Who's this year's No. 1 fantasy quarterback in 2025? It's almost certainly either Buffalo's Josh Allen or Baltimore's Lamar Jackson.

The wait is finally over. Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season is at hand.

As important as it is for NFL teams to get off to a strong start, it's even more critical for fantasy football teams to do so – since our playoffs start a month earlier than theirs.

As usual, there are great matchups for the prime-time games, with the two top-rated fantasy quarterbacks going head-to-head on Sunday night as Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills host Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.

Another intriguing story line is how big an impact new head coach Ben Johnson will have on the Chicago Bears ... and how much his absence will affect the Detroit Lions offense.

Let's get to the rankings! (*-double-check status before kickoff)

Week 1 fantasy football QB rankings

  • Rams coach Sean McVay says Matthew Stafford (back) will start vs. the Texans.
  • Cowboys QB Dak Prescott may be under even more pressure following Micah Parsons trade.
Rank Player Team Opp
1 Josh Allen Buf. vs. Bal.
2 Joe Burrow Cin. at Cle
3 Lamar Jackson Bal. at Buf.
4 Jalen Hurts Phi. vs. Dal.
5 Jayden Daniels Was. vs. N.Y.-G
6 Baker Mayfield T.B. at Atl.
7 Kyler Murray Ari. at N.O.
8 Bo Nix Den. vs. Ten.
9 Patrick Mahomes K.C. at L.A.-C
10 Jared Goff Det. at G.B.
11 C.J. Stroud Hou. at L.A.-R
12 Drake Maye N.E. vs. L.V.
13 Trevor Lawrence Jac. vs. Car.
14 Justin Herbert L.A.-C vs. K.C.
15 Dak Prescott Dal. at Phi.
16 Brock Purdy S.F. at Sea.
17 Justin Fields N.Y.-J vs. Pit.
18 Caleb Williams Chi. vs. Min.
19 Jordan Love G.B. vs. Det.
20 Tua Tagovailoa Mia. at Ind.
21 Matthew Stafford L.A.-R vs. Hou.
22 J.J. McCarthy Min. at Chi.
23 Sam Darnold Sea. vs. S.F.
24 Daniel Jones Ind. vs. Mia.
25 Bryce Young Car. at Jac.
26 Geno Smith L.V. at N.E.
27 Michael Penix Jr. Atl. vs. T.B.
28 Cam Ward Ten. at Den.
29 Joe Flacco Cle. vs. Cin.
30 Aaron Rodgers Pit. at N.Y.-J
31 Russell Wilson N.Y.-G at Was.
32 Spencer Rattler N.O. vs. Ari.

Week 1 fantasy football RB rankings

  • Christian McCaffrey didn't practice Friday with a calf injury but is planning to play on Sunday. Brian Robinson Jr. would get the majority of touches if McCaffrey is limited.
  • De'Von Achane (calf) "remains on track" to play in the Dolphins' opener at the Colts.
  • Tony Pollard gets an early-season boost with top backup Tyjae Spears on injured reserve.
  • With Joe Mixon out for at least four games, Nick Chubb is in line to start for the Texans.
Rank Player Team Opp
1 Saquon Barkley Phi. vs. Dal.
2 Bijan Robinson Atl. vs. T.B.
3 Derrick Henry Bal. at Buf.
4 *Christian McCaffrey S.F. at Sea.
5 Jahmyr Gibbs Det. at G.B.
6 Bucky Irving T.B. at Atl.
7 *De'Von Achane Mia. at Ind.
8 Josh Jacobs G.B. vs. Det.
9 Kyren Williams L.A.-R vs. Hou.
10 James Cook Buf. vs. Bal.
11 Jonathan Taylor Ind. vs. Mia.
12 James Conner Ari. at N.O.
13 Kenneth Walker III Sea. vs. S.F.
14 Ashton Jeanty L.V. at N.E.
15 Alvin Kamara N.O. vs. Ari.
16 Omarion Hampton L.A.-C vs. K.C.
17 Chase Brown Cin. at Cle.
18 Chuba Hubbard Car. at Jac.
19 Breece Hall N.Y.-J vs. Pit.
20 Aaron Jones Min. at Chi.
21 Tony Pollard Ten. at Den.
22 Isiah Pacheco K.C. at L.A.-C
23 David Montgomery Det. at G.B.
24 D'Andre Swift Chi. vs. Min.
25 Tyrone Tracy Jr. N.Y.-G at Was.
26 Tank Bigsby Jac. vs. Car.
27 Rhamondre Stevenson N.E. vs. L.V.
28 Javonte Williams Dal. at Phi.
29 Braelon Allen N.Y.-J vs. Pit.
30 Kaleb Johnson Pit. at N.Y.-J
31 Jordan Mason Min. at Chi.
32 Travis Etienne Jr. Jac. vs. Car.
33 Jaylen Warren Pit. at N.Y.-J
34 Trey Benson Ari. at N.O.
35 TreVeyon Henderson N.E. vs. L.V.
36 Austin Ekeler Was. vs. N.Y.-G
37 Jerome Ford Cle. vs. Cin.
38 J.K. Dobbins Den. vs. Ten.
39 Rachaad White T.B. at Atl.
40 Nick Chubb Hou. at L.A.-R
41 RJ Harvey Den. vs. Ten.
42 Jacory Croskey-Merritt Was. vs. N.Y.-G
43 Cam Skattebo N.Y.-G at Was.
44 Brian Robinson Jr. S.F. at Sea.
45 Zach Charbonnet Sea. vs. S.F.
46 Dylan Sampson Cle. vs. Cin.
47 Jaydon Blue Dal. at Phi.
48 Tyler Allgeier Atl. vs. T.B.
49 Justice Hill Bal. at Buf.
50 Ray Davis Buf. vs. Bal.
51 Kyle Monangai Chi. vs. Min.
52 Kareem Hunt K.C. at L.A.-C
53 Rico Dowdle Car. at Jac.
54 Blake Corum L.A.-R vs. Hou.
55 Bhayshul Tuten Jac. vs. Car.

