Fantasy Football Week 1 Rankings: Top Player To Start at Each Position

The 2011 NFL season kicks off on Thursday night, and that calls for fantasy football Week 1 rankings.

Weekly rankings can really vary between players depending on the opposition that each is facing, and it's important that owners look to exploit matchups whenever it's possible to do so.

Nobody wants to start off on the wrong foot with an 0-1 record, and most will be looking to bust out all of the stops in an effort to take home the inaugural victory.

If you've got these seven players on your roster heading into Week 1, your team is headed in the right direction.

Quarterback: Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles

Week 1 Opponent: St. Louis Rams

Vick is the definition of high-risk/high-reward as a QB1 for any owner, but there's just far too much upside to ignore here as the Eagles head into the regular season.

Unlike any other quarterback, Vick's a monstrous threat on the ground, and while we've seen some mobility from others at the position, none of them have the athleticism or speed that Vick does.

Vick averaged just under 6.8 yards per carry last season, including 103 yards on 11 carries in the first week of 2010 against Green Bay.

If the Rams try to take the Eagles vertical attack away and drop back into coverage, Vick is going to take off early and often.

Wide Receiver: Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals

Week 1 Opponent: Carolina Panthers

The Arizona Cardinals had one of the more laughable quarterback rotations in recent memory throughout 2010, and Fitzgerald still registered 90 catches, 1,137 yards and six touchdowns.

Now that he's actually got a capable gunslinger in Kevin Kolb, I expect those numbers to rise—especially in the touchdown department.

Kolb and Fitzgerald have looked like they were on the same page since the beginning of training camp, and I expect the tandem to feast on the Carolina corners throughout the game.

It wouldn't surprise me to see Fitzgerald score twice and go over 100 yards in his 2011 debut, and his numbers could even be better than that.

The guy really is that good.

Running Back: Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings

Week 1 Opponent: San Diego Chargers

The Chargers remember Peterson all too well from his 2007 explosion.

When the two teams squared off, Peterson racked up 296 yards on the ground on 30 carries and crossed the plane an incredible three times.

Using standard scoring in a non-PPR league, that would be good for 47 fantasy points.

Let's add an interesting wrinkle into the equation this time: Peterson is playing for his next contract.

For a guy nicknamed "All Day," he should have no problem putting up impressive numbers for the Vikings and your fantasy team all afternoon.

Tight End: Jermichael Finley, Green Bay Packers

Week 1 Opponent: New Orleans Saints (Thursday)

Finley owners get a really early start to the fantasy season as the tight end lines up on Thursday night, and I can't wait to see him on the gridiron again.

On a quest to prove that he's the best tight end in the business, the Finley-to-Rodgers connection was not only obvious last season, but it was especially potent.

There's just no way that a linebacker can cover Finley and his insane athleticism, and he's far too big for a corner or safety to try and cover him.

With the speed threats that the Packers boast on the outside to pair with Jordy Nelson in the slot, Finley should be running a muck over the middle all night long in what should be a high-scoring affair.

He's my pick to finish the season as fantasy's top tight end, and his dominance should show from the onset.

Kicker: Mason Crosby, Green Bay Packers

Week 1 Opponent: New Orleans Saints (Thursday)

As alluded to in the previous slide, I expect the Packers and Saints to put on a show in the first contest of 2011, and that should mean a lot of opportunities for Crosby.

The Packers offense is loaded, but the Saints defense isn't one that should simply be glossed over and written off. They've got talent capable of making plays, and it's highly probable that Crosby is going to be coming out more often than just for extra points.

He was a prolific producer from the kicker position last year, and there's little doubt that he should be able to repeat his previous success.

Rarely do kickers look posed for a double-digit night, but Crosby's got the leg (and the supporting cast) to do exactly that on Thursday night.

Defense: New England Patriots

Week 1 Opponent: Miami Dolphins

The Patriots played the Dolphins twice last season, and beat the 'Fins by a combined score of 79-21.

The first matchup between the sides in Week 4 was the one where the Pats defense really asserted its dominance.

With a blocked field goal that was returned for a touchdown, an interception returned for a touchdown and a 103-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, the Patriots really put an emphatic stamp on the forehead of the division rival.

The Dolphins turned the ball over four times that night (all interceptions), and Chad Henne is going to have to step up into the pocket and throw in the face of Albert Haynesworth and Vince Wilfork to avoid a loss.

I don't see that happening.

Individual Defensive Player (IDP): Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots

Week 1 Opponent: Miami Dolphins

Jerod Mayo has been the leader of the Patriots defense, and he's really primed to take a step forward this season.

Now that the team has transitioned to a 4-3 defense, Mayo will be able to play all over the field and will give the Dolphins a major challenge when they try and slow him down.

He's been an animal on the field since being drafted out of Tennessee, and No. 51 had a ridiculous 16 tackles in the Week 4 matchup between the parties last season.

Looking to put together back-to-back 100-plus-tackle seasons for the first time in his young career, Mayo isn't going to disappoint his owners in the first week of play.