Fantasy Football Week 1 Rankings: Season-Opening Position-by-Position Review

The path to a fantasy league championship involves knowing who to start when and recognizing when there is a potential sleeper just waiting for a team manager to pick them up and slot them in the lineup.

It is much more difficult in Week One, when there are so many uncertainties surrounding any one squad and its lineup.

Will the star quarterback perform up to the level of their play from a season ago? Will the new wide receiver exhibit enough chemistry with his teammates to make his first appearance a successful one?

Can the running back hold up under the weight of expectation?

Ahead of Week One, find out the answer to those and more with this look at each positional rankings and sleepers to keep your eye on.

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All stats via FantasyPros unless otherwise noted.

Quarterbacks

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CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 10: Quarterback Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals warms up prior to preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Paycor Stadium on August 10, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images)

QB Rankings

1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills vs. Arizona Cardinals
2. CJ Stroud, Houston Texans vs. Indianapolis Colts
3. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams vs. Detroit Lions
   
4. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals vs. New England Patriots
5. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
6. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs
   
7. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals vs. Buffalo Bills
8. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Miami Dolphins
9. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions vs. Los Angeles Rams
10. Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers

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Sleeper: Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

There may be no player in the NFL more slept on by fantasy managers entering the 2024 season than Matthew Stafford.

The 36-year-old quarterback managed 24 touchdowns and 254.3 total fantasy points, all while the Rams offense renewed its focus on the run game with Kyren Williams.

In the Wild Card game against Detroit that ended the team's season, Stafford was arguably the best player on the field, shaking off tremendous punishment from the Lions' defense to complete 25 of 36 passes for 367 yards and two touchdowns.

With Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua healthier for the season opener against those same Lions, the re-emergence of Demarcus Robinson a season ago, and the dazzling efforts of rookie wideout Jordan Whittington during the pre-season, Stafford has every weapon necessary to replicate and even improve upon that performance.

Throw in new tight end Colby Parkinson, Williams, and rookie back Blake Corum and you have the recipe for a big day against a leaky, oftentimes overly aggressive Lions defense.

Stafford is available in 34 percent of Yahoo and 65 percent of ESPN leagues. Pick him up now and consider keeping him well beyond week one. His best performances a season ago came in weeks 12 to 16.

Running Backs

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TAMPA, FL - AUGUST 23: De'Von Achane #28 of the Miami Dolphins smiles on the sidelines during the second quarter of an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on August 23, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

RB Rankings

1. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans
2. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers vs. New York Jets
3. Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Miami Dolphins
4. De'Von Acahane, Miami Dolphins vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
   
5. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams vs. Detroit Lions
6. James Cook, Buffalo Bills vs. Arizona Cardinals
7. Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos
8. Breece Hall, New York Jets vs. San Francisco 49ers
   
9. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers
10. James Conner, Arizona Cardinals vs. Buffalo Bills

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Sleeper: James Conner, Arizona Cardinals vs. Buffalo Bills

Conner's 2023 campaign started slow but beginning Week 13, he went on a tear that started with a 22.5-point performance against Pittsburgh and concluded with a 26.4 eruption against Seattle. He never fell below 14.9 and was the catalyst for the Cardinals' offense.

With inexperienced backs in rookie Trey Benson and second-year player Emari Demercado backing him up, Conner will get the majority of the reps and have countless opportunities to establish himself as a top-10 fantasy back.

Especially against a Buffalo Bills defense that surrendered 20.12 points per game to opposing running backs a season ago.

Wide Receivers

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JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - AUGUST 17: Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers warms up prior to the preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on August 17, 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

WR Rankings

1. Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
2. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings vs. New York Giants
3. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Washington Commanders
   
4. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams vs. Detroit Lions
5. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys vs. Cleveland Browns
6. Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams vs. Detroit Lions
7. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions vs. Los Angeles Rams
8. Jaylen Waddel, Miami Dolphins vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
9. Nico Collins, Houston Texans vs. Indianapolis Colts
10. Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers

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Sleeper: Stefon Diggs, Houston Texans vs. Indianapolis Colts

To state that 2023 was among the worst seasons in Diggs' career would be an understatement of massive proportions. There were few receivers who underwhelmed to the level that Diggs did in Buffalo last season, falling off for the second consecutive season.

Not only did his numbers steadily decline in the back half of the year, but Diggs only finished in the top 25 at his position once between Week 10 and 18.

Now in Houston, with second-year phenom CJ Stroud at the helm, Diggs has a new lease on his status as a premier receiver in the league. Unfortunately, that opportunity comes on a team brimming with explosive young receivers such as Tank Dell and Nico Collins, and tight end Dalton Schultz.

The Colts may focus their coverage on containing Dell and Collins, opening things up for Diggs to have a big day as the third receiver. In that case, he is a valuable depth piece on most rosters, but beware of the second-half of the season, where Diggs has turned in consecutively underwhelming returns.

Tight Ends

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 31: Arizona Cardinals Tight End Trey McBride (85) celebrates a touchdown in the second half during the game between the Arizona Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles on December 31, 2023 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

TE Rankings

1. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions vs. Los Angeles Rams
2. Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills vs. Arizona Cardinals
   
3. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals vs. Buffalo Bills
4. Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Miami Dolphins
5. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers vs. New York Jets
6. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Chargers
7. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs
8. Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers
9. TJ Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings vs. New York Giants
10. Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Atlanta Falcons

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Sleeper: Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams

Parkinson showed flashes of being a playmaker in Seattle but this past off-season, signed with the Rams and will have the opportunity to make good on his potential.

The 6'7'' target will be a considerable asset for Stafford and the Los Angeles offense, especially as opposing defenses focus on taking Kupp and Nacua out of the equation.

Parkinson tallied at least two receptions in eight games a season ago but found the end zone just twice.

With starting tight end Tyler Higbee still recovering from an injury suffered last year, look for Parkinson to see plenty of playing time and, potentially, establish himself as a breakout star for this year's Rams team.

Defense/Special Teams and Kickers

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ATLANTA, GA NOVEMBER 26: New Orleans defensive end Cameron Jordan (94) warms up prior to the start of the NFL game between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons on November 26th, 2023 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

DEF/ST Rankings

1. New Orleans Saints (vs. Carolina Panthers)
2. Chicago Bears (vs. Tennessee Titans)
3. Cincinnati Bengals (vs. New England Patriots)
4. New York Jets (vs. San Francisco 49ers)
5. San Francisco 49ers (vs. New York Jets)
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Atlanta Falcons)
7. Minnesota Vikings (vs. New York Giants)
8. Cleveland Browns (vs. Dallas Cowboys)
9. Dallas Cowboys (vs. Cleveland Browns)
10. Seattle Seahawks (vs. Denver Broncos)

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Kickers

1. Evan McPherson, Cincinnati Bengals vs. New England Patriots
2. Ka'imi Fairbairn, Houston Texans vs. Indianapolis Colts
3. Tyler Bass, Buffalo Bills vs. Arizona Cardinals
4. Jake Moody, San Francisco 49ers vs. New York Jets
5. Younghoe Koo, Atlanta Falcons vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
6. Jason Myers, Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos
7. Cairo Santos, Chicago Bears vs. Tennessee Titans
8. Jason Saunders, Miami Dolphins vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
9. Cameron Dicker, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders
10. Dustin Hopkins, Cleveland Browns vs. Dallas Cowboys