Week 1 Fantasy Football Rankings

It’s time for our first weekly rankings of the 2017 season. If you are looking for draft rankings, you can find them here. I will update these rankings throughout the week, and they have been updated after the Dolphins-Bucs game was postponed. [Note: these are for standard (non-PPR) leagues, but you can simply move guys up or down based on how many passes they are expected to catch]

 

QUARTERBACK

1. Tom Brady (v KC)

2. Aaron Rodgers (v SEA)

3. Marcus Mariota (v OAK)

4. Cam Newton (@ SF)

5. Matt Ryan (@ CHI)

6. Russell Wilson (@ GB)

7. Drew Brees (@ MIN)

8. Derek Carr (@ TEN)

9. Carson Palmer (@ DET)

10. Sam Bradford (v NO)

11. Kirk Cousins (v PHI)

12. Ben Roethlisberger (@ CLE)

13. Jared Goff (v IND)

14. Dak Prescott (v NYG)

15. Philip Rivers (@ DEN)

16. Matthew Stafford (v ARI)

17. Carson Wentz (@ WAS)

18. Eli Manning (@ DAL)

19. Andy Dalton (v BAL)

20. Alex Smith (@ NE)

21. Tyrod Taylor (v NYJ)

22. Joe Flacco (@ CIN)

23. Brian Hoyer (v CAR)

24. Trevor Siemian (v LAC)

25. DeShone Kizer (v PIT)

 

Don’t be worried about Aaron Rodgers facing the Seahawks, but Tom Brady is the clear #1 quarterback for Week 1… Oakland’s defense did not look good at all in the preseason; that’s good news for Marcus Mariota… Russell Wilson is likely going to have to put up points in Green Bay against the Packers, but he has struggled at Lambeau… Cam Newton could be a little rusty, but he’s got as much upside as anyone… Drew Brees has a tough opening matchup with Minnesota, but it is in a dome… Carson Palmer has the easiest early-season schedule imaginable, and it starts with Detroit… Sam Bradford has the most weapons he’s ever had in his career and gets a nice draw in Week 1 at home versus New Orleans… Kirk Cousins seems to always play well against the Eagles, but the preseason struggles with the new receivers are concerning… I think Jared Goff is going to shred the Colts to start the Sean McVay era… The Giants played the Cowboys tough in 2016, so we’ll see how Dak Prescott plays in his first game of 2017.

 

 

RUNNING BACK

1. David Johnson (@ DET)

2. Le’Veon Bell (@ CLE)

3. Jordan Howard (v ATL)

4. Melvin Gordon (@ DEN)

5. DeMarco Murray (v OAK)

6. Ezekiel Elliott (v NYG)

7. LeSean McCoy (v NYJ)

8. Todd Gurley (v IND)

9. Ty Montgomery (v SEA)

10. Christian McCaffrey (@ SF)

11. Devonta Freeman (@ CHI)

12. Kareem Hunt (@ NE)

13. Carlos Hyde (v CAR)

14. Adrian Peterson (@ MIN)

15. Tevin Coleman (@ CHI)

16. C.J. Anderson (v LAC)

17. Dalvin Cook (v NO)

18. Joe Mixon (v BAL)

19. Ameer Abdullah (v ARI)

20. Mark Ingram (@ MIN)

21. Leonard Fournette (@ HOU)

22. Isaiah Crowell (v PIT)

23. Lamar Miller (v JAC)

24. Marshawn Lynch (@ TEN)

25. Mike Gillislee (v KC)

26. Jonathan Stewart (@ SF)

27. Robert Kelley (v PHI)

28. Terrance West (@ CIN)

29. Bilal Powell (@ BUF)

30. Thomas Rawls (@ GB)

31. Latavius Murray (v NO)

32. Frank Gore (@ LAR)

33. Paul Perkins (@ DAL)

34. Eddie Lacy (@ GB)

35. Jamaal Charles (v LAC)

36. Derrick Henry (v OAK)

37. Chris Thompson (v PHI)

38. Rex Burkhead (v KC)

39. LeGarrette Blount (@ WAS)

40. Danny Woodhead (@ CIN)

41. Duke Johnson (v PIT)

42. Theo Riddick (v ARI)

43. Wendell Smallwood (@ WAS)

44. Shane Vereen (@ DAL)

45. James White (v KC)

46. Jeremy Hill (v BAL)

47. Matt Forte (@ BUF)

48. Darren Sproles (@ WAS)

49. C.J. Prosise (@ GB)

50. Tarik Cohen (v ATL)

 

