Fantasy Football Week 1 Wide Receiver Rankings

The 2023-24 NFL season is about to begin which means fantasy football is back! Most fantasy football team managers don’t make major lineup moves in the first week of the season. Typically managers will start the players they drafted in the earlier rounds. However, since every week is important it would be irresponsible to start a player with a rough matchup over a player with a more favorable one because he was drafted to be a starter. Here are fantasy football week 1 wide receiver rankings.

*Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to the Injured Reserve List

(Check out the section below for details on players already rumored to possibly miss this week and how their replacement options rank for the week)

Key:

Must Start- a player who is in your lineup regardless of the matchup or most circumstances. They will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and in most weeks.

Starting WR1- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a high floor.

High WR2- a player who may not be likely to carry a lineup that week, but has the ability to have a breakout game and is teetering between WR1 and WR2 territory.

Starting WR2- a player who should be started in most lineups and should reach their point projection. This player is started is because of their consistency and moderately high floor

Low WR2- a player who may not be a lock to start for a team every week, but will start more times than not. Their production may not be pretty or win a person their lineup but the production is consistent enough to make a fantasy owner comfortable starting them.

Flex- a player who could float around the territory of being benched, but is started due to the potential to play better than their point projection. However, this player has the potential to flop and cause a fantasy team to lose if he has a bad game.

Deeper League Flex- a player who has starting value in deeper leagues. There are enough reasons to leave this player on the bench, but their upside makes them an attractive option. Desperate times may call for a player like this to be inserted into starting lineups.

Upside Player- a player who is boom or bust. This player can exceed expectations in a given week or could flop and be the reason why someone lost their fantasy matchup.

Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.

Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday

WR12 Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins

Jaylen Waddle has been dealing with an abdominal injury. He is expected to play this week. However, if Waddle were to miss Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers Braxton Berrios would become WR73 between Quentin Johnston and Chase Claypool. Cedrick Wilson becomes WR91 between Randall Cobb and Kalif Raymond.

WR22 Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders

Terry McLaurin has been dealing with a toe injury that puts his season debut in jeopardy. If he was to miss Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals Jahan Dotson moves up to WR25 between Christian Watson and Mike Evans. Curtis Samuel moves up to WR38 between Brandin Cooks and Jordan Addison.

Green Bay Packers Wide Receivers: WR25 Christian Watson & WR64 Romeo Doubs

Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs are both dealing with hamstring injuries. At this point of the week, both are uncertain to play in Green Bay’s opening game. If Christian Watson misses Week 1 against the Chicago Bears and Romeo Doubs plays then Doubs becomes the WR41 between Van Jefferson and Jakobi Meyers. Jayden Reed moves up to WR54 between Hunter Renfrow and Curtis Samuel. Dontayvion Wicks becomes WR97 between Trey Palmer and Cedric Tillman.

If Doubs misses Week 1 against the Chicago Bears and Christian Watson plays Jayden Reed moves up to WR62 between Marvin Mims Jr. and Darnell Mooney. Dontayvion Wicks would become WR97 between Trey Palmer and Cedric Tillman.

If both Watson and Doubs miss Week 1 against the Chicago Bears then Jayden Reed becomes WR33 between Jahan Dotson and Christian Kirk. Dontayvion Wicks becomes WR77 between Mecole Hardman and Donovan Peoples-Jones.

WR26 Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mike Evans is expected to play in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers season opener despite dealing with a hamstring injury. If he does miss Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings Chris Godwin moves up to WR14 between DeVonta Smith and Keenan Allen. Trey Palmer moves up to WR76 between Robert Woods and Mecole Hardman. Deven Thompkins or Rakim Jarrett would be Tampa’s third receiver in three-receiver sets.

WR31 Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, Arizona Cardinals

Marquise “Hollywood” Brown was limited in practice Wednesday with a hamstring injury. If he was to miss Arizona’s Week 1 game against the Washington Commanders Rondale Moore moves up to WR51 between DJ Chark and Treylon Burks. Michael Wilson moves up to WR83 between Puka Nacua and Kendrick Bourne. Greg Dortch moves up to WR97 between Joshua Palmer and Trey Palmer.

WR50 Kadarius Toney, Kansas City Chiefs

Kadarius Toney missed time during the preseason due to a knee injury. Reports have stated that Toney is expected in the first game of the 2023-24 season. If Toney suffers a setback and does not play against the Detroit Lions Skyy Moore moves up to WR39 between Jordan Addison and Gabe Davis. Marquez Valdes-Scantling moves up to WR51 between DJ Chark and Treylon Burks. Rashee Rice moves up to WR83 between Darius Slayton and Puka Nacua.

Carolina Panthers Wide Receivers: WR40 Adam Thielen & WR51 DJ Chark, Carolina Panthers

Adam Thielen was limited in practice on Wednesday with an ankle injury. DJ Chark has been dealing with a hamstring injury for a few weeks. It is not certain if they will be available for the Carolina Panthers’ first game of the season. If Thielen misses Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons and Chark plays then Chark will move up to WR38 between Brandin Cooks and Jordan Addison. Jonathan Mingo moves up to WR51 between Kadarius Toney and Treylon Burks.

If Thielen is active and Chark was to miss Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons Adam Thielen moves up to WR38 between Michael Thomas and Brandin Cooks. Jonathan Mingo moves up to WR51 between Kadarius Toney and Treylon Burks.

If both are inactive this week Jonathan Mingo moves up to WR37 between Michael Thomas and Brandin Cooks. Terrace Marshall Jr. becomes the WR71 between Alec Pierce and Tutu Atwell.

New York Jets Wide Receivers: WR55 Allen Lazard & WR77 Mecole Hardman

Both new additions to the New York Jets receiving core Allen Lazard and Mecole Hardman are dealing with injuries. Allen Lazard is dealing with a shoulder injury. Mecole Hardman is dealing with a finger injury. If Lazard misses this week’s game and Hardman plays then Hardman becomes the WR67 between Parris Campbell and Jayden Reed. Randall Cobb moves up to WR82 between Darius Slayton and Puka Nacua.

If Hardman misses this week’s game and Lazard plays them Randall Cobb moves up to WR81 between Darius Slayton and Nacua.

If both Lazard and Hardman miss this week’s game then Randall Cobb moves up to WR73 between Quentin Johnston and Chase Claypool.

WR59 DeVante Parker, New England Patriots

DeVante Parker missed some practice time last week with an undisclosed injury. He returned to practice on Monday which is a good sign that he should play this weekend. If DeVante Parker misses Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles Kendrick Bourne moves up to WR73 between Isaiah Hodgins and Quentin Johnston. Demario Davis moves up to WR95 between Josh Downs and Sterling Shepard.

WR74 Chase Claypool, Chicago Bears

Chase Claypool has been dealing with a hamstring injury. He is expected to be able to play in the Bears’ season opener. If Claypool misses Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers Velus Jones Jr. or Equanimeous St. Brown would be Chicago’s third receiver.

WR78 Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants

Wan’Dale Robinson is still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last season. There is a chance that Robinson is active for the Giants’ first game of the season. If Robinson misses Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys the other Giants receivers should have larger roles in the offense.

Players that are currently not expected to play

Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos

Jerry Jeudy suffered a hamstring injury that is expected to hold him out for the first few weeks of the season. However, he hasn’t been ruled out for Denver’s season opener. If Jeudy could suit up for Week 1 against the Las Vegas Raiders he would slot in at WR30 between Mike Williams and Odell Beckham Jr. Courtland Sutton would move down to WR38 between Michael Thomas and Brandin Cooks.

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