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2020 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks for Week 1

Tiered QB rankings for Week 1.

By NHB
Houston Texans v Kansas City Chiefs Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images

Here are my quarterback rankings for Week 1 of fantasy football. There are plenty of great matchups this week to take advantage of in your fantasy leagues.

Quarterback duels highlight Week 1’s action with Patrick Mahomes vs. Deshaun Watson and Russell Wilson vs. Matt Ryan stealing the show. Jimmy Garoppolo, Cam Newton, and Teddy Bridgewater will announce their presence in the QB1 ranks. Dwayne Haskins makes for a sneaky start while Baker Mayfield has buy-low results against Baltimore.

Week 1 Tiered QB Rankings

Rank High Floor/High Ceiling QB1s Team Opponent Breakdown
Rank High Floor/High Ceiling QB1s Team Opponent Breakdown
1 Patrick Mahomes KC HOU We need to start as many pieces of these two teams as we possibly can. Two offenses pushing one another in an absolute shootout.
2 Deshaun Watson HOU at KC What Mahomes does in the box score, Watson and his downfield receivers will have an answer.
3 Lamar Jackson BAL CLE Last year's overall QB1 can only be dropped so far.
4 Dak Prescott DAL at LAR With Jason Garrett gone, OC Kellen Moore has been given full control of the offense.
5 Russell Wilson SEA at ATL Shootout on tap whether Pete Carroll likes it or not.
6 Josh Allen BUF NYJ Armed with Stefon Diggs and his rushing floor, Allen will wax the Jets D.
7 Matt Ryan ATL SEA Ryan should have all day to throw with Seattle's nonexistent pass rush.
8 Ben Roethlisberger PIT at NYG Excellent matchup for the offense to get back on track.
9 Carson Wentz PHI at WAS Wentz and Desean Jackson are going to burn Washington's secondary to the ground.
10 Jimmy Garoppolo SF ARI The Cards hapless defense stands no chance of stopping George Kittle and Co.
11 Cam Newton NE MIA The only concern that the Pats get up too early and Newton isn't needed for much in the 2nd-half.
12 Teddy Bridgewater CAR LV The perfect matchup for the Panthers to unveil the Joe Brady offense.
Rank High Floor/High Ceiling QB2s Team Opponent Breakdown
13 Kyler Murray ARI at SF A tough matchup but the pace will be pushed, ensuring Murray's floor.
14 Matthew Stafford DET CHI Tough matchup but the offense is tough to stop when they're throwing.
15 Drew Brees NO TB Brutal matchup but the offenses should push each other.
16 Tom Brady TB at NO Brady and Co. will have an answer for whatever the Saints' offense has to offer.
17 Jared Goff LAR DAL Carried by the pass catchers around him in a matchup with an unimposing secondary.
18 Derek Carr LV at CAR Perhaps his best matchup all year. Carr's ceiling is only inhibited by what Josh Jacobs may do on the ground.
Rank High Floor/Capped Ceiling QB2s Team Opponent Breakdown
19 Dwayne Haskins WAS PHI Haskins will be forced to keep pedal to the metal as The Team tries to keep pace with the Eagles.
20 Philip Rivers IND JAX Indy should roll right over Jacksonville.
21 Aaron Rodgers GB at MIN Game script is not likely to be kind to Rodgers and his understaffed receiving corps.
22 Kirk Cousins MIN GB Rodgers and Cousins will both be limited to simply feeding their dominant WR1s.
23 Ryan Tannehill TEN at DEN An away game against a ball-control offense isn't likely to require more than game management from Tannehill.
24 Tyrod Taylor LAC at CIN Small chance Taylor's rushing floor allows for a boom weak against a weak Cincy D.
Rank Shaky Floor/Capped Ceiling QB3s Team Opponent Breakdown
25 Baker Mayfield CLE at BAL Tough matchup but Mayfield has the play makers and play caller to make a little noise.
26 Daniel Jones NYG PIT Brutal matchup.
27 Mitchell Trubisky CHI at DET Detroit's secondary may allow for a decent day.
28 Gardner Minshew JAX IND Tough matchup but Minshew may be forced to throw right away.
29 Joe Burrow CIN LAC Brutal defense to debut against. Rushing floor not likely to be enough to save him here.
30 Drew Lock DEN TEN Ball control game on tap.
31 Ryan Fitzpatrick MIA at NE Brutal matchup.
32 Taysom Hill NO TB Not a great matchup for Hill to find rushing success.
33 Jarrett Stidham NE MIA Sitdham may see some 4th-quarter clock-salting action.
34 Tua Tagovailoa MIA at NE It's possible Fitz falls so hard against the Pats' D that the coaches toss Tua into the fire. Unlikely though.
35 Nick Foles CHI at DET Detroit's secondary should allow Trubisky to keep the starting job.
36 Justin Herbert LAC at CIN Tyrod is unlikely to stumble in this one.

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