Week 1 Fantasy Football Rankings

Zoneblitz.com’s weekly position-by-position breakdown to help YOU set your fantasy lineup!

Quarterbacks

Matt Ryan at New Orleans
Tom Brady at Buffalo
Robert Griffin vs. Philadelphia
Andrew Luck vs. Oakland
Drew Brees vs. Atlanta
Matthew Stafford vs. Minnesota
Tony Romo vs. NY Giants
Aaron Rodgers at San Francisco
Colin Kaepernick vs. Green Bay
Michael Vick at Washington
Carson Palmer at St. Louis
Cam Newton vs. Seattle
Ben Roethlisberger vs. Tennessee
Eli Manning at Dallas
Russell Wilson at Carolina
Matt Schaub at San Diego
Alex Smith at Jacksonville
Christian Ponder at Detroit
Philip Rivers vs. Houston
EJ Manuel vs New England
Ryan Tannehill at Cleveland
Josh Freeman at NY Jets
Brandon Weeden vs. Miami
Andy Dalton at Chicago
Jay Cutler vs. Cincinnati

Just because you drafted one of the top 12 quarterbacks doesn’t mean your guy is necessarily one of the 12 best plays every week. Cam Newton, Eli Manning, and Russell Wilson owners are the first to fall victim to tough matchups, though in most cases you’re likely starting them anyway. I certainly wouldn’t argue as a “don’t bench your studs” proponent, though quarterback is so deep this year that if you waited and then nabbed a couple of guys in the 10 to 15 range, playing the matchup every week. For instance, those who drafted Michael Vick are delighted to throw him in against a Washington defense that allowed the third most passing yards last season.

Running Backs

Adrian Peterson at Detroit
Marshawn Lynch at Carolina
Jamaal Charles at Jacksonville
Stevan Ridley at Buffalo
Doug Martin at NY Jets
David Wilson at Dallas
Alfred Morris vs. Philadelphia
Steven Jackson at New Orleans
Frank Gore vs. Green Bay
Trent Richardson vs. Miami
Arian Foster at San Diego
CJ Spiller vs. New England
LeSean McCoy at Washington
Lamar Miller at Cleveland
Matt Forte vs. Cincinnati
Maurice Jones Drew vs. Kansas City
DeMarco Murray vs. NY Giants
Ahmad Bradshaw vs. Oakland
Chris Johnson at Pittsburgh
Darren Sproles vs. Atlanta
Reggie Bush vs. Minnesota
Daryl Richardson vs. Arizona
Darren McFadden at Indianapolis
Shane Vereen at Buffalo
Rashard Mendenhall at St. Louis
Isaac Redman vs. Tennessee
Chris Ivory vs. Tampa Bay
Mark Ingram vs. Atlanta
DeAngelo Williams vs. Seattle
Ryan Mathews vs. Houston
Ben Tate at San Diego
Vick Ballard vs. Oakland
Eddie Lacy at San Francisco
Giovani Bernard at Chicago
Bilal Powell vs. Tampa Bay
Pierre Thomas vs. Atlanta
BenJarvus Green-Ellis at Chicago
Fred Jackson vs. New England
Jacquizz Rodgers at New Orleans
Danny Woodhead vs. Houston
Joique Bell vs. Minnesota
Bryce Brown at Washington
Michael Bush vs. Cincinnati
Shonn Green at New Orleans
Kendall Hunter vs. Green Bay
Jonathan Franklin at San Francisco
Roy Helu vs. Philadelphia
Zac Stacy vs. Arizona
Mikel Leshoure vs. Minnesota
Mike Tolbert vs. Seattle
Christine Michael at Carolina
Daniel Thomas at Cleveland
LaRod Stephens-Howling vs. Tennessee
Phillip Tanner vs. Houston
Knile Davis at Jacksonville
Ryan Williams at St. Louis
Leon Washington at Buffalo
Bobby Rainey vs. Miami
Michael Cox at Dallas
Toby Gerhart at Detroit

The top seven backs all find themselves in road matchups, which has no bearing on anything really, I just found it weird. I know it’s tempting to start your shiny new toys, but as my rankings suggest, you may want to keep Eddie Lacy and Giovani Bernard in their original packaging for a little while longer – Bernard especially as we wait to see how much he’ll get used along with BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

