Week 1 Fantasy Football Rankings and Tiers. It's Tony Pollard Time.

It's time to make those tough lineup decisions for Week 1 of the fantasy football season.

Below, you’ll find positional rankings, player analysis, team totals and spreads for every game on the slate.

Find all of our positional rankings here.

Last updated: 3:45 pm, Sept. 6. Please refer to our Rankings page for updates!

Quarterback Rankings & Tiers - Week 1

Rank	Tier	Player	Team	Pos	Opp	Team Total	Spread
Keenan Allen	Mike Williams	Quentin Johnston	Jalen Ramsey	Herbert is a SMASH play in a potential shootout against the Dolphins.	You can draft him in your Underdog Battle Royale contests PLUS get a 100% deposit match up to $100 and a mystery Pick'em special when you sign up with promo code LIFE below!	Tier 4 – Sam Howell	Budda Baker	Tier 4 – Derek Carr	Chris Olave	Tier	Player	Team	Pos	Opp	Team Total	Spread
1	Tony Pollard	DAL	RB	NYG	25.0	-3.5
1	Bijan Robinson	ATL	RB	CAR	21.5	-3.5
1	Austin Ekeler	LAC	RB	MIA	27.0	-3.0
1	Christian McCaffrey	SF	RB	PIT	21.8	-2.5
1	Saquon Barkley	NYG	RB	DAL	21.5	3.5
2	Derrick Henry	TEN	RB	NO	19.0	3.0
2	Joe Mixon	CIN	RB	CLE	25.0	-2.5
2	Travis Etienne	JAX	RB	IND	25.0	-5.0
2	Josh Jacobs	LV	RB	DEN	20.0	4.0
2	Nick Chubb	CLE	RB	CIN	22.5	2.5
3	Rhamondre Stevenson	NE	RB	PHI	20.5	4.0
3	Aaron Jones	GB	RB	CHI	21.0	1.0
3	Jahmyr Gibbs	DET	RB	KC	24.0	4.5
3	J.K. Dobbins	BAL	RB	HOU	27.0	-10.0
3	Alexander Mattison	MIN	RB	TB	25.8	-6.0
3	Rachaad White	TB	RB	MIN	19.8	6.0
3	David Montgomery	DET	RB	KC	24.0	4.5
3	Najee Harris	PIT	RB	SF	19.3	2.5
4	James Cook	BUF	RB	NYJ	24.5	-2.5
4	Miles Sanders	CAR	RB	ATL	18.0	3.5
4	Cam Akers	LAR	RB	SEA	20.5	5.5
4	Raheem Mostert	MIA	RB	LAC	24.0	3.0
4	Dameon Pierce	HOU	RB	BAL	17.0	10.0
4	Kenneth Walker	SEA	RB	LAR	26.0	-5.5
4	Javonte Williams	DEN	RB	LV	24.0	-4.0
4	Breece Hall	NYJ	RB	BUF	22.0	2.5
4	James Conner	ARI	RB	WAS	15.5	7.0
5	Khalil Herbert	CHI	RB	GB	22.0	-1.0
5	Isiah Pacheco	KC	RB	DET	28.5	-4.5
5	Brian Robinson	WAS	RB	ARI	22.5	-7.0
5	Jamaal Williams	NO	RB	TEN	22.0	-3.0
5	Dalvin Cook	NYJ	RB	BUF	22.0	2.5
5	Samaje Perine	DEN	RB	LV	24.0	-4.0
5	Antonio Gibson	WAS	RB	ARI	22.5	-7.0
5	D'Andre Swift	PHI	RB	NE	24.5	-4.0
5	AJ Dillon	GB	RB	CHI	21.0	1.0
6	Jerick McKinnon	KC	RB	DET	28.5	-4.5
6	Devon Achane	MIA	RB	LAC	24.0	3.0
6	Zach Charbonnet	SEA	RB	LAR	26.0	-5.5
6	Damien Harris	BUF	RB	NYJ	24.5	-2.5
6	Rashaad Penny	PHI	RB	NE	24.5	-4.0
6	Kenneth Gainwell	PHI	RB	NE	24.5	-4.0
6	Zack Moss	IND	RB	JAX	20.0	5.0
6	Ezekiel Elliott	NE	RB	PHI	20.5	4.0
6	Jaylen Warren	PIT	RB	SF	19.3	2.5
6	Elijah Mitchell	SF	RB	PIT	21.8	-2.5
7	Tank Bigsby	JAX	RB	IND	25.0	-5.0
7	Kendre Miller	NO	RB	TEN	22.0	-3.0
7	Clyde Edwards-Helaire	KC	RB	DET	28.5	-4.5
7	Tyjae Spears	TEN	RB	NO	19.0	3.0
7	Tyler Allgeier	ATL	RB	CAR	21.5	-3.5
7	D'Onta Foreman	CHI	RB	GB	22.0	-1.0
7	Deon Jackson	IND	RB	JAX	20.0	5.0
7	Chuba Hubbard	CAR	RB	ATL	18.0	3.5
7	Ty Chandler	MIN	RB	TB	25.8	-6.0
7	Kyren Williams	LAR	RB	SEA	20.5	5.5
7	Devin Singletary	HOU	RB	BAL	17.0	10.0
7	Gus Edwards	BAL	RB	HOU	27.0	-10.0
8	Cordarrelle Patterson	ATL	RB	CAR	21.5	-3.5
8	Roschon Johnson	CHI	RB	GB	22.0	-1.0
8	Rico Dowdle	DAL	RB	NYG	25.0	-3.5
8	Keaontay Ingram	ARI	RB	WAS	15.5	7.0
8	Jerome Ford	CLE	RB	CIN	22.5	2.5
8	Deuce Vaughn	DAL	RB	NYG	25.0	-3.5
9	Joshua Kelley	LAC	RB	MIA	27.0	-3.0
9	Sean Tucker	TB	RB	MIN	19.8	6.0
9	Zamir White	LV	RB	DEN	20.0	4.0
9	Justice Hill	BAL	RB	HOU	27.0	-10.0
8	Chris Evans	CIN	RB	CLE	25.0	-2.5
9	Chase Edmonds	TB	RB	MIN	19.8	6.0
9	Michael Carter	NYJ	RB	BUF	22.0	2.5
9	Ameer Abdullah	LV	RB	DEN	20.0	4.0
9	Matt Breida	NYG	RB	DAL	21.5	3.5
9	Latavius Murray	BUF	RB	NYJ	24.5	-2.5
9	Trayveon Williams	CIN	RB	CLE	25.0	-2.5
10	Salvon Ahmed	MIA	RB	LAC	24.0	3.0
10	Zach Evans	LAR	RB	SEA	20.5	5.5
10	Ke'Shawn Vaughn	TB	RB	MIN	19.8	6.0
10	Myles Gaskin	MIN	RB	TB	25.8	-6.0
10	JaMycal Hasty	JAX	RB	IND	25.0	-5.0
10	Jordan Mason	SF	RB	PIT	21.8	-2.5
10	Pierre Strong	CLE	RB	CIN	22.5	2.5

