Week 1 Fantasy Football Projections: Season-Opening Stat Predictions for Top 100

Another season of fantasy football is on the horizon, as the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos kick off the 2016 NFL campaign Thursday night with a Super Bowl rematch. The opener immediately forces fantasy owners into some tough decisions as two strong defenses face off.

Ultimately, the usual course of action for Week 1 is starting the players you drafted first. They are the ones you’ll need to shine in order to capture a championship four months down the line. But tough matchups could alter that mindset, especially for those with a high-upside reserve on the bench.

So let’s take a look at each position with stat projections for the top 100 options available to help with those borderline decisions. All predictions are based on standard scoring.

Quarterbacks

Most of the usual suspects are accounted for at quarterback, though it’s a weird feeling to start a season without Peyton Manning near the top of the list. Tom Brady is also absent, but replacement Jimmy Garoppolo is a fringe No. 1 QB for those without a top-tier option.

Tyrod Taylor flew under the radar for most of last season, but the Buffalo Bills signal-caller carries a lot of potential this year if he can stay healthy. The dual-threat playmaker missed two games in 2015, but his per-dropback production was terrific, per PFF Fantasy Football:

Top 5 QBs in fantasy points/dropback in ’15:Cam Newton: 0.73Russell Wilson: 0.60Tyrod Taylor: 0.59Andy Dalton: 0.59Carson Palmer: 0.57

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) August 14, 2016

Another quarterback on the rise is Derek Carr. The Oakland Raiders have seemingly found the answer to their longtime questions under center, and now they have surrounded him with enough talent to make him a full-time fantasy starter.

Dak Prescott is one of the most intriguing fantasy players while Tony Romo is sidelined. He looked outstanding at times during the preseason, but whether that will translate to games that matter is still a question mark, which explains the modest projection.

Running Backs

Losing Teddy Bridgewater shouldn’t have a significant impact on Adrian Peterson’s fantasy value. Any additional defensive focus, which was already sky-high anyway, will be offset by the amount of touches he receives. He remains a top-notch option at running back.

DeAngelo Williams’ fantasy owners will have some tricky choices to …

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