Advertisement

Fantasy football rankings: Christian McCaffrey looks to return to MVP form in Week 1

The NFL regular season has finally arrived, and it's time to start getting some answers to this year's most pressing questions. For starters, can running backs Christian McCaffrey and Saquon Barkley get back to their elite levels of production after injuries cut their 2020 seasons short? We can't wait to find out.

Fantasy football rankings for Week 1 are based on the point-per-reception (PPR) scoring used in most seasonal and daily fantasy football formats. One point is awarded for every 10 rushing and receiving yards and one point for every 20 passing yards. Six points are awarded for touchdowns scored, four points for passing TDs and one point for receptions.

Rankings are compiled by FantasySharks.com.

(*- Be sure to check injury/status before kickoff)

MORE: Breakout players | Sleepers | Busts | Risk-reward picks | All-value team

QUARTERBACKS

1 Patrick Mahomes K.C. vs. Cle.

2 Lamar Jackson Bal. at L.V.

3 Kyler Murray Ari. at Ten.

4 Russell Wilson Sea. at Ind.

5 Aaron Rodgers G.B. at N.O.

6 Josh Allen Buf. vs. Pit.

7 Matt Ryan Atl. vs. Phi.

8 Ryan Tannehill Ten. vs. Ari.

9 Jalen Hurts Phi. at Atl.

10 Tom Brady T.B. vs. Dal.

11 Justin Herbert L.A.-C at Was.

12 Dak Prescott Dal. at T.B.

13 Jimmy Garoppolo S.F. at Det.

14 Tyrod Taylor Hou. vs. Jac.

15 Kirk Cousins Min. at Cin.

16 Mac Jones N.E. vs. Mia.

17 Baker Mayfield Cle. at K.C.

18 Jameis Winston N.O. vs. G.B.

19 Tua Tagovailoa Mia. at N.E.

20 Trevor Lawrence Jac. at Hou.

21 Ben Roethlisberger Pit. at Buf.

22 Daniel Jones N.Y.-G vs. Den.

23 Ryan Fitzpatrick Was. vs. L.A.-C

24 Joe Burrow Cin. vs. Min.

25 Derek Carr L.V. vs. Bal.

26 Andy Dalton Chi. at L.A.-R

27 Carson Wentz Ind. vs. Sea.

28 Matthew Stafford L.A.-R vs. Chi.

29 Zach Wilson N.Y.-J at Car.

30 Jared Goff Det. vs. S.F.

31 Sam Darnold Car. vs. N.Y-J

32 Teddy Bridgewater Den. at N.Y.-G

Despite playing in just three games last season, Christian McCaffrey is the favorite to be the top pick in the majority of fantasy football drafts.
Despite playing in just three games last season, Christian McCaffrey is the favorite to be the top pick in the majority of fantasy football drafts.

RUNNING BACKS

1 Christian McCaffrey Car. vs. N.Y.-J

2 Dalvin Cook Min. at Cin.

3 Alvin Kamara N.O. vs. G.B.

4 Derrick Henry Ten. vs. Ari.

5 Aaron Jones G.B. at N.O.

6 *Austin Ekeler L.A.-C at Was.

7 Jonathan Taylor Ind. vs. Sea.

8 Ezekiel Elliott Dal. at T.B.

9 Nick Chubb Cle. at K.C.

10 Joe Mixon Cin. vs. Min.

11 *Saquon Barkley N.Y.-G vs. Den.

12 D'Andre Swift Det. vs. S.F.

13 Miles Sanders Phi. at Atl.

14 Leonard Fournette T.B. vs. Dal.

15 David Montgomery Chi. at L.A.-R

16 Myles Gaskin Mia. at N.E.

17 Clyde Edwards-Helaire K.C. vs. Cle.

18 James Robinson Jac. at Hou.

19 Chase Edmonds Ari. at Ten.

20 Raheem Mostert S.F. at Det.

21 Ty'Son Williams Bal. at L.V.

22 Kareem Hunt Cle. at K.C.

23 Antonio Gibson Was. vs. L.A.-C

24 Chris Carson Sea. at Ind.

25 Melvin Gordon Den. at N.Y.-G

26 Josh Jacobs L.V. vs. Bal.

27 *Darrell Henderson L.A.-R vs. Chi.

