Fantasy Football Week 1: QB Rankings

Quarterback rankings for Fantasy Football Week 1 of the 2016 season

Fantasy football Week 1 has finally arrived. It’s been a long waiting period since you had your draft, but now you get to see how your team performs. However, that could also mean that you have tough decisions to make. Should you start this quarterback with more talent or this quarterback with the better matchup? We’ll try to clear things up in that regard with our QB rankings for Week 1.

These QB fantasy football rankings are not just based on pure talent. Instead, we take other aspects into consideration. The QB’s matchup, weapons, weather and location all play a part in these rankings.

Let’s have a look at what we’ve got this week, with tidbits about certain players that need a bit of explanation.

Week 1 QB Rankings

1. Russell Wilson SEA vs. MIA
Russell Wilson is an elite fantasy football quarterback with an elite matchup. Playing at home doesn’t hurt either. He gets the nod as the #1 play for this week. 

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2. Aaron Rodgers GB at JAC

3. Derek Carr OAK at NO
Derek Carr is typically a good bet for multiple touchdown passes and/or 250 passing yards. The Saints defense was a fantasy goldmine last year for opposing quarterbacks. Until that changes, I’m picking on them.

4. Drew Brees NO vs. OAK

5. Ben Roethlisberger PIT at WAS
Ben Roethlisberger might have a “tough” matchup with Josh Norman but he picked apart the Broncos secondary twice last year. Once was without superstar WR Antonio Brown. He’s a top-five play.

6. Matthew Stafford DET at IND
Matthew Stafford was stud down the stretch in 2015. He gets a depleted Colts secondary who will be without All-Pro CB Vontae Davis and maybe Darius Butler too.

7. Andrew Luck IND vs. DET

8. Kirk Cousins WAS vs. PIT
Speaking of studs, that’s exactly what Kirk Cousins was at the end of 2015. With his weapons and a weak Steelers secondary, I expect him to pick up where he left off.

9. Blake Bortles JAC vs. GB
Blake Bortles gets a tough matchup against an underrated Packers defense. He might throw an interception or two but he could very well throw three touchdowns too.

10. Carson Palmer ARI vs. NE
11. Tyrod Taylor BUF at BAL
12. Eli Manning NYG at DAL

13. Brock Osweiler HOU vs. CHI
Brock Osweiler has DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller to throw the ball too. The Bears secondary might not have the bodies to cover them.

14. Jameis Winston TB at ATL
Jameis Winston has to be considered a sleeper in Week 1 and in 2016. The Falcons secondary is shaky at spots, so playing Winston is all about taking a risk.

15. Philip Rivers SD at KC
16. Matt Ryan ATL vs. TB
17. Marcus Mariota TEN vs. MIN
18. Andy Dalton CIN at NYJ

19. Dak Prescott DAL vs. NYG
Dak Prescott could be completely hit-or-miss this week. No one knows what to believe about the Dallas Cowboys rookie. Those looking to get crazy need only to look at the preseason to justify the decision, though.

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20. Ryan Fitzpatrick NYJ vs. CIN
21. Joe Flacco BAL vs. BUF
22. Alex Smith KC vs. SD

That’s all we’ve got, folks. Hopefully one of your quarterbacks finds its way into the top-10 in scoring, even if I don’t see them as a top-10 play coming into Week 1 of the NFL season.