Fantasy Football Week 1 Rankings: Opening-Season Position-by-Position Review

More than any other time during the NFL season, Week 1 is when fantasy football managers should play their studs.

With so much snap uncertainty for lower-tier options and no recent results that count, gamers can’t truly trust their high-risk sleepers during the opening weekend. Maybe Melvin Gordon bounces back, but why chance it over a steadier starter like Rashad Jennings?

It’s been a while since everyone has studied the matchups and painfully deliberated over lineup decisions. Err on the side of caution while working off the rust, but not before doing the necessary scheduling homework.

Let’s break down Week 1 rankings (for standard-scoring leagues) at each position.

      

Quarterback

Review

If you drafted a stud quarterback besides Tom Brady, you should be starting him Week 1. After all, it’s not prudent to back up a top passer with someone who will only prove useful during a bye week or extreme matchup discrepancy.

Of the elite guys, Cam Newton faced the toughest matchup on Thursday night. Dak Prescott and Carson Wentz make great daily fantasy plays because of their minimal prices, but don’t get cute and start one of those rookies over Philip Rivers.

      

Brees and Carr Slated for a Shootout

Whenever the New Orleans Saints play inside the Superdome, Drew Brees and his quarterback counterpart are top fantasy options.

Of course, you’re starting Brees at home, where he completed 70.3 percent of his passes with 23 touchdowns last year. It only sweetens the deal that he faces the Oakland Raiders, who yielded the sixth-most passing yards and 10th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks last season.

Meanwhile, a Pop Warner quarterback could have shredded the Saints last year. Their historically awful defense surrendered the most passing touchdowns (45) and yards per pass attempt (8.7).

Derek Carr displayed his high ceiling last year, topping 300 yards six times and accruing three or more scores in five games. Look for him to hit both barriers on Sunday.

      

Running Back

Review

Running back was a mess last year. Because so many people were burned by Jamaal Charles, Marshawn Lynch, Eddie Lacy and C.J. Anderson in the earlier rounds, waiting on the position became the trendy strategy.

Those who followed the Zero RB plan now must scour for the right matchup, which is harder to locate during the opening weekend. Nobody said it was a foolproof path to a championship, but there are certainly breakout candidates outside of the top tier.

      

Spencer Ware Will Shine

At first, it looked like the Kansas City Chiefs would use Charles sparingly in his first game back from the second ACL tear of his career. Now it’s likely the star running back doesn’t play at all.

According to Chiefs.com’s BJ Kissel, head coach Andy Reid expressed uncertainty on Friday:

Jamaal Charles is “probably not going to play” on Sunday against the #Chargers, per coach Andy Reid. He’ll be listed as doubtful.

— BJ Kissel (@ChiefsReporter) September 9, 2016

All aboard the Spencer Ware bandwagon. Don’t take up more than one …

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