Week 1 Fantasy Football Rankings: Position-by-Position Outlook for Season Opener

More than ever, Week 1 of the 2020 NFL season will be a week of discovery. Things change every offseason, as team offenses and defenses can shift around mightily in wide departures from their former year's performances. 

But this year, with no preseason and even more limited media exposure, the possibilities for surprises are endless. Here, we'll go through the top 12 for each position in a standard league, looking at which players can be expected to perform best and analyzing some of the more intriguing situations. 

Ultimately, fantasy managers should just keep in mind that this season will be an especially long one and will benefit those who keep a keen eye on how situations begin to play out in the first week.

Top 12 Standard Rankings for 2020 Week 1

Quarterback

1. Patrick Mahomes, KC (vs. HOU)

2. Lamar Jackson, BAL (vs. CLE)

3. Russell Wilson, SEA (at ATL)

4. Deshaun Watson, HOU (at KC)

5. Drew Brees, NO (vs. TB)

6. Josh Allen, BUF (vs. NYJ)

7. Dak Prescott, DAL (at LAR)

8. Matt Ryan, ATL (vs. SEA)

9. Carson Wentz, PHI (at WAS)

10. Kyler Murray, ARI (at SF)

11. Cam Newton, NE (vs. MIA)

12. Philip Rivers, IND (at JAC)

What will stand out as a deviation from consensus mocks here is the Dak Prescott downgrade to QB7 and the inclusion of both Cam Newton and Philip Rivers in the top 12. For Prescott, it's not so much a slight against him as it is a discredit to the defenses faced by the quarterbacks ahead of him.

The Rams don't have the most intimidating defensive group either, aside from standouts in Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey, but they should at least be more formidable than the Atlanta Falcons, Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets. 

Newton and Rivers get into the top 12 because of the defenses they'll be facing, despite the uncertainty of new situations. Newton gets the Miami Dolphins, who made some big offseason additions but were still one of the league's least intimidating groups last year. Conversely, Philip Rivers faces the Jacksonville Jaguars who have lost numerous key pieces over the past year and whose high-upside rookie defenders should need time to get comfortable.

Running Back

1. Christian McCaffrey, CAR (vs. LV)

2. Ezekiel Elliott, DAL (at LAR)

3. Josh Jacobs, LV (at CAR)

4. Dalvin Cook, MIN (vs. GB)

5. Derrick Henry, TEN (at DEN)

6. Saquon Barkley, NYG (vs. PIT)

7. Joe Mixon, CIN (vs. LAC)

8. Austin Ekeler, LAC (at CIN)

9. Alvin Kamara, NO (vs. TB)

10. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC (vs. HOU)

11. Chris Carson, SEA (at ATL)

12. Raheem Mostert, SF (vs. ARI)

From an injury standpoint, Miles Sanders is the most intriguing running back this week. The Philadelphia Eagles face a Washington Football Team defense that has some cushion and, should Sanders be in good health by Sunday, he could be an excellent start. If not, Boston Scott is a great plug-and-play option.

But the week of discovery will be most interesting with regards to numerous backfield rotations. In the upper echelon, Kansas City Chiefs' split with Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Darrel Williams will be crucial to monitor, as will Raheem Mostert's opportunities alongside Tevin Coleman and Jerick McKinnon in San Francisco. Both backs face defenses with openings in Week 1.

Wide Receiver

1. Michael Thomas, NO (vs. TB)

2. Davante Adams, GB (at MIN)

3. Julio Jones, ATL (vs. SEA)

4. Tyreek Hill, KC (vs. HOU)

5. Chris Godwin, TB (at NO)

6. Allen Robinson, CHI (at DET)

7. Terry McLaurin, WAS (vs. PHI)

8. Kenny Golladay, DET (vs. CHI)

9. Mike Evans, TB (at NO)

10. DJ Moore, CAR (vs. LV)

11. A.J. Brown, TEN (at DEN)

12. Keenan Allen, LAC (at CIN)

There are a lot of wide receivers in the NFL, and knowing who will boom or bust each week is...difficult. This season, managers will be very curious to find out which of 2019's upstart rookies can be even better in their sophomore seasons and who becomes Tom Brady's go-to in Tampa Bay.

Terry McLaurin and A.J. Brown stood out as two of the most talented rookies in recent memory last season. Despite mediocre quarterback play, McLaurin piled up 919 yards, seven touchdowns and some incredible shows of hands and routes across 14 starts. Meanwhile, Brown had 1,051 yards, eight touchdowns and just looked like a running back after the catch across 11 starts. Week 1 will be the first test of their progress as true No. 1 options.

Both Chris Godwin and Mike Evans were top-10 fantasy receivers in 2019, Godwin being the WR2 and Evans the WR8. Both are exceptional talents, and there likely won't be a single fan of football who doesn't tune in to find out how Brady's new offense shapes up.

Tight End

1. George Kittle, SF (vs. ARI)

2. Travis Kelce, KC (vs. HOU)

3. Mark Andrews, BAL (vs. CLE)

4. Zach Ertz, PHI (at WAS)

5. Hayden Hurst, ATL (vs. SEA)

6. Darren Waller, LV (at CAR)

7. Hunter Henry, LAC (at CIN)

8. Tyler Higbee, LAR (vs. DAL)

9. Evan Engram, NYG (vs. PIT)

10. Noah Fant, DEN (vs. TEN)

11. Jared Cook, NO (vs. TB)

12. Mike Gesicki, MIA (at NE)

Sure, George Kittle might put up a preposterous week against the Arizona Cardinals with Deebo Samuel likely sidelined. But the most interesting options come later on, as Hayden Hurst gets to open up his campaign as Austin Hooper's replacement in Atlanta against a Seattle Seahawks defense that wasn't suffocating against tight ends in 2019. 

Further down, Tyler Higbee can cement himself as the Los Angeles Rams' top option at the position now that Gerald Everett is back to health. In Denver, Noah Fant has all of the talent in the world but needs to prove he can get the volume. And, in a particularly odd situation, Mike Gesicki was heavily targeted by Ryan Fitzpatrick to end 2019, but he projects as essentially a slot receiver for the Miami Dolphins in 2020, meaning he could provide massive value (or just clog up space).