This year, I’m going to do a series where I rank fantasy football players by position for each week. Without further ado, let’s dive into the series, looking at the top fantasy quarterbacks for week 1. Jalen Hurts stands as my top fantasy quarterback for the week as he takes on the Cowboys. Micah Parsons was just traded away, making a weak defense even weaker.
From years managing multiple fantasy leagues, targeting quarterbacks facing depleted defenses often yields immediate dividends. Josh Allen has a pretty good matchup as well, taking on the Bills. Allen is a guy to trust in all matchups, and he should be an easy start every week.
Dual-Threat Stars: Jackson and Daniels Dominate Week 1 Projections
Joe Burrow has a pretty favorable matchup against the Browns, and I see a monster first week showing for him. There’s not many matchups I don’t like Burrow in. He typically starts seasons slow, but I bet he bucks that trend this year. Lamar Jackson has a tougher test against the Bills, but again, I’m not going to knock Jackson down much ever.
He’s a dual-threat star, and will deliver good fantasy numbers in week 1. Jayden Daniels creates a fascinating case study where his dual-threat ability makes almost every matchup manageable. You drafted him early, so utilize him all year and have faith that he’ll deliver in each matchup.
Mid-Tier Value Plays: Mayfield through Murray Breakdowns
Baker Mayfield has a test against the Falcons, which is favorable based on last year’s numbers. Mayfield was a great fantasy option last season, and I bet he gets off to a stellar start in 2025. Bo Nix will battle the Titans in week 1, which was a so-so matchup based on last year’s numbers. Nix is a top-end fantasy QB, and was drafted early-ish, so start him confidently this week.
Patrick Mahomes presents a matchup against the Chargers that’s a bit tougher test to open the year, but I’m still pretty high on Mahomes this week. We’ll see if he can get off to a good start after a down 2024 season.
Saints Defense Concerns: Why Kyler Murray Still Delivers Week 1 Value
Kyler Murray will face off against the Saints in week 1, creating a unique situation worth analyzing. While I see New Orleans struggling overall, the defense might be pretty solid. I like Murray still because of his dual-threat ability that consistently overcomes defensive schemes.
What makes Murray especially valuable in fantasy football projections?
His rushing floor provides safety even when passing opportunities become limited. Check out week 1 fantasy football projections for quarterbacks on FantasySP as well for additional confirmation on these rankings. Experience shows that mobile quarterbacks like Murray often exceed expectations when matchups appear challenging on paper.
Brock Purdy rounds out my top 10 as he’ll face the Seahawks in the opener. It’s a bit tougher matchup based on last year’s numbers, but I see Purdy and the Niners’ offense bouncing back in 2025, and it’ll start with a good showing in week 1.
From years analyzing quarterback performances, Purdy represents exactly why fantasy managers should trust proven systems over difficult matchups. Jordan Love will take on the Lions in a week 1 NFC North showdown, creating a pretty favorable matchup based on last year’s numbers. If he was not battling an injury, I’d have Love somewhere inside my top 10. Don’t sleep on him this week.
Mid Tier Quarterback Fantasy Football Week 1 Sleeper Picks Analysis
Dak Prescott has a tough matchup against the Eagles’ defense in week 1, but while playing catch up, I see Prescott delivering decent fantasy results. It’s a bit of a risk playing Prescott, but he was drafted around this spot, so it’s fair to rank him near this spot. Drake Maye creates compelling intrigue where I’m high on Maye this season, and I think he looks good against the Raiders in week 1.
Trevor Lawrence is a sneaky good fantasy asset for week 1, when he’ll take on the Panthers. If Lawrence was a bit more consistent in his past, he’d rank a lot higher for week 1. He could be the biggest fantasy QB surprise in week 1.
Deep League Fantasy Football Quarterback Week 1 Value Targets
Jared Goff presents a fascinating case where I really want to put Goff higher for his game against the Packers, but I’m skeptical of how the Lions’ offense will look in week 1. If Micah Parsons plays for GB, it could be a long day for Goff, but I still think he will do enough for close to average fantasy results. Justin Fields has a tough matchup against the Steelers, and I already don’t like Fields that much.
Fields is a dual-threat QB though, and his combined numbers still should be good enough for a solid fantasy score. Justin Herbert has a slightly better than average test against the Chiefs. On volume alone, I could see Herbert delivering average fantasy results, so in deeper leagues, he’s a solid starting option.
Week 1 Fantasy Football Quarterback Bounceback Candidates Analysis
Tua Tagovailoa creates a clash against the Colts that’s an above-average matchup based on last year. Tagovailoa is a bounceback candidate, and could put up monster numbers in week 1 as the team looks to not overuse a banged up De’Von Achane. C.J. Stroud takes on the Rams in week 1, which is a pretty favorable test.
Stroud is looking to bounce back after a tough 2024 season, and he could get off to a good start against a so so defense. Daniel Jones faces a matchup against the Dolphins that’s tough based on last year’s numbers, and Jones isn’t that great of an option anyways.
He could put up decent numbers with his dual-threat ability though. Caleb Williams encounters a clash against the Vikings that’s a tougher test for Williams, who I’m also not very high on. He’s not a big dual-threat guy either, and I see below average numbers for Williams to start the season.
Why Some Starting Quarterbacks Face Challenging Week 1 Matchups
Week 1 presents unique challenges for fantasy football managers, especially when evaluating quarterbacks ranked outside the top 20. Stafford enters the season with injury concerns from preseason, making Houston a so-so matchup that requires careful consideration. His upside remains decent, but the riskier starting option status puts him at a disadvantage compared to higher ranked players.
Darnold finds himself in a weird situation after his stellar fantasy season in 2024. The tough matchup against the Niners to kick off the season could force him to revert back to his old self. From my years of analyzing quarterback performances, players changing teams often struggle early, making starting him a questionable decision for week 1.
Evaluating Aging Veterans and Their Week 1 Fantasy Potential
The aging Flacco presents an intriguing case with a really great matchup against the Bengals. While he’s definitely capable of finishing higher than 24th, it’s hard to put him over anyone else in the rankings. A shootout game scenario could lead to Flacco really delivering a monster fantasy total, making him a potential sleeper pick.
Young faces a super favorable matchup against the Jaguars, though Jacksonville’s defense has probably improved since last season. His inconsistent past performance makes it difficult to trust him even in the most favorable matchups. Smith will take on the Patriots in what appears to be a tougher matchup on paper, making him someone to avoid this week.
Rookie Quarterbacks and Unproven Starters Face Uphill Battles
McCarthy generates skeptical feelings heading into the season, with the Bears presenting a tough matchup to start things off. This really feels like the higher end of a projection, and he could end up finishing way lower than expected. Ward will make his regular season debut against a tough Broncos defense, creating tough sledding for the Titans offense.
Penix has a good matchup against the Buccaneers, but with only a few starts under his belt, the feeling isn’t strong for week 1. He needs to show something before becoming all-in on favorable matchups. Wilson could deliver better numbers if the game becomes higher scoring, but the current projection doesn’t inspire confidence. Rodgers opens his Steelers tenure against the Jets, his most recent team, in an average-or-worse matchup that keeps him ranked low.
What makes these lower-tier options particularly challenging is their combination of unfavorable matchups and questionable recent performance. Rattler will start against the Cardinals in what looks like an OK fantasy matchup on paper, but belief in both Rattler and the Saints offense remains limited. Maybe in time he can change minds, but you can expect whichever Saints QB starts to rank near this range for a while.