28 Ronald Jones T.B. vs. Dal.

29 Mike Davis Atl. vs. Phi.

30 Najee Harris Pit. at Buf.

31 Devin Singletary Buf. vs. Pit.

32 Damien Harris N.E. vs. Mia.

33 J.D. McKissic Was. vs. L.A.-C

34 Nyheim Hines Ind. vs. Sea.

35 James Conner Ari. at Ten.

36 Javonte Williams Den. at N.Y.-G

37 Mark Ingram Hou. vs. Jac.

38 David Johnson Hou. vs. Jac.

39 Kenyan Drake L.V. vs. Bal.

40 Justin Jackson L.A.-C at Was.

41 James White N.E. vs. Mia.

42 Jordan Wilkins Ind. vs. Sea.

43 Boston Scott Phi. at Atl.

44 Sony Michel L.A.-R vs. Chi.

45 Jamaal Williams Det. vs. S.F.

46 Marlon Mack Ind. vs. Sea.

47 Tevin Coleman N.Y.-J at Car.

48 Tony Pollard Dal. at T.B.

49 Malcolm Brown Mia. at N.E.

50 Carlos Hyde Jac. at Hou.

51 Alexander Mattison Min. at Cin.

52 A.J. Dillon G.B. at N.O.

53 Michael Carter N.Y.-J at Car.

54 Tony Jones N.O. vs. G.B.

55 Elijah Mitchell S.F. at Det.

WIDE RECEIVERS

1 Tyreek Hill K.C. vs. Cle.

2 Calvin Ridley Atl. vs. Phi.

3 Davante Adams G.B. at N.O.

4 DeAndre Hopkins Ari. at Ten.

5 Chris Godwin T.B. vs. Dal.

6 Mike Evans T.B. vs. Dal.

7 DK Metcalf Sea. at Ind.

8 *Stefon Diggs Buf. vs. Pit.

9 Keenan Allen L.A.-C at Was.

10 Terry McLaurin Was. vs. L.A.-C

11 Robert Woods L.A.-R vs. Chi.

12 *Justin Jefferson Min. at Cin.

13 Deebo Samuel S.F. at Det.

14 *Adam Thielen Min. at Cin.

15 JuJu Smith-Schuster Pit. at Buf.

16 Diontae Johnson Pit. at Buf.

17 Allen Robinson Chi. at L.A.-R

18 Tyler Boyd Cin. vs. Min.

19 *A.J. Brown Ten. vs. Ari.

20 *Julio Jones Ten. vs. Ari.

21 Corey Davis N.Y.-J at Car.

22 Cooper Kupp L.A.-R vs. Chi.

23 D.J. Moore Car. vs. N.Y.-J

24 *Tyler Lockett Sea. at Ind.

25 Courtland Sutton Den. at N.Y.-G

26 Brandin Cooks Hou. vs. Jac.

27 Amari Cooper Dal. at T.B.

28 Cole Beasley Buf. vs. Pit.

29 Nelson Agholor N.E. vs. Mia.

30 *Kenny Golladay N.Y.-G vs. Den.

31 Ja'Marr Chase Cin. vs. Min.

32 Marvin Jones Jac. at Hou.

33 Mike Williams L.A.-C at Was.

34 Russell Gage Atl. vs. Phi.

35 *Brandon Aiyuk S.F. at Det.

36 Jalen Reagor Phi. at Atl.

37 Robby Anderson Car. vs. N.Y.-J

38 Sterling Shepard N.Y.-G vs. Den.

39 *Odell Beckham Cle. at K.C.

40 CeeDee Lamb Dal. at T.B.

41 Jarvis Landry Cle. at K.C.

42 Jerry Jeudy Den. at N.Y.-G

43 DeVante Parker Mia. at N.E.

44 Chase Claypool Pit. at Buf.

45 Marquise Brown Bal. at L.V.

46 D.J. Chark Jac. at Hou.

47 Michael Gallup Dal. at T.B.

48 Tre'Quan Smith N.O. vs. G.B.

49 *Tyrell Williams Det. vs. S.F.

50 Henry Ruggs L.V. vs. Bal.

51 Jakobi Meyers N.E. vs. Mia.

52 Mecole Hardman K.C. vs. Cle.

53 Tee Higgins Cin. vs. Min.

54 Laviska Shenault Jac. at Hou.

55 Michael Pittman Jr. Ind. vs. Sea.

TIGHT ENDS

1 Travis Kelce K.C. vs. Cle.

2 George Kittle S.F. at Det.

3 Darren Waller L.V. vs. Bal.

4 Mark Andrews Bal. at L.V.

5 Dallas Goedert Phi. at Atl.

6 Robert Tonyan G.B. at N.O.

7 *Evan Engram N.Y.-G vs. Den.

8 Mike Gesicki Mia. at N.E.

9 *T.J. Hockenson Det. vs. S.F.

