Fantasy Football Checkdown: Week 1

Great news, fantasy footballers: there’s another podcast out there offering expert advice! As sarcastic as that may have sounded, you will want to be tuning into the Fantasy Football Checkdown weekly. As our name suggests, we know we’re not your first option, but we’re happy enough simply being an option.

Each week, Sascha and I will be cutting to the chase and offering advice on all those fringe players at each major position. If you are in search of some rankings, no worries, we provide those as well.

If fantasy football advice isn’t enough to keep you coming back, perhaps the entertainment value of watching one of the hosts pay for their fantasy sins will pique your interest. We’ll also provide you with a platform to gripe about the horrible, devastating losses you have suffered and are about to suffer. Tweet us @BettingDime, and use the hashtag #FFHorror, to have your story told on-air and to be entered into a raffle for some great end-of-the-year prizes!

Have a listen to get advice on Week 1 sleepers, big-names to avoid, and tough matchups you should power through for each position. If you want our (standard) position rankings, just keep scrolling.

Week 1 QB Rankings

TIER 1

1. Tom Brady, Patriots (v Chiefs)
2. Aaron Rodgers, Packers (v Seahawks)
3. Russell Wilson, Seahawks (at Packers)

TIER 2

4. Matt Ryan, Falcons (at Bears)
5. Derek Carr, Raiders (at Titans)
6. Marcus Mariota, Titans (v Raiders)
7. Carson Palmer, Cardinals (at Lions)
8. Kirk Cousins, Washington (v Eagles)
9. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers (at Browns)

TIER 3

10. Drew Brees, Saints (at Vikings)
11. Matthew Stafford, Lions (v Cardinals)
12. Carson Wentz, Eagles (at Washington)
13. Cam Newton, Panthers (at 49ers)
14. Sam Bradford, Vikings (v Saints)

TIER 4

15. Jared Goff, Rams (v Colts)
16. Andy Dalton, Bengals (v Ravens)
17. Eli Manning, Giants (at Cowboys)
18. Tyrod Taylor, Bills (v Jets)
19. Joe Flacco, Ravens (at Bengals)
20. Trevor Siemian, Broncos (v Chargers)

Week 1 RB Rankings

TIER 1

1. David Johnson, Cardinals (at Lions)
2. Le’Veon Bell, Steelers (at Browns)
3. DeMarco Murray, Titans (v Raiders)
4. Todd Gurley, Rams (v Colts)

TIER 2

5. LeSean McCoy, Bills (v Jets)
6. Devonta Freeman, Falcons (at Bears)
7. Christian McCaffrey, Panthers (at 49ers)
8. Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys (v Giants)
9. Dalvin Cook, Vikings (v Saints)
10. Jordan Howard, Bears (v Falcons)
11. Isaiah Crowell, Browns (v Steelers)
12. Marshawn Lynch, Raiders (at Titans)
13. Bilal Powell, Jets (at Bills)

TIER 3

14. Lamar Miller, Texans (v Jaguars)
15. Kareem Hunt, Chiefs (at Patriots)
16. Leonard Fournette, Jaguars (at Texans)
17. CJ Anderson, Broncos (v Chargers)
18. Thomas Rawls, Seahawks (at Packers)
19. Adrian Peterson, Saints (at Vikings)
20. Terrance West, Ravens (at Bengals)

TIER 4

21. Ty Montgomery, Packers (v Seahawks)
22. Ameer Abdullah, Lions (v Cardinals)
23. Joe Mixon, Bengals (v Ravens)
24. Rob Kelley, Washington (v Eagles)
25. Darren Sproles, Eagles (at Washington)
26. Paul Perkins, Giants (at Cowboys)
27. Mark Ingram, Saints (at Vikings)
28. Carlos Hyde, 49ers (v Panthers)
29. Mike Gillislee, Patriots (v Chiefs)
30. Danny Woodhead, Ravens (at Bengals)

Week 1 WR Rankings

TIER 1

1.  Antonio Brown, Steelers (at Browns)
2. Julio Jones, Falcons (at Bears)
3. AJ Green, Bengals (v Ravens)
4. Doug Baldwin, Seahawks (at Packers)
5. Odell Beckham Jr, Giants (at Cowboys)
6. Amari Cooper, Raiders (at Titans)

TIER 2

7. Jordy Nelson, Packers (v Seahawks)
8. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals (at Lions)
9. Brandin Cooks, Patriots (v Chiefs)
10. Michael Thomas, Saints (at Vikings)
11. Dez Bryant, Cowboys (v Giants)
12. Stefon Diggs, Vikings (v Saints)
13. Kelvin Benjamin, Panthers (at 49ers)
14. Martavis Bryant, Steelers (at Browns)
15. Demaryius Thomas, Broncos (v Chargers)
16. Terrelle Pryor, Washington (v Eagles)
17. Tyreek Hill, Chiefs (at Patriots)
18. Alshon Jeffery, Eagles (at Washington)
19. Sammy Watkins, Rams (v Colts)

TIER 3

20. Jamison Crowder, Washington (v Eagles)
21. DeAndre Hopkins, Texans (v Jaguars)
22. Jeremy Maclin, Ravens (at Bengals)
23. Pierre Garcon, 49ers (v Panthers)
24. Ted Ginn, Saints (at Vikings)
25. Randall Cobb, Packers (v Seahawks)
26. Chris Hogan, Patriots (v Chiefs)
27. Golden Tate, Lions (v Cardinals)
28. Allen Robinson, Jaguars (at Texans)
29. Paul Richardson, Seahawks (at Packers)
30. Eric Decker, Titans (v Raiders)

Week 1 TE Rankings

TIER 1

1. Delanie Walker, Titans (v Raiders)
2. Jimmy Graham, Seahawks (at Packers)
3. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots (v Chiefs)

TIER 2

4. Greg Olsen, Panthers (at 49ers)
5. Kyle Rudolph, Vikings (v Saints)
6. Travis Kelce, Chiefs (at Patriots)
7. Zach Ertz, Eagles (at Washington)
8. Jordan Reed, Washington (v Eagles)
9. Tyler Eifert, Bengals (v Ravens)
10. Coby Fleener, Saints (at Vikings)

TIER 3

11. Tyler Higbee, Rams (v Colts)
12. Hunter Henry, Chargers (at Broncos)
13. Evan Engram, Giants (at Cowboys)
14. Jesse James, Steelers (at Browns)
15. Jack Doyle, Colts (at Rams)