Fantasy Football Rankings: Week 1 Big Board

Outside of suspension and injury concerns, Week 1 fantasy lineups were set by whom you drafted to be your starters. For those fringe options in deeper leagues, Bleacher Report presents its Week 1 Big Board. Here we break down the top 100 overall and every position to its depths of fantasy.

You can use these rankings to weigh your options on starters or gear up for your daily fantasy football lineups, drafts and rosters. These rankings represent our prediction for the highest scorers by position, relative to their use, game plan, health and matchup.

You won't need to know Andrew Luck is facing off against the Indianapolis Colts legend who came before him to start those guys, but our positional analysis marvels at the expected bountiful games such as that one for fantasy purposes as well.

Top 100: LeSean McCoy Should Get Off to Start Worthy of No. 1 Overall Pick

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

LeSean McCoy has a lot going for him: a quick-strike Chip Kelly rushing attack, a great Week 1 matchup against a Jacksonville Jaguars rush defense that was the NFL's fourth worst last season and some sick natural talent.

McCoy is in a class all by himself, and Kelly told NJ.com's Eliot Shorr-Parks:

"

I think he has challenges and goals and aspirations that he wants to achieve...he does have the unique ability that the goals and aspirations he has, they are obtainable. (He says) 'I wanna lead the NFL in rushing,' but not everyone has the God-given ability to do it. He does.

"

McCoy also has the right system. Kelly's offense is predicated on attacking and doing it mostly with the running game. The Eagles led the NFL in rushing last season, thanks to the reigning rushing champ, McCoy.

They should get off to a great start for fantasy owners this weekend against a Jags defense that was in the bottom third of fantasy against running backs, per FFToday.com.

Kelly added to Shorr-Parks:

"

I don't challenge him. I think he challenges himself. If he sets goals and aspirations for himself, he has to go out and work for it. I think he really understands that.

He had an outstanding offseason; he came in camp in the best shape of his life. He is training like that every single day we are out here. I think he really realizes that this is the prime of his career. He is no longer a young player. He is in the meat of his career right now, and he better take full advantage of it.

He doesn't want to become a "woulda, coulda, shoulda guy." There is a short window for running backs, and he is in the middle of it right now. He is taking full advantage of it.

"

You have to love McCoy at age 26 this season, particularly in Week 1. He is the highest-projected scorer among non-quarterbacks in our Week 1 Top 100:

