Fantasy Football Week 1 Rankings: Reviewing All Positions Before Season Openers

Erik BeastonSep 4, 2024

The fantasy football season kicks off Thursday night with the debut of the 2024 NFL season.

Week One promises plenty of opportunities for managers to kick things off on the right foot, with blockbuster match-ups including Patrick Mahomes vs. Lamar Jackson in the season opener, and a rematch of the explosive Wild Card showdown between Los Angeles and Detroit.

Ahead of opening weekend and the performances by superstar players that will have fans buzzing, find out who makes the fantasy top 10 at each position with this preview.

All stats via FantasyPros.com unless otherwise noted.

Quarterbacks

1 of 5

Don Juan Moore/Getty Images

JACKSONVILLE, FL - AUGUST 10: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs on a pass play during a preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium on August 10, 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars defeated the Chiefs 26 to 13. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)

QB Rankings

Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills vs. Arizona Cardinals
CJ Stroud, Houston Texans vs. Indianapolis Colts
Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Baltimore Ravens
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams vs. Detroit Lions
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals vs. New England Patriots
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Green Bay Packers
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals vs. Buffalo Bills
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Miami Dolphins

Will CJ Stroud Pick Up Where He Left Off?

When a player explodes onto the scene and has the sort of rookie season Stroud did with the Houston Texans a season ago, much is expected in his sophomore campaign. Stroud is rostered in 100 percent of leagues in Yahoo and 99 percent in ESPN.

Some believe he will be an NFL MVP candidate in his second season under center and the organization went all-in this offseason to surround him with players on both sides of the ball to maximize what the team can accomplish.

Fantasy managers will get a good idea of what they can expect from him in Week One, against a Colts team that he scored 21.5 and 20.6 points against, respectively, a year ago.

Stroud was excellent for managers last season, including a 41-point eruption against Tampa Bay.

Suppose he can replicate his performance a year ago, with the help of new running back Joe Mixon and wide receivers Nico Collins and Tank Dell. In that case, Stroud will have every opportunity to be a top-performing quarterback in 2024 and achieve that MVP award that is certainly within his reach.

Running Backs

2 of 5

Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

OWINGS MILLS, MD - AUGUST 12: Derrick Henry #22 of the Baltimore Ravens carries the ball during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center Baltimore Ravens on August 12, 2024 in Owings Mills, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

RB Rankings

Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans
Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers vs. New York Jets
Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Miami Dolphins
Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Green Bay Packers
De'Von Acahane, Miami Dolphins vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams vs. Detroit Lions
James Cook, Buffalo Bills vs. Arizona Cardinals
Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos
Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Baltimore Ravens
Breece Hall, New York Jets vs. San Francisco 49ers

Staying Healthy Is Key for Kyren Williams

When healthy, the Notre Dame product was as good a running back in fanasy football as there was in 2024. In nine of the 12 games he appeared in, he scored more than 15 points and 12 touchdowns.

He was a threat to find the end zone in every game he played and could also come out of the backfield and contribute in the passing game. He was as integral to the Rams' offensive attack as either Cooper Kupp or Puka Nacua, if not more so.

He also missed three games in the middle of the season, forcing managers to scramble in an attempt to replace his production.

Williams is a game-changer for the Rams and the fantasy teams he appears on. If he can avoid significant injury, he is a top-five finisher at his position. Just in case, though, it might be worth grabbing Blake Corum off waivers as a handcuff. He is available in 32 percent of Yahoo and 37 percent of ESPN leagues.

Wide Receivers

3 of 5

Ric Tapia/Getty Images

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 10: Justin Jefferson #18 of the Minnesota Vikings back of jersey during a preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders at U.S. Bank Stadium on August 10, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images)

WR Rankings

Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings vs. New York Giants
AJ Brown, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Green Bay Packers
Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Washington Commanders
Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams vs. Detroit Lions
CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys vs. Cleveland Browns
Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams vs. Detroit Lions
Jaylen Waddel, Miami Dolphins vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Nico Collins, Houston Texans vs. Indianapolis Colts
Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers

Is Tyreek Hill Unstoppable?

Hill was the most explosive, dynamic wide receiver in the game a year ago, seemingly unstoppable by opposing defenses until late in the season when the entire Miami Dolphins offense bogged down.

He finished in the top five of fantasy wide receivers in nine weeks en route to a 13-touchdown, 1,799 yards, and 257.4 total points.

Hill was voted the best player in the league by his peers and can remain that way, but that will rely on the play of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and a Dolphins offense that does not sputter late in the season.

In Week One, against a Jaguars team that allowed 22.4 points per game to opposing wide receivers.

TOP NEWS

Bleacher Report4h

Bleacher Report2d

Bleacher Report4h

Tight Ends

4 of 5

David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

JACKSONVILLE, FL - AUGUST 10: Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) warms up before the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Jacksonville Jaguars on August 10, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

TE Rankings

Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions vs. Los Angeles Rams
Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Baltimore Ravens
Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills vs. Arizona Cardinals
Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals vs. Buffalo Bills
Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Miami Dolphins
George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers vs. New York Jets
Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers
Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Green Bay Packers

Sam LaPorta Joins The Elite

Travis Kelce has company in the discussion for best tight end in fantasy football.

Sam LaPorta wasted little time a season ago establishing himself as elite at his position, with six double-digit points games in his rookie season, including a 23.6-point effort against Denver in Week 15.

He became a favorite target of quarterback Jared Goff and one of the Lions' primary targets, alongside all-world wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.

He figures to stay that way in an offense that is tailored to his athleticism and pass-catching abilities, with potential for a big day Monday night against a questionable Rams linebacker crew.

Defense/Special Teams and Kicker

5 of 5

Cooper Neill/Getty Images

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 28: Sauce Gardner #1 of the New York Jets looks on from the field during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 28, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

DEF/ST Rankings