre Garcon WAS	vs. MIA
36	Eric Decker NYJ	vs. CLE		36	Eddie Royal CHI	vs. GB
37	Kendall Wright TEN	at TB		37	Steve Johnson SD	vs. DET
38	Eddie Royal CHI	vs. GB		38	Eric Decker NYJ	vs. CLE
39	Steve Johnson SD	vs. DET		39	Marques Colston NO	at ARI
40	Rueben Randle NYG	at DAL		40	Rueben Randle NYG	at DAL
41	Torrey Smith SF	vs. MIN		41	Mike Wallace MIN	at SF
42	Terrance Williams DAL	vs. NYG		42	Brian Quick STL	vs. SEA
43	Pierre Garcon WAS	vs. MIA		43	Devin Funchess CAR	at JAC
44	Devin Funchess CAR	at JAC		44	Allen Hurns JAC	vs. CAR
45	Brian Quick STL	vs. SEA		45	Torrey Smith SF	vs. MIN
46	Allen Hurns JAC	vs. CAR		46	Terrance Williams DAL	vs. NYG
47	Doug Baldwin SEA	at STL		47	Doug Baldwin SEA	at STL
48	Malcom Floyd SD	vs. DET		48	Michael Crabtree OAK	vs. CIN
49	Kenny Stills MIA	at WAS		49	Percy Harvin BUF	vs. IND
50	Michael Floyd ARI	vs. NO		50	Michael Floyd ARI	vs. NO

Quick Notes: Julio Jones faces the team that gave up the most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers in 2014. Bold prediction: Jones has 175 yards receiving in this game…I expect big things from Mike Evans (assuming he plays) and Vincent Jackson this week (no pun intended). In Jameis Winston’s first game as a pro I expect jitters and rushed throws, meaning the ball might sail a little. Not a too much of a problem when you have two 6’5″ receivers being covered by short Tennessee defensive backs all around…I think Larry Fitzgerald is being underrated this year. He knows this could be his best shot at a Super Bowl and he will be fired up all season long. If Carson Palmer can stay healthy, Fitz will have a good year, starting off against the Saints who gave up the 6th most fantasy points to wide receivers last year.

Tight Ends

	Standard				PPR
Rank	Player	Opponent		Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Greg Olsen CAR	at JAC		1	Greg Olsen CAR	at JAC
2	Jimmy Graham SEA	at STL		2	Jimmy Graham SEA	at STL
3	Travis Kelce KC	at HOU		3	Martellus Bennett CHI	vs. GB
4	Martellus Bennett CHI	vs. GB		4	Jason Witten DAL	vs. NYG
5	Jason Witten DAL	vs. NYG		5	Travis Kelce KC	at HOU
6	Jordan Cameron MIA	at WAS		6	Jordan Cameron MIA	at WAS
7	Delanie Walker TEN	at TB		7	Delanie Walker TEN	at TB
8	Larry Donnell NYG	at DAL		8	Larry Donnell NYG	at DAL
9	Owen Daniels DEN	vs. BAL		9	Owen Daniels DEN	vs. BAL
10	Tyler Eifert CIN	at OAK		10	Kyle Rudolph MIN	at SF
11	Kyle Rudolph MIN	at SF		11	Jordan Reed WAS	vs. MIA
12	Austin Seferian-Jenkins TB	vs. TEN		12	Tyler Eifert CIN	at OAK
13	Jordan Reed WAS	vs. MIA		13	Austin Seferian-Jenkins TB	vs. TEN
14	Ladarius Green SD	vs. DET		14	Vernon Davis SF	vs. MIN
15	Vernon Davis SF	vs. MIN		15	Ladarius Green SD	vs. DET
16	Richard Rodgers GB	at CHI		16	Zach Ertz PHI	at ATL
17	Charles Clay BUF	vs. IND		17	Charles Clay BUF	vs. IND
18	Zach Ertz PHI	at ATL		18	Benjamin Watson NO	at ARI
19	Dwayne Allen IND	at BUF		19	Dwayne Allen IND	at BUF
20	Benjamin Watson NO	at ARI		20	Richard Rodgers GB	at CHI

Quick Notes: Obviously Rob Gronkowski is (and always will be barring injury) the top tight end each week in fantasy, but since he played on Thursday, Greg Olsen takes the top spot in this week’s ranks. Olsen is Cam Newton’s only viable target in the passing game and has been a favorite of Newton’s ever since they became teammates…Larry Donnell could have a sneaky good game against the Cowboys on Sunday night. Everyone on the Dallas defense will be focused on Odell Beckham Jr and Donnell could be a solid secondary option for Eli Manning. Big tight ends usually show up in the red zone as well…I’m not a huge fan of Tyler Eifert this week mostly because I expect the Bengals to run all over the Raiders, therefore not providing Eifert with many opportunities to catch the ball. I expect the Cincinnati tight ends to be used in blocking much of this game.

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