Wide Receiver

Calvin Johnson vs. Minnesota
Dez Bryant vs. NY Giants
Julio Jones at New Orleans
Roddy White at New Orleans
Andre Johnson at San Diego
AJ Green at Chicago
Brandon Marshall vs. Cincinnati
Reggie Wayne vs. Oakland
Danny Amendola at Buffalo
Antonio Brown vs. Tennessee
DeSean Jackson at Washington
Dwayne Bowe at Jacksonville
Victor Cruz at Dallas
Vincent Jackson at NY Jets
Randall Cobb at San Francisco
Larry Fitzgerald at St. Louis
Miles Austin vs. NY Giants
Marques Colston vs. Atalnta
James Jones at San Francisco
Anquan Boldin vs. Green Bay
TY Hilton vs. Oakland
Cecil Shorts vs. Kansas City
Jordy Nelson at San Francisco
Pierre Garcon vs. Philadelphia
Hakeem Nicks at Dallas
Kenbrell Thompkins at Buffalo
Stevie Johnson vs. New England
Mike Wallace at Cleveland
Golden Tate at Carolina
Chris Givens vs. Arizona
Lance Moore vs. Atlanta
Greg Jennings at Detroit
Steve Smith vs. Seattle
Mike Williams at NY Jets
Vincent Brown vs. Houston
Emmanuel Sanders vs. Tennessee
Denarius Moore at Indianapolis
Malcom Floyd vs. Houston
Tavon Austin vs. Arizona
Brian Hartline at Cleveland
Michael Floyd at St. Louis
Andre Roberts at St. Louis
Jeremy Kerley vs. Tampa Bay
Kenny Britt at Pittsburgh
Darrius Heyward-Bey vs. Oakland
Brandon Gibson at Cleveland
Sidney Rice at Carolina
DeAndre Hopkins at San Diego
Jason Avant at Washington
Rod Streater at Indianapolis
Greg Little vs. Miami
Leonard Hankerson vs. Philadelphia
Julian Edelman at Buffalo
Davone Bess vs. Miami
Ryan Broyles vs. Minnesota
Reuben Randle at Dallas
Josh Boyce at Buffalo
Robert Woods vs. New England
Nate Burleson vs. Minnesota
Kendall Wright at Pittsburgh

Start your Falcons! I ranked Matt Ryan first this week, so it makes sense to see the Atlanta duo among the top four. Miles Austin is a sneaky good play against the Giants, who ceded the fifth most passing yards in the league last season and have already lost safety Stevie Brown to a torn ACL. Steve Smith, on the other hand, is a flex play at best if you can help it, as he faces a Seahawks team that tied with the Ravens at 15 touchdowns allowed. Difference between the two is this year’s Seattle defense might be even better.

Tight Ends

Jimmy Graham vs. Atlanta
Tony Gonzalez at New Orleans
Antonio Gates vs. Houston
Jason Witten vs. NY Giants
Kyle Rudolph at Detroit
Zach Sudfeld at Buffalo
Greg Olsen vs. Seattle
Brandon Myers at Dallas
Dwayne Allen vs. Oakland
Jermichael Finley at San Francisco
Vernon Davis vs. Green Bay
Jordan Cameron vs. Miami
Brent Celek at Washington
Brandon Pettigrew vs. Minnesota
Coby Fleener vs. Oakland
Jared Cook vs. Arizona
Martellus Bennett vs. Cincinnati
Owen Daniels at San Diego
Scott Chandler vs. New England
Fred Davis vs. Philadelphia
Zach Miller at Carolina
James Casey at Washington
Jeff Cumberland vs. Tampa Bay
Tony Scheffler vs. Minnesota
Jermaine Gresham at Chicago

Alright all you Rob Gronkowski owners, time to play on the waiver wire! Dwayne Allen is a guy that may have gone undrafted in shallow leagues who make excellent plays this week. Brent Celek is another one who has a juicy matchup, but I’m reluctant to move him much higher until I see how he fits in with the other two tight ends in Chip Kelly’s offense. Jared Cook is a guy many are high on—I’m probably medium on—but don’t like him this week against a Cardinals team that was among the league’s best in limiting tight ends last season.

Kicker

Blair Walsh at Detroit
Josh Brown at Dallas
Adam Vinatieri vs. Oakland
Shaun Suisham vs. Tennessee
David Akers vs. Minnesota
Phil Dawson vs. Green Bay
Stephen Gostkowski at Buffalo
Ryan Succop at Jacksonville
Matt Bryant at New Orleans
Dan Bailey vs. NY Giants
Steven Hauschka at Carolina
Sebastian Janikowski at Indianapolis
Rian Lindell at NY Jets
Jay Feely at St. Louis
Alex Henery at Washington
Josh Scobee vs. Kansas City
Rob Bironas at Pittsburgh
Randy Bullock at San Diego
Kai Forbath vs. Philadelphia
Nick Novak vs Houston
Mason Crosby at San Francisco
Greg Zuerlein vs. Arizona
Garrett Hartley vs. Atlanta
Robbie Gould vs. Cincinnati
Dan Carpenter vs. New England

I really wanted to include Caleb Sturgis, Giorgio Tavecchio and Graham Gano, but cool names aren’t enough to make this prestigious list I guess.

Defense

Patriots at Buffalo
Seahawks at Carolina
Texans at San Diego
Bears vs. Cincinnati
Buccaneers at NY Jets
Rams vs. Arizona
Cardinals at St. Louis
Colts vs. Oakland
Steelers vs. Tennessee
Bengals at Chicago
Titans at Pittsburgh
Jets vs. Tampa Bay
Chargers vs. Houston
49ers vs. Packers
Browns vs. Miami
Jaguars vs. Kansas City
Chiefs at Jacksonville
Vikings at Detroit
Dolphins at Cleveland
Redskins vs. Philadelphia
Saints vs. Falcons
Panthers vs. Seattle
Packers at San Francisco
Giants at Dallas
Lions vs. Minnesota

If you picked the 49ers defense, you’re probably going to use them. But with last year’s embarrassing playoff loss still spoiling Green Bay’s cheese, I could see this turning into a high-scoring affair. If you’re playing the waiver wire for defenses this season, allow me to introduce you to the Bucs, Titans and Colts defenses, who all take on offenses with significant question marks.

If you’ve still got more fantasy drafts, you can find cheat sheets here.

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