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2022 Fantasy Football: Week 1 Flex Rankings

The 2022 NFL season is finally here! Let the months of speculation finally cease. Below you will find my Week 1 Flex rankings. As was the case with my pre-draft rankings, these are based on half-PPR scoring. Please keep that in mind when making your lineup decisions. With all 32 NFL teams in action and rosters likely as healthy as they are going to be, I included over 300 total player’s in this week’s rankings. That number may decrease slightly throughout the year once injuries and bye weeks take effect.

We know there are going to be some players who randomly pop off this week. But for the most part, I do not want to get overly cute in Week 1. I’m not downgrading Stefon Diggs because he is facing Jalen Ramsey, for example. If Ramsey shuts Diggs down, I can live with that. But I am not benching my first-round pick in the first game of the year just because he has a difficult matchup. Having said that, here are some players I will be keeping a close eye on this week.

More Week 1 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Flex Rankings

Running Back Notes

The most interesting situation for me at running back this weekend is how Washington uses Antonio Gibson. After finishing last season as an RB1, Gibson was rumored to be in the doghouse throughout the summer. Rumors had him playing with the third-string unit and the punt team. Ron Rivera may or may not have even made Gibson wash his car and paint his house. Fantasy managers avoided Gibson at all costs as the summer wore on. His ADP fell to the seventh round in 12-team leagues. Meanwhile, Brian Robinson’s stock was on the rise. Unfortunately, Robinson was shot recently and will miss at least the first four games of the year. Suddenly, Gibson is likely thrust back into the lead role in what is a solid matchup.

The Jacksonville Jaguars allowed 17 rushing touchdowns to opposing running backs a season ago. Only four NFL teams allowed more. Washington is a slight favorite at home, which may also mean more carries for Gibson. Fantasy managers who drafted Gibson as an RB3 should feel comfortable flexing him this week. I have him as a high-end RB2 in 12-team leagues.

On the flip side, fantasy managers drafted J.K. Dobbins as a consensus RB2 this summer. However, the third-year back is questionable for Week 1. It is a tough break, as Dobbins and the Ravens have an elite matchup against the New York Jets. The Jets allowed a total of 28 touchdowns to enemy running backs last season, most in the NFL. For now, I have Dobbins ranked as a borderline Flex play. Meanwhile, boring vets Kenyan Drake and Mike Davis would be in line to handle the load if Dobbins cannot suit up. They will probably be involved in some capacity even if Dobbins does play. Baltimore will want to manage his workload upon his return. Drake and/or Davis are likely to climb up the rankings between now and Sunday.

Wide Receiver Notes

Like Dobbins, Chris Godwin is coming off an ACL tear suffered last year. Also like Dobbins, Godwin is a question mark for Week 1. Godwin has averaged at least 13 points per game in half-PPR scoring in each of the past three seasons. The only other wideouts to accomplish that feat are Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill, and fellow Buccaneer Mike Evans. But I would expect Tampa Bay to exercise some caution here. They have much loftier goals than winning in Week 1. The Bucs may limit Godwin’s snap count and touches early on in the year as he continues to ramp up his progress. I consider Godwin a borderline Flex play in this week’s matchup against Dallas but it depends on your other options. Russell Gage is likely to fill in for any reps Godwin may miss and is also a potential Week 1 Flex.

With Davante Adams no longer in Green Bay, the Packers will have to fill the void at wide receiver. The primary concern for Week 1 is that the most likely candidate to step in, Allen Lazard, is injured and may not play. I currently have Lazard as a borderline Flex play, so keep up with the news before Sunday. Aaron Rodgers has some interesting options if Lazard cannot go or is limited. Green Bay kept seven wideouts on their 53-man roster, so there is no shortage of options. Randall Cobb is a reliable safety blanket but usually carries a low ceiling. Rookie Romeo Doubs has shown flashes, but the Packers are notoriously slow to bring along their young wide receivers. Remember that Adams fell short of 500 receiving yards in each of his first two seasons in Green Bay. That may leave us with Sammy Watkins.

