Fantasy Football Week 1: Opening Rankings, Projections, Early Waiver-Wire Tips
The 2022 NFL season kicks off Thursday night in Los Angeles with the reigning Super Bowl champions battling the preseason favorite to make it back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1993, the Buffalo Bills.
That also means fantasy football managers will be watching closely as star players such as wide receiver Cooper Kupp and quarterback Josh Allen put up numbers and set the tone for the rest of the kickoff weekend.
They will not be the only ones. Who should managers in PPR leagues expect to put up big numbers and potentially help them win their first match-up of the season? Why and for who might they dip into the waiver wire in search of adding depth to their roster?
Find out with this preview of the week to come in fantasy, with stats provided by Fantasy Pros.
Quarterbacks
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- Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens: 330 yards, 3 TDs, 75 yards rushing, TD
- Patrick Mahomes II, Kansas City Chiefs: 350 yards, 4 TDs
- Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers: 320 yards, 4 TDs
- Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills: 300 yards, 3 TDs, 40 yards rushing, INT
- Russel Wilson, Denver Broncos: 300 yards, 2 TDs, 20 yards rushing, TD
- Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams: 275 yards, 3 TDs, INT
- Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals: 250 yards, TD, 50 yards rushing, TD, INT
- Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders: 250 yards, 2 TDs
- Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles: 225 yards, TD, 75 yards rushing, TD
- Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers: 250 yards, 2 TDs, INT
Josh Allen might be the trendy pick for league MVP in 2022 and a favorite to take his team to the Super Bowl, but the quarterback that outdueled him a year ago in one of the best games in recent memory remains the measuring stick in fantasy football.
Patrick Mahomes II kicks off the season in Arizona, against a Cardinals team that lost its star in Chandler Jones and was ranked as the league's least unique scheme in the entire NFL. Even without Tyreek Hill, who was traded to Miami in the offseason, Mahomes has to be salivating at the opportunity to pick that unit apart.
With new additions JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdez-Scantling as well as returning pass catchers Travis Kelce and Mecole Hardman, he will have plenty of targets to get the ball to in time. If anything, the lack of that one game-breaker should help Mahomes spread the ball around and resist the urge to force it deep.
Some will suggest that the Cardinals' Murray is a better fantasy option and should be ranked ahead of Mahomes, thanks to the duel threat of his passing and rushing. They would be wrong. Mahomes is about to have another MVP-type season that improves on 4,839 yards and 37 touchdowns from a year ago and puts the Chiefs in a position to head to their fifth consecutive AFC Championship game.
It starts with a performance in week one that should be enough to win fantasy managers their match-ups.
Waiver Wire Pickup: Matt Ryan, Indianapolis Colts
Odds are that if you are dipping into the waiver wire for a quarterback, one of yours is either hurt or massively underperforming. If that is the case, Matt Ryan in Indianapolis is a player to keep your eyes on.
The former league MVP had a down year in 2021, thanks to a lack of weapons in Atlanta and a porous offensive line that had him looking to throw out of sacks and avoid pressures. A better blocking scheme in Indy and improved skill players will, hopefully, return him to his previous status as one of the best in the game.
Having a pass catcher like Michael Pittman Jr. and an all-world running back like Jonathan Taylor coming out of the backfield will help him rediscover the level of play that fell off after 14 seasons in Atlanta.
A week-one match-up against Houston could be a quick and emphatic announcement to the league that Matty Ice is back.
Running Backs
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- Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts: 170 scrimmage yards, 4 receptions, 3 total TDs
- Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers: 150 scrimmage yards, 5 receptions, 2 total TDs
- Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers: 145 scrimmage yards, 4 receptions, 2 total TDs
- Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings: 130 scrimmage yards, 2 receptions, 2 total TDs
- Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans: 150 scrimmage yards, reception, TD
- Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers: 130 scrimmage yards, 3 receptions, TD
- Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns: 115 scrimmage yards, reception, TD
- Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints: 100 scrimmage yards, 3 receptions, TD
- Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers: 90 scrimmage yards, reception, TD
- James Conner, Arizona Cardinals: 74 scrimmage yards, TD
Barring injury, there is no reason not to think Jonathan Taylor of Indianapolis is going to be at or near the top of any running back list this season. A dynamic player who nearly carried the Colts offense all by himself a year ago, he added pass-catching to his arsenal in 2021 and figures to make an even bigger impact in that aspect of the game this season.
He caught 40 balls out of the backfield for 360 yards and two touchdowns last season and should improve on them with former league MVP Matt Ryan in the backfield. Of course, his primary goal will be to improve upon a breakout season that saw him dominate with 1811 yards on the ground and 18 touchdowns.
