This brings to a close our weekly rankings for this, the first week of the National Football League. As I write this we are under 24 hours until the season opener commences. Yes, we will be favred to death, but it’s football! Real football!!
Keep those start/sit questions coming in the comments. If you pose me a difficult enough one it may make me rethink my rankings here. I try to pose myself those questions while doing the rankings, but sometimes it’s not until one of you ask, that I see a good reason to rank someone higher than the other.
I will also post a game thread for the season opener so we can revel in it together!
Tight Ends
- Antonio Gates @KC
- Jermichael Finley @PHI
- Dallas Clark @HOU
- Vernon Davis @SEA
- Tony Gonzalez @PIT
- Jason Witten @WAS
- Kellen Winslow vs. CLE
- Zach Miller @TEN
- Visanthe Shiancoe @NO
- Chris Cooley vs. DAL
- Brent Celek vs. GB
- Heath Miller vs. ATL
- Greg Olsen vs. DET
- Tony Scheffler @CHI
- Jermaine Gresham @NE
- Dustin Keller vs. BAL
- Todd Heap @NYJ
- Jeremy Shockey vs. MIN
- John Carlson vs. SF
- Owen Daniels vs. IND
- Kevin Boss vs. CAR
- Michael Hoomanawanui vs. ARI
- Marcedes Lewis vs. DEN
- Anthony Fasano @BUF
- Aaron Hernandez vs. CIN
- Bo Scaife vs. OAK
- Rob Gronkowski CIN
Defenses
- San Francisco vs. SEA
- Miami @BUF
- N.Y. Jets vs. BAL
- Baltimore @NYJ
- Chicago vs. DET
- Dallas @WAS
- Tennessee vs. OAK
- Pittsburgh vs. ATL
- N.Y. Giants vs. CIN
- Green Bay @PHI
- Atlanta @PIT
- Tampa Bay vs. CLE
- Arizona @STL
- Denver @JAX
- San Diego @KC
- Cleveland @TB
- New England vs. CIN
- Jacksonville vs. DEN
- Carolina @NYG
- New Orleans vs. MIN
- Washington vs. DAL
- Cincinnati vs. @NE
- Oakland vs. @TEN
- Minnesota vs. @NO
- Philadelphia vs. GB
- Seattle vs. @SEA
- Kansas City vs. SD
- Houston vs. IND
- St. Louis vs. ARI
- Buffalo vs. MIA
- Indianapolis @HOU
- Detroit @CHI
Kickers
- Garrett Hartley
- Stephen Gostkowski
- Rob Bironas
- Nate Kaeding
- David Akers
- Robbie Gould
- Dan Carpenter
- Lawrence Tynes
- Mason Crosby
- Adam Vinatieri
- Ryan Longwell
- Connor Barth
- Josh Scobee
- Joe Nedney
- David Buehler
- Rian Lindell
- Neil Rackers
- Jay Feely
- Olindo Mare
- Jeff Reed
- Matt Bryant
- Nick Folk
- Matt Prater
- Sebastian Janikowski
- Graham Gano
- Ryan Succop
- Billy Cundiff
- Josh Brown
- Mike Nugent
- John Kasay
- Phil Dawson
- Jason Hanson
@Doc: in a ppr, stick with ricky williams or mcfadden over santana moss for my flex?
appreciate the rankings…it really does seem like its been 3 1/2 years.
@herschel: I would say McFadden, but Cable is now saying Bush might play. I’d go with Moss in PPR unless Bush gets ruled out.
defense dilemma. My scoring favors big plays. Yards allowed isn’t a factor and the difference between allowing 14 and 34 points equals up to 3 fantasy pts. So sacks and TOs are the money stats. I have the Saints starting right now… hesitantly. I feel they offer the highest ceiling. AZ (@St.L) is on the wire but they’re pretty weak at LB for a 3-4 scheme. ATL (@Pit) is there too. Dixon could cough up a few TO’s but hes not easy to get to (0 sacks v. Baltimore last year). Whats your take?