Week 1 fantasy football WR rankings

  • Niners wideout Jauan Jennings (calf) practiced in full on Friday.
  • Tyreek Hill (oblique) missed three weeks of practice but has returned to the field and had a full practice on Friday.
  • Jayden Reed revealed he has a small fracture in his foot, but he plans to play through it.
Rank Player Team Opp
1 Ja'Marr Chase Cin. at Cle.
2 Justin Jefferson Min. at Chi.
3 Nico Collins Hou. at L.A.-R
4 CeeDee Lamb Dal. at Phi.
5 Amon-Ra St. Brown Det. at G.B.
6 Puka Nacua L.A.-R vs. Hou.
7 A.J. Brown Phi. vs. Dal.
8 Malik Nabers N.Y.-G at Was.
9 Drake London Atl. vs. T.B.
10 Brian Thomas Jr. Jac. vs. Car.
11 Jaxon Smith-Njigba Sea. vs. S.F.
12 *Tyreek Hill Mia. at Ind.
13 Terry McLaurin Was. vs. N.Y.-G
14 Ladd McConkey L.A.-C vs. K.C.
15 Mike Evans T.B. at Atl.
16 Tee Higgins Cin. at Cle.
17 Davante Adams L.A.-R vs. Hou.
18 Jameson Williams Det. at G.B.
19 Xavier Worthy K.C. at L.A.-C
20 Courtland Sutton Den. vs. Ten.
21 DJ Moore Chi. vs. Min.
22 Garrett Wilson N.Y.-J vs. Pit.
23 Marvin Harrison Jr. Ari. at N.O.
24 Zay Flowers Bal. at Buf.
25 DeVonta Smith Phi. vs. Dal.
26 Deebo Samuel Was. vs. N.Y.-G
27 Rome Odunze Chi. vs. Min.
28 George Pickens Dal. at Phi.
29 Stefon Diggs N.E. vs. L.V.
30 *Jauan Jennings S.F. at Sea.
31 Chris Olave N.O. vs. Ari.
32 Jaylen Waddle Mia. at Ind.
33 Jerry Jeudy Cle. vs. Cin.
34 DK Metcalf Pit. at N.Y.-J
35 Tetairoa McMillan Car. at Jac.
36 Calvin Ridley Ten. at Den.
37 Travis Hunter Jac. vs. Car.
38 Emeka Egbuka T.B. at Atl.
39 Ricky Pearsall S.F. at Sea.
40 Khalil Shakir Buf. vs. Bal.
41 Jakobi Meyers L.V. at N.E.
42 *Jayden Reed G.B. vs. Det.
43 Keon Coleman Buf. vs. Bal.
44 Cooper Kupp Sea. vs. S.F.
45 *Darnell Mooney Atl. vs. T.B.
46 Rashod Bateman Bal. at Buf.
47 Hollywood Brown K.C. at L.A.-C
48 Michael Pittman Jr. Ind. vs. Mia.
49 Matthew Golden G.B. vs. Det.
50 Luther Burden III Chi. vs. Min.
51 Michael Wilson Ari. at N.O.
52 Marvin Mims Jr. Den. vs. Ten.
53 Cedric Tillman Cle. vs. Cin.
54 DeAndre Hopkins Bal. at Buf.
55 Elic Ayomanor Ten. at Den.