Week 1 Flex Rankings - Eric Mack

Rank	Flex Rankings	Team	Opponent	ECR	vs. ECR
1	Peyton Manning	Den	vs. Ind	1	0
2	Drew Brees	NO	at Atl	2	0
3	Andrew Luck	Ind	at Den	5	+2
4	LeSean McCoy	PHI	vs. Jac	3	-1
5	Jamaal Charles	KC	vs. Ten	6	+1
6	Matthew Stafford	Det	vs. NYG	4	-2
7	Colin Kaepernick	SF	at Dal	10	+3
8	Jimmy Graham	NO	at Atl	25	+17
9	Demaryius Thomas	Den	vs. Ind	19	+10
10	Matt Forte	Chi	vs. Buf	11	+1
11	Adrian Peterson	Min	at StL	13	+2
12	Montee Ball	Den	vs. Ind	17	+5
13	Frank Gore	SF	at Dal	42	+29
14	Marshawn Lynch	Sea	vs. GB	18	+4
15	Dez Bryant	Dal	vs. SF	24	+9
16	Brandon Marshall	Chi	vs. Buf	27	+11
17	Calvin Johnson	DET	vs. NYG	16	-1
18	Julio Jones	Atl	vs. NO	29	+11
19	Alshon Jeffery	Chi	vs. Buf	33	+14
20	Alfred Morris	Was	at Hou	47	+27
21	Zac Stacy	StL	vs. Min	37	+16
22	Andre Ellington	Ari	vs. SD	36	+14
23	Julius Thomas	Den	vs. Ind	41	+18
24	C.J. Spiller	Buf	at Chi	62	+38
25	Le'Veon Bell	PIT	vs. Cle	49	+24
26	Vernon Davis	SF	at Dal	69	+43
27	DeMarco Murray	Dal	vs. SF	26	-1
28	A.J. Green	Cin	at Bal	30	+2
29	Doug Martin	TB	vs. Car	54	+25
30	Aaron Rodgers	GB	at Sea	8	-22
31	Antonio Brown	Pit	vs. Cle	35	+4
32	Victor Cruz	NYG	at Det	45	+13
33	Matt Ryan	Atl	vs. NO	9	-24
34	Nick Foles	Phi	vs. Jac	7	-27
35	Michael Crabtree	SF	at Dal	52	+17
36	Pierre Garcon	Was	at Hou	58	+22
37	Jay Cutler	Chi	vs. Buf	12	-25
38	Eddie Lacy	GB	at Sea	22	-16
39	DeSean Jackson	Was	at Hou	76	+37
40	Michael Floyd	Ari	vs. SD	55	+15
41	Roddy White	Atl	vs. NO	50	+9
42	Toby Gerhart	Jac	at Phi	61	+19
43	Tom Brady	NE	at Mia	14	-29
44	Russell Wilson	Sea	vs. GB	15	-29
45	Chris Johnson	NYJ	vs. Oak	77	+32
46	Jordy Nelson	GB	at Sea	39	-7
47	Jason Witten	Dal	vs. SF	86	+39
48	Larry Fitzgerald	Ari	vs. SD	44	-4
49	Percy Harvin	SEA	vs. GB	57	+8
50	Robert Griffin	Was	at Hou	23	-27
51	Giovani Bernard	Cin	at Bal	38	-13
52	Arian Foster	HOU	vs. Was	28	-24
53	Keenan Allen	SD	at Ari	51	-2
54	Eric Decker	NYJ	vs. Oak	70	+16
55	Marques Colston	NO	at Atl	66	+11
56	Torrey Smith	Bal	vs. Cin	63	+7
57	Rashad Jennings	NYG	at Det	68	+11
58	Julian Edelman	NE	at Mia	78	+20
59	Jeremy Maclin	Phi	vs. Jac	80	+21
60	Greg Olsen	CAR	at TB	84	+24
61	Cam Newton	CAR	at TB	21	-40
62	Randall Cobb	GB	at Sea	53	-9
63	Emmanuel Sanders	DEN	vs. Ind	64	+1
64	Tony Romo	DAL	vs. SF	20	-44
65	Reggie Bush	Det	vs. NYG	67	+2
66	Kendall Wright	Ten	at KC	82	+16
67	Jordan Reed	WAS	at Hou	89	+22
68	Andre Johnson	Hou	vs. Was	40	-28
69	Shane Vereen	NE	at Mia	74	+5
70	Carson Palmer	Ari	vs. SD	32	-38
71	Vincent Jackson	TB	vs. Car	46	-25
72	Eli Manning	NYG	at Det	75	+3
73	Cordarrelle Patterson	Min	at StL	60	-13
74	Jordan Cameron	Cle	at Pit	65	-9
75	Ryan Mathews	SD	at Ari	81	+6
76	Golden Tate	Det	vs. NYG	88	+12
77	Zach Ertz	Phi	vs. Jac	99	+22
78	Ben Tate	CLE	at Pit	71	-7
79	T.Y. Hilton	Ind	at Den	73	-6
80	Philip Rivers	SD	at Ari	31	-49
81	Ben Roethlisberger	Pit	vs. Cle	34	-47
82	Mike Wallace	Mia	vs. NE	83	+1
83	Joique Bell	Det	vs. NYG	85	+2
84	Andy Dalton	Cin	at Bal	43	-41
85	Bernard Pierce	BAL	vs. Cin	92	+7
86	Rueben Randle	NYG	at Det	100	+14
87	Trent Richardson	Ind	at Den	108	+21
88	Carlos Hyde	SF	at Dal	152	+64
89	Kyle Rudolph	Min	at StL	95	+6
90	Steven Jackson	ATL	vs. NO	93	+3
91	Terrance Williams	Dal	vs. SF	94	+3
92	Rob Gronkowski	NE	at Mia	56	-36
93	Cecil Shorts	Jac	at Phi	104	+11
94	Riley Cooper	PHI	vs. Jac	112	+18
95	Dennis Pitta	Bal	vs. Cin	91	-4
96	Lamar Miller	MIA	vs. NE	119	+23
97	Knowshon Moreno	MIA	vs. NE	117	+20
98	Brandin Cooks	NO	at Atl	101	+3
99	Stevan Ridley	NE	at Mia	106	+7
100	Kelvin Benjamin	Car	at TB	103	+3

Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) from over 100 experts provided by FantasyPros

Quarterbacks: Peyton Manning, Drew Brees Matchup Trumps Aaron Rodgers'

You don't sit Aaron Rodgers against anyone. You drafted him among the top three quarterbacks to play through thick and thin, but you cannot like what you and Rodgers are facing in Week 1: the Legion of Boom.