Tier 1 – Tony Pollard - Cowboys

Pollard averaged 18.6 points per game in contests where he reached 50% or more of the snaps in 2022. With Ezekiel Elliott now in New England, that could be his weekly floor, given the current depth chart in Dallas.

The 26-year-old backed up his lofty fantasy points with robust underlying efficiency data, eclipsing RB1-worthy thresholds in missed tackles forced (+5%), average yards after contact (+0.9) and explosive rush rate (+4%). He was equally impressive in the passing game with 20% targets per route run (TPRR) and 1.51 yards per route run (YPRR), both RB1-worthy.

Pollard will look to start the 2023 season with a bang, facing last season's fourth-worst rush defense. The Giants allowed a whopping 146 yards and 1.1 rushing TDs per game in regulation play.

The Cowboys own the fifth-highest game total on the slate in what could be a competitive Sunday Night affair.

Pollard TO THE MOON in Week 1 as a SMASH play in all formats.

Tier 3 – J.K. Dobbins - Ravens

Dobbins wasn’t 100% in 2022, but he still managed to post RB1-worthy efficiency numbers in missed tackles forced (20%), average yards after contact (3.1) and blew away the RB1 threshold of 12% with 17% of his totes going for 10-plus yards.

As great as those numbers were, Dobbins was even better before his 2021 knee injury. In 2020, he was dominant:

Missed tackles forced: 27% (10% above the RB1 threshold)
Average yards after contact: 3.5 (.56 yards above the RB1 threshold)
Explosive rush rate: 15% (3 percentage points above the RB1 threshold)

Enter the Baltimore’s Week 1 matchup: the Houston Texans.

No team in the NFL allowed more rushing yards per game (170) in regulation play, and they coughed up the second-most TDs (1.47).

Lamar Jackson will get his 20% to 25% of the designed rushing attempts, but we could see a shift in the RB rotation with Tod Monken now running the offense. Historically, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill have rotated with Dobbins, but there is a chance we see the fourth-year back in the most extensive role of his career. Even if the timeshare continues, the matchup is too juicy not to have Dobbins in most lineups.

Dobbins is a mid-range RB2 with RB1 upside.

Additional RB Notes & Movers:

Tier 5 – Khalil Herbert was the clear No. 1 for the Bears this preseason. In Week 1, he draws a matchup against a Packers defense that surrendered 140 yards per game in non-overtime play — the seventh-most in 2022. Herbert is an RB3 with RB2 upside.

