Week 1 is closing in and that means it's finally time to figure out which players to start in the coming week for fantasy. In the last Fantasy Football Weekly posts, we looked at the best ten running backs and best tight ends to start in week 1. In this article, I'll take a look at the ten best quarterbacks for week 1 of the NFL season.
1. Aaron Rodgers
The Green Bay quarterback was the best in fantasy last season, scoring 22.9 fantasy points per game, nearly two points better than any other quarterback. That means he'll be at the top of this list almost every week, even when he does play a tough defense like Seattle's.
2. Matt Ryan
The second highest fantasy scoring quarterback last season lands at the second spot on the list. Ryan averaged almost 21 fantasy points a game last season and played for one of the NFL's most prolific offenses. The roster composition of the Falcons hasn't changed much, and Ryan will get to play against a weak Bears pass defense in week 1.
3. Derek Carr
I'm not a big fan of Carr as a fantasy quarterback this season, especially after the addition of Marshawn Lynch. But in week 1 against the Titans, Carr is a great fantasy option, especially in a game that Vegas projects to be one of the highest scoring week 1 matchups.
4. Cam Newton
Carolina's quarterback, similar to Derek Carr this season, was extremely overvalued last year.
He came crashing down to Earth last season, and posted an average of just 15 fantasy points per game. This is a new year though, and he'll get to open it against a 49ers defense that isn't very good at defense.
5. Russell Wilson
The Seahawks quarterback wasn't great last season, but still managed to finish in the Top 10 fantasy quarterbacks last year.
This season, he'll look to get back to his previous form and has a great opportunity to do that in week 1 against a terrible Packers defense.
6. Tom Brady
It's hard to believe that Tom Brady is 6th on this list, but a week 1 matchup with a tough Chiefs defense drops him this far down the list. Still, he's one of the best quarterbacks of all time, so don't be afraid to start him against Kansas City.
7. Andrew Luck (*If he plays)
Andrew Luck's current status is not yet known, but if he does play, he'll be an elite option in week 1 against the Rams. If not, it wouldn't be worth starting Tolzien against the Rams.
8. Drew Brees
Why is fantasy's third highest scoring quarterback eighth on this list? Simple. He's playing on the road. Last season, he averaged three points less than his season average on the road, and in week 1 he'll face a tough Vikings defense that likely won't give up a ton of points or allow a ton of passing touchdowns.
9. Jameis Winston
An odd entry, but a reasonable one given the matchup. Winston has a brand new weapon in DeSean Jackson and he's definitely going to use him against a Miami defense that struggles mightily in pass coverage.
Expect Winston to put up solid numbers in week 1.
10. Matthew Stafford
Stafford finished last season as the 7th ranked quarterback in fantasy, and he's one of the most consistent scorers in the game. He scored fewer than a double digit point total just twice last season, and he should post a solid fantasy week at the start of the season against the Arizona Cardinals.
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