Ask Peyton Manning. He celebrated the most prolific season for a quarterback with a different type of crowning in the Super Bowl. He was crowned, as in jacked up by the Seattle Seahawks.

Rodgers heads back to the site of the "Fail Mary," the ignominious play that ended replacement referees and started the Seahawks' ascension to the NFL's elite. Payback is going to be tough this time around. Quarterbacks just don't play well against the Seahawks, particularly in Seattle against the 12th Man. Seattle was by far the toughest team in fantasy against quarterbacks last year, per FFToday.com.

If you drafted Rodgers early, you might be regretting your decision after a Week 1 that should see Manning and Drew Brees light it up with the best of them in much more favorable matchups.

Expect Rodgers to survive better than Manning did in the Super Bowl, and keep him active unless you have Colin Kaepernick as your backup quarterback. Kaep gets to face arguably one of the worst defenses in NFL history in the Dallas Cowboys.

Rodgers told Clare Farnsworth of the Seahawks' official website:

"

There's a challenge at every level. They're really talented up front. They're as good as they come on the backend with the safety-corner tandem. And they're very talented and long and rangy and athletic and physical in the linebacker group.

So they can throw a lot of different personnel groupings and a lot of different guys lined up in different spots at you. And then they can rush just four and lock you down outside and inside. This is as talented a defense as you're going to see in the league.

"

Manning agrees.

Rodgers ranks just sixth behind Kaepernick in our Week 1 quarterback rankings:

Week 1 Quarterback Rankings—Eric Mack

Rank	Quarterbacks	Team	Opponent	ECR	vs. ECR
1	Peyton Manning	Den	vs. Ind	1	0
2	Drew Brees	NO	at Atl	2	0
3	Andrew Luck	Ind	at Den	4	+1
4	Matthew Stafford	Det	vs. NYG	3	-1
5	Colin Kaepernick	SF	at Dal	7	+2
6	Aaron Rodgers	GB	at Sea	6	0
7	Matt Ryan	Atl	vs. NO	8	+1
8	Nick Foles	Phi	vs. Jac	5	-3
9	Jay Cutler	Chi	vs. Buf	9	0
10	Tom Brady	NE	at Mia	10	0
11	Russell Wilson	Sea	vs. GB	11	0
12	Robert Griffin	Was	at Hou	14	+2
13	Cam Newton	CAR	at TB	13	0
14	Tony Romo	Dal	vs. SF	12	-2
15	Carson Palmer	Ari	vs. SD	17	+2
16	Eli Manning	NYG	at Det	22	+6
17	Philip Rivers	SD	at Ari	15	-2
18	Ben Roethlisberger	Pit	vs. Cle	16	-2
19	Andy Dalton	Cin	at Bal	18	-1
20	Alex Smith	KC	vs. Ten	20	0
21	Joe Flacco	Bal	vs. Cin	25	+4
22	Ryan Tannehill	Mia	vs. NE	19	-3
23	EJ Manuel	Buf	at Chi	29	+6
24	Geno Smith	NYJ	vs. Oak	21	-3
25	Jake Locker	Ten	at KC	23	-2
26	Chad Henne	Jac	at Phi	28	+2
27	Shaun Hill	StL	vs. Min	24	-3
28	Josh McCown	TB	vs. Car	26	-2
29	Matt Cassel	Min	at StL	33	+4
30	Brian Hoyer	Cle	at Pit	35	+5
31	Derek Carr	OAK	at NYJ	32	+1
32	Ryan Fitzpatrick	Hou	vs. Was	27	-5

Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) from over 100 experts provided by FantasyPros.

Running Backs: Lamar Miller, Knowshon Moreno, No Better Than Flex Plays

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

We came into the preseason waiting for a Miami Dolphins decision on Lamar Miller vs. Knowshon Moreno for the feature-back role. All we have going into the regular season is indecision there.

