Fantasy Football Week 1 Wide Receiver Rankings

The 2021-22 NFL season is about to begin which means that fantasy football is back! Usually in the first week of the season fantasy football players tend to play the players they originally drafted to be their starters. 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 reserve/COVID-19 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 isn’t likely to carry a lineup that week, but has the ability to have a breakout game and is teetering between WR1 and WR2 category.

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 causes 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

WR8 Stefon Diggs & WR65 Emmanuel Sanders, Buffalo Bills

Two of the Buffalo Bills starting receivers have dealt with injuries during the preseason. Stefon Diggs has dealt with a knee injury that kept him out of the preseason. He is expected to play week one, but if not Cole Beasley, Emmanuel Sanders, and Gabriel Davis all become potential flex options until he’s back. Sanders was limited with a foot issue. If he was to miss Week 1, second-year receiver Gabriel Davis would jump up to WR59 between Curtis Samuel and Rondale Moore.

WR15 Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It is worth noting that Chris Godwin was taken off the injury report and is expected to play tonight. However, he has been dealing with a quad injury. If the Buccaneers were to decide to rest Godwin for the first week Mike Evans’ ranking stays the same, but Antonio Brown becomes a very interesting player this week. His stock would skyrocket in a great matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Brown would jump to WR17 between Cooper Kupp and Amari Cooper. Also, Scotty Miller would reappear on fantasy radars in deep leagues. Miller would become WR57 between Tyrell Williams and Terrace Marshall Jr.

WR20 Brandon Aiyuk, San Fransisco 49ers

Brandon Aiyuk returned to practice Monday after suffering a hamstring injury. There is a good chance he plays against Detriot for the 49ers’ first game of the season. If Aiyuk was to miss this week Deebo Samuel to WR24 between Robby Anderson and Tee Higgins. He would become the number one wide receiver for than offense that is expected to blow out their Week 1 opponent.

WR37 Kenny Golladay, New York Giants

The New York Giants gave Kenny Golladay a four-year $72 million deal last offseason to be their new number one receiver. But his status for Week 1 against the Broncos is in question due to a hamstring issue. Last season he was limited to only five games because of multiple injuries. He is one of many Giants that may not be available for their game this weekend. If Golladay were to miss this game, it is unclear who between Sterling Shepard or 2021 first-round pick Kadarius Toney would benefit more from a fantasy perspective. Both could see high targets shares but are going up against one of the best secondaries in the league in the Denver Broncos. It is safe to say that if Golladay missed this week Shepard would bump up to WR57 between Terrace Marshall Jr. and Curtis Samuel. While Toney would become WR59 between Curtis Samuel and Karadius Toney.

WR40 Marvin Jones Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars

During the last preseason game, Marvin Jones Jr. suffered an AC Joint sprain. He is on track to play Week 1 against the Houston Texans. But if the new Jaguars receiver were to miss that game that would have major fantasy repercussions. A problem with the Jaguars from a fantasy perspective is that they don’t clearly have a number one receiver between Jones Jr., Laviska Shenault Jr., and DJ Chark. If Jones Jr. were to miss this week it would give fantasy managers a clear opportunity to play both Chark and Shenault Jr. in a great matchup to determine who will be Trevor Lawerence’s number one receiver. Shenault Jr. would bump up to WR30 between DeVonta Smith and Tyler Lockett. While Chark would become WR41 between Ja’Marr Chase and Jerry Jeudy.

WR50 Mike Williams, Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams is in a make-or-break season in his fifth year in the NFL. Williams has flashed at times but has been inconsistent since the Chargers took him with the seventh overall pick in 2017. Williams is hoping that in a new offense he could break out similarly to how Corey Davis did last year. He is off to a rough start missing a majority of camp and the preseason due to a hip flexor. If he were to miss Week 1, 2021 third-round pick Joshua Palmer could fill his role at the team’s second receiver after Keenan Allen. Palmer would jump to WR62 between Darnell Mooney and Nelson Agholor.

WR58 Curtis Samuel, Washington Football Team

Concerning news has come out in Washington about their free-agent addition at receiver Curtis Samuel. The gadget receiver has been dealing with a groin issue since early June. He left practice on Wednesday and has not participated in individual drills with the receivers today. Washington may be cautious with Samuel and allow him to heal up before making his season debut. If Samuel misses Week 1 veteran Adam Humphries and 2021 third-round pick could have a fantasy impact this week. Humphries will become WR63 between Nelson Agholor and Sterling Shepard. While Brown becomes WR61between Mecole Hardman and Darnell Mooney

WR77 Jamison Crowder & WR84 Denzel Mims, New York Jets

The new regime for the Jets has replaced their top receiver from a year ago slot receiver Jamison Crowder. The additions of Corey Davis, Keelan Cole, and 2021 second-round pick Elijah Moore have clouded up his role for the team going forward. This doesn’t give them an extremely high fantasy floor like many anticipated he could have going into this season. Less than a week ago Crowder tested positive for Covid-19 putting his Week 1 status against the Panthers in jeopardy. If he were to miss this week Keelan Cole would be an intriguing name to watch for in deep league slotting in at WR81 between Scotty Miller and K.J. Hamler.

You can “Like” The Game Haus on Facebook and “Follow” us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from great TGH writers like Chris Thomas!