Fantasy Football: Everything you need to know for week 1

Have you ever looked around for a site that could give you a mailbag, interesting stats, start/sit guide, and rankings all in one article? For free? Well, you’ve found it. I’m your guy that you can go to for all of this information. I started with the mailbag and wasn’t getting a lot of feedback on it, and rightfully so because why do you care about someone else’s fantasy team when you have your own to worry about? This article is designed to give you that. If you only want rankings, then skip ahead to the section you like and read it. If you don’t read it all, that’s fine, just don’t count on winning every single week!

More from Fantasy Football

That was a joke, even if I am rated as the best expert in the world this year, I’ll tell you that I will end up making some bad call this year. We can even have a section added where I list my good calls and bad calls for the week. Where you can call me horrible, and destroy me in the comments section. Also, the waiver wire addition will be added to this next week. Let’s get started.

Week One Mailbag:

Gerhart is a nice start in week 1. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

1.) Week 1. Would you start Bernard Pierce or Toby Gerhart in PPR league?

Chris Brent: I’m starting Toby Gerhart. I don’t like the matchup for Pierce,and I think Toby Gerhart is going to be the workhorse for Jacksonville, while I think Pierce won’t be getting all the work.

2.) Ingram or Gerhart? Colston or Maclin? Please help my flex players for two different leagues.

Chris Brent: Gerhart is my starter here too. Ingram has a fantastic matchup as Atlanta is completely decimated up front, but I can’t guarantee the workload that Ingram will receive. I know how the Saints should use Ingram, but the real question is: will they? It’s Sean Payton and we know how he handles running backs for fantasy football, he’s frustrating. Ingram is a solid dice roll this week, but I like Gerhart better.

3.) Start three. Patterson ,V Jax, A Johnson, Wayne ,Hilton ,T Williams , Colston, Watkins.

Chris Brent: I’d start Cordarrelle Patterson, Andre Johnson, and Vincent Jackson. I’m worried about the Carolina secondary, and I think that Vincent Jackson can really take advantage. I love the matchup for both Cordarrelle Patterson and Andre Johnson. A lot of people are concerned about Fitpatrick throwing to Andre Johnson. However, Ryan Fitpatrick is incredible at getting the ball to his number one receiver. He’s never had an Andre Johnson either.

4.) Kelvin Benjamin vs TB or Pierre Thomas vs ATL? Standard Scoring.

Chris Brent: Pierre Thomas. I love the matchup with Atlanta as I spoke about earlier, and worse case scenario, he is Darren Sproles when he was with the Saints. I love Benjamin for the season, but my concern is clear. Cam Newton is coming off a rib injury, which is requiring him to wear a flak jacket, and we saw this preseason that the chemistry wasn’t 100% yet. Plus, this Buccaneers defense has Alterraun Verener, who I believe is going to blossom into a shut down corner.

5.) A.J. Green or Dez Bryant?

Chris Brent: The fact that this is your decision shows that you are in good shape. A.J. Green hasn’t had a 100-yard game in the last 7 games including the playoffs. I’ll start Dez here. Dalton struggled against Baltimore last season, so I don’t trust him until I see it. I’m nitpicking, both are tremendous starts.

6.) Cordarrelle Patterson or C.J. Spiller?

Chris Brent: I’m starting Cordarelle because I don’t know about the role that C.J. Spiller will have. I know what role he should have, but I’m not coaching the Bills, and stockily I have no control. Another reason to start Cordarrelle: the Rams gave up a touchdown to an opposing number one receiver in 11 of 16 games. In the 5 games that they didn’t allow a touchdown to a number one receiver, they gave up at least 88 receiving yards four times. So only one time all season did a number one receiver not have at least 88 yards or a touchdown against the Rams.

The Updated Weekly Rankings:

Where are the Packers and Seahawks? I took them out! Changing my ranks, I know what happens in the game, that game is over.

Quarterbacks: (Updated September 7th)

Surprise, surprise. Manning is number one! Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

1.) Peyton Manning (v. IND)

2.) Drew Brees (@ ATL )

3.) Matthew Stafford (v. NYG)

4.) Andrew Luck (@ DEN)

5.) Colin Kaepernick (@ DAL)

6.) Tony Romo (v. SF)

7.) Matt Ryan (v. NO)

8.) Tom Brady (@ MIA)

9.) Jay Cutler (v. BUF)

10.) Carson Palmer (v. SD)

11.) Nick Foles (v. JAC)

12.) Philip Rivers (@ ARI)

13.) Ben Roethlisberger (v. CLE)

14.) Robert Griffin III (@ HOU)

15.) Jake Locker (@ KC)

16.) Cam Newton (@ TB)

17.) Alex Smith (v. TEN)

18.) Andy Dalton (@ BAL)

19.) Joe Flacco (v. CIN)

20.) Matt Cassel (@ STL)

21.) Eli Manning (@ DET)

22.) Geno Smith (v. OAK)

Running Backs Rankings (Updated September 7th)

McCoy has a great matchup in week 1. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

1.) LeSean McCoy (v. JAC)

2.) Jamaal Charles (v. TEN)