Moreno proved healthy and more productive, despite coming off June knee surgery, while Miller took his outstanding spring and turned it into a disappointing summer. We thought we would get a certain fantasy starter out of one of these backs for fantasy Week 1 against a New England Patriots defense that was the NFL's third worst against the run a year ago.

All we have right now is a potential platoon situation that makes both Dolphins backs mere flex options in most fantasy leagues. Miller is expected to start, according to Chris Perkins of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, but the important carries might not go his way

Head coach Joe Philbin said:

"

I think some of that is we have to get the feel for the game. I think it's hard to say, "Yeah, he's definitely the guy at the end of the game," or conversely that Lamar is definitely the guy. 

Each game has its own little character and story, and you kind of have to get a feel for it. Maybe one guy has a particularly hot hand that day, so we'll kind of keep an open mind in that regard.

"

Yuck.

Consider this a race too close to call right now. You cannot feel confident starting either running back in standard leagues. Both rank outside Bleacher Report's Top 25 running backs for Week 1:

Week 1 Running Back Rankings—Eric Mack

Rank	Running Backs	Team	Opponent	ECR	vs. ECR
1	LeSean McCoy	Phi	vs. Jac	1	0
2	Jamaal Charles	KC	vs. Ten	2	0
3	Matt Forte	Chi	vs. Buf	3	0
4	Adrian Peterson	Min	at StL	4	0
5	Montee Ball	Den	vs. Ind	5	0
6	Frank Gore	SF	at Dal	14	+8
7	Marshawn Lynch	Sea	vs. GB	6	-1
8	Alfred Morris	Was	at Hou	15	+7
9	Zac Stacy	StL	vs. Min	10	+1
10	Andre Ellington	Ari	vs. SD	11	+1
11	C.J. Spiller	Buf	at Chi	18	+7
12	Le'Veon Bell	Pit	vs. Cle	13	+1
13	DeMarco Murray	Dal	vs. SF	9	-4
14	Doug Martin	TB	vs. Car	16	+2
15	Eddie Lacy	GB	at Sea	7	-8
16	Toby Gerhart	Jac	at Phi	17	+1
17	Chris Johnson	NYJ	vs. Oak	23	+6
18	Giovani Bernard	Cin	at Bal	12	-6
19	Arian Foster	Hou	vs. Was	8	-11
20	Rashad Jennings	NYG	at Det	19	-1
21	Reggie Bush	Det	vs. NYG	20	-1
22	Shane Vereen	NE	at Mia	22	0
23	Ryan Mathews	SD	at Ari	24	+1
24	Ben Tate	CLE	at Pit	21	-3
25	Joique Bell	Det	vs. NYG	25	0
26	Bernard Pierce	Bal	vs. Cin	27	+1
27	Trent Richardson	Ind	at Den	30	+3
28	Carlos Hyde	SF	at Dal	43	+15
29	Steven Jackson	Atl	vs. NO	26	-3
30	Lamar Miller	MIA	vs. NE	34	+4
31	Knowshon Moreno	MIA	vs. NE	33	+2
32	Stevan Ridley	NE	at Mia	31	-1
33	Fred Jackson	Buf	at Chi	28	-5
34	Bishop Sankey	Ten	at KC	35	+1
35	Chris Ivory	NYJ	vs. Oak	42	+7
36	LeGarrette Blount	Pit	vs. Cle	47	+11
37	Maurice Jones-Drew	Oak	at NYJ	32	-5
38	Darren Sproles	Phi	vs. Jac	41	+3
39	Pierre Thomas	NO	at Atl	29	-10
40	DeAngelo Williams	Car	at TB	40	0
41	Mark Ingram	NO	at Atl	36	-5
42	Jonathan Stewart	Car	at TB	45	+3
43	Jeremy Hill	Cin	at Bal	39	-4
44	Darren McFadden	Oak	at NYJ	44	0
45	Shonn Greene	Ten	at KC	37	-8
46	Roy Helu	WAS	at Hou	54	+8
47	Danny Woodhead	SD	at Ari	38	-9
48	Knile Davis	KC	vs. Ten	58	+10
49	Devonta Freeman	Atl	vs. NO	48	-1
50	Andre Williams	NYG	at Det	50	0
51	Ahmad Bradshaw	Ind	at Den	52	+1
52	Khiry Robinson	NO	at Atl	49	-3
53	Terrance West	CLE	at Pit	46	-7
54	Jacquizz Rodgers	Atl	vs. NO	67	+13
55	Lance Dunbar	Dal	vs. SF	60	+5
56	Dexter McCluster	Ten	at KC	51	-5
57	Ronnie Hillman	DEN	vs. Ind	59	+2
58	Donald Brown	SD	at Ari	61	+3
59	Benny Cunningham	StL	vs. Min	53	-6
60	Jonathan Dwyer	Ari	vs. SD	65	+5
61	Justin Forsett	Bal	vs. Cin	66	+5
62	James Starks	GB	at Sea	69	+7
63	C.J. Anderson	Den	vs. Ind	70	+7
64	Robert Turbin	Sea	vs. GB	63	-1
65	Tre Mason	StL	vs. Min	71	+6
66	Bryce Brown	Buf	at Chi	73	+7
67	Lorenzo Taliaferro	Bal	vs. Cin	79	+12
68	Denard Robinson	Jac	at Phi	97	+29
69	Jonathan Grimes	Hou	vs. Was	57	-12
70	De'Anthony Thomas	KC	vs. Ten	83	+13
71	Dri Archer	Pit	vs. Cle	92	+21

Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) from over 100 experts provided by FantasyPros.

Wide Receivers: Emmanuel Sanders Becomes Must-Start Minus Wes Welker

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

We knew Wes Welker wouldn't play a 16-game season...at least we should have known. Concussion issues were going to dog him and sap him of his true fantasy ceiling. Now, we get this: A four-game suspension for Welker, as ESPN.com's Adam Schefter reported.

Welcome to fantasy prominence, Emmanuel Sanders.

Peyton Manning is going to have a productive day against the Indianapolis Colts defense, if only to stick it to his former team that released him when they decided to draft Andrew Luck as his heir.

Demaryius and Julius Thomas are going to draw a lot of attention from the corners and safeties, so Sanders and perhaps even Andre Caldwell and rookie Cody Latimer should become very important to Manning, the Broncos and fantasy owners.

It won't matter whether Sanders is in the slot or the outside. He is comfortable with either, and his role is expected to be expanded with Welker officially out now. Sanders told ESPN.com's Jeff Legwold:

"

I've played slot every year that I've played football except last year was my first year on the outside. It's a different game. On the outside, you just have to beat one man, really, and that's because they play man-to-man.

Whereas in the slot, it's more zone. You have to avoid linebackers, you have to avoid safeties, you have to sit down in the zone, and that's where the big hits can come from. Whereas on the outside, they'll come, but they're not going to come as much as in the slot.

"

We moved Sanders into B/R's Top 25 wide receivers for Week 1 and have Caldwell and Latimer as sleeper additions to help if you are suffering from the loss of Welker. The good news, Welker owners, is you had to expect this. You also have options, like the Broncos and Manning do. 

