Rejoice, praise the almighty, and hold open every door to build your fantasy karma… Football is officially back! Get ready for Week One with The Wolf’s PPR Fantasy Football rankings. Every week initial rankings will be released Wednesday night, with analysis added throughout the week and weekend until they are locked in Sunday mornings before kickoff.
Note – as compared to draft preparation, the schedule and matchups play a far greater role week-to-week for ranking prep.
*Updated Friday to reflect the Rob Gronkowski news. Olsen has already played. He entered the week as my TE4 given the tough matchup with Denver’s D.
Tier One – Challengers to the top scoring TE spot
1. Jordan Reed (Was) vs. Pit
2. Delanie Walker (Ten) vs. Min
3. Gary Barnidge (Cle) @ Phi
4. Martellus Bennett (NE) @ Ari – With Rob Gronkowski out for Sunday, Bennett immediately gains immense upside. Beat writers consistently noted Bennett was Garroppolo’s top target throughout camp, and the two reportedly built a tremendous rapport. The line concerns are real, and could bend two completely different ways: Bennett might be asked to stay in line more to help block, which would crush his fantasy value, or he may be heavily targeted underneath as a monstrous security blanket.
Tier Two – TE1 Options
5. Travis “All Hype, No Show” Kelce (KC) vs. SD
6. Zach Ertz (Phi) vs. Cle
7. Julius Thomas (Jax) vs. GB
8. Jason Witten (Dal) vs. NYG
9. Antonio Gates (SD) @ KC
Tier Three TE2s w/ upside
10. Coby Fleener (NO) vs. Oak
11. Dwayne Allen (Ind) vs. Det
12. Jared Cook (GB) @ Jax
13. Eric Ebron (Det) @ Ind *Questionable*
14. Clive Walford (Oak) @ NO – The match-up couldn’t be juicier.
15. Jimmy Graham (Sea) vs. Mia – *Questionable*
Tier Four – Names to list even though none should be started
16. Zach Miller (Chi) @ Hou
17. Kyle Rudolph (Min) @ Ten
18. Vance McDonald (SF) vs. LA – If you own Gronk and do not have a TE2, McDonald could be a solid last-minute waiver option.
19. Cameron Brate (TB) @ Atl – My early favorite for 2016’s first TD that helps no one.
20. Charles Clay (Buf) @ Bal
21. Jesse James (Pit) @ Was
Are you really slinking this low?
Jordan Cameron, Will Tye, or ASJ might have a shot at a TD, you desperate tool.
