Zoneblitz.com’s weekly position-by-position breakdown to help YOU set your fantasy lineup!
Quarterbacks
- Matt Ryan at New Orleans
- Tom Brady at Buffalo
- Robert Griffin vs. Philadelphia
- Andrew Luck vs. Oakland
- Drew Brees vs. Atlanta
- Matthew Stafford vs. Minnesota
- Tony Romo vs. NY Giants
- Aaron Rodgers at San Francisco
- Colin Kaepernick vs. Green Bay
- Michael Vick at Washington
- Carson Palmer at St. Louis
- Cam Newton vs. Seattle
- Ben Roethlisberger vs. Tennessee
- Eli Manning at Dallas
- Russell Wilson at Carolina
- Matt Schaub at San Diego
- Alex Smith at Jacksonville
- Christian Ponder at Detroit
- Philip Rivers vs. Houston
- EJ Manuel vs New England
- Ryan Tannehill at Cleveland
- Josh Freeman at NY Jets
- Brandon Weeden vs. Miami
- Andy Dalton at Chicago
- Jay Cutler vs. Cincinnati
Just because you drafted one of the top 12 quarterbacks doesn’t mean your guy is necessarily one of the 12 best plays every week. Cam Newton, Eli Manning, and Russell Wilson owners are the first to fall victim to tough matchups, though in most cases you’re likely starting them anyway. I certainly wouldn’t argue as a “don’t bench your studs” proponent, though quarterback is so deep this year that if you waited and then nabbed a couple of guys in the 10 to 15 range, playing the matchup every week. For instance, those who drafted Michael Vick are delighted to throw him in against a Washington defense that allowed the third most passing yards last season.
Running Backs
- Adrian Peterson at Detroit
- Marshawn Lynch at Carolina
- Jamaal Charles at Jacksonville
- Stevan Ridley at Buffalo
- Doug Martin at NY Jets
- David Wilson at Dallas
- Alfred Morris vs. Philadelphia
- Steven Jackson at New Orleans
- Frank Gore vs. Green Bay
- Trent Richardson vs. Miami
- Arian Foster at San Diego
- CJ Spiller vs. New England
- LeSean McCoy at Washington
- Lamar Miller at Cleveland
- Matt Forte vs. Cincinnati
- Maurice Jones Drew vs. Kansas City
- DeMarco Murray vs. NY Giants
- Ahmad Bradshaw vs. Oakland
- Chris Johnson at Pittsburgh
- Darren Sproles vs. Atlanta
- Reggie Bush vs. Minnesota
- Daryl Richardson vs. Arizona
- Darren McFadden at Indianapolis
- Shane Vereen at Buffalo
- Rashard Mendenhall at St. Louis
- Isaac Redman vs. Tennessee
- Chris Ivory vs. Tampa Bay
- Mark Ingram vs. Atlanta
- DeAngelo Williams vs. Seattle
- Ryan Mathews vs. Houston
- Ben Tate at San Diego
- Vick Ballard vs. Oakland
- Eddie Lacy at San Francisco
- Giovani Bernard at Chicago
- Bilal Powell vs. Tampa Bay
- Pierre Thomas vs. Atlanta
- BenJarvus Green-Ellis at Chicago
- Fred Jackson vs. New England
- Jacquizz Rodgers at New Orleans
- Danny Woodhead vs. Houston
- Joique Bell vs. Minnesota
- Bryce Brown at Washington
- Michael Bush vs. Cincinnati
- Shonn Green at New Orleans
- Kendall Hunter vs. Green Bay
- Jonathan Franklin at San Francisco
- Roy Helu vs. Philadelphia
- Zac Stacy vs. Arizona
- Mikel Leshoure vs. Minnesota
- Mike Tolbert vs. Seattle
- Christine Michael at Carolina
- Daniel Thomas at Cleveland
- LaRod Stephens-Howling vs. Tennessee
- Phillip Tanner vs. Houston
- Knile Davis at Jacksonville
- Ryan Williams at St. Louis
- Leon Washington at Buffalo
- Bobby Rainey vs. Miami
- Michael Cox at Dallas
- Toby Gerhart at Detroit
The top seven backs all find themselves in road matchups, which has no bearing on anything really, I just found it weird. I know it’s tempting to start your shiny new toys, but as my rankings suggest, you may want to keep Eddie Lacy and Giovani Bernard in their original packaging for a little while longer – Bernard especially as we wait to see how much he’ll get used along with BenJarvus Green-Ellis.