TB and Cleveland are also on the wire. That game should be a mess but i dont know if i can trust either of those teams to do much more than have low scores.
Zach Miller or Malcom Floyd for a ppr flex spot?
I guess kicker questions are like catcher questions? I had Sebastian Janikowski and picked up Neil Rackers when he was made starter. But I’m not sure if was just average in Arizona last year. Does Janikowski’s big leg and Oaklands Offense mean a lot of nice long FGA this year?
Got some tough week 1 matchups:
Turner @ Pit
Greene vs. Bal
Brown @ Buf
Moreno @ Jac
Bradshaw vs Car
Non-PPR/start 3…I feel like Moreno and Bradshaw have the best matchups but I should probably be starting the top three…any advice?
Also have Marshall and Boldin at WR with Ward and Jacoby on the bench…Boldin doesn’t look so hot now that Revis signed…?
Tony Gonzalez should be playing PIT instead of STL…might want to correct that…that’s a big difference!
Would you pick up L. Naanee and drop E. Doucet looking down the line. I also have M. Floyd and I’m thinking it might be best to speculate on Charger WRs.
Hey Doc, just drafted this team last night in a regular 10 team league QB, WR, WR, WR, RB, RB, TE, K, DEF, BN, BN, BN, BN, BN, BN
This is my team
QB-Cutler, Stafford
WR-C.Johnson,S.Smith(CAR),J.Maclin,M.Wallace,D.Hester
RB-AP,S.Jackson,J.Charles,B.Wells.
TE-Z.Miller
I am thinking about trying to shop AP around and pick up a Number 1 receiver. With such a sick RB core I feel Like I can make my WR a ton better and still be solid in RB. Or should I just hold onto AP?
@Lou: Yeah, I think the Saints might be your best shot in that format.
@Bill: Floyd
@MJD Took A Knee: Yeah, I’m hoping SeaBass gets more opportunities this season, but Kickers are so tough to forecast. Both look like good plays.
@danimal35: Yeah, the matchup game is sucking for you. I’d go with your studs. The others don’t have amazing matchups. I could see going Ward over Boldin.
@jmkobus: I’d hold AP unless you can get overpaid. Looks stout!
Hey Doc,
Which two of the four in PPR: McCoy, Portis, Santana Moss, or McFadden?
Thanks
12 team stand espn. Flex play. Rb brandon jacobs or johnny knox? Now that jacobs lost the job.
@Flexing: Mccoy and McFadden.
@jpburgh213: Im going with Knox
You’ve got Tony Gonzalez playing @ STL. He’s not playing STL this weekend. Might want to correct that.
Playing Bengals D looking better now!
Hello,
Is it a crazy thought to play Devery Henderson tonight vs the Vikes banged up secondary over Mason vs the Jets? I know Revis will probably stick to Boldin but that D scares me regardless.
Thanks!
12 team/non-ppr – need to start 2RBs, 2WRs and a RB/WR Flex.
I have the following:
RB1 – MJD
RB2 – Ryan Grant
WR1 – Roddy White
WR2 – Hakeem Nicks
My Flex choices are:
LeSean McCoy
Santana Moss
Jacoby Jones
Mike Williams
Who would you use as the Flex? Any changes to the RB/WR spots?
Thanks.
@Doc: I saw you have Kolb ranked higher than Stafford…I am considering playing Stafford over him due to the Eagles’ offensive line issues plus Stafford has looked great in preseason….bad idea?
Also would I be crazy to play Jabar Gaffney over Wes Welker in a PPR in week 1? Thanks for your help!
Which of these running backs would you start in week 1: Michael Turner, Ahmad Bradshaw, Arian Foster, Shonn Greene, Marian Barber?
You lovin Jerome Harrison this weekend as well against TB?
You start him over L McCoy vs GB this week?
