NFL Week 1 rankings for fantasy football are some of the trickiest to project, so there could be quite a bit of movement from now until kickoff. As always, be sure to check my updated rankings and projections before making any final lineup decisions.
To help you start make your start/sit decisions, I’ve outlined the final version of my Week 1 fantasy rankings into tiers so you can better visualize the drop-off in expected production at each position.
Let’s dive into the initial version of my Week 1 tiers below!
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| Fantasy Football Positional Tiers |
|---|
| Quarterbacks |
| Running Backs |
| Wide Receivers |
| Tight Ends |
| Kickers |
| Defenses |
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Quarterbacks
Tier 1
Patrick Mahomes (vs. DET)
Jalen Hurts (@ NE)
Tier 2
Lamar Jackson (vs. HOU)
Josh Allen (@ NYJ)
Justin Herbert (vs. MIA)
Tier 3
Justin Fields (vs. GB)
Trevor Lawrence (@ IND)
Joe Burrow (@ CLE)
Tier 4
Geno Smith (vs. LAR)
Anthony Richardson (vs. JAX)
Kirk Cousins (vs. TB)
Deshaun Watson (vs. CIN)
Dak Prescott (@ NYG)
Tua Tagovailoa (@ LAC)
Daniel Jones (vs. DAL)
Tier 5
Russell Wilson (vs. LV)
Jared Goff (@ KC)
Tier 6
Sam Howell (vs. ARI)
Derek Carr (vs. TEN)
Aaron Rodgers (vs. BUF)
Tier 7
Baker Mayfield (@ MIN)
Brock Purdy (@ PIT)
Kenny Pickett (vs. SF)
Tier 8
Ryan Tannehill (@ NO)
Jordan Love (@ CHI)
Mac Jones (vs. PHI)
Desmond Ridder (vs. CAR)
Jimmy Garoppolo (@ DEN)
Bryce Young (@ ATL)
Matthew Stafford (@ SEA)
Tier 9
C.J. Stroud (@ BAL)
Joshua Dobbs (@ WAS)
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Running backs
Tier 1
Christian McCaffrey (@ PIT)
Austin Ekeler (vs. MIA)
Tier 2
Nick Chubb (vs. CIN)
Tony Pollard (@ NYG)
Bijan Robinson (vs. CAR)
Derrick Henry (@ NO)
Saquon Barkley (vs. DAL)
Tier 3
Josh Jacobs (@ DEN)
Joe Mixon (@ CLE)
Aaron Jones (@ CHI)
Rhamondre Stevenson (vs. PHI)
Alexander Mattison (vs. TB)
Tier 4
Travis Etienne (@ IND)
Cam Akers (@ SEA)
Jahmyr Gibbs (@ KC)
J.K. Dobbins (vs. HOU)
Kenneth Walker (vs. LAR)
David Montgomery (@ KC)
Rachaad White (@ MIN)
Raheem Mostert (@ LAC)
Najee Harris (vs. SF)
Tier 5
Jamaal Williams (vs. TEN)
James Conner (@ WAS)
Javonte Williams (vs. LV)
Miles Sanders (@ ATL)
James Cook (@ NYJ)
Tier 6
Brian Robinson Jr. (vs. ARI)
Dameon Pierce (@ BAL)
Samaje Perine (vs. LV)
Deon Jackson (vs. JAX)
Isiah Pacheco (vs. DET)
Tier 7
AJ Dillon (@ CHI)
Breece Hall (vs. BUF)
Antonio Gibson (vs. ARI)
Khalil Herbert (vs. GB)
Jerick McKinnon (vs. DET)
Dalvin Cook (vs. BUF)
Tier 8
D’Andre Swift (@ NE)
