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The regular season is finally upon us, and for many, that means the start of the fantasy football season has arrived. Each week, I’ll be giving an updated look at where the top players at each fantasy position stand, with matchups and injury concerns taken into account as well. For the sake of continuity, I’ll only be using standard scoring when constructing the rankings (though I prefer PPR myself), so take that into account when considering these rankings while setting your lineups.
Without further ado, here is your inaugural edition of The Phinsider’s Weekly Fantasy Football Rankings. Leave your comments and opinions below!
Quarterback
- Aaron Rodgers - vs Seattle
- Tom Brady - vs Kansas City
- Matt Ryan - @ Chicago
- Drew Brees - @ Minnesota
- Ben Roethlisberger - @ Cleveland
- Cam Newton - @ San Francisco
- Russell Wilson - @ Green Bay
- Marcus Mariota - vs Oakland
- Kirk Cousins - vs Philadelphia
- Tyrod Taylor - vs New York (Jets)
- Sam Bradford - vs New Orleans
- Derek Carr - @ Tennessee
- Matthew Stafford - vs Arizona
- Carson Palmer - @ Detroit
- Phillip Rivers - @ Denver
- Dak Prescott - vs New York (Giants)
- Eli Manning - @ Dallas
- Carson Wentz - @ Washington
- Andy Dalton - vs Baltimore
- Alex Smith - @ New England
There shouldn’t be too many surprises here. Rodgers and Brady are the top two fantasy quarterbacks just about every week, with Brees and Ryan close behind. Roethlisberger gets a boost playing in Cleveland, with Newton, Taylor, and Bradford also having favorable matchups. I’d stay away from Rivers and Dalton as they are playing two of the leagues toughest defenses.
Running Back
- Le’Veon Bell - @ Cleveland
- David Johnson - @ Detroit
- LeSean McCoy - vs New York (Jets)
- DeMarco Murray - vs Oakland
- Ezekiel Elliot - vs New York (Giants)
- Devonta Freeman - @ Chicago
- Jordan Howard - vs Atlanta
- Melvin Gordon - @ Denver
- Dalvin Cook - vs New Orleans
- Christian McCaffrey - @ San Francisco
- Kareem Hunt - @ New England
- Ty Montgomery - vs Seattle
- Todd Gurley - vs Indianapolis
- Lamar Miller - vs Jacksonville
- Leonard Fournette - @ Houston
- Carlos Hyde - vs Carolina
- Marshawn Lynch - @ Tennessee
- Isaiah Crowell - vs Pittsburgh
- Joe Mixon - vs Baltimore
- C.J. Andreson - vs Los Angeles (Chargers)
Bell and Johnson are hands down the top two running backs in fantasy football, but Bell gets the slight edge this week playing in Cleveland, where the Steelers are likely to gain an early lead, and thus run the ball through the second half. Jay Ajayi may not be playing this week due to the team’s postponed game against Tampa, but look for Miami to run quite a bit while helping Jay Cutler get comfortable in his first regular season outing with the Dolphins during week 2. Dalvin Cook should enjoy a nice outing against New Orleans’ porous defensive line, while rookie Leonard Fournette may have difficulty in his first regular season NFL game against Houston’s vaunted front seven.
Wide Receiver
- Antonio Brown - @ Cleveland
- Julio Jones - @ Chicago
- Odell Beckham - @ Dallas
- A.J. Green - vs Baltimore
- Jordy Nelson - vs Seattle
- Michael Thomas - @ Minnesota
- Doug Baldwin - @ Green Bay
- Brandin Cooks - vs Kansas City
- Amari Cooper - @ Tennessee
- Terrelle Pryor - vs Philadelphia
- Dez Bryant - vs New York (Giants)
- Kelvin Benjamin - vs San Francisco
- DeAndre Hopkins - vs Jacksonville
- Demaryius Thomas - vs Los Angeles (Chargers)
- Larry Fitzgerald - @ Detroit
- Martavis Bryant - @ Cleveland
- Stefon Diggs - vs New Orleans
- Alshon Jeffery - @ Washington
- T.Y. Hilton - @ Los Angeles (Rams)
- Tyreek Hill - @ New England
Brown is the consensus number one receiver this week due to his matchup in Cleveland, but Jones and Mike Evans will look to fight him for that spot throughout the season. Beckham has a juicy matchup himself against Dallas, but his ability to produce will be dependent on whether he is fully recovered from his preseason ankle injury. Other names to watch are T.Y. Hilton, who could struggle with Scott Tolzien tossing the ball, Stefon Diggs, who is going up against New Orleans’ perennially weak secondary, and Kelvin Benjamin, who has a favorable matchup against San Francisco.
