NFL DRAFT DFS: 2018 Week One Rankings (DRAFT.com)

NASHVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 24: Running Back Todd Gurley II #30 of the Los Angeles Rams carries the ball against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) NFL DRAFT DFS /

Why do you need another DFS site? Because DRAFT combines the excitement of a season-long draft into one set of games! This article has some pre-draft rankings all set for you to jump into some NFL DRAFT DFS action!

Welcome to the first installment of a weekly article covering NFL DRAFT DFS snake drafts on DRAFT.com from FantasyCPR. Every week for the NFL season, I will get my rankings set early in the week, and try to bring you this article with targets and my pre-draft rankings in plenty of time to hit the DRAFT lobby.

Every week, I will cover the main 15-game slate on DRAFT, omitting the Thursday game from this article. If you draft before Thursday night, there may be a few players not in the rankings to add to your rankings. This week’s first game of the year will feature the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles at home hosting the Atlanta Falcons. The only two players that would have made the top 50 rankings this week would have been Julio Jones and Zach Ertz, so slot them in accordingly early drafters!

Speaking of top 50. If you have read my DRAFT articles for PGA and MLB in the past, this set-up will be nearly identical in terms of breaking it down. I will first go over my targets at each position, and follow that up with rankings. Each target will be followed with their overall ranking. Rosters on DRAFT are 1-QB, 2-RB’s, and 2 WR/TE’s, so just five spots. Tournament size varies as far as how many participants are in each DRAFT, but this column will be geared towards the cash games. The most popular of these that I play are the $1 6-man’s and $5 10-man’s. Therefore, I will give my top 50 overall rankings after the targets, with 10 quarterbacks, 20 running backs, and 20 wide receivers. That should cover you for your 10-man contests!

NFL DRAFT DFS Week One Overview:

Typically what we will do here before we get to the targets, is give a brief overview of how my targets and teams fared from the previous week. It’s always important to figure out what mistakes were made should you come up short, so you can learn from them. I also believe it is important for writers like myself to show transparency when it comes to the players they recommend. These articles are free, and they reach a pretty decent size audience, if I am not almost 100% confident in somebody I likely will not write them up. With that said, these targets and rankings are going off what I have already drafted up to this point. They may change leading up to Sunday morning, and if anything major comes up, I will likely be updating on Twitter. Let’s move along!

One of the top FanDuel NFL quarterback options for Wild Card 2018 weekend, Cam Newton /

NFL DRAFT DFS: QB Targets:

Cam Newton – Carolina Panthers – (35)

While I will not pass on the legendary Tom Brady, or the recovering second year phenom DeShaun Watson in the third round this week, the guy I am actually targeting and expecting to get late third / early fourth round is Newton. I won’t be a fan of this offense much this year, as the offensive line is banged up, and looks like one of the worst in the league. However, the Panthers will host the Dallas Cowboys, in their first game without Dez Bryant on the outside in quite some time.

This is a major blow to the Cowboys offense in my opinion, and while defense is decent, I think they will be on the field a lot, as the Panthers grind out long drives. I can see a lot of dump off’s to Christian McCaffrey here to start the season, and plenty of targets to finally healthy tight end Greg Olsen. Newton is always a threat to get you some rushing TD’s as well. I think the Panthers put a hurting on the Cowboys here to start the season, and Newton has a big game.

Andy Dalton – Cincinnati Bengals – (48)

Another QB to target in line for a big game is Bengals veteran signal caller Andy Dalton. I do see him being drafted a little bit, but his low projection has some looking elsewhere. Pairing him with A.J. Green this week could equal money, as the Bengals will square-off with what looks to be the worst secondary ever assembled. Cincinnati will travel to Indianapolis, where the focus will likely be on what Andrew Luck can do against this Bengals defense.

I think this offense will grind it out a bit with Joe Mixon, but Dalton will also look deep to Green, and will also likely use both tight ends in Tyler Eifert and Tyler Kroft. One thing is for certain, and this should help you out for the future. NEVER take a QB with you first, or even second round pick! The other skill positions are far too important, and a guy like Dalton here in this spot can easily get you two or three TD’s in this match-up. He can also almost always be had with your last pick. Store it! Let’s move on to the running backs!

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JANUARY 14: Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints carries the ball in the second quarter of the NFC Divisional Playoff game against the Minnesota Viking on January 14, 2018 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /

NFL DRAFT DFS: RB Targets:

Alvin Kamara – New Orleans Saints – (1)

Projections have been changing numerous times daily, and the top running back projection wise for week one is actually now David Johnson at the moment. While I like him at a close third to Kamara and our next target, two premier multi-faceted backs have tasty match-ups this week, starting here.