David Johnson gets the slight edge on Le’Veon Bell based on uncertainty about Bell’s workload after just reporting to the team; he said he’s ready for 30 touches, but we’ll see…  Melvin Gordon has had success against Denver on the ground before, and he should again late on Monday night… Ezekiel Elliott is a must-start RB1 if he’s on the field… Ty Montgomery is a matchup-proof RB1/RB2 for me… Carolina isn’t going to waste any time getting Christian McCaffrey involved after he split first-team reps with Jonathan Stewart in the preseason… The Bears have an underrated front seven, but Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman both have a lot of upside in Atlanta’s offense… Kareem Hunt should operate as the team’s feature back and it’s unlikely Bill Belichick focuses on the rookie over Travis Kelce or Tyreek Hill… Adrian Peterson has a little extra motivation as he returns to Minnesota for his first game as a Saint… AD’s replacement Dalvin Cook should split time with Latavius Murray, but if Cook gets the vast majority of touches or goal line carries, he will obviously move up from low-end RB2 territory; I’m not sure he will… He might not start, but it’s only a matter of time until Joe Mixon becomes a fantasy star… Leonard Fournette called the NFL “easy,” but he might not think so after facing the Texans in his first regular season action… The Titans have a better run defense than people give them credit for, so we’ll see how Marshawn Lynch does for the Silver and Black… Thomas Rawls is definitely the Seattle back you want to own for the long-run, but Pete Carroll might give Eddie Lacy the start against his former team… I would avoid the running backs for New England (Mike GIllislee, Rex Burkhead, James White) and Philadelphia (LeGarrette Blount, Wendell Smallwood, Darren Sproles) until the backfield situation sorts itself out—assuming that even happens.

 

 

WIDE RECEIVER

1. Julio Jones (@ CHI)

2. Antonio Brown (@ CLE)

3. Amari Cooper (@ TEN)

4. Sammy Watkins (v IND)

5. A.J. Green (v BAL)

6. Jordy Nelson (v SEA)

7. Larry Fitzgerald (@ DET)

8. Brandin Cooks (v KC)

9. Doug Baldwin (@ GB)

10. Demaryius Thomas (v LAC)

11. Michael Crabtree (@ TEN)

12. Stefon Diggs (v NO)

13. Allen Robinson (@ HOU)

14. Kelvin Benjamin (@ SF)

15. Pierre Garcon (v CAR)

16. Michael Thomas (@ MIN)

17. DeAndre Hopkins (v JAC)

18. Martavis Bryant (@ CLE)

19. Jamison Crowder (v PHI)

20. John Brown (@ DET)

21. Chris Hogan (v KC)

22. Keenan Allen (@ DEN)

23. Brandon Marshall (@ DAL)

24. Davante Adams (v SEA)

25. Jeremy Maclin (@ CIN)

26. Terrelle Pryor (v PHI)

27. Dez Bryant (v NYG)

28. Alshon Jeffery (@ WAS)

29. Eric Decker (v OAK)

30. Emmanuel Sanders (v LAC)

31. Rishard Matthews (v OAK)

32. Golden Tate (v ARI)

33. Tyreek Hill (@ NE)

34. T.Y. Hilton (@ LAR)

35. Corey Coleman (v PIT)

36. Adam Thielen (v NO)

37. Sterling Shepard (@ DAL)

38. Mike Wallace (@ CIN)

39. Cooper Kupp (v IND)

40. Nelson Agholor (@ WAS)

41. Randall Cobb (v SEA)

42. Corey Davis (v OAK)

43. Donte Moncrief (@ LAR)

44. Kevin White (v ATL)

45. Jordan Matthews (v NYJ)

46. Paul Richardson (@ GB)

47. Kendall Wright (v ATL)

48. Tyler Lockett (@ GB)

49. Danny Amendola (v KC)

50. Tyrell Williams (@ DEN)

51. Ted Ginn (@ MIN)

52. Marvin Jones (v ARI)

53. Zay Jones (v NYJ)

54. Laquon Treadwell (v NO)

55. Kenny Britt (v PIT)

56. Robby Anderson (@ BUF)

57. Taylor Gabriel (@ CHI)

58. Devin Funchess (@ SF)

59. Robert Woods (v IND)

60. Mohamed Sanu (@ CHI)

 

