Fantasy Football Week 1 Wide Reciever Rankings

The 2022-23 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

WR4 Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers

Deebo Samuel returned to practice Monday after missing multiple practices the week prior due to a knee injury. It is unclear the severity of his injury. However if Samuel was to miss Week 1 against the Chicago Bears then Brandon Aiyuk would move up to WR17 between Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and D.J. Moore. Jauan Jennings and third round pick rookie Danny Gray would become interesting DFS plays this week.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Wide Receivers: WR11 Chris Godwin & WR54 Russell Gage

Chris Godwin is recovering from a torn ACL while Russell Gage has been dealing with leg issue. If Godwin is inactive but Gage is active then Mike Evans moves up to WR10 between A.J. Brown and Keenan Allen. Gage would move up to WR32 between Adam Thielen and Robert Woods. Julio Jones would then bump up to WR42 between DeVonta Smith and Allen Lazard.

If Godwin is active and Gage is not active then Julio Jones moves up to WR48 between George Pickens and Treylon Burks.

If neither Godwin or Gage are active then Mike Evans moves up to WR8 between CeeDee Lamb and Tyreek Hill. Julio Jones would move to WR40 between Chris Olave and DeVonta Smith.

WR13 Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals

Tee Higgins returned to practice Monday after missing time because of a shoulder injury. If Higgins was to miss Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers Tyler Boyd would move up to WR20 between Brandin Cooks and Mike Williams.

WR16 Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers

Diontae Johnson suffered a shoulder injury in the final game of the preseason. If he was to miss the first game of the regular season against the Cincinnati Bengals then George Pickens would move up to WR31 between Drake London and Adam Thielen. Chase Claypool would then move up to WR43 between Allen Lazard and Elijah Moore.

WR24 Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins

Jaylen Waddle has missed time in the preseason due to a lower body injury. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniels said “Waddle is on track to play Sunday”. However he is not confirmed to play. If Waddle is to miss this week’s game against the New England Patriots then Cedrick Wilson Jr. will move up to WR63 between Christian Watson and Van Jefferson.

WR31 Drake London, Atlanta Falcons

Drake London injured his knee early in the preseason. He returned to practice on Monday. If London is to miss Atlanta’s game against the New Orleans Saints then Bryan Edwards would join the list as WR64 between Van Jefferson and Jarvis Landry.

Green Bay Packers Wide Receivers: WR42 Allen Lazard & WR63 Christian Watson

Allen Lazard may be in jeopardy to miss the first game of the year due to an undisclosed injury. Christian Watson is still recovering from offseason knee surgery. If Lazard misses Week 1 and Watson is active then it is a dart throw between Watson, Romeo Doubs, Randall Cobb and Sammy Watkins on which receiver will see the most targets my Aaron Rodgers. It is too early in the season to establish a pecking order between the four. Randall Cobb has the most chemistry with Aaron Rodgers, Watkins is a proven veteran outside receiver, Watson was selected with a top-40 pick this past April, and Doubs has the most preseason hype out of any player in Packers camp.

If Watson is inactive and Lazard is active then the other Packers receivers do not move up the rankings due to uncertainty about this offense.

If both Lazard and Watson are inactive then Sammy Watkins moves up to Lazard’s position at WR42 between DeVonta Smith and Elijah Moore. Doubs would move up to WR49 between Treylon Burks and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Cobb would move up to WR51 between Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Chase Claypool.

WR64 Van Jefferson, Los Angeles Rams

Van Jefferson has not practiced all week due to a knee issue. This does not bode well for Jefferson considering his season opener against the Buffalo Bills is Thursday night. If Jefferson misses this week’s game then Ben Skowronek, Tutu Atwell, or Lance McCutcheon would be third on the Rams depth chart at receiver and should not be on the fantasy radar.

WR67 Robbie Anderson, Carolina Panthers

Robbie Anderson has been dealing with both a quad and hip injury in recent weeks. If he was to miss the season opener against the Cleveland Browns then Terrace Marshall Jr. would move up to WR72 between Sammy Watkins and Kendrick Bourne. Recently acquired receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. would then join the rankings at WR84 between Cedrick Wilson Jr. and Zay Jones.

WR77 Sterling Shepard, New York Giants

Despite tearing his Achillies late last season, Sterling Shepard told media on Tuesday that he is “ready to go” for the Giants’ first game of the season. New York opens against the Titans this weekend. If Shepard doesn’t play this weekend it doesn’t change the rankings of his receiver teammates but gives more clarity to a very crowded receiver room.

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