The Saints will be at home to start the season, and they are heavy favorites against the Buccaneers. This is one of the best games to target, as it also has the second highest over/under total of the first week, as it stands at 49.5. The Buccaneers defense statistically was one of the worst in the league last season, as they were the only team in the NFL to give up over 6000 yards, ranking dead last in yards allowed. Kamara missed both games against the Bucs last year, and he will likely be tough for them to stop, as they did not do much to improve this defense. Mark Ingram is suspended for the first four games, and I think now with a year under his belt, Kamara will shine right out of the gate.

Todd Gurley – Los Angeles Rams – (2)

While Kamara gets the nod for the top spot, Gurley is not too far behind. You will likely see plenty of these two at the top of the rankings all season long if they can stay healthy. Gurley was an absolute beast last year in his third year in the league, and still has not taken a workload over 300 carries. The fact that he is a great receiver out of the backfield is why he seems to have less wear and tear on that end. Adding to his 1300+ rushing yards was 788 receiving yards on 64 catches. This is a deep offense, but there is no reason he should not receive a similar workload this season.

The Rams will open the season on the road for the last game of the week, which is the patented late/second Monday night game on opening day. This is the one I usually sleep through because I am old, but this year I may have to stay up and check it out depending on how many shares of Gurley I have.

Alex Collins – Baltimore Ravens – (18)

Well we all won’t get a top two or three pick, and you never truly know how far those top dogs will slide. Heck, there is always someone autopicking it seems that takes the top QB with the first pick overall. Hey I have seen it happen many times. In any rate, we will need some guys to target in the later rounds. I thought about Peyton Barber here, as I have drafted him a couple times now, but if the Bucs cannot keep up with the Saints out of the gates in that game, they may have to abandon the run game early. Therefore, let’s focus on Collins.

Look this is a back I pretty much do not like and will never target. However, let’s touch on a few things here. Collins only took three carries in the preseason, and was given the type of treatment other teams give to their workhorse running backs. There are some backs that lurk behind Collins, as Javorius Allen will likely step in on third downs, but Collins has a solid chance at racking up 20+ carries here and should get goal line work without question.

Baltimore will face the Buffalo Bills at home in this one, and will no doubt be looking at controlling the clock with this run game. The Bills are another team who does not seem to have it together, much like Oakland. Nathan Peterman was named the starting quarterback to the shock of most, and LeSean McCoy will play, as he awaits word on his offseason trouble.

I was able to grab Collins in the fourth round twice in ten man leagues, which is pretty absurd. Absolutely nobody is on him, and while I normally go RB, RB with my first two picks, if I decide to sneak my WR’s in early, I will be grabbing Collins later.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – FEBRUARY 04: Chris Hogan #15 of the New England Patriots celebrates scoring a 26-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter of Super Bowl LII against the Philadelphia Eagles at U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

NFL DRAFT DFS: WR/TE Targets:

DeAndre Hopkins – Houston Texans – (12)

We talked earlier about game totals, and how the Saints/Bucs game has the second highest this opening week. The Texans will travel to New England to face the Patriots, in what will be the highest game total on the slate at 51. That of course makes this another game to target. Hopkins counterpart Will Fuller on the other side is questionable, so Watson may look to get the ball in Hopkins’ hands often. He slots in as an early-mid second rounder, and is in a great spot to smash this New England secondary.

A.J Green – Cincinnati Bengals – (16)

This is one of my favorite plays of the week, and he keeps getting sniped from me! If you like Green as much as I do you will have to grab him in the second round it seems. I have been trying to wait until the third after going RB, RB but it has not been happening. I talked about it quite a bit above, this Colts secondary is set to get torched by everybody. If the defensive line cannot get any pressure on Dalton, I think Green, and even possibly John Ross have huge games in this one.

Chris Hogan – New England Patriots – (34)

My last featured target here is a big one for me as far as my ownership goes, as this last pick target allows us to grab a QB of choice in the fourth round, instead of banking on Andy Dalton. Best part about Hogan, is that he sliding way under the radar, with a projection of just 8.4. If there are any certain things about the Patriots offense, it is that Hogan will resume the Julian Edelman role, in which he excelled in last season.

In two season’s with Tom Brady in New England, Hogan has grabbed nine TD’s, and seems to be Brady second favorite target behind tight end Rob Gronkowski. He should get more looks early in season, now that Brandin Cooks is gone and Edelman will miss time with his suspension. Hogan seems pretty safe to grab 8-10 balls here in this game and possibly get in the end zone. It should be a high scoring affair with two powerful offenses, and Hogan is an easy way to get late exposure to it.

DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 10: David Johnson #31 of the Arizona Cardinals escapes the tackle of Glover Quin #27 of the Detroit Lions during a second half run at Ford Field on September 10, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

NFL DRAFT DFS: Week One Rankings: Top 50

My rankings are pretty easy to follow. I have ranked the top 50 overall. Following each player is their DRAFT fantasy point projection in parenthesis. Again, we will have the top ten QB’s, 20 RB’s and 20 WR/TE’s and here they are!

1. Alvin Kamara – New Orleans Saints – RB – (19.7)

2. Todd Gurley – Los Angeles Rams – RB – (20.9)

3. David Johnson – Arizona Cardinals – RB – (21.2)

4. Melvin Gordon – Los Angeles Chargers – RB – (17.5)

5. Kareem Hunt – Kansas City Chiefs – RB – (16.2)

6. Antonio Brown – Pittsburgh Steelers – WR – (16.8)

7. LeVeon Bell – Pittsburgh Steelers – RB – (19.1)

8. Leonard Fournette – Jacksonville Jaguars – RB – (14.5)

9. Ezekiel Elliott – Dallas Cowboys – RB – (17.8)

10. Micheal Thomas – New Orleans Saints – WR – (14.7)

11. Keenan Allen – Los Angeles Chargers – WR – (15.6)

12. DeAndre Hopkins – Houston Texans – WR – (14.0)

13. Jordan Howard – Chicago Bears – RB – (11.7)

14. Dalvin Cook – Minnesota Vikings – RB – (15.1)

15. Christian McCaffrey – Carolina Panthers – RB – (14.4)

16. A.J. Green – Cincinnati Bengals – WR – (11.6)

17. Davante Adams – Green Bay Packers – WR – (12.0)

18. Alex Collins – Baltimore Ravens – RB – (13.6)

19. Derrick Henry – Tennessee Titans – RB – (12.8)

20. Saquon Barkley – New York Giants – RB – (13.3)

21. Rob Gronkowski – New England Patriots – TE – (12.7)

22. DeShaun Watson – Houston Texans – QB – (22.3)

23. LeSean McCoy – Buffalo Bills – RB – (14.7)

24. Royce Freeman – Denver Broncos – RB – (11.8)

25. Joe Mixon – Cincinnati Bengals – RB – (10.5)

26. Odell Beckham – New York Giants – WR – (12.1)

27. Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay Packers – QB – (21.4)

28. Travis Kelce – Kansas City Chiefs – TE – (11.4)

29. Tom Brady – New England Patriots – QB – (21.5)

30. Peyton Barber – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – RB – (11.2)

31. Tyreek Hill – Kansas City Chiefs – WR – (12.2)

32. Rex Burkhead – New England Patriots – RB – (8.2)

33. JuJu Smith-Schuster – Pittsburgh Steelers – WR – (11.4)

34. Chris Hogan – 47. New England Patriots – WR – (8.4)

35. Cam Newton – Carolina Panthers – QB – (20)

36. Stefon Diggs – Minnesota Vikings – WR – (11.7)

37. Jarvis Landry – Cleveland Browns – WR – (11.5)

38. Lamar Miller – Houston Texans – RB – (10.7)

39. Andrew Luck – Indianapolis Colts – QB – (19.9)

40. Drew Brees – New Orleans Saints – QB – (19.3)

41. Mike Evans – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – WR – (11.3)

42. Brandin Cooks – Los Angeles Rams – WR – (9.3)

43. Larry Fitzgerald – Arizona Cardinals – WR – (12.2)

44. Robby Anderson – New York Jets – WR – (9.3)

45. Kirk Cousins – Minnesota Vikings – QB – (18.5)

46. Phillip Rivers – Los Angeles Chargers – QB – (18.9)

47. Ben Roethlisberger – Pittsburgh Steelers – QB – (19.7)

48. Andy Dalton – Cincinnati Bengals – QB – (14.7)

49. Adam Thielen – Minnesota Vikings – WR – (10.4)

50. T.Y. Hilton – Indianapolis Colts – WR – (9.1)

Next. Check out the Final Best Ball Rankings for DRAFT!. dark

Thanks a bunch for giving this a read, and my plan is to go hard at this article, so that everyone who reads it until the end can have an edge. Your edge this week is Cam Newton in the fourth round, and Chris Hogan in the 5th round. I have ended up on these two more than anyone else this week, so they will be featured in our first recap next week! Can’t wait until then to bring it to you. Football is finally here! Let’s go get it!