3.) Montee Ball (v. IND)

4.) Adrian Peterson (v. STL)

5.) Matt Forte (v. BUF)

6.) DeMarco Murray (v. SF)

7.) Frank Gore (@ DAL)

8.) Arian Foster (v. HOU)

9.) Alfred Morris (v. Was)

10.) Giovani Bernard (@ BAL)

11.) Le’Veon Bell (v. CLE)

12.) Zac Stacy (v. MIN)

13.) Chris Johnson (v. OAK)

14.) Joique Bell (v. NYG)

15.) Toby Gerhart (@ PHI)

16.) Ryan Mathews (@ ARI)

17.) Fred Jackson (@ CHI)

18.) Stevan Ridley (@ MIA)

19.) Mark Ingram (@ ATL)

20.) Doug Martin (v. CAR)

21.) Pierre Thomas (@ ATL)

22.) Shane Vereen (@ MIA)

23.) Ben Tate (@ PIT)

24.) Reggie Bush (v. NYG)

25.) C.J. Spiller (@ CHI)

26.) Rashad Jennings (@ DET)

27.) Shonn Greene (@ KC)

28.) Bernard Pierce (v. CIN)

29.) Maurice Jones-Drew (@ NYJ)

30.) Knowshon Moreno (v. NE)

31.) Steven Jackson (v. NO)

32.) Trent Richardson (@ DEN)

33.) LeGarrette Blount (v. CLE)

34.) Lamar Miller (v. NE)

35.) Carlos Hyde (@ DAL)

36.) DeAngelo Williams (@ TB)

37.) Jeremy Hill (@ BAL)

38.) Jonathan Dwyer (v. SD)

39.) Chris Ivory (v. OAK)

40.) Benny Cunningham (v. MIN)

41.) Danny Woodhead (@ ARI)

42.) Andre Williams (@ DET)

43.) Dexter McCluster (@ KC)

44.) Bishop Sankey (@ KC)

45.) Ahmad Bradshaw (@DEN)

46.) Darren Sproles (v. JAC)

47.) Roy Helu (@ HOU)

Wide Receivers Rankings (Updated September 7th )

Calvin will always get his numbers. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

1.) Calvin Johnson (v. NYG)

2.) Dez Bryant (v. SF)

3.) Brandon Marshall (v. BUF)

4.) Julio Jones (v. NO)

5.) DeMaryius Thomas (v. IND)

6.) A.J. Green (@ BAL)

7.) Alshon Jeffery (v. BUF)

8.) Andre Johnson (v. WAS)

9.) Emmanuel Sanders (v. IND)

10.) Cordarrelle Patterson (@ STL)

11.) Roddy White (v. NO)

12.) Antonio Brown (v. CLE)

13.) Larry Fitzgerald (v. SD)

14.) Keenan Allen (@ ARI)

15.) Michael Crabtree (@ DAL)

16.) Jeremy Maclin (v. JAC)

17.) Michael Floyd (v. SD)

18.) Vincent Jackson (v. CAR)

19.) Marques Colston (@ ATL)

20.) T.Y. Hilton (@ DEN)

21.) Eric Decker (v. OAK)

22.) Pierre Garcon (@ HOU)

23.) Julian Edelman (@ MIA)

24.) Golden Tate (v. NYG)

25.) Pierre Garcon (@HOU)

26.) Kendall Wright (@ KC)

27.) Reggie Wayne (@ DEN)

27.) Victor Cruz (@ DET)

28.) Kelvin Benjamin (@ TB)

29.) DeSean Jackson (@HOU)

30.) Terrence Williams (v. SF)

31.) Torrey Smith (v. CIN)

32.) Rueben Randle (@ DET)

33.) Brandin Cooks (@ ATL)

34.) Justin Hunter (@ KC)

35.) Steve Smith (v. CIN)

36.) Mike Wallace (v. NE)

37.) Marqise Lee (@ PHI)

38.) Anquan Boldin (@ DAL)

39.) Brian Hartline (v. NE)

40.) Andre Holmes (@ NYJ)

Tight End Rankings (Updated September 7th)

Graham is so good, he is almost number one on his bye week! Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

1.) Jimmy Graham (@ ATL)

2.) Julius Thomas (v. IND)

3.) Rob Gronkowski (@ MIA)

4.) Jason Witten (v. SF)

5.) Vernon Davis (@ DAL)

6.) Zach Ertz (v. JAC)

7.) Jordan Reed (@HOU)

8.) Antonio Gates (@ ARI)

9.) Dennis Pitta (v. CIN)

10.) Kyle Rudolph (@ STL)

11.) Greg Olsen (@ TB)

12.) Jordan Cameron (@ PIT)

13.) Martellus Bennett (v. BUF)

14.) Ladarius Green (@ ARI)

15.) Travis Kelce (v. TEN)

Start/Sit guide:

Quarterback Starts:

Palmer could be huge with Ellington out. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Carson Palmer- I know this sounds like a no-brainer now, but if I knew that Ellington was going to miss time, I actually would have ranked and started Palmer over Aaron Rodgers this week. I only had them one spot apart. It’s not crazy. Carson Palmer is going to come out throwing against this questionable Chargers secondary at home. Palmer is a guy that I want to start.