Week 1 Wide Receiver Rankings—Eric Mack

Rank	Wide Receivers	Team	Opponent	ECR	vs. ECR
1	Demaryius Thomas	Den	vs. Ind	2	+1
2	Dez Bryant	Dal	vs. SF	3	+1
3	Brandon Marshall	Chi	vs. Buf	4	+1
4	Calvin Johnson	Det	vs. NYG	1	-3
5	Julio Jones	Atl	vs. NO	5	0
6	Alshon Jeffery	Chi	vs. Buf	7	+1
7	A.J. Green	Cin	at Bal	6	-1
8	Antonio Brown	Pit	vs. Cle	8	0
9	Victor Cruz	NYG	at Det	12	+3
10	Michael Crabtree	SF	at Dal	14	+4
11	Pierre Garcon	Was	at Hou	19	+8
12	DeSean Jackson	Was	at Hou	27	+15
13	Michael Floyd	Ari	vs. SD	18	+5
14	Roddy White	Atl	vs. NO	16	+2
15	Jordy Nelson	GB	at Sea	9	-6
16	Larry Fitzgerald	Ari	vs. SD	11	-5
17	Percy Harvin	SEA	vs. GB	20	+3
18	Keenan Allen	SD	at Ari	17	-1
19	Eric Decker	NYJ	vs. Oak	24	+5
20	Marques Colston	NO	at Atl	23	+3
21	Torrey Smith	Bal	vs. Cin	22	+1
22	Julian Edelman	NE	at Mia	29	+7
23	Jeremy Maclin	Phi	vs. Jac	28	+5
24	Randall Cobb	GB	at Sea	15	-9
25	Emmanuel Sanders	Den	vs. Ind	25	0
26	Kendall Wright	Ten	at KC	30	+4
27	Andre Johnson	Hou	vs. Was	10	-17
28	Vincent Jackson	TB	vs. Car	13	-15
29	Cordarrelle Patterson	Min	at StL	21	-8
30	Golden Tate	Det	vs. NYG	33	+3
31	T.Y. Hilton	Ind	at Den	26	-5
32	Mike Wallace	Mia	vs. NE	31	-1
33	Rueben Randle	NYG	at Det	36	+3
34	Terrance Williams	Dal	vs. SF	35	+1
35	Cecil Shorts	Jac	at Phi	39	+4
36	Riley Cooper	Phi	vs. Jac	43	+7
37	Brandin Cooks	NO	at Atl	37	0
38	Kelvin Benjamin	Car	at TB	38	0
39	DeAndre Hopkins	Hou	vs. Was	41	+2
40	Anquan Boldin	SF	at Dal	40	0
41	Justin Hunter	Ten	at KC	42	+1
42	Steve Johnson	SF	at Dal	74	+32
43	Reggie Wayne	Ind	at Den	34	-9
44	Hakeem Nicks	Ind	at Den	50	+6
45	Brian Hartline	Mia	vs. NE	46	+1
46	Greg Jennings	Min	at StL	47	+1
47	Danny Amendola	NE	at Mia	53	+6
48	Kenny Britt	StL	vs. Min	51	+3
49	Mike Evans	TB	vs. Car	45	-4
50	Sammy Watkins	BUF	at Chi	44	-6
51	James Jones	Oak	at NYJ	49	-2
52	Steve Smith	Bal	vs. Cin	55	+3
53	Tavon Austin	StL	vs. Min	56	+3
54	Jordan Matthews	Phi	vs. Jac	59	+5
55	Doug Baldwin	Sea	vs. GB	52	-3
56	Mohamed Sanu	Cin	at Bal	61	+5
57	Harry Douglas	Atl	vs. NO	67	+10
58	Miles Austin	Cle	at Pit	64	+6
59	Andre Caldwell	Den	vs. Ind	73	+14
60	Andrew Hawkins	Cle	at Pit	58	-2
61	Cody Latimer	Den	vs. Ind	69	+8
62	Kenbrell Thompkins	NE	at Mia	71	+9
63	Kenny Stills	NO	at Atl	57	-6
64	Robert Woods	BUF	at Chi	66	+2
65	Aaron Dobson	NE	at Mia	62	-3
66	Marqise Lee	Jac	at Phi	60	-6
67	John Brown	Ari	vs. SD	65	-2
68	Mike Williams	BUF	at Chi	63	-5
69	Markus Wheaton	Pit	vs. Cle	48	-21
70	Rod Streater	Oak	at NYJ	68	-2
71	Jarrett Boykin	GB	at Sea	54	-17
72	Brandon LaFell	NE	at Mia	83	+11
73	Dexter McCluster	Ten	at KC	84	+11
74	Malcom Floyd	SD	at Ari	70	-4
75	Santonio Holmes	Chi	vs. Buf	89	+14

Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) from over 100 experts provided by FantasyPros.

Tight Ends: Rob Gronkowski, Bill Belichick Need to Get Their Stories Straight

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

We should have known better. We featured Rob Gronkowski's bold statement that he was going to play in Week 1 in Bleacher Report's weekly fantasy notebook.

Then, Bill Belichick had to go and be...well...Bill Belichick. Gronk went from fairly sure fantasy starter to just as questionable as before with one statement by the boss in a conference call with reporters, as Anthony Gulizia of The Boston Globe reported:

"

I'm glad that Rob is optimistic about his situation. We'll go through the week of practice and take a look at everything and everybody. With all due respect to Rob, I'm glad he feels the way he does, but in the end, we'll have to make the decision we feel is best for the team. ... 

... Even though players are experienced, and so are coaches, and a player hasn't played in the preseason, there's still game speed and game situations, and all the communication that goes on during a game, whether it's on offense, defense, or in the kicking game, that's just different in practice.

You have to be ready to handle that and work with your teammates in those conditions.