Tier 9
Zach Charbonnet (vs. LAR)
Damien Harris (@ NYJ)
Jaylen Warren (vs. SF)
Tyler Allgeier (vs. CAR)
Ezekiel Elliott (vs. PHI)
Tank Bigsby (@ IND)
Evan Hull (vs. JAX)
Gus Edwards (vs. HOU)
Tier 10
Chuba Hubbard (@ ATL)
Elijah Mitchell (@ PIT)
Kenneth Gainwell (@ NE)
Joshua Kelley (vs. MIA)
Kyren Williams (@ SEA)
Devon Achane (@ LAC)
Tyjae Spears (@ NO)
Ty Chandler (vs. TB)
Sean Tucker (@ MIN)
Rashaad Penny (@ NE)
Deuce Vaughn (@ NYG)
Devin Singletary (@ BAL)
D’Onta Foreman (vs. GB)
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Wide Receivers
Tier 1
Justin Jefferson (vs. TB)
Tyreek Hill (@ LAC)
Tier 2
Ja’Marr Chase (@ CLE)
Amon-Ra St. Brown (@ KC)
Tier 3
Davante Adams (@ DEN)
CeeDee Lamb (@ NYG)
Stefon Diggs (@ NYJ)
Tier 4
A.J. Brown (@ NE)
Keenan Allen (vs. MIA)
Jaylen Waddle (@ LAC)
Tier 5
DK Metcalf (vs. LAR)
Calvin Ridley (@ IND)
Chris Olave (vs. TEN)
Garrett Wilson (vs. BUF)
Mike Williams (vs. MIA)
DeVonta Smith (@ NE)
Deebo Samuel (@ PIT)
Tier 6
Tee Higgins (@ CLE)
Amari Cooper (vs. CIN)
Tyler Lockett (vs. LAR)
Chris Godwin (@ MIN)
Tier 7
Christian Kirk (@ IND)
DeAndre Hopkins (@ NO)
Tier 8
Mike Evans (@ MIN)
Drake London (vs. CAR)
Courtland Sutton (vs. LV)
Brandon Aiyuk (@ PIT)
D.J. Moore (vs. GB)
Michael Pittman Jr. (vs. JAX)
Terry McLaurin (vs. ARI)
Tier 9
Diontae Johnson (vs. SF)
Jahan Dotson (vs. ARI)
Michael Thomas (vs. TEN)
Skyy Moore (vs. DET)
George Pickens (vs. SF)
Brandin Cooks (@ NYG)
Tier 10
JuJu Smith-Schuster (vs. PHI)
Romeo Doubs (@ CHI)
Marquise Brown (@ WAS)
Gabe Davis (@ NYJ)
Jordan Addison (vs. TB)
Zay Jones (@ IND)
Tier 11
Jakobi Meyers (@ DEN)
Zay Flowers (vs. HOU)
Odell Beckham Jr. (vs. HOU)
Rashid Shaheed (vs. TEN)
Treylon Burks (@ NO)
Rashod Bateman (vs. HOU)
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (vs. DET)
Van Jefferson (@ SEA)
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (vs. LAR)
Nico Collins (@ BAL)
Kadarius Toney (vs. DET)
Donovan Peoples-Jones (vs. CIN)
Curtis Samuel (vs. ARI)
Allen Lazard (vs. BUF)
Tier 12
Michael Gallup (@ NYG)
Rondale Moore (@ WAS)
Jayden Reed (@ CHI)
Adam Thielen (@ ATL)
Jonathan Mingo (@ ATL)
Marvin Mims (vs. LV)
Elijah Moore (vs. CIN)
Darnell Mooney (vs. GB)
Tyler Boyd (@ CLE)
Tutu Atwell (@ SEA)
Kendrick Bourne (vs. PHI)
K.J. Osborn (vs. TB)
Josh Palmer (vs. MIA)
Alec Pierce (vs. JAX)
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Tight Ends
Tier 1
T.J. Hockenson (vs. TB)
Tier 2
Tyler Higbee (@ SEA)
Darren Waller (vs. DAL)* (game-time decision)
George Kittle (@ PIT)
Evan Engram (@ IND)
Tier 3
