Fantasy Football Week 1 Rankings: Season-Opening Position-by-Position Review

Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

Week 1 Top 20

1. Christian McCaffrey, CAR (vs. NYJ)

2. Dalvin Cook, MIN (at CIN)

3. Alvin Kamara, NO (vs. GB)

4. Derrick Henry, TEN (vs. ARI)

5. Jonathan Taylor, IND (vs. SEA)

6. James Robinson, JAX (at HOU)

7. Antonio Gibson, WAS (vs. LAC)

8. Nick Chubb, CLE (at KC)

9. Austin Ekeler, LAC (at WAS)

10. Aaron Jones, GB (at NO)

11. Joe Mixon, CIN (vs. MIN)

12. Raheem Mostert, SF (at DET)

13. Najee Harris, PIT (at BUF)

14. David Montgomery, CHI (at LAR)

15. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC (vs. CLE)

16. Chris Carson, SEA (at IND)

17. Miles Sanders, PHI (at ATL)

18. Saquon Barkley, NYG (vs. DEN)

19. Josh Jacobs, LV (vs. BAL)

20. Mike Davis, ATL (vs. PHI)

Week 1 Sleeper: Trey Sermon, SF (at DET)

There’s a non-zero chance San Francisco’s starting running back, Mostert, paces the position in Week 1 points. Even if he did, there could still be enough production to go around for Sermon to warrant at least a FLEX play.

Detroit was dreadful against the run last season, allowing the most fantasy points to the running back position. This defense can make a star out of any running back, and the same is true of 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan.

But Sermon isn’t just any running back. The 49ers traded up to get him in the first round for a reason. He might handle third-down and goal-line duties from the jump, and it’s possible he’ll push for even more right out of the gate.