Like Brady/Rodgers and Johnson/Bell, Julio Jones and Antonio Brown should be the top-two receivers almost every single week… Facing the Colts without Vontae Davis, Sammy Watkins is a top-five play with blowup potential… Jordy Nelson scored twice against Seattle last season… Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown could be a problem for the Lions… The same is true for Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree against the Titans; I think Adoree’ Jackson and the Tennessee secondary will be a weekly target for wideouts… Seeing Brandin Cooks in a Patriots uniform for a real game should be exciting… Michael Thomas could struggle to gain separation against Xavier Rhodes, but he’s still a WR2 as Drew Brees’ top receiver… Allen Robinson is going to get targeted a bunch this year—it’s up to Blake Bortles to connect with him… Pierre Garcon should get funneled targets in Kyle Shanahan’s offense… I think Jamison Crowder is the wideout you want to own for the Redskins, and the Eagles are weak at all three cornerback spots, but particularly in the slot… Keenan Allen is only low because he faces Denver… There’s no reason to wait to see what happens with Chris Hogan on the New England offense… Dez Bryant has a brutal first month of the season, starting with Janoris Jenkins and the Giants… Alshon Jeffery mostly lined up on the right side of the formation last month, so Josh Norman should be on him for most of the game… I have a hard time putting T.Y. Hilton or Donte Moncrief in my lineup with Andrew Luck out… Cooper Kupp, Nelson Agholor, and Kendall Wright are all starting slot receivers with good matchups in Week 1.

 

 

TIGHT END

1. Rob Gronkowski (v KC)

2. Jimmy Graham (@ GB)

3. Greg Olsen (@ SF)

4. Travis Kelce (@ NE)

5. Melanie Walker (v OAK)

6. Hunter Henry (@ DEN)

7. Jordan Reed (v PHI)

8. Zach Ertz (@ WAS)

9. Kyle Rudolph (v NO)

10. Tyler Eifert (@ WAS)

11. Jack Doyle (@ LAR)

12. Coby Fleener (@ MIN)

13. Evan Engram (@ DAL)

14. Martellus Bennett (v SEA)

15. Eric Ebron (v ARI)

16. Jason Witten (v NYG)

17. C.J. Fiedorowicz (v JAC)

18. Austin Hooper (@ CHI)

19. Charles Clay (v NYJ)

20. Zach Miller (v ATL)

21. Jared Cook (@ TEN)

22. Antonio Gates (@ DEN)

23. Jesse James (@ CLE)

24. Dion Sims (v ATL)

25. Benjamin Watson (@ CIN)

 

Rob Gronkowski is the no-doubt #1 tight end whenever he’s active… Greg Olsen and Jimmy Graham round out the top three with Travis Kelce as a potential Belichick takeaway target and Jordan Reed facing the Philadelphia defense, which was stingy against tight ends in 2016… Hunter Henry put up a 6/83/1 line in his first matchup with Denver last year… Kyle Rudolph was a favorite of Sam Bradford’s in their first year together, and we’ll see if that continues with a full offseason under the quarterback’s belt… Jack Doyle would be better with Andrew Luck, but Scott Tolzien should be looking for his security blanket against Wade Phillips’ defense… I think Martellus Bennett is a touchdown-dependent option.

 

 

DEFENSE

1. Houston Texans (v JAC)

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (@ CLE)

3. Los Angeles Rams (v IND)

4. Denver Broncos (v LAC)

5. New England Patriots (v KC)

6. Jacksonville Jaguars (@ HOU)

7. Carolina Panthers (@ SF)

8. Baltimore Ravens (@ CIN)

9. Atlanta Falcons (@ CHI)

10. Arizona Cardinals (@ DET)

11. Buffalo Bills (v NYJ)

12. Los Angeles Chargers (@ DEN)

13. New York Giants (@ DAL)

14. Philadelphia Eagles (@ WAS)

15. Cincinnati Bengals (v BAL)

16. Washington Redskins (v PHI)

17. Dallas Cowboys (v NYG)

18. Minnesota Vikings (v NO)

19. Seattle Seahawks (@ GB)

20. Green Bay Packers (v SEA)

 

 

KICKER

1. Stephen Gostkowski (v KC)

2. Justin Tucker (@ CIN)

3. Matt Bryant (@ CHI)

4. Dan Bailey (v NYG)

5. Mason Crosby (v SEA)

6. Phil Dawson (@ DET)

7. Brandon McManus (v LAC)

8. Steven Hauschka (v NYJ)

9. Cairo Santos (@ NE)

10. Matt Prater (v ARI)

11. Chris Boswell (@ CLE)

12.Wil Lutz (@ MIN)

13. Blair Walsh (@ GB)

14. Greg Zuerlein (v IND)

15. Adam Vinatieri (@ LAR)

16. Dustin Hopkins (v PHI)

17. Ryan Succop (v OAK)

18. Kai Forbath (v NO)

19. Graham Gano (@ SF)

20. Caleb Sturgis (@ WAS)