"

So, it isn't necessarily a question of whether Gronk can play but just how much he can contribute right now. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels added to Gulizia:

"

Rob's been practicing and we've been out doing some different things, building our offensive systems and packages as we go. Whatever we can, or are available to use him to do, however big, small, whatever the decision is at the end of the week, he'll be ready to do it.

We're going to try and do what we think is the right thing to do to win the game this week. That would encompass the way we try to use all of our guys. When Gronkowski plays on Sunday against Miami, whatever that capacity may be, the greatest challenge will likely be how quickly he can get in sync with the offense.

"

Fantasy owners should expect to wait to see: 1. If Gronk makes the team flight to Miami on Saturday; 2. If Gronk is listed with the inactives at 11:30 a.m. ET Sunday morning.

If Gronk is active for the New England Patriots, you should likely play him in all fantasy leagues. All it takes for a tight end in fantasy is one touchdown pass near the goal line. Gronk can do that even if he is used sparingly.

Tom Brady intimated to Gulizia:

"

When he's out there, he's obviously a great target because of his size, his speed, his agility, his ability to catch the football in traffic. That's what he's done over the course of his career. That's why he's got so many touchdowns, because he's got such a big catch radius that you put the ball in certain areas and he can go up and make the play.

"

Gronk slides to just No. 10 in B/R's Week 1 tight end rankings:

Week 1 Tight End Rankings—Eric Mack

Rank	Tight Ends	Team	Opponent	ECR	vs. ECR
1	Jimmy Graham	NO	at Atl	1	0
2	Julius Thomas	Den	vs. Ind	2	0
3	Vernon Davis	SF	at Dal	5	+2
4	Jason Witten	Dal	vs. SF	7	+3
5	Greg Olsen	CAR	at TB	6	+1
6	Jordan Reed	Was	at Hou	8	+2
7	Jordan Cameron	Cle	at Pit	4	-3
8	Zach Ertz	Phi	vs. Jac	11	+3
9	Kyle Rudolph	Min	at StL	10	+1
10	Rob Gronkowski	NE	at Mia	3	-7
11	Dennis Pitta	Bal	vs. Cin	9	-2
12	Charles Clay	Mia	vs. NE	13	+1
13	Martellus Bennett	Chi	vs. Buf	12	-1
14	Antonio Gates	SD	at Ari	15	+1
15	Travis Kelce	KC	vs. Ten	16	+1
16	Ladarius Green	SD	at Ari	17	+1
17	Dwayne Allen	Ind	at Den	18	+1
18	Heath Miller	Pit	vs. Cle	14	-4
19	Delanie Walker	Ten	at KC	19	0
20	Tim Wright	NE	at Mia	24	+4
21	Coby Fleener	Ind	at Den	25	+4
22	Jared Cook	StL	vs. Min	21	-1
23	Garrett Graham	Hou	vs. Was	20	-3
24	Jace Amaro	NYJ	vs. Oak	26	+2
25	Tyler Eifert	Cin	at Bal	22	-3
26	Eric Ebron	Det	vs. NYG	23	-3
27	Brandon Myers	TB	vs. Car	30	+3
28	Austin Seferian-Jenkins	TB	vs. Car	32	+4
29	Marcedes Lewis	Jac	at Phi	27	-2
30	Joseph Fauria	Det	vs. NYG	34	+4

Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) from over 100 experts provided by FantasyPros.

Defense/Special Teams: New York Jets Get to Tee Off on Rookie Quarterback

Rich Schultz/Getty Images

We are shocked a Rex Ryan New York Jets team was just the 26th-ranked defense/special teams in FantasyPros.com's average draft position. Those that skipped on the Jets in drafts are going to be regretting their decision in Week 1.

Ryan might not boast his most talented Jets defense of his regime, but he is a master defensive tactician. Facing Derek Carr in his NFL debut on opening day is too enticing for fantasy owners to overlook. The Jets D/ST should be active in all leagues, even if they are still available off waivers in many.

"Ryan’s Jet defenses have typically driven rookie quarterbacks batty," Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News wrote. "The Jets are 7-3 against starting rookie quarterbacks since he took over in 2009."

Defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson, one of the guys who will be pressuring, confusing and humbling the rookie, isn't taking the Week 1 assignment lightly—exactly what you want to hear as a fantasy owner.