Against a Texans defense that was third-worst against the run a season ago, Taylor should experience a red-hot start to a season where expectations for what he is able to accomplish will be at a high.
Waiver Wire Pickup: Rex Burkhead, Houston Texans
Hardly a fancy player, Burkhead will not be the first name on the minds of fantasy managers looking to add depth to their roster in a pinch but he should get some consideration for two reasons.
First, he is currently second on the running back depth chart for the Texans behind Dameon Pierce. Considering the unknown when it comes to the rookie, it would not be a surprise if Burkhead is playing significant, meaningful time in Houston.
Second, he doubled his production in Houston after arriving from New England a year ago, proving that with opportunity comes output with 122 rushes for 427 yards and three touchdowns.
None of that jumps off the page but in a bind created by an ill-timed injury or in need of a replacement during a bye week, there are worse options than Burkhead, who is available in 91.2-percent of leagues, according to Fantasy Pros.
Wide Receivers
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- Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams: 8 receptions, 150 yards, 2 TDs
- Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers: 6 receptions, 160 all-purpose yards, 2 TD
- Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings: 6 receptions, 130 yards, TD
- Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders: 5 receptions, 120 yards, TD
- Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins: 5 receptions, 110 yards, TD
- Gabriel Davis, Buffalo Bills: 5 receptions, 100 yards, TD
- Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 4 receptions, 100 yards, TD
- Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders: 4 receptions 120 yards
- Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers: 3 receptions, 100 yards
- Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos: 3 receptions, 90 yards
The Chicago Bears may have retained Roquan Smith despite a trade demand during the offseason but even the all-pro linebacker will not help the storied franchise Sunday when it finds itself across the field from San Francisco and their do-it-all wide receiver, Deebo Samuel.
The newly extended star is a game-changer whose effect is felt both in the receiving game and the rushing game, making him a fantasy stud and one of the most dynamic players in the league.
One season after amassing 14 total touchdowns and 1405 receiving yards, and carrying the Niners through the playoffs and to the NFC Championship game, he arrives with a new contract and lofty expectations. Expect him to get off to a hot start against a Bears defense that lost Khalil Mack and Eddie Goldman and is, on paper, worse than a year ago.
Waiver Wire Pickup: Zay Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jones finished 2021 strong, becoming one of Derek Carr's favorite targets out in Las Vegas and averaging 54 yards a game on 30 catches. He was a force in the Raiders' playoff game against Cincinnati and signed a contract with Jacksonville worth up to $30 million.
With a young quarterback in Trevor Lawrence still trying to figure things out in the league, and defenses figuring to key in on big-money wideout Christian Kirk, there will be opportunities for Jones to positively affect the game.
That does not mean you should go pick him up at the expense of a player who will guarantee you greater output, but he is certainly a player to keep an eye on, even if he does not make your roster in time for week one against Washington.
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Tight Ends
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- Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens: 8 receptions, 105 yards, 2 TDs
- Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs: 6 receptions, 90 yards, 2 TDs
- Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons: 6 receptions, 75 yards, TD
- George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers: 5 receptions, 50 yards, TD
- TJ Hockenson, Detroit Lions: 4 receptions, 50 yards, TD
- Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles: 4 receptions, 50 yards, TD
- Zach Ertz, Arizona Cardinals: 4 receptions, 40 yards
- Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills: 3 receptions, 40 yards
- Dalton Schulz, Dallas Cowboys: 2 receptions, 35 yards
- Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears: 2 receptions, 30 yards
Statistically, the New York Jets were the third-worst pass defense in 2021. They added Sauce Gardner via the draft but one man can only do so much in year one, let alone in his first game in the pros, to elevate a questionable unit.
The defense will already struggle to contain the dynamic Lamar Jackson in Week One but stopping his Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews will prove even more difficult. Jackson's top receiving threat is unlikely to see much, if any, attention from Gardner and should be able to make his presence felt in a big way.
Travis Kelce may be the safer option based on years of production but Andrews will start the follow-up to his best season with another fantastic game.
Waiver Wire Option: CJ Uzomah, New York Jets
Health and consistency will be key in the new Jet's effectiveness this season but with either a hobbled Zach Wilson or Joe Flacco starting for the team against Baltimore, Uzomah is a player who may see his fair share of opportunities on short-to-intermediate routes.
While he will likely see more pass- and run-blocking downs, do not be surprised to see the former Bengal put up some numbers while the Jets' quarterback situation remains fluid. He would, potentially, make a nice safety blanket alongside breakout receiver Braxton Berrios.
Uzomah is currently on just 1.7-percent of PPR league rosters.
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