I know, cue the eye rolls. But Watkins is still a talented wideout who could be relied upon in a solid matchup. The Minnesota Vikings allowed the most receptions and receiving yards to opposing wide receivers last season. Watkins also has a seemingly unexplainable knack for balling out in Week 1 in recent years. That does not exactly seem like the type of split that correlates to this particular matchup. However, stranger things have happened. I currently have Cobb ranked slightly ahead of Watkins, and neither is in the Flex range. But if Lazard is out, I would probably play Watkins over Cobb based on the upside.

Tight End Notes

Note number one when it comes to tight ends – do not put them in your Flex spot. Sure, there are exceptions, like if you consciously drafted two tight ends early with the specific purpose of flexing one. Fantasy managers often employ this strategy in leagues that feature tight-end premium scoring. However, in most other formats, you should not be putting a tight end in at Flex. That is especially true in Week 1 when health is less of an issue than it will be in subsequent weeks. To that point, Zach Ertz is currently my TE10 but is outside my top-100 Flex options for Week 1. Ertz is also dealing with a calf injury suffered last month, which may cause him to sit or see limited reps on Sunday.

Week 1 Flex Rankings

RankNamePosTeamOpp
1Jonathan TaylorRB1IND@HOU
2Christian McCaffreyRB2CARCLE
3Cooper KuppWR1LARBUF
4Derrick HenryRB3TENNYG
5Austin EkelerRB4LACLV
6Alvin KamaraRB5NO@ATL
7Justin JeffersonWR2MINGB
8Dalvin CookRB6MINGB
9Joe MixonRB7CINPIT
10Davante AdamsWR3LV@LAC
11Ja’Marr ChaseWR4CINPIT
12Stefon DiggsWR5BUF@LAR
13Najee HarrisRB8PIT@CIN
14CeeDee LambWR6DALTB
15D’Andre SwiftRB9DETPHI
16Leonard FournetteRB10TB@DAL
17Aaron JonesRB11GB@MIN
18James ConnerRB12ARIKC
19Saquon BarkleyRB13NYG@TEN
20Deebo SamuelWR7SF@CHI
21Antonio GibsonRB14WASJAC
22Travis KelceTE1KC@ARI
23Michael PittmanWR8IND@HOU
24Tee HigginsWR9CINPIT
25A.J. BrownWR10PHI@DET
26Javonte WilliamsRB15DEN@SEA
27Mark AndrewsTE2BAL@NYJ
28Mike EvansWR11TB@DAL
29Ezekiel ElliottRB16DALTB
30Nick ChubbRB17CLE@CAR
31Tyreek HillWR12MIANE
32Gabriel DavisWR13BUF@LAR
33Terry McLaurinWR14WASJAC
34Keenan AllenWR15LACLV
35Brandin CooksWR16HOUIND
36Travis EtienneRB18JAC@WAS
37Mike WilliamsWR17LACLV
38Marquise BrownWR18ARIKC
39D.J. MooreWR19CARCLE
40David MontgomeryRB19CHISF
41Josh JacobsRB20LV@LAC
42D.K. MetcalfWR20SEADEN