"I don't know what to expect," Richardson told Mehta. "We should be able to handle any quarterback in this league whether he's a rookie or a 10-year vet. We look at them all the same: Get to him."

Linebacker David Harris echoed those comments.

"

He's a rookie and it's his first game starting, but as an opponent, you can't go in thinking like that, because you'll get lax and get beat. You have to always be on guard for anything they try to throw at us...because you never know.

We treat everybody the same. We're equal opportunists, you could say.

"

We have the Jets a surprising must-start D/ST in the top three of B/R's Week 1 rankings: 

Week 1 Defenses and Special Teams Rankings—Eric Mack

Rank	Defenses and Special Teams	Team	Opponent	ECR	vs. ECR
1	Seattle Seahawks	Sea	vs. GB	1	0
2	Carolina Panthers	Car	at TB	3	+1
3	New York Jets	NYJ	vs. Oak	7	+4
4	St. Louis Rams	StL	vs. Min	2	-2
5	New England Patriots	NE	at Mia	4	-1
6	Cincinnati Bengals	Cin	at Bal	5	-1
7	Kansas City Chiefs	KC	vs. Ten	6	-1
8	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	TB	vs. Car	10	+2
9	San Francisco 49ers	SF	at Dal	8	-1
10	Pittsburgh Steelers	Pit	vs. Cle	9	-1
11	Denver Broncos	Den	vs. Ind	12	+1
12	Washington Redskins	Was	at Hou	27	+15
13	Houston Texans	Hou	vs. Was	11	-2
14	Arizona Cardinals	Ari	vs. SD	13	-1
15	Baltimore Ravens	Bal	vs. Cin	15	0
16	Philadelphia Eagles	Phi	vs. Jac	17	+1
17	Cleveland Browns	Cle	at Pit	14	-3
18	Chicago Bears	Chi	vs. Buf	16	-2
19	New Orleans Saints	NO	at Atl	18	-1
20	Detroit Lions	Det	vs. NYG	19	-1

Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) from over 100 experts provided by FantasyPros.

Kickers: Shayne Graham Gets 2nd Chance with New Orleans Saints

Sam Riche/Associated Press

Shayne Graham and his fantasy owners have had an interesting week. He went from being cut by the New Orleans Saints and undrafted (or cut) in fantasy and then back to being in the must-start category among kickers.

It was a roller-coaster ride, but anyone getting the kicking points for the Drew Brees-led Saints should be owned and active in fantasy. Pick Graham back up if you dropped him.

He told ESPN.com's Mike Triplett:

"

There are definitely times in my career where I've been on top of the world and times where I feel like the world was falling down around me. But you've still gotta be ready for that next opportunity, because it's the most important one.

"

B/R ranks Graham as the sixth-most intriguing kicker in Week 1:

Week 1 Kickers Rankings—Eric Mack

Rank	Kickers	Team	Opponent	ECR	vs. ECR
1	Phil Dawson	SF	at Dal	4	+3
2	Stephen Gostkowski	NE	at Mia	1	-1
3	Steven Hauschka	Sea	vs. GB	2	-1
4	Justin Tucker	Bal	vs. Cin	3	-1
5	Blair Walsh	Min	at StL	6	+1
6	Shayne Graham	NO	at Atl	16	+10
7	Dan Bailey	Dal	vs. SF	5	-2
8	Matt Bryant	Atl	vs. NO	7	-1
9	Adam Vinatieri	Ind	at Den	9	0
10	Brandon McManus	Den	vs. Ind	11	+1
11	Mason Crosby	GB	at Sea	8	-3
12	Greg Zuerlein	StL	vs. Min	13	+1
13	Nate Freese	Det	vs. NYG	15	+2
14	Robbie Gould	Chi	vs. Buf	10	-4
15	Cody Parkey	Phi	vs. Jac	14	-1
16	Nick Novak	SD	at Ari	12	-4
17	Ryan Succop	TEN	at KC	21	+4
18	Nick Folk	NYJ	vs. Oak	18	0
19	Caleb Sturgis	MIA	vs. NE	24	+5
20	Kai Forbath	WAS	at Hou	29	+9

Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) from over 100 experts provided by FantasyPros

Follow @EricMackFantasy

Eric Mack, one of the giants among fantasy writers, is the Fantasy Football Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, where you can ask him endless questions about your team, rip him for his content and even challenge him to a head-to-head fantasy game.