10 Austin Hooper Cle. at K.C.

11 Zach Ertz Phi. at Atl.

12 Kyle Pitts Atl. vs. Phi.

13 Logan Thomas Was. vs. L.A.-C

14 Eric Ebron Pit. at Buf.

15 *Noah Fant Den. at N.Y.-G

16 Tyler Higbee L.A.-R vs. Chi.

17 Hunter Henry N.E. vs. Mia.

18 Anthony Firkser Ten. vs. Ari.

19 Jonnu Smith N.E. vs. Mia.

20 Rob Gronkowski T.B. vs. Dal.

21 *Adam Trautman N.O. vs. G.B.

22 Chris Herndon Min. at Cin.

23 Gerald Everett Sea. at Ind.

24 C.J. Uzomah Cin. vs. Min.

25 Blake Jarwin Dal. at T.B.

26 Jordan Akins Hou. vs. Jac.

27 Dalton Schultz Dal. at T.B.

28 Dawson Knox Buf. vs. Pit.

29 Jack Doyle Ind. vs. Sea.

30 Jared Cook L.A.-C at Was.

KICKERS

1 Younghoe Koo Atl. vs. Phi.

2 Dustin Hopkins Was. vs. L.A.-C

3 Ryan Succop T.B. vs. Dal.

4 Jason Myers Sea. at Ind.

5 Evan McPherson Cin. vs. Min.

6 Rodrigo Blankenship Ind. vs. Sea.

7 Graham Gano N.Y.-G vs. Den.

8 Cairo Santos Chi. at L.A.-R

9 Justin Tucker Bal. at L.V.

10 Robbie Gould S.F. at Det.

11 Quinn Nordin N.E. vs. Mia.

12 Tyler Bass Buf. vs. Pit.

13 Greg Zuerlein Dal. at T.B.

14 Harrison Butker K.C. vs. Cle.

15 Chris Boswell Pit. at Buf.

16 Brandon McManus Den. at N.Y.-G

17 Daniel Carlson L.V. vs. Bal.

18 Matt Gay L.A.-R vs. Chi.

19 Austin Seibert Det. vs. S.F.

20 Tristan Vizcaino L.A.-C at Was.

21 Ka'imi Fairbairn Hou. vs. Jac.

22 Josh Lambo Jac. at Hou.

23 Matt Prater Ari. at Ten.

24 Mason Crosby G.B. at N.O.

25 Greg Joseph Min. at Cin.

26 Jason Sanders Mia. at N.E.

27 Chase McLaughlin Cle. at K.C.

28 Sam Ficken Ten. vs. Ari.

29 Jake Elliott Phi. at Atl.

30 Matt Ammendola N.Y.-J at Car.

31 Ryan Santoso Car. vs. N.Y.-J

DEFENSES

1 San Francisco 49ers at Det.

2 Baltimore Ravens at L.V.

3 Miami Dolphins at N.E.

4 Washington Football Team vs. L.A.-C

5 Buffalo Bills vs. Pit.

6 Los Angeles Chargers at Was.

7 New York Jets at Car.

8 Chicago Bears at L.A.-R

9 Indianapolis Colts vs. Sea.

10 Los Angeles Rams vs. Chi.

11 Carolina Panthers vs. N.Y.-J

12 Atlanta Falcons vs. Phi.

13 Green Bay Packers at N.O.

14 New York Giants vs. Den.

15 Seattle Seahawks at Ind.

16 Tennessee Titans vs. Ari.

17 Denver Broncos at N.Y.-G

18 Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Dal.

19 Philadelphia Eagles at Atl.

20 New Orleans Saints vs. G.B.

21 New England Patriots vs. Mia.

22 Minnesota Vikings at Cin.

23 Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cle.

24 Houston Texans vs. Jac.

25 Arizona Cardinals at Ten.

26 Pittsburgh Steelers at Buf.

27 Cleveland Browns at K.C.

28 Detroit Lions vs. S.F.

29 Jacksonville Jaguars at Hou.

30 Cincinnati Bengals vs. Min.

31 Las Vegas Raiders vs. Bal.

32 Dallas Cowboys at T.B.

It's fantasy football season! Dominate with The Huddle. For 25 years, they've helped players WIN. Sleepers, custom rankings & much more. TAKE 20% OFF* with code sleeper21. *New customer offer, cannot combine offers. Expires 9/8/21.

If you enjoy talking football, we have the perfect spot for you. Join our Facebook Group, The Ruling Off the Field, to engage in friendly debate and conversation with fellow football fans and our NFL insiders. Do the right thing, sign up now!

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football position rankings for NFL Week 1