And on my other team, I’m not starting him over Rice and probably not over Foster, but possibly over Forte vs Detroit at flex. What do you think? I’m having tough decsions here.
Doc… I know you’ve got Flacco (vs. NYJ) ranked higher this week, but would it make any sense to start Vince Young (vs. OAK) over Flacco? It’s a league that scores 6 pts. per QB TD, if that clears things up at all. Thanks!
I’m looking to grab 2, could you rank these late-round flyers/stashes in PPR? – Hillis, Fred Taylor, Chris Ivory, James Davis, Snelling, Choice, Brandon Jackson, Faulk, Ringer, Keiland Williams. Thanks!
Hey Doc,
12 team / .5 PPR start 3 WR’s – 2RB’s – 1 Flex (W/R).
Drafted McCoy – 3rd round / Foster 4th round / A Bradshaw 5th round. I am not in love with McCoy’s matchup vs the Packers. I am starting Calvin Johnson / Miles Austin / H Nicks at my WR’s. I have D Mason and Malcom Floyd on the bench. Any chance I should start Foster and Bradshaw at my RB’s and throw Floyd at the Flex and leave McCoy on the bench vs the pack?? Its a tough decision to sit your 3rd round pick on the first week!!
Thanks man!
Norx, I’m in the same boat with you. I think I’m starting Jerome Harrison over McCoy this week – and still playing Arian Foster and Ahmad Bradshaw.
Two Start or Sit Questions…….
Jahvid Best Vs Da Bears or Brandon Jacobs Vs Carolina
Hakeem Nicks Vs Carolina or Wes Welker Vs Cincy
I’m thinking Best and Nicks but…… I’m having second thoughts
Thanks
Current WRs (start 2): Andre Johnson, Steve Smith (Car), Hakeem Nicks, Bernard Berrian
Current TEs (start 1): John Carlson, Owen Daniels
Question: Trade Smith (Car) for Antonio Gates? Is the upgrade I’d get at TE greater than what I’d lose by having to start Nicks or Berrian?
In a standard non ppr league who would u bench; Turner, Matthews, JC, or Bradshaw?
Also in my other league standard non ppr who would u bench, can only play three ray rice, ryan grant, JC or Bradshaw?
Here are my RB and flex options and where I have them currently situated in my lineup:
RB: Beanie
RB: Knowshon
Flex (W/R): Bradshaw
BN: Dez
BN: Breaston
BN: Sproles
BN: Huggins
Would you make any changes or add any of the following FAs available for the week: Slaton, Choice, Cribbs, Bess, Crayton, Mike Williams – TB, Clayton?
Thanks Doc!
@Chris: Thanks. Changed it. Yeah, I would try Naanee.
@Jake: Got it, thanks.
@MJD Took A Knee: Hah, looks like brady is ok.
@GB: Yeah, I could see Henderson getting a long TD, but Mason is safer for receptions.
@Plainville: Tough call, but i gotta go with the guy getting the most chances – Mccoy.
@Mike: It’s not crazy. It’s risky, but not crazy. I’m going with Kolb, but I would go with your gut on that.
Unless we hear the Welker is limited I’d stick with him.
@The Outlaw: I’m on the Foster train.
@The Vaporizers: I like Forte over Jerome, but Jerome over McCoy.
@Van Hammersly: Yeah, it’s tempting to go with Young in case he gets a rushing TD, but I like Flacco barely.
@nick m.: For speculative grabs I like Choice, Jackson, Davis, Ringer. Taylor if you need to start someone.
@Euroalien: Best for sure. Nicks probably. Welker is still a little bit of a question mark.
@Pepe Silvia: I’m liking Smith too much this season. I think OD will come around.
@Beans: Between Turner and Bradshaw. I’d bench Bradshaw in standard.
@Beans: Ugh! Bradshaw again even though I like him!
