Week 1 Fantasy Football Player Rankings

September 4, 2013 3:16 pm EST by Adam McGill

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Week 1 Fantasy Football Rankings

Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports

The fantasy football season is finally about to kickoff and it is time to start setting your Week 1 lineup. There are never enough detailed fantasy football rankings to help you out though. Every writer in the world likes to rank the top fantasy quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends each week of the regular season. However, not enough sites/ writers rank kickers, whole defenses, defensive linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs on a weekly basis. There are thousands of fantasy football IDP owners out there, so there must be a reliable source of information.

Each week, I will thoroughly go through each matchup and come up with my full player rankings. I will rank each position in fantasy and will go past the obvious top-10 choices.

Here are the positions that I will cover each week of the 2013 fantasy football season:

Quarterbacks - Top 20

Running Backs – Top 30

Wide Receivers – Top 30

Tight Ends – Top 20

Kickers – Top 20

Whole Defenses – Top 20

Defensive Linemen – Top 20

Linebackers – Top 20

Defensive Backs – Top 20

So before setting your lineup this week, make sure to check out my complete fantasy football player rankings for Week 1.

Good luck and have a great season!

Related Articles:

2013 Fantasy Football: Preseason Awards & Predictions

Week 1 Fantasy Football Sleeper: RB Isaac Redman

Adam McGill is the Senior Fantasy Sports Writer at Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @adammcgill83, like him on Facebook, or add him to you networks on Google here or here.

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Week 1 Quarterback Rankings

Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

1. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons (@ New Orleans Saints)

2. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (vs. Atlanta Falcons)

3. Tom Brady, New England Patriots (@ Buffalo Bills)

4. Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos (vs. Baltimore Ravens)

5. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (@ San Francisco 49ers)

6. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys (vs. New York Giants)

7. Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers (vs. Green Bay Packers)

8. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts (vs. Oakland Raiders)

9. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks (vs. Carolina Panthers)

10. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers (vs. Seattle Seahawks)

11. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions (vs. Minnesota Vikings)

12. Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins (@ Philadelphia Eagles)

13. Eli Manning, New York Giants (@ Dallas Cowboys)

14. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Tennessee Titans)

15. Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. Washington Redskins)

16. Matt Schaub, Houston Texans (@ San Diego Chargers)

17. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears (vs. Cincinnati Bengals)

18. Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals (@ Chicago Bears)

19. Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals (@ St. Louis Rams)

20. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens (@ Denver Broncos)

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Week 1 Running Back Rankings

Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

1. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings (@ Detroit Lions)

2. Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens (@ Denver Broncos)

3. Arian Foster, Houston Texans (@ San Diego Chargers)

4. Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@ New York Jets)

5. LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles (@ Washington Redskins)

6. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs (@ Jacksonville Jaguars)

7. C.J. Spiller, Buffalo Bills (vs. New England Patriots)

8. Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks (@ Carolina Panthers)

9. Trent Richardson, Cleveland Browns (vs. Miami Dolphins)

10. Steven Jackson, Atlanta Falcons (@ New Orleans Saints)

11. Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans (@ Pittsburgh Steelers)

12. Stevan Ridley, New England Patriots (@ Buffalo Bills)

13. Alfred Morris, Washington Redskins (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)

14. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. Kansas City Chiefs)

15. David Wilson, New York Giants (@ Dallas Cowboys)

16. Reggie Bush, Detroit Lions (vs. Minnesota Vikings)

17. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears (vs. Cincinnati Bengals)

18. Darren Sproles, New Orleans Saints (vs. Atlanta Falcons)

19. Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders (@ Indianapolis Colts)

20. DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys (vs. New York Giants)

21. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers (vs. Green Bay Packers)

22. Ahmad Bradshaw, Indianapolis Colts (vs. Oakland Raiders)

23. Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers (@ Chicago Bears)

24. Rashard Mendenhall, Arizona Cardinals (@ St. Louis Rams)

25. Lamar Miller, Miami Dolphins (@ Cleveland Browns)

26. Daryl Richardson, St. Louis Rams (vs. Arizona Cardinals)

27. Ryan Mathews, San Diego Chargers (vs. Houston Texans)

28. Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati Bengals (@ Chicago Bears)

29. Isaac Redman, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Tennessee Titans)

30. Ronnie Hillman, Denver Broncos (vs. Baltimore Ravens)

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Week 1 Wide Receiver Rankings

Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

1. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions (vs. Minnesota Vikings)

2. Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys (vs. New York Giants)

3. Julio Jones, Atlanta Flacons (@ New Orleans Saints)

4. Brandon Marshall, Chicago Bears (vs. Cincinnati Bengals)

5. Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos (vs. Baltimore Ravens)

6. A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals (@ Chicago Bears)

7. Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons (@ New Orleans Saints)

8. Victor Cruz, New York Giants (@ Dallas Cowboys)

9. Andre Johnson, Houston Texans (@ San Diego Chargers)

10. Danny Amendola, New England Patriots (@ Buffalo Bills)

11. Wes Welker, Denver Broncos (vs. Baltimore Ravens)

12. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals (@ St. Louis Rams)

13. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs (@ Jacksonville Jaguars)

14. Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers (@ San Francisco 49ers)

15. Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints (vs. Atlanta Falcons)

16. Torrey Smith, Baltimore Ravens (@ Denver Broncos)

17. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts (vs. Oakland Raiders)

18. DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles (@ Washington Redskins)

19. Steve Johnson, Buffalo Bills (vs. New England Patriots)

20. T.Y Hilton, Indianapolis Colts (vs. Oakland Raiders)

21. Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Tennessee Titans)

22. Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers (@ San Francisco 49ers)

23. Anquan Boldin, San Francisco 49ers (vs. Green Bay Packers)

24. Pierre Garcon, Washington Redskins (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)

25. Kenbrell Thompkins, New England Patriots (@ Buffalo Bills)

26. Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers (vs. Seattle Seahawks)

27. Vincent Jackson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@ New York Jets)

28. Mike Wallace, Miami Dolphins (@ Cleveland Browns)

29. James Jones, Green Bay Packers (@ San Francisco 49ers)

30. Greg Jennings, Minnesota Vikings (@ Detroit Lions)

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Week 1 Tight End Rankings

Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports

1. Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints (vs. Atlanta Falcons)

2. Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta Falcons (@ New Orleans Saints)

3. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys (vs. New York Giants)

4. Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers (vs. Green Bay Packers)

5. Owen Daniels, Houston Texans (@ San Diego Chargers)

6. Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings (@ Detroit Lions)

7. Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers (vs. Houston Texans)

8. Jermichael Finley, Green Bay Packers (@ San Francisco 49ers)

9. Zach Sudfeld, New England Patriots (@ Buffalo Bills)

10. Julius Thomas, Denver Broncos (vs. Baltimore Ravens)

11. Jermaine Gresham, Cincinnati Bengals (@ Chicago Bears)

12. Jordan Cameron, Cleveland Browns (vs. Miami Dolphins)

13. Martellus Bennett, Chicago Bears (vs. Cincinnati Bengals)

14. Dwayne Allen, Indianapolis Colts (vs. Oakland Raiders)

15. Fred Davis, Washington Redskins (@ Philadelphia Eagles)

16. Brent Celek, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. Washington Redskins)

17. Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit Lions (vs. Minnesota Vikings)

18. Jared Cook, St. Louis Rams (vs. Arizona Cardinals)

19. Brandon Myers, New York Giants (@ Dallas Cowboys)

20. Rob Housler, Arizona Cardinals (@ St. Louis Rams)

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Week 1 Kicker Rankings

Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

1. Stephen Gostkowski, New England Patriots (@ Buffalo Bills)

2. Matt Bryant, Atlanta Falcons (@ New Orleans Saints)

3. Blair Walsh, Minnesota Vikings (@ Detroit Lions)

4. Kal Forbath, Washington Redskins (@ Philadelphia Eagles)

5. Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland Raiders (@ Indianapolis Colts)

6. Matt Prater, Denver Broncos (vs. Baltimore Ravens)

7. Garrett Hartley, New Orleans Saints (vs. Atlanta Falcons)

8. Dan Bailey, Dallas Cowboys (vs. New York Giants)

9. Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens (@ Denver Broncos)

10. Randy Bullock, Houston Texans (@ San Diego Chargers)

11. David Akers, Detroit Lions (vs. Minnesota Vikings)

12. Steven Hauschka, Seattle Seahawks (vs. Carolina Panthers)

13. Greg Zuerlein, St. Louis Rams (vs. Arizona Cardinals)

14. Mason Crosby, Green Bay Packers (@ San Francisco 49ers)

15. Phil Dawson, San Francisco 49ers (vs. Green Bay Packers)

16. Josh Brown, New York Giants (@ Dallas Cowboys)

17. Alex Henery, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. Washington Redskins)

18. Shayne Graham, Cleveland Browns (vs. Miami Dolphins)

19. Shaun Suisham, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Tennessee Titans)

20. Adam Vinatieri, Indianapolis Colts (vs. Oakland Raiders)

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Week 1 Whole Defense Rankings

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

1. Houston Texans (@ San Diego Chargers)

2. Seattle Seahawks (@ Carolina Panthers)

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@ New York Jets)

4. New England Patriots (@ Buffalo Bills)

5. Cincinnati Bengals (@ Chicago Bears)

6. Dallas Cowboys (vs. New York Giants)

7. Chicago Bears (vs. Cincinnati Bengals)

8. Washington Redskins (@ Philadelphia Eagles)

9. St. Louis Rams (vs. Arizona Cardinals)

10. New York Giants (@ Dallas Cowboys)

11. Indianapolis Colts (vs. Oakland Raiders)

12. Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Tennessee Titans)