43Amon-Ra St. BrownWR21DETPHI
44Elijah MooreWR22NYJBAL
45Elijah MitchellRB21SF@CHI
46Courtland SuttonWR23DEN@SEA
47Diontae JohnsonWR24PIT@CIN
48Rashod BatemanWR25BAL@NYJ
49Michael ThomasWR26NO@ATL
50Cam AkersRB22LARBUF
51Darnell MooneyWR27CHISF
52Allen Robinson IIWR28LARBUF
53Rashaad PennyRB23SEADEN
54Hunter RenfrowWR29LV@LAC
55Jaylen WaddleWR30MIANE
56Cordarrelle PattersonRB24ATLNO
57Juju Smith-SchusterWR31KC@ARI
58Miles SandersRB25PHI@DET
59DeVonta SmithWR32PHI@DET
60Kyle PittsTE3ATLNO
61Chase EdmondsRB26MIANE
62A.J. DillonRB27GB@MIN
63Tyler LockettWR33SEADEN
64Damien HarrisRB28NE@MIA
65Clyde Edwards-HelaireRB29KC@ARI
66Adam ThielenWR34MINGB
67Jerry JeudyWR35DEN@SEA
68Darren WallerTE4LV@LAC
69Christian KirkWR36JAC@WAS
70Dameon PierceRB30HOUIND
71Amari CooperWR37CLE@CAR
72Allen LazardWR38GB@MIN
73Tony PollardRB31DALTB
74Dallas GoedertTE5PHI@DET
75George KittleTE6SF@CHI
76Chris GodwinWR39TB@DAL
77Robert WoodsWR40TENNYG
78Melvin Gordon IIIRB32DEN@SEA
79J.K. DobbinsRB33BAL@NYJ
80Marquez Valdes-ScantlingWR41KC@ARI
81Breece HallRB34NYJBAL
82Kareem HuntRB35CLE@CAR
83Dalton SchultzTE7DALTB
84Rhamondre StevensonRB36NE@MIA
85Russell GageWR42TB@DAL
86Drake LondonWR43ATLNO
87Brandon AiyukWR44SF@CHI
88Michael CarterRB37NYJBAL
89T.J. HockensonTE8DETPHI
90Chris OlaveWR45NO@ATL
91Jakobi MeyersWR46NE@MIA
92Rondale MooreWR47ARIKC
93Marvin JonesWR48JAC@WAS
94J.D. McKissicRB38WASJAC
95Kadarius ToneyWR49NYG@TEN
96Chase ClaypoolWR50PIT@CIN
97Corey DavisWR51NYJBAL
98Tyler BoydWR52CINPIT
99Darrell HendersonRB39LARBUF
100Dawson KnoxTE9BUF@LAR
101D.J. CharkWR53DETPHI
102Kenny GolladayWR54NYG@TEN
103Devin SingletaryRB40BUF@LAR
104Jalen TolbertWR55DALTB
105Jahan DotsonWR56WASJAC
106Nico CollinsWR57HOUIND
107Zach ErtzTE10ARIKC
108Nyheim HinesRB41IND@HOU
109Mecole HardmanWR58KC@ARI
110DeVante ParkerWR59NE@MIA
111George PickensWR60PIT@CIN
112Hunter HenryTE11NE@MIA
113A.J. GreenWR61ARIKC
114Raheem MostertRB42MIANE
115Van JeffersonWR62LARBUF
116Cole KmetTE12CHISF
117Donovan Peoples-JonesWR63CLE@CAR
118Alec PierceWR64IND@HOU
119Tyler HigbeeTE13LARBUF
120Gerald EverettTE14LACLV
121Jamaal WilliamsRB43DETPHI
122Randall CobbWR65GB@MIN
123David NjokuTE15CLE@CAR
124Robby AndersonWR66CARCLE
125Julio JonesWR67TB@DAL
126Garrett WilsonWR68NYJBAL
127Mike GesickiTE16MIANE
128Jarvis LandryWR69NO@ATL
129Irv Smith Jr.TE17MINGB
130Rex BurkheadRB44HOUIND
131K.J. HamlerWR70DEN@SEA
132James CookRB45BUF@LAR
133Pat FreiermuthTE18PIT@CIN
134K.J. OsbornWR71MINGB