@Wilsonian: Looks right. I’d hold.
thanks for the advice
Hello all. I’m a fantasy baseballer by nature but I drafted one football team this year…and I am now a constant source of ridicule. I half-expected this.
So the deets on the league I think are important are as follows: 4pts for QB TDs and six for RBs and WRs. Anywho, here’s my roster. Any help would be appreciated…
QB Matt Ryan, Atl QB
QB David Garrard, Jac QB
RB Adrian Peterson, Min RB
RB Shonn Greene, NYJ RB
RB/WR Knowshon Moreno, Den RB P
WR Calvin Johnson, Det WR
WR Michael Crabtree, SF WR
WR Hakeem Nicks, NYG WR
TE Vernon Davis, SF TE
TE Tony Scheffler, Det TE
D/ST Patriots D/ST, NE D/ST
K Lawrence Tynes, NYG K
Bench Ben Roethlisberger, Pit QB SSPD
Bench Derrick Mason, Bal WR
Bench Donald Brown, Ind RB
Bench Steve Slaton, Hou RB P
Bench Tim Hightower, Ari RB
Bench Marshawn Lynch, Buf RB
Bench Larry Johnson, Was RB
Bench Devin Hester, Chi WR
Bench Jabar Gaffney, Den WR
New offer – DeAngelo and Laurent for Miles Austin and Felix Jones.
Laurent would possibly have been dropped in the previous 2-for-1 offer of Austin and Ricky for Shonn Greene. Do I take this one?
Jonathan Stewart @NYG, Ricky Williams @BUF or Percy Harvin @ NO as a flex?
I’m already starting Ronnie Brown, so I’m tempted to go w/ Ricky to get some guaranteed production.
If you were in a survivor pool, who would be your pick this week? I’m leaning towards Miami or San Fran. A lot of people are going with the Titans, but Oakland has always been capable of an upset. Thoughts?
12-team, 0.5ppr
Cooley is my #1 TE. Heath Miller is on my bench. I’ve been hearing a lot of good things about the kid from CIN, Jermaine Gresham. Would you drop Miller for Gresham as an upside stash?
12-team, 0.5ppr
Stephen Jackson is my #1 RB. Go with LeSean McCoy or Marion Barber as my #2 RB this week?
@Black Beard: I kinda like your team…starting RB’s look good and for backups you have the spaghetti method…starting WRs look good with a couple of solid yet unspectactular backups…TE is good enough…QB is the only question mark especially if you start two which would explain why so many good players fell…having Ben when he comes back will hep a lot but you could be hurtin until then with a Garrard/Ryan combo…don’t have much advice before the season starts
Stewart vs. NYG, P. Thomas vs. Vikings, or Jahvid Best vs. Bears?? (PPR)
Stafford vs. Bears or Harvin vs. Saints? (all td’s 6 pts)
Thanks in advance Doc!!
@Doc: These lists are great Doc. I’m convinced that reading a Karabell article actually makes you more dumb.
In my (non-ppr) WR/RB flex spot: Crabtree, Ricky Williams or Forsett?
@danimal35: Thanks. My QBs are not good. Not sure if I should pony up one of my WRs or RBs to upgrade.
Hey Doc,
Would you play Forsett or Hillis as an RB3 this week? I believe in Forsett but not necessarily against the 9ers D. Hillis, however, has a great matchup against TB.
Thanks,
BayAreaMarv
@Doc: thanks Doc. I was just a little worried about Beanie and Knowshon’s injuries. Although it sounds like Knowshon will be suited up and ready to go as the #1. But things for Beanie aren’t looking nearly as bright…
12-team, 0.5ppr
Meachem vsMIN or Mason @NYJ?
In a 16 team league, I ended up with Mendenhall and Michael Bush as my RBs. Drafted Macfadden as Bush insurance.
It’s .5 PPR, so should I just leave Macfadden in and hope that Bush is limited and/or Macfadden catches a bunch of passes?