Week 1 fantasy football TE rankings

Rank Player Team Opp
1 George Kittle S.F. at Sea.
2 Trey McBride Ari. at N.O.
3 Brock Bowers L.V. at N.E.
4 T.J. Hockenson Min. at Chi.
5 David Njoku Cle. vs. Cin.
6 Sam LaPorta Det. at G.B.
7 Mark Andrews Bal. at Buf.
8 Tucker Kraft G.B. vs. Det.
9 Evan Engram Den. vs. Ten.
10 Dallas Goedert Phi. vs. Dal.
11 Jake Ferguson Dal. at Phi.
12 Travis Kelce K.C. at L.A.-C
13 Tyler Warren Ind. vs. Mia.
14 Dalton Kincaid Buf. vs. Bal.
15 Hunter Henry N.E. vs. L.V.
16 Jonnu Smith Pit. at N.Y.-J
17 Cade Otton T.B. at Atl.
18 Zach Ertz Was. vs. N.Y.-G
19 Colston Loveland Chi. vs. Min.
20 Kyle Pitts Atl. vs. T.B.
21 Chigoziem Okonkwo Ten. at Den.
22 Mason Taylor N.Y.-J vs. Pit.
23 Cole Kmet Chi. vs. Min.
24 Harold Fannin Jr. Cle. vs. Cin.
25 Ja'Tavion Sanders Car. at Jac.

Week 1 fantasy football K rankings

Rank Player Team Opp
1 Cameron Dicker L.A.-C vs. K.C.
2 Brandon Aubrey Dal. at Phi.
3 Ka'imi Fairbairn Hou. at L.A.-R
4 Wil Lutz Den. vs. Ten.
5 Evan McPherson Cin. at Cle.
6 Chase McLaughlin T.B. at Atl.
7 Jake Elliott Phi. vs. Dal.
8 Matt Gay Was. vs. N.Y.-G
9 Cam Little Jac. vs. Car.
10 Harrison Butker K.C. at L.A.-C
11 Jake Bates Det. at G.B.
12 Brandon McManus G.B. vs. Det.
13 Joshua Karty L.A.-R vs. Hou.
14 Chad Ryland Ari. at N.O.
15 Chris Boswell Pit. at N.Y.-J
16 Tyler Loop Bal. at Buf.
17 Tyler Bass Buf. vs. Bal.
18 Will Reichard Min. at Chi.
19 Jake Moody S.F. at Sea.
20 Jason Myers Sea. vs. S.F.
21 Younghoe Koo Atl. vs. T.B.
22 Cairo Santos Chi. vs. Min.
23 Andy Borregales N.E. vs. L.V.
24 Riley Patterson Mia. at Ind.
25 Nick Folk N.Y.-J vs. Pit.
26 Blake Grupe N.O. vs. Ari.
27 Andre Szmyt Cle. vs. Cin.
28 Ryan Fitzgerald Car. at Jac.
29 Spencer Shrader Ind. vs. Mia.
30 Daniel Carlson L.V. at N.E.
31 Joey Slye Ten. at Den.
32 Graham Gano N.Y.-G at Was.

Week 1 fantasy football D/ST rankings

Rank Team Opp
1 Denver Broncos vs. Ten.
2 Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dal.
3 Minnesota Vikings at Chi.
4 Arizona Cardinals at N.O.
5 Washington Commanders vs. N.Y.-G
6 Pittsburgh Steelers at N.Y.-J
7 Los Angeles Rams vs. Hou.
8 San Francisco 49ers at Sea.
9 Houston Texans at L.A.-R
10 Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cle.
11 New York Jets vs. Pit.
12 Chicago Bears vs. Min.
13 New England Patriots vs. L.V.
14 Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atl.
15 New York Jets vs. Pit.
16 Kansas City Chiefs at L.A.-C
17 Detroit Lions at G.B.
18 Seattle Seahawks vs. S.F.
19 Miami Dolphins at Ind.
20 Green Bay Packers vs. Det.
21 Las Vegas Raiders at N.E.
22 Buffalo Bills vs. Bal.
23 New York Giants at Was.
24 Indianapolis Colts vs. Mia.
25 Baltimore Ravens at Buf.
26 Los Angeles Chargers vs. K.C.
27 Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Car.
28 Cleveland Browns vs. Cin.
29 New Orleans Saints vs. Ari.
30 Dallas Cowboys at Phi.
31 Atlanta Falcons vs. T.B.
32 Tennessee Titans at Den.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football rankings: Elite QB duel highlights Week 1 slate

Reporting by Steve Gardner, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect