Fantasy Football Week 1 Wide Receiver Rankings

The 2024-25 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 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 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.

Fantasy Football Week 1 Wide Receiver Rankings

Players that could miss this week’s game

WR10 Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders

Davante Adams suffered an injury during the preseason that was not disclosed. As it currently stands Adams is supposed to be ready for the first game of the season. If Adams misses Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers Jakobi Meyers moves up to WR32 between Courtland Sutton and Tank Dell.

WR13 Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams

Puka Nacua suffered a knee injury in the preseason. He is not expected to miss the first game of the season. If Nacua was to miss Week 1 against the Detroit Lions Cooper Kupp would move up to WR5 between Amon-Ra St. Brown and Ja’Marr Chase. Demarcus Robinson would move up to WR50 between Demario “Pop” Douglas and Jordan Addison.

WR22 Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins

Jaylen Waddle has been dealing with an undisclosed injury for the past few days. He has been held out of practice but is expected to play in the first game of the season. If Waddle misses Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars Braxton Berrios becomes the WR78 between Andrei Iosivas and Jalen McMillan. Malik Washington becomes the WR89 between Nelson Agholor and Jauan Jennings.

WR26 Christian Kirk, Jacksonville Jaguars

Christian Kirk suffered a calf injury during the preseason. He missed a few weeks of practice but is expected to be ready for the first game of the season. If Kirk misses Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins Brian Thomas Jr. moves up to WR38 between Jayden Reed and Ladd McConkey. Gabe Davis moves up to WR53 between Jameson Williams and Rome Odunze. Parker Washington becomes the WR64 between Wan’Dale Robinsion and Romeo Doubs.

WR37 Keenan Allen, Chicago Bears

Keenan Allen was limited in practice on Wednesday with a heel injury. He is expected to be ready for the first game of the season. If Allen misses Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans D.J. Moore moves up to WR21 between Rashee Rice and Malik Nabers. Rome Odunze moves up to WR27 between Drake London and Tee Higgins.

WR42 DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans

DeAndre Hopkins was at practice on Wednesday after missing time this preseason with a knee injury. This means there is still a chance that Hopkins will play in the first game of the season. If Hopkins misses Week 1 against the Chicago Bears Tyler Boyd moves up to WR57 between Josh Palmer and Gabe Davis. Treylon Burks becomes the WR78 between Andrei Iosivas and Jalen McMillan.

WR47 Mike Williams, New York Jets

Mike Williams is expected to play in the Jets’ first game of the season. He tore his ACL early last season and took a one-year prove-it deal with the Jets this past offseason. If for any reason Williams missed Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers. Malachi Corely, Allen Lazard, and Xavier Gipson would rotate at the number two receiver for New York’s offense.

WR51 Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings

Jordan Addison suffered an ankle injury during the preseason. He should be practicing in full by the end of the week which means he could play in Minnesota’s first game of the season. If Addison misses Week 1 against the New York Giants Jalen Nailor becomes the WR73 between Adonai Mitchell and Rashod Bateman.

WR52 Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks

Tyler Lockett suffered a leg injury during training camp but is expected to play in the first game of the season. However, if Lockett was to miss Week 1 against the Denver Broncos Jaxon Smith-Njigba would move up to WR33 between Courtand Sutton and Tank Dell. Jake Bobo becomes the WR94 between Jahan Dotson and Roman Wilson.

WR63 Brandin Cooks, Dallas Cowboys

Brandin Cooks missed practice last week because of a knee injury. He is expected to be available for the first game of the season. If Cooks misses Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns Jalen Tolbert becomes the WR73 between Adonai Mitchell and Rashod Bateman.

WR65 Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers

Romeo Doubs was limited in practice on Wednesday with a hand injury. The injury doesn’t seem like anything that would cause him to miss the first game of the season. If Doubs misses Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles Dontayvion Wicks becomes WR62 between Michael Wilson and Rashid Shaheed.

WR70 Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts

Josh Downs suffered a high-ankle sprain in August and still has not practiced since. There is still a chance he returns before the first game of the season. If Downs misses Week 1 against the Houston Texans Adonai Mitchell moves up to WR60 between Khalil Shakir and Michael Wilson. Alec Pierce moves up to WR73 between Josh Reynolds and Rashod Bateman.

WR72 Josh Reynolds, Denver Broncos

Josh Reynolds is still recovering from his Achilles injury from last season. But it is not expected to affect his status for the first game of the season. If Reynolds misses Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks Marvin Mims Jr. moves up to WR63 between Rashid Shaheed and Brandin Cooks.

WR77 DJ Chark, Los Angeles Chargers

DJ Chark missed practice on Wednesday with a hip injury. It is unknown to this point what this means for his status for the first game of the season. If Chark misses Week 1 against the Las Vegas Raiders Quinton Johnston moves up to WR79 between Andrei Iosivas and Jalen McMillan.

WR89 Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers

Jauan Jennings has been dealing with an oblique injury. It is uncertain if this injury will affect his status for the first game of the season. If Jennings misses Week 1 against the New York Jets Jacob Cowing or Ronnie Bell will be third third receiver in three receiver sets.

WR94 Roman Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers

Roman Wilson was limited in practice with an ankle sprain. It is unclear if Wilson will be able to make his debut this week. If Wilson misses Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons Calvin Austin III becomes the WR94 between Jahan Dotson and Jermain Burton.

Players that are currently not expected to play 

Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, Kansas City Chiefs

Marquise “Hollywood” Brown has been ruled out for the first game of the season with a shoulder injury that was suffered a few weeks ago. There is a chance he could come back next week. Brown is expected to be a starting receiver for this offense but where he ranks in this receiver group has not been defined yet.

Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers

Ricky Pearsall was added to the NFI list after being shot during a robbery a few days ago. He wasn’t expected to have a major role in this offense early in the year. But is expected to make a full recovery and play this season.

Odell Beckham Jr., Miami Dolphins

Odell Beckham Jr. is going to start the year on the PUP list so he cannot be activated until Week 5. Until then the Dolphins will likely rotate Braxton Berrios and Malik Washington as their third receiver in three receiver sets.

Kendrick Bourne, New England Patriots

Kendrick Bourne is going to start the year on the PUP list so he cannot be activated until Week 5. Despite his extension, Bourne could be an ancillary piece of this offense when he returns due to the youth New England is looking to develop in their receiving room.

Zay Jones, Arizona Cardinals

Zay Jones has been suspended for the first five games of the season for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Arizona should start Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson, and Greg Dortch in three-receiver sets until Jones returns.

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