Deep Start:

Chad Henne- I know he’s horrible. I even think he’s awful, but this is if you’re desperate. Opponents have been able to take advantage of Philadelphia’s passing defense. Last year the Eagles had seven games where they allowed at least 300 yards passing and multiple touchdowns in the same game. Chad Henne was able to throw for 300 yards three times last year.

Quarterback Sits:

Cam Newton- Hairline fracture in the ribs, coming off ankle surgery, lacking chemistry with receivers. All of this means that I want no part of Cam Newton this week. Rushing is a huge part of his game, and he won’t be running with multiple fractures in his ribs.

QB that has me nervous:

Nick Foles- If you go to Fantasypros.com, you can get the consensus of all the experts ranks combined. Nick Foles comes in at number five among quarterbacks and I’m a little nervous about him. I have him inside the top 12, but I certainly don’t feel good about it after watching Jacksonville this preseason. The Jaguars are not the same, “start them because they play the Jags” that they were last year.

Running Back Starts:

He could be CJ2K again. For one week anyway. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Johnson– He gets the Raiders! I’m actually not buying the whole “play the hot hand” quote from the team. I think they’ll lean on the explosive Chris Johnson to get them through this week. The Raiders are improving up front, but they aren’t there yet. Chris Johnson might not get the touchdowns, but I expect him to explode.

Deep Start:

Shonn Greene- The Chiefs were horrible against the run last year, and you give Greene one of the best offensive lines in the league to run behind. He could explode for a couple scores this week.

Running Back Sits:

Doug Martin- Carolina was the best defense against the run last year. They gave up the least amount of touchdowns to running backs and we have to worry about that Tampa Bay line. The line is upgraded, but I think there is more to learning an offensive line playbook then just going out there and blocking whoever is around you. Mankins is still learning the reads, so it could be a rough go week one.

RB that has me nervous:

Zac Stacy- I’m a little worried about Stacy, so I’m going to move him down. However, he’s not going to go away. This team is without Sam Bradford, and you can expect them to run the football. I expect both Stacy and Cunningham to get touches, but I’m nervous about what the split is. I’m gambling on Stacy this week, but that doesn’t mean I feel good about it.

Wide Receiver Starts:

With Welker out, Sanders could be huge! Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Emmanuel Sanders/ Cordarrelle Patterson- I love both of them this week. The Rams allowed the number one receivers to score in 11 out of 16 games last season, and it will likely happen again. Emmanuel Sanders on the other hand, will be asked to step up in the absence of Wes Welker. The Broncos will be looking to put up numbers, and Sanders will be an option.

Deep Start:

Marqise Lee- Same thing as my deep start for Henne. He is playing a defense that allows the quarterback to throw the football and Cecil Shorts has been ruled out. Lee will step up this week.

Wide Receiver Sits:

Victor Cruz- Hard to say “bench Victor Cruz” because all he needs is one play and he has 80-yards and a touchdown. But I didn’t see a lot of clicking between him and the quarterback during the preseason. One can hope, but I’ll avoid the Giants this week. I would play Randle because I’m more confident in him scoring, but only as a desperation play.

WR that has me nervous:

Vincent Jackson- Can Josh McCown confidently get Vincent Jackson the ball? The Buccaneers may be without offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford, and if they are, are we positive that the guy calling plays can work his magic with McCown? I’m not. The Panthers secondary is questionable, but it worries me a little bit.

Tight End Starts:

Whoever starts at TE for San Diego should start for you. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Antonio Gates/ Ladarius Green- Whatever one is the starter will be the starter for my team. Gates pulled up in Saturday’s practice with a hamstring injury, and he gets the worst defense against tight ends last season.

Deep Start:

Charles Clay- If he plays he could be sneaky with the Patriots just running man-on-man coverage between Darrelle Revis and Mike Wallace. I don’t feel great about him, but I’d consider it.

Tight End that has me nervous:

Jordan Cameron- I have no tight end sits because the position is so thin, but I am so worried about Jordan Cameron. You’d think they’d have to move the ball some way, but I think he is too easily doubled teamed and then were do the Browns go. I don’t trust the Browns offense without Johnny Manziel on the field. Honestly I still don’t feel that great with Manziel on the field.

Interesting stats:

Smith is money in week 1. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Steve Smith starts the season out right! In his last four week one performances, he has managed to score double digit fantasy points every time. If you play in Point Per Reception (PPR) leagues, then his lowest score was 17.1 fantasy points.
Joe Flacco in his last three week one performances has managed 18,19, and 20 fantasy points in ESPN Standard leagues.
The Rams allowed a touchdown to number one receivers in 11 of the possible 16 games. In the 5 games that the number one receiver didn’t score a touchdown, four of them the number one receiver managed at least 88 yards.
In their last matchup, Vonta Davis was able to manage DeMaryius Thomas. Davis only allowed one catch on five targets while covering him.
Joe Haden is a lock-down corner except when he plays against Antonio Brown. Brown had 15 catches on 24 targets for 179 yards and a touchdown in his two games against the Browns last year.