The wide receiver position has had its fair share of contract drama entering the 2024 NFL season — and there’s one situation still unfolding in Cincinnati — but at least CeeDee Lamb and Brandon Aiyuk have finalized their deals recently.
So aside from the business end, how do the fantasy football WR rankings for Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season shake out?
Top 50 Fantasy WR Rankings
1) Tyreek Hill | Miami Dolphins (vs. JAX)
2) Amon-Ra St. Brown | Detroit Lions (vs. LAR)
3) A.J. Brown | Philadelphia Eagles (vs. GB)
4) Justin Jefferson | Minnesota Vikings (at NYG)
5) Garrett Wilson | New York Jets (at SF)
6) CeeDee Lamb | Dallas Cowboys (at CLE)
7) Mike Evans | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. WAS)
8) Ja’Marr Chase | Cincinnati Bengals (vs. NE)
9) Puka Nacua | Los Angeles Rams (at DET)
10) Malik Nabers | New York Giants (vs. MIN)
11) Drake London | Atlanta Falcons (vs. PIT)
12) Davante Adams | Las Vegas Raiders (at LAC)
13) Marvin Harrison Jr. | Arizona Cardinals (at BUF)
14) Chris Olave | New Orleans Saints (vs. CAR)
15) Michael Pittman Jr. | Indianapolis Colts (vs. HOU)
16) Jaylen Waddle | Miami Dolphins (vs. JAX)
17) Amari Cooper | Cleveland Browns (vs. DAL)
18) Nico Collins | Houston Texans (at IND)
19) Zay Flowers | Baltimore Ravens (at KC)
20) Deebo Samuel Sr. | San Francisco 49ers (vs. NYJ)
21) Rashee Rice | Kansas City Chiefs (vs. BAL)
22) DK Metcalf | Seattle Seahawks (vs. DEN)
23) Cooper Kupp | Los Angeles Rams (at DET)
24) DJ Moore | Chicago Bears (vs. TEN)
25) Brandon Aiyuk | San Francisco 49ers (vs. NYJ)
26) George Pickens | Pittsburgh Steelers (at ATL)
27) DeVonta Smith | Philadelphia Eagles (vs. GB)
28) Jayden Reed | Green Bay Packers (at PHI)
29) Stefon Diggs | Houston Texans (at IND)
30) Brian Thomas Jr. | Jacksonville Jaguars (at MIA)
31) Terry McLaurin | Washington Commanders (at TB)
32) Ladd McConkey | Los Angeles Chargers (vs. LV)
33) Chris Godwin | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. WAS)
34) Christian Kirk | Jacksonville Jaguars (at MIA)
35) Tee Higgins | Cincinnati Bengals (vs. NE)
36) Khalil Shakir | Buffalo Bills (vs. ARI)
37) Rome Odunze | Chicago Bears (vs. TEN)
38) Xavier Worthy | Kansas City Chiefs (vs. BAL)
39) Calvin Ridley | Tennessee Titans (at CHI)
40) Tank Dell | Houston Texans (at IND)
41) Diontae Johnson | Carolina Panthers (at NO)
42) Jaxon Smith-Njigba | Seattle Seahawks (vs. DEN)
43) Christian Watson | Green Bay Packers (at PHI)
44) Courtland Sutton | Denver Broncos (at SEA)
45) Jordan Addison | Minnesota Vikings (at NYG)
46) Keenan Allen | Chicago Bears (vs. TEN)
47) Tyler Lockett | Seattle Seahawks (vs. DEN)
48) Jakobi Meyers | Las Vegas Raiders (at LAC)
49) Keon Coleman | Buffalo Bills (vs. ARI)
50) Jameson Williams | Detroit Lions (vs. LAR)
The Top WRs To Start in Week 1
A.J. Brown, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Employing their zone-heavy scheme, which relied upon Cover 3 and Cover 6 last season, the Green Bay Packers had some difficulties slowing down opposing yards-after-catch threats with formation versatility.
This fits Philadelphia Eagles WR A.J. Brown perfectly, who spent 24.9% of his time in the slot while finishing 11th at the WR position with 473 yards after the catch in 2023.
Now, factor in the faster pace of play we should see from new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore in Philly this year. Brown could have a potential career year in this scheme.
Over the last two seasons, Keenan Allen and CeeDee Lamb have produced top-10 fantasy WR campaigns in full-PPR formats with Moore as the offensive coordinator. I do believe DeVonta Smith will be involved in the slot and in pre-snap motion, but my prediction still stands that Brown is most likely to benefit from this OC change.
Expect Brown to make life very difficult for Keisean Nixon and Eric Stokes in this contest.
Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants
Most may scoff at this suggestion strictly because Daniel Jones is universally labeled as a bad quarterback.
I’m fully aware that — and even expect — Jones to make his handful of mistakes against a blitz-happy Minnesota Vikings defense in Week 1. Yet, it would be disingenuous for me to ignore the elite boom potential rookie WR Malik Nabers has in his pro debut.
The Vikings blitzed on a league-leading 51.5% of defensive snaps last year. To be more specific, Minnesota ran Cover 0 (all-out blitz with man coverage across the board) 133 times last year — an average of 7.8 times per game.
Sure, this led to some big plays for Brian Flores’ defense, but it also helped generate a ton of explosive plays for opposing offenses through the air
The Vikings ranked inside the top 10 of opponent completions for 25+ yards (t-eighth at 35 plays), and 50+ yards (t-10th at four plays) allowed to opposing pass catchers in 2023.
Shaquill Griffin and Stephon Gilmore are 29 and 32 years old, respectively. Neither of the two had a great success rate in man coverage last season.
Do I think Nabers is capable of winning on one of these seven possible opportunities in man coverage with no safety help over the top? Yes.
Do I believe Giants head coach Brian Daboll is capable of dialing up Nabers to capitalize on their opportunities? Yes.
Do I think Jones is capable of connecting on one of two of these shots down the field? Yes, but admittedly, I don’t say yes with as much conviction.
All we need is Nabers to torch one of the members of this secondary on one or two of these occasions, and the talented rookie could make a monster NFL debut in Week 1.
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