Kyle Pitts (vs. CAR)
Dallas Goedert (@ NE)
David Njoku (vs. CIN)
Pat Freiermuth (vs. SF)
Tier 4
Chigoziem Okonkwo (@ NO)
Gerald Everett (vs. MIA)
Isaiah Likely (vs. HOU)
Noah Gray (vs. DET)
Sam LaPorta (@ KC)
Tier 5
Cole Kmet (vs. GB)
Greg Dulcich (vs. LV)
Dalton Kincaid (@ NYJ)
Juwan Johnson (vs. TEN)
Luke Musgrave (@ CHI)
Irv Smith Jr. (@ CLE)
Dalton Schultz (@ BAL)
Tier 6
Jake Ferguson (@ NYG)
Hayden Hurst (@ ATL)
Hunter Henry (vs. PHI)
Tyler Conklin (vs. BUF)
Dawson Knox (@ NYJ)
Taysom Hill (vs. TEN)
Cade Otton (@ MIN)
Noah Fant (vs. LAR)
Tier 7
Mike Gesicki (vs. PHI)
Trey McBride (@ WAS)
Adam Trautman (vs. LV)
Isaiah Likely (vs. HOU)
Michael Mayer (@ DEN)
Kylen Granson (vs. JAX)
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Kickers
Tier 1
Justin Tucker (vs. HOU)
Harrison Butker (vs. DET)
Tier 2
Evan McPherson (@ CLE)
Jason Myers (vs. LAR)
Greg Joseph (vs. TB)
Younghoe Koo (vs. CAR)
Wil Lutz (vs. LV)
Tier 3
Matt Gay (vs. JAX)
Brandon Aubrey (@ NYG)
Daniel Carlson (@ DEN)
Cameron Dicker (vs. MIA)
Dustin Hopkins (vs. CIN)
Blake Grupe (vs. TEN)
Graham Gano (vs. DAL)
Brandon McManus (@ IND)
Chase McLaughlin (@ MIN)
Tier 4
Tyler Bass (@ NYJ)
Cairo Santos (vs. GB)
Jason Sanders (@ LAC)
Riley Patterson (@ KC)
Eddy Pineiro (@ ATL)
Greg Zuerlein (vs. BUF)
Brett Maher (@ SEA)
Tier 5
Chris Boswell (vs. SF)
Chad Ryland (vs. PHI)
Jake Elliott (@ NE)
Jake Moody (@ PIT)
Nick Folk (@ NO)
Ka’imi Fairbairn (@ BAL)
Joey Slye (vs. ARI)
Anders Carlson (@ CHI)
Matt Prater (@ WAS)
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Defenses
Tier 1
Washington Commanders (vs. ARI)
Baltimore Ravens (vs. HOU)
Tier 2
Atlanta Falcons (vs. CAR)
Minnesota Vikings (vs. TB)
Denver Broncos (vs. LV)
Philadelphia Eagles (@ NE)
Jacksonville Jaguars (@ IND)
Seattle Seahawks (vs. LAR)
Tier 3
Chicago Bears (vs. GB)
San Francisco 49ers (@ PIT)
Green Bay Packers (@ CHI)
New Orleans Saints (vs. TEN)
Tier 4
Dallas Cowboys (@ NYG)
Tennessee Titans (@ NO)
Buffalo Bills (@ NYJ)
New York Jets (vs. BUF)
Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. SF)
Cincinnati Bengals (@ CLE)
Los Angeles Chargers (vs. MIA)
Arizona Cardinals (@ WAS)
Las Vegas Raiders (@ DEN)
Carolina Panthers (@ ATL)
Cleveland Browns (vs. CIN)
Tier 5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@ MIN)
Los Angeles Rams (@ SEA)
New England Patriots (vs. PHI)
Miami Dolphins (@ LAC)
New York Giants (vs. DAL)
Kansas City Chiefs (vs. DET)
Indianapolis Colts (vs. JAX)
Houston Texans (@ BAL)
Detroit Lions (@ KC)
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