Who do you like as a RB/WR flex in a 10 team league:
My starters are
RB1 – AP
RB2 – Ariann Foster
WR1 – Calvin Johnson
WR2 – Maclin (who I really like this week and for the year, and I think he is underrated)
And my option for a flex are Hakeem Nicks, J. Stewart, Floyd, and Bradshaw..)
Also, can any of these players be used as a pun that would be a better team name than “Aint no hollaback girl”?
@Doc: that’s kinda how I was leaning. thanks Doc.
@Black Beard: I dont see any reason for ridicule. Looks pretty good to me. No real holes. I’d hold with what you have.
@Calogero: I like it.
@Cheese: I like San Fran.
@Commish Cauda: I don’t see him outplaying those guys just yet.
@Commish Cauda: Tough, but I’m going with McCoy.
@HotRod: Best. Interesting dillema with Stafford vs. Harvin. I like Harvin a lot, but Stafford has a higher ceiling. Harvin is the safer play.
@Dad: Thanks. It’s Crabtree vs. Ricky for me. I’m going Ricky in non PPR, but it is very close.
@BAM: You just don’t know how Hillis will get used. I like Forsett to at least get assured touches.
@Wilsonian: Yeah, there is still time. If he practices fully I think he’ll be fine.
@Black Beard: Ah, didn’t realize it was 2 QBs. Garrard should get you through to Ben. You could see what is available for trade, but I wouldn’t go crazy.
@DonSlaughtOnslaught: Yeah, i would stick with McFadden for this week.
@Commish Cauda: I’d lean Meachem.
@Gambler: Hah, probably, but my brain has been stewed, JStewed. I’m leaning Bradshaw until we know Stewart is full go and getting use.
Which waiver wire defense does everyone like this week?
Arizona @ St Louis (Bradford)
Tennessee vs Oakland
Atlanta @ Pittsburgh (Dixon)
Oops, just saw the defensive rankings after I expanded the post.
Doc, I’m guessing you go with Tennessee here?
@Doc: Thanks for the input. If I was going to target a lower tiered QB that has some upside, who would that be? My thinking is that an owner might appreciate having a handcuff I currently own.
@Scott: It’s a bit of a crapshoot of course, but that’s where I would lean.
@Black Beard: It really depend on the other teams situations and who they have available. I wouldn’t try to force anything.
Doc,
Need to start three out of Spiller, Hightower, Matthews, Stewart, in a standard PPR League.
Also Nicks, Burleson, M. Williams (TBor Devery Henderson for one WR spot in a standard PPR?
Also Nicks, Burleson, M. Williams (TB) or Devery Henderson for one WR spot in a standard PPR?
@Doc: Thanks. Any good that happens this year will be 100% attributed to RazzFootball. Any bad…well I just blame myself.
Are you ready for some football……..!!!!
@White Lightning:White Lightning: Nicks
@Black Beard: hah, that’s what I like to hear!!
@The Outlaw: that I am
@Black Beard: I agree with Doc…don’t force anything…wait for some injuries to develop…cuz they will…and then if one of your backups goes off for a week or two then you can prey on a reeling team that has needs something
@The Outlaw: whoooooraaaaaa
@AL KOHOLIC: @danimal35: @The Outlaw: @Black Beard: @White Lightning: @Scott: @Pepe Silvia: @Gambler: @DonSlaughtOnslaught: @Commish Cauda: @Wilsonian: @Wilsonian: @BAM: @HotRod: @Commish Cauda: @Euroalien: @Plainville: @Lou:
Join me here http://football.razzball.com/live-blog-saints-and-vikings so I’m not drinking alone!
In a vacuum would you trade Bradshaw and Pierre Thomas for AP?
@Derrick: Like the AP side unless it takes a starter slot down to a backup type.
Here’s a comment: Hartley sucks. Glad I got him as the nearly last kicker (surprisingly) but sure shows why they aren’t worth much of a pick.