Tight End
- Rob Gronkowski - vs Kansas City
- Travis Kelce - @ New England
- Greg Olsen - @ San Francisco
- Jimmy Graham - @ Green Bay
- Jordan Reed - vs Philadelphia
- Kyle Rudolph - vs New Orleans
- Dalanie Walker - vs Oakland
- Tyler Eifert - vs Baltimore
- Zach Ertz - @ Washington
- Martellus Bennett - vs Seattle
- Jason Witten - vs New York (Giants)
- Eric Ebron - vs Arizona
- Coby Fleener - @ Minnesota
- Austin Hooper - @ Chicago
- Jared Cook - @ Tennessee
- Charles Clay - vs New York (Jets)
- Jack Doyle - @ Los Angeles (Rams)
- C.J. Fiedorowicz - vs Jacksonville
- Antonio Gates - @ Denver
- Hunter Henry - @ Denver
The top five tight ends on this list are likely going to be the highest upside scorers throughout the season (provided they stay healthy). Rudolph, Walker, and Ertz all have the opportunity to surprise fans and fantasy owners this season, with Rudolph getting an especially good matchup against the lowly Saints’ defense this week.
Defense/Special Teams
- Houston - vs Jacksonville
- Denver - vs Los Angeles (Chargers)
- New England - vs Kansas City
- Carolina - @ San Francisco
- Arizona - @ Detroit
- Pittsburgh - @ Cleveland
- Buffalo - vs New York (Jets)
- Seattle - @ Green Bay
- Minnesota - vs New Orleans
- Kansas City - @ New England
- New York (Giants) - @ Dallas
- Baltimore - @ Cincinnati
- Los Angeles (Rams) - vs Indianapolis
- Jacksonville - @ Houston
- Philadelphia - @ Washington
- Cincinnati - vs Baltimore
- Green Bay - vs Seattle
- Los Angeles (Chargers) - @ Denver
- Atlanta - @ Chicago
- Indianapolis - @ Los Angeles (Rams)
If you’re not happy with the defense you drafted and you need an option for this week, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Jacksonville are all options that may be available on the waiver wire with favorable matchups. The Rams could also be a great defense to stream as well should Andrew Luck be out Week 1 with his shoulder injury.
Kicker
- Stephen Gostkowski - vs Kansas City
- Justin Tucker - @ Cincinnati
- Dan Bailey - vs New York (Giants)
- Mason Crosby - vs Seattle
- Matt Bryant - @ Chicago
- Chris Boswell - @ Cleveland
- Adam Vinatieri - @ Los Angeles (Rams)
- Stephen Hauschka - vs New York (Jets)
- Sebastian Janikowski - @ Tennessee
- Cairo Santos - @ New England
- Will Lutz - @ Minnesota
- Matt Prater - vs Arizona
- Dustin Hopkins - vs Philadelphia
- Brandon McManus - vs Los Angeles (Chargers)
- Phil Dawson - @ Detroit
- Blair Walsh - @ Green Bay
- Kai Forbath - vs New Orleans
- Ryan Succop - vs Oakland
- Connor Barth - vs Atlanta
- Aldrick Rosas - @ Dallas
Selecting your kicker is about finding the best combination of a talented player on a strong offense going up against a weak defense. The better off you are in each category, the better chance you have of getting meaningful points from the position.