The 2023 NFL season is finally underway this week! That means our attention turns from draft prep to lineup decisions. But there’s no need to sweat any of those pesky sit/start questions because I’ve got you covered with my Week 1 Quarterback rankings. I’ll also be rolling out these weekly rankings each Wednesday, along with notes on some of the matchups.
For Week 1, you should be confident in starting the quarterbacks you drafted. You’ve already done your homework and invested time and research into the position. While some matchups are more favorable than others, the start of the season is the time when you should be most comfortable rolling with your guys.
Quarterback Notes
- Joe Burrow takes a slight hit in my Week 1 rankings. He’s been dealing with a calf injury that could limit him for the season opener at Cleveland. Additionally, the Browns have Burrow’s number. In two meetings against them last season, Burrow was limited to 13.5 and 16.6 fantasy points per game – both ranked as bottom-three finishes for Burrow in 2022.
- I’m planting my Jared Goff flag for Week 1. He’s coming off a QB10-season where he threw the ball a ton. His 587 pass attempts ranked as sixth-most and his 29 passing touchdowns were good for fourth-most in 2022. Goff faces the Chiefs at Kansas City and he should be able to pick up where left off. The Chiefs gave up the most touchdowns and third-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks last season. Additionally, the NFL’s season opener has a combined point total of 54, the highest of the week. I’m loving that combo, making Goff a top-12 option for me.
- I like Derek Carr as a top-tier QB2 this week. He gets a favorable home matchup against a Titans defense that gave up the most passing yards and second-most passing touchdowns to quarterbacks last season. Carr is likely looking to bounce back from a down 2022 season and a soft Tennessee defense could set his season in the right direction. I wouldn’t be surprised if Carr plays himself into a top-12 finish in his Week 1 debut with the Saints.
- All eyes will be on Anthony Richardson this week. The rookie has immense rushing upside and should thrive under head coach Shane Steichen’s system. However, it’s tough to rank him as a top-12 option without seeing how well he adjusts to the NFL’s speed of play. I’m taking a cautious approach with a QB17 rank for his NFL debut.
- Aaron Rodgers is my fade of the week. The veteran quarterback is coming off a down season where he struggled to move the ball and threw the second-most interceptions of his career (12). While it’s possible the change of scenery and a steadier receiving corps could revitalize Rodgers, I’m not willing to bank on that for his Jets debut. The Bills racked up the third-most interceptions and gave up the third-fewest points to quarterbacks last season. No, thank you.
Week 1 Quarterback Rankings
More Week 1 Rankings: Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End
| Rnk | Player | Team | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patrick Mahomes | KC | DET |
| 2 | Jalen Hurts | PHI | @NE |
| 3 | Josh Allen | BUF | @NYJ |
| 4 | Lamar Jackson | BAL | HOU |
| 5 | Justin Herbert | LAC | MIA |
| 6 | Justin Fields | CHI | GB |
| 7 | Trevor Lawrence | JAX | @IND |
| 8 | Joe Burrow | CIN | @CLE |
| 9 | Tua Tagovailoa | MIA | @LAC |
| 10 | Geno Smith | SEA | LAR |
| 11 | Kirk Cousins | MIN | TB |
| 12 | Jared Goff | DET | @KC |
| 13 | Dak Prescott | DAL | @NYG |
| 14 | Deshaun Watson | CLE | CIN |
| 15 | Derek Carr | NO | TEN |
| 16 | Daniel Jones | NYG | DAL |
| 17 | Anthony Richardson | IND | JAX |
| 18 | Russell Wilson | DEN | LVR |
| 19 | Aaron Rodgers | NYJ | BUF |
| 20 | Sam Howell | WAS | ARI |
| 21 | Jordan Love | GB | @CHI |
| 22 | Brock Purdy | SF | @PIT |
| 23 | Matthew Stafford | LAR | @SEA |
| 24 | Kenny Pickett | PIT | SF |
| 25 | Ryan Tannehill | TEN | @NO |
| 26 | Mac Jones | NE | PHI |
| 27 | Bryce Young | CAR | @ATL |
| 28 | Baker Mayfield | TB | @MIN |
| 29 | Jimmy Garoppolo | LVR | @DEN |
| 30 | Desmond Ridder | ATL | CAR |
| 31 | C.J. Stroud | HOU | @BAL |
| 32 | Joshua Dobbs | ARI | @WAS |
Got a beef with Lauren’s Week 1 Quarterback Rankings? Take it up with her in the comments below!