MORE WEEK 1 RANKINGS: QB | RB | WR | DEF | K
FIVE STAR
1. Jimmy Graham, Saints @ Falcons 2. Julius Thomas, Broncos vs. Colts3. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots @ Dolphins. It’s still unclear how many snaps Gronk will play this week, but as long as he’s on the field, he should be in your lineup. Godspeed.FOUR STAR
4. Jordan Cameron, Browns @ Steelers. Cameron has a tough matchup in Pittsburgh, but we’re expecting him to get a ton of targets. Sometimes, you just have to trust a high-volume star at a position like tight end.5. Vernon Davis, 49ers @ Cowboys. Dallas allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to TEs last year, so even though we have long-term doubts about Davis’ ability to replicate his big 2013 season, we like him this week as a glorified WR against a soft Dallas D.6. Zach Ertz, Eagles vs. Jaguars. We’re taking a leap of faith with Ertz, mainly because of the matchup. Jacksonville gave up the third-most fantasy points to TEs last season, and given Philadelphia’s high-powered offense, we expect Ertz to make some big plays.
THREE STAR
7. Greg Olsen, Panthers @ Buccaneers8. Jason Witten, Cowboys vs. 49ers. The 49ers defense will be missing some key members (NaVorro Bowman, Aldon Smith), but they still have plenty of talent on that side of the ball. Witten is one of the boom-or-bustiest TEs in the league, so we have a tough time ranking him any higher against a decent defense. That’s why Olsen gets the nod over him this week, but these two will probably be a coin-flip throughout the year. 9. Jordan Reed, Redskins @ Texans10. Antonio Gates, Chargers @ Cardinals. The Cardinals allowed four more fantasy points per game to TEs than any other team last year. We’re banking on at least some of that carrying over. We still give Reed a slight edge based on talent, but with Gates at his healthiest (probably), a good game should be in order. 11. Charles Clay, Dolphins vs. Patriots12. Kyle Rudolph, Vikings @ Rams. The Rams allowed the fewest fantasy points to TEs last year, but Rudolph should be a focal point in the Vikings’ revamped offense. With no clear TE standouts ranked below him, we still like Rudolph as a starter, but better matchups this week for Reed, Gates and Clay get them slotted ahead of him.
TWO STAR
13. Heath Miller, Steelers vs. Browns14. Dennis Pitta, Ravens vs. Bengals. Pitta has a lot of season-long upside, but we’re not overly trusting this week against a Bengals defense that allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to TEs last year. Plus, we want to see Baltimore’s new offensive scheme in action before we recommend Pitta as a no-doubt starter. 15. Martellus Bennett, Bears vs. Bills16. Garrett Graham, Texans vs. Redskins. Graham is a major wild card. The targets should be plentiful and the matchup is decent, but the offense isn’t exciting and rookie C.J. Fiedorowicz could steal some playing time. Keep him on your bench for now.17. Ladarius Green, Chargers @ Cardinals. Green can only do so much damage while Gates is healthy, but he’s a big-play-waiting-to-happen, and with the Cardinals’ troubles covering TEs last year, we could see one of those big plays come midnight ET on Monday. However, the uncertainty surrounding his playing time makes him tough to trust in Week 1.
ONE STAR
18. Delanie Walker, Titans @ Chiefs 19. Travis Kelce, Chiefs vs. Titans20. Dwayne Allen, Colts @ Broncos. Allen gets the slide nod over teammate Coby Fleener because he figures to be more of a threat in the red zone. The Broncos gave up the sixth-most fantasy points to TEs last year, so it’s not a bad matchup, but you should have a better option than either Allen or Fleener, at least in Week 1. 21. Coby Fleener, Colts @Broncos
ZERO STAR 22. Marcedes Lewis, Jaguars @ Eagles 23. Jared Cook, Rams vs. Vikings 24. Tim Wright, Patriots @ Dolphins 25. Tyler Eifert, Bengals @Ravens