Wide Receiver Rankings & Tiers - Week 1

Half PPR Rnk	Tier	Player	Team	Pos	Opp	Team Total	Spread
Ja’Marr Chase	Justin Jefferson	A.J. Brown	Odell Beckham Jr.	Doug Baldwin	Derek Carr	Olave is a high-end WR2 with WR1 upside.	Sam Howell	Terry McLaurin	Dotson is a low-end WR2 with WR1 upside.	Tier 4 – Marvin Mims	Jerry Jeudy	Mims is a WR4 with upside.	Half PPR Rnk	Tier	Player	Team	Pos	Opp	Team Total	Spread
2	1	Travis Kelce	KC	TE	DET	28.5	-4.5
3	2	T.J. Hockenson	MIN	TE	TB	25.8	-6.0
4	2	Darren Waller	NYG	TE	DAL	21.5	3.5
5	3	George Kittle	SF	TE	PIT	21.8	-2.5
6	3	Tyler Higbee	LAR	TE	SEA	20.5	5.5
7	3	Kyle Pitts	ATL	TE	CAR	21.5	-3.5
8	3	Dallas Goedert	PHI	TE	NE	24.5	-4.0
9	3	David Njoku	CLE	TE	CIN	22.5	2.5
10	3	Sam LaPorta	DET	TE	KC	24.0	4.5
11	3	Pat Freiermuth	PIT	TE	SF	19.3	2.5
12	3	Evan Engram	JAX	TE	IND	25.0	-5.0
13	4	Greg Dulcich	DEN	TE	LV	24.0	-4.0
14	4	Dalton Kincaid	BUF	TE	NYJ	24.5	-2.5
14	4	Dalton Schultz	HOU	TE	BAL	17.0	10.0
15	4	Juwan Johnson	NO	TE	TEN	22.0	-3.0
16	4	Luke Musgrave	GB	TE	CHI	21.0	1.0
17	4	Gerald Everett	LAC	TE	MIA	27.0	-3.0
18	4	Chigoziem Okonkwo	TEN	TE	NO	19.0	3.0
19	5	Hayden Hurst	CAR	TE	ATL	18.0	3.5
20	5	Hunter Henry	NE	TE	PHI	20.5	4.0
21	5	Irv Smith	CIN	TE	CLE	25.0	-2.5
22	5	Jake Ferguson	DAL	TE	NYG	25.0	-3.5
23	5	Cole Kmet	CHI	TE	GB	22.0	-1.0
24	5	Cade Otton	TB	TE	MIN	19.8	6.0
25	5	Mike Gesicki	NE	TE	PHI	20.5	4.0
26	5	Tyler Conklin	NYJ	TE	BUF	22.0	2.5
27	5	Dawson Knox	BUF	TE	NYJ	24.5	-2.5
28	6	Isaiah Likely	BAL	TE	HOU	27.0	-10.0
29	6	Taysom Hill	NO	TE	TEN	22.0	-3.0
30	6	Durham Smythe	MIA	TE	LAC	24.0	3.0
31	6	Logan Thomas	WAS	TE	ARI	22.5	-7.0
32	6	Adam Trautman	DEN	TE	LV	24.0	-4.0
33	6	Trey McBride	ARI	TE	WAS	15.5	7.0
34	6	Noah Fant	SEA	TE	LAR	26.0	-5.5
35	7	Austin Hooper	LV	TE	DEN	20.0	4.0
36	7	Zach Ertz	ARI	TE	WAS	15.5	7.0
37	7	Michael Mayer	LV	TE	DEN	20.0	4.0
38	7	Mo Alie-Cox	IND	TE	JAX	20.0	5.0
39	7	Will Dissly	SEA	TE	LAR	26.0	-5.5
40	7	Foster Moreau	NO	TE	TEN	22.0	-3.0
41	7	Noah Gray	KC	TE	DET	28.5	-4.5
42	7	Jonnu Smith	ATL	TE	CAR	21.5	-3.5
43	7	Cole Turner	WAS	TE	ARI	22.5	-7.0
44	7	Kylen Granson	IND	TE	JAX	20.0	5.0

Tier 3 – Sam LaPorta - Lions

Rookie TEs don’t historically perform well in fantasy football. However, much of that ties to playing time rather than the ability to carve out targets in a passing game. Since 2012, we saw two rookies finish with a 75% route participation or higher, and they both faired well.

Evan Engram (2017): TE7 in PPR PPG (11.6)
Kyle Pitts (2021): TE11 (10.4)

Given the Lions’ depth chart and preseason utilization, LaPorta will push for an 80% route participation in his first year. Of course, just getting on the field isn’t enough. LaPorta was a high-end target earner who broke out early at Iowa State.

The Lions won’t have Jameson Williams for the first six games of the season, leaving LaPorta and fellow rookie Jahmyr Gibbs as two of the favorites to challenge for more looks. Josh Reynolds and Marvin Jones will also get more work, but neither are high-end target magnets, leaving the door open for a talent like LaPorta to start his rookie campaign hot.

The Lions have the seventh-highest team total on the slate, and the Chiefs allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to opposing pass catchers (47.3) in regulation play in 2022.

LaPorta opens the season as my TE10 in Week 1.

TE Notes & Movers:

Tier 4 – Luke Musgrave, like LaPorta, is in line for prominent playing time. The rookie wasn’t a high-end target earner in college but led the Packers with a 22% target share on drives with Jordan Love this preseason. With Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs battling injuries, Musgrave could pop in Week 1. He is a mid-range TE2 with TE1 upside.