135Isaiah McKenzieWR72BUF@LAR
136Nick WestbrookWR73TENNYG
137Sammy WatkinsWR74GB@MIN
138Sterling ShepardWR75NYG@TEN
139Zay JonesWR76JAC@WAS
140Curtis SamuelWR77WASJAC
141Treylon BurksWR78TENNYG
142Evan EngramTE19JAC@WAS
143Albert OkwuegbunamTE20DEN@SEA
144Kenyan DrakeRB46BAL@NYJ
145Mo Alie-CoxTE21IND@HOU
146Noah FantTE22SEADEN
147Devin DuvernayWR79BAL@NYJ
148Noah BrownWR80DALTB
149Kenneth GainwellRB47PHI@DET
150Wan’Dale RobinsonWR81NYG@TEN
151James RobinsonRB48JAC@WAS
152Josh PalmerWR82LACLV
153Austin HooperTE23TENNYG
154Robert Tonyan Jr.TE24GB@MIN
155Damien WilliamsRB49ATLNO
156Hayden HurstTE25CINPIT
157Romeo DoubsWR83GB@MIN
158Nelson AgholorWR84NE@MIA
159Brevin JordanTE26HOUIND
160Kendrick BourneWR85NE@MIA
161Kenneth Walker IIIRB50SEADEN
162Mark IngramRB51NO@ATL
163Skyy MooreWR86KC@ARI
164Mike DavisRB52BAL@NYJ
165Ameer AbdullahRB53LV@LAC
166Jamison CrowderWR87BUF@LAR
167Parris CampbellWR88IND@HOU
168Cedrick WilsonWR89MIANE
169Quez WatkinsWR90PHI@DET
170Braxton BerriosWR91NYJBAL
171Bryan EdwardsWR92ATLNO
172Logan ThomasTE27WASJAC
173Boston ScottRB54PHI@DET
174Kyle PhilipsWR93TENNYG
175Byron PringleWR94CHISF
176Olamide ZaccheausWR95ATLNO
177Tyler ConklinTE28NYJBAL
178Jonnu SmithTE29NE@MIA
179Equanimeous St. BrownWR96CHISF
180Alexander MattisonRB55MINGB
181Cameron BrateTE30TB@DAL
182David BellWR97CLE@CAR
183Chris ConleyWR98HOUIND
184Isiah PachecoRB56KC@ARI
185Zamir WhiteRB57LV@LAC
186Rachaad WhiteRB58TB@DAL
187Jeff Wilson Jr.RB59SF@CHI
188Khalil HerbertRB60CHISF
189Dontrell HilliardRB61TENNYG
190D’Wayne EskridgeWR99SEADEN
191Kyle RudolphTE31TB@DAL
192Christian WatsonWR100GB@MIN
193Jauan JenningsWR101SF@CHI
194Daniel BellingerTE32NYG@TEN
195Samaje PerineRB62CINPIT
196Josh ReynoldsWR102DETPHI
197Isaiah LikelyTE33BAL@NYJ
198Michael GallupWR103DALTB
199C.J. UzomahTE34NYJBAL
200Mack HollinsWR104LV@LAC
201Kalif RaymondWR105DETPHI
202Tyler AllgeierRB63ATLNO
203Foster MoreauTE35LV@LAC
204Adam TrautmanTE36NO@ATL
205Velus Jones Jr.WR106CHISF
206Eno BenjaminRB64ARIKC
207Jalen GuytonWR107LACLV
208Harrison BryantTE37CLE@CAR
209Geoff SwaimTE38TENNYG
210D’Onta ForemanRB65CARCLE
211Tommy TrembleTE39CARCLE
212Donald ParhamTE40LACLV
213Tyler JohnsonWR108HOUIND
214James ProcheWR109BAL@NYJ
215Phillip DorsettWR110HOUIND
216Jerick McKinnonRB66KC@ARI
217Rashard HigginsWR111CARCLE
218Joshua KelleyRB67LACLV
219Matt BreidaRB68NYG@TEN
220Laviska Shenault Jr.WR112CARCLE
221Ben SkowronekWR113LARBUF
222Durham SmytheTE41MIANE
223Pharaoh BrownTE42HOUIND
224Chuba HubbardRB69CARCLE
225Ty MontgomeryRB70NE@MIA
226Ty JohnsonRB71NYJBAL
227Darrel WilliamsRB72ARIKC
228Will DisslyTE43SEADEN
229Parker HesseTE44ATLNO
230John BatesTE45WASJAC
231Chris MooreWR114HOUIND
232Kylen GransonTE46IND@HOU
233Jonathan WilliamsRB73WASJAC
234Terrace MarshallWR115CARCLE
235Simi FehokoWR116DALTB
236Zach PascalWR117PHI@DET
237Dan ArnoldTE47JAC@WAS
238Travis HomerRB74SEADEN
239Marquez CallawayWR118NO@ATL
240Kyle JuszczykRB75SF@CHI
241Jamal AgnewWR119JAC@WAS
242D'Ernest JohnsonRB76CLE@CAR
243Ryan GriffinTE48CHISF
244Ronald JonesRB77KC@ARI
245Taysom HillTE49NO@ATL
246Giovani BernardRB78TB@DAL
247Ke’Shawn VaughnRB79TB@DAL
248Isaiah SpillerRB80LACLV
249Trey McBrideTE50ARIKC
250Zack MossRB81BUF@LAR
251Darius SlaytonWR120NYG@TEN
252Demetric FeltonRB82CLE@CAR
253Quintez CephusWR121DETPHI
254Marquise GoodwinWR122SEADEN
255Chris EvansRB83CINPIT
256Marcedes LewisTE51GB@MIN
257Cam SimsWR123WASJAC
258Jalen ReagorWR124MINGB
259Anthony SchwartzWR125CLE@CAR
260Eric SaubertTE52DEN@SEA
261Sony MichelRB84LACLV
262Jake FergusonTE53DALTB
263Zach GentryTE54PIT@CIN
264Myles GaskinRB85MIANE
265Khadarel HodgeWR126ATLNO
266Ian ThomasTE55CARCLE
267Miles BoykinWR127PIT@CIN
268Jelani WoodsTE56IND@HOU
269Tyrion Davis-PriceRB86SF@CHI
270Anthony FirkserTE57ATLNO
271Hassan HaskinsRB87TENNYG
272Juwan JohnsonTE58NO@ATL
273Ray-Ray McCloudWR128SF@CHI
274Benny SnellRB88PIT@CIN
275Dare OgunbowaleRB89HOUIND
276Tylan WallaceWR129BAL@NYJ
277Dezmon PatmonWR130IND@HOU
278Dyami BrownWR131WASJAC
279Josiah DeguaraTE59GB@MIN
280Chris MyarickTE60NYG@TEN
281Jordan AkinsTE61HOUIND
282Montrell WashingtonWR132DEN@SEA
283Damiere ByrdWR133ATLNO
284DJ TurnerWR134LV@LAC
285Ashton DulinWR135IND@HOU
286Tutu AtwellWR136LARBUF
287Jaylen WarrenRB90PIT@CIN
288Demarcus RobinsonWR137BAL@NYJ
289Tommy SweeneyTE62BUF@LAR
290DeeJay DallasRB91SEADEN
291Brycen HopkinsTE63LARBUF
292Deonte HartyWR138NO@ATL
293Cade OttonTE64TB@DAL
294Cody HollisterWR139TENNYG
295Kendall BlantonTE65KC@ARI
296Johnny MundtTE66MINGB
297Justin WatsonWR140KC@ARI
298Scott MillerWR141TB@DAL
299Amari RodgersWR142GB@MIN
300Denzel MimsWR143NYJBAL
301Armani RogersTE67WASJAC
302KaVontae TurpinWR144DALTB
303Khalil ShakirWR145BUF@LAR
304Trey SermonRB92PHI@DET
305Danny GrayWR146SF@CHI
306Pierre Strong Jr.RB93NE@MIA
307Craig ReynoldsRB94DETPHI
308Eric TomlinsonTE68DEN@SEA
309C.J. HamRB95MINGB
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