13. Kansas City Chiefs (@ Jacksonville Jaguars)

14. Denver Broncos (vs. Baltimore Ravens)

15. San Francisco 49ers (vs. Green Bay Packers)

16. Cleveland Browns (vs. Miami Dolphins)

17. Philadelphia Eagles (vs. Washington Redskins)

18. Carolina Panthers (vs. Seattle Seahawks)

19. Minnesota Vikings (@ Detroit Lions)

20. Arizona Cardinals (@ St. Louis Rams)

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Week 1 Defensive Lineman Rankings

Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

1. DE J.J. Watt, Houston Texans (@ San Diego Chargers)

2. DE Jared Allen, Minnesota Vikings (@ Detroit Lions)

3. DE DeMarcus Ware, Dallas Cowboys (vs. New York Giants)

4. DE Julius Peppers, Chicago Bears (vs. Cincinnati Bengals)

5. DE Chandler Jones, New England Patriots (@ Buffalo Bills)

6. DE Chris Long, St. Louis Rams (vs. Arizona Cardinals)

7. DE Charles Johnson, Carolina Panthers (vs. Seattle Seahawks)

8. DT Geno Atkins, Cincinnati Bengals (@ Chicago Bears)

9. DE Robert Quinn, St. Louis Rams (vs. Arizona Cardinals)

10. DE Adrian Clayborn, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@ New York Jets)

11. DE Cameron Wake, Miami Dolphins (@ Cleveland Browns)

12. DE Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints (vs. Atlanta Falcons)

13. DE Mario Williams, Buffalo Bills (vs. New England Patriots)

14. DE Justin Tuck, New York Giants (@ Dallas Cowboys)

15. DT Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions (vs. Minnesota Vikings)

16. DE Elvis Dumervil, Baltimore Ravens (@ Denver Broncos)

17. DE Osi Umenyiora, Atlanta Falcons (@ New Orleans Saints)

18. DT Haloti Ngata, Baltimore Ravens (@ Denver Broncos)

19. DE Jason Pierre-Paul, New York Giants (@ Dallas Cowboys)

20. DE Cliff Avril, Seattle Seahawks (@ Carolina Panthers)

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Week 1 Linebacker Rankings

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

1. Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers (vs. Seattle Seahawks)

2. James Laurinaitis, St. Louis Rams (vs. Arizona Cardinals)

3. NaVorro Bowman, San Francisco 49ers (vs. Green Bay Packers)

4. Sean Lee, Dallas Cowboys (vs. New York Giants)

5. Paul Posluszny, Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. Kansas City Chiefs)

6. Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers (@ San Francisco 49ers)

7. Derrick Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs (@ Jacksonville Jaguars)

8. Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@ New York Jets)

9. London Fletcher, Washington Redskins (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)

10. Brian Cushing, Houston Texans (@ San Diego Chargers)

11. Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks (@ Carolina Panthers)

12. Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers (vs. Green Bay Packers)

13. D’Qwell Jackson, Cleveland Browns (vs. Miami Dolphins)

14. Terrell Suggs, Baltimore Ravens (vs. Denver Broncos)

15. Jerrell Freeman, Indianapolis Colts (vs. Oakland Raiders)

16. Curtis Lofton, New Orleans Saints (vs. Atlanta Falcons)

17. Vontaze Burfict, Cincinnati Bengals (@ Chicago Bears)

18. Lawrence Timmons, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Tennessee Titans)

19. Jonathan Bostic, Chicago Bears (vs. Cincinnati Bengals)

20. Sean Weatherspoon, Atlanta Falcons (@ New Orleans Saints)

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Week 1 Defensive Back Rankings

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

1. S Morgan Burnett, Green Bay Packers (@ San Francisco 49ers)

2. S Eric Weddle, San Diego Chargers (vs. Houston Texans)

3. S Harrison Smith Minnesota Vikings (@ Detroit Lions)

4. S Eric Berry, Kansas City Chiefs (@ Jacksonville Jaguars)

5. CB Charles Tillman, Chicago Bears (vs. Cincinnati Bengals)

6. S Roman Harper, New Orleans Saints (vs. Atlanta Falcons)

7. S Ryan Clark, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Tennessee Titans)

8. S Bernard Pollard, Tennessee Titans (@ Pittsburgh Steelers)

9. CB Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks (@ Carolina Panthers)

10. S Tyvon Branch, Oakland Raiders (@ Indianapolis Colts)

11. S Mark Barron, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@ New York Jets)

12. CB Devin McCourty, New England Patriots (@ Buffalo Bills)

13. S LaRon Landry, Indianapolis Colts (vs. Oakland Raiders)

14. CB Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals (@ St. Louis Rams)

15. S Kam Chancellor, Seattle Seahawks (@ Carolina Panthers)

16. CB Dawan Landry, New York Jets (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

17. S Quintin Mikell, Carolina Panthers (vs. Seattle Seahawks)

18. S Dawan Landry, New York Jets (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

19. S William Moore, Atlanta Falcons (@ New Orleans Saints)

20. CB Tyrann Mathieu, Arizona Cardinals (@ St. Louis Rams)