Fantasy Football Week 1 Rankings: Examining Lineup Options After Injury Reports
Week One of any NFL season can be a tricky one to navigate for fantasy managers.
No one really knows how great a player will be in the first week of the season and for the new faces in new places, or rookies making their pro debuts, the uncertainty can lead to doubt.
The inaugural injury report does not help matters.
Tee Higgins of the Cincinnati Bengals is one player whose status for Sunday's season-opener is in doubt, leaving managers to scramble to find a replacement for him and hoping such a receiver can come close to replicating his output.
Who is a potential option and which wavier wire targets may prove the difference between a victory and defeat in 2024's opening fantasy week?
Find out with this preview.
All stats via FantasyPros unless otherwise indicated.
Quarterback
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QB Rankings
- Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills vs. Arizona Cardinals
- CJ Stroud, Houston Texans vs. Indianapolis Colts
- Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams vs. Detroit Lions
- Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals vs. New England Patriots
- Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
- Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs
- Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals vs. Buffalo Bills
- Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Miami Dolphins
- Jared Goff, Detroit Lions vs. Los Angeles Rams
- Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers
Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets
The quarterback position is relatively clean, with Russell Wilson of the Steelers being the only major name whose status for Sunday's games is questionable due to a calf injury.
Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos is available in 82 and 86 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues, respectively, and showed great poise and confidence during his appearances in the preseason. So much so that head coach Sean Payton named him the starter for Week One at Seattle.
It will be loud and raucous in Lumen Field but Nix has dealt with that sort of atmosphere before, having competed in some truly high-pressure college football games. Do not be surprised if he picks up where he left off in the preseason and puts together a performance against the Seahawks that, win or lose, gives Broncos fans hope that the season has a chance to be better than anyone expected.
Running Back
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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
- 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
- Breece Hall, New York Jets vs. San Francisco 49ers
- Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers
- James Conner, Arizona Cardinals vs. Buffalo Bills
Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets
Like the QB position, running back is without significant entries on the injury report.
On the waiver wire side of things, managers in need of depth at running back, or who are uninspired by their options and their match-ups this week should take a look at Panthers back Chuba Hubbard.
The veteran back will take the majority of snaps for Carolina while rookie Jonathon Brooks recovers from an injury that landed him on the PUP list to start the season. Hubbard is a strong runner and can catch the ball out of the backfield.
While he has not been consistently reliable for managers, he will have plenty of opportunities in the run and passing game to make an impact against division rival New Orleans.
Wide Receiver
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WR Rankings
- Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
- Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings vs. New York Giants
- 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
- Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions vs. Los Angeles Rams
- Jaylen Waddel, Miami Dolphins vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
- Nico Collins, Houston Texans vs. Indianapolis Colts
- Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers
Injury Report and Waiver Wire Options
It is not a great week to be a manager with Cincinnati Bengals wide receivers on your roster.
Tee Higgins is listed as "doubtful" for Sunday's game against New England with a hamstring injury. Star wideout Ja'Marr Chase is listed as "questionable," with the official reason being "not injury related - resting player."
That leaves managers with quarterback Joe Burrow as their starter at that position wondering who he will be throwing the ball to come game time.
Second-year receiver, and sixth-round pick Andrei Iosivas, and rookie second-round pick Jermaine Burton appear to be the options there. The former is available in over 90 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues while the latter can be had in nearly all of them.
If you are looking to stay away from the Bengals and their messy situation at that position, look to Brandin Cooks in Dallas. CeeDee Lamb will get his touches but with the Browns defense likely to shift its focus toward the Pro Bowler, Cooks will have chances to make big plays and fuel the Cowboys offense to victory.
Cooks had a double-digit fantasy performance in seven games a season ago and, at 30, can still turn the burners on and create big plays down the field. Expect Dak Prescott to look his way more than once Sunday.
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Tight End
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TE Rankings
- Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions vs. Los Angeles Rams
- 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
- TJ Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings vs. New York Giants
- Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Atlanta Falcons
Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets
Hunter Henry, Kyle Pitts, Noah Fant, and Brock Bowers all popped up on the initial injury report but all were full participants in practice and should be expected to start in Week One.
Managers with any of those four players, who may not want to risk it, should keep their eyes on veteran Zach Ertz in Washington.
Tight ends tend to be rookie quarterbacks' best friends, a safety net of sorts for them to find in a pinch.
Jayden Daniels has options at wide receiver, and will absolutely take off and run at some point in his debut Sunday against Tampa Bay, but Ertz figures to find himself the target of his quarterback's passes.
That he is only rostered in four percent of leagues makes him easily acquirable. A long-time member of the league and a valuable asset to quarterbacks in Philadelphia and Arizona, he has 46 career touchdowns and a Super Bowl ring to his name.
He may not be a valuable starter every week but in a pinch, he is a worthwhile pickup.
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