Wide Receiver
- Calvin Johnson vs. Minnesota
- Dez Bryant vs. NY Giants
- Julio Jones at New Orleans
- Roddy White at New Orleans
- Andre Johnson at San Diego
- AJ Green at Chicago
- Brandon Marshall vs. Cincinnati
- Reggie Wayne vs. Oakland
- Danny Amendola at Buffalo
- Antonio Brown vs. Tennessee
- DeSean Jackson at Washington
- Dwayne Bowe at Jacksonville
- Victor Cruz at Dallas
- Vincent Jackson at NY Jets
- Randall Cobb at San Francisco
- Larry Fitzgerald at St. Louis
- Miles Austin vs. NY Giants
- Marques Colston vs. Atalnta
- James Jones at San Francisco
- Anquan Boldin vs. Green Bay
- TY Hilton vs. Oakland
- Cecil Shorts vs. Kansas City
- Jordy Nelson at San Francisco
- Pierre Garcon vs. Philadelphia
- Hakeem Nicks at Dallas
- Kenbrell Thompkins at Buffalo
- Stevie Johnson vs. New England
- Mike Wallace at Cleveland
- Golden Tate at Carolina
- Chris Givens vs. Arizona
- Lance Moore vs. Atlanta
- Greg Jennings at Detroit
- Steve Smith vs. Seattle
- Mike Williams at NY Jets
- Vincent Brown vs. Houston
- Emmanuel Sanders vs. Tennessee
- Denarius Moore at Indianapolis
- Malcom Floyd vs. Houston
- Tavon Austin vs. Arizona
- Brian Hartline at Cleveland
- Michael Floyd at St. Louis
- Andre Roberts at St. Louis
- Jeremy Kerley vs. Tampa Bay
- Kenny Britt at Pittsburgh
- Darrius Heyward-Bey vs. Oakland
- Brandon Gibson at Cleveland
- Sidney Rice at Carolina
- DeAndre Hopkins at San Diego
- Jason Avant at Washington
- Rod Streater at Indianapolis
- Greg Little vs. Miami
- Leonard Hankerson vs. Philadelphia
- Julian Edelman at Buffalo
- Davone Bess vs. Miami
- Ryan Broyles vs. Minnesota
- Reuben Randle at Dallas
- Josh Boyce at Buffalo
- Robert Woods vs. New England
- Nate Burleson vs. Minnesota
- Kendall Wright at Pittsburgh
Start your Falcons! I ranked Matt Ryan first this week, so it makes sense to see the Atlanta duo among the top four. Miles Austin is a sneaky good play against the Giants, who ceded the fifth most passing yards in the league last season and have already lost safety Stevie Brown to a torn ACL. Steve Smith, on the other hand, is a flex play at best if you can help it, as he faces a Seahawks team that tied with the Ravens at 15 touchdowns allowed. Difference between the two is this year’s Seattle defense might be even better.
Tight Ends
- Jimmy Graham vs. Atlanta
- Tony Gonzalez at New Orleans
- Antonio Gates vs. Houston
- Jason Witten vs. NY Giants
- Kyle Rudolph at Detroit
- Zach Sudfeld at Buffalo
- Greg Olsen vs. Seattle
- Brandon Myers at Dallas
- Dwayne Allen vs. Oakland
- Jermichael Finley at San Francisco
- Vernon Davis vs. Green Bay
- Jordan Cameron vs. Miami
- Brent Celek at Washington
- Brandon Pettigrew vs. Minnesota
- Coby Fleener vs. Oakland
- Jared Cook vs. Arizona
- Martellus Bennett vs. Cincinnati
- Owen Daniels at San Diego
- Scott Chandler vs. New England
- Fred Davis vs. Philadelphia
- Zach Miller at Carolina
- James Casey at Washington
- Jeff Cumberland vs. Tampa Bay
- Tony Scheffler vs. Minnesota
- Jermaine Gresham at Chicago
Alright all you Rob Gronkowski owners, time to play on the waiver wire! Dwayne Allen is a guy that may have gone undrafted in shallow leagues who make excellent plays this week. Brent Celek is another one who has a juicy matchup, but I’m reluctant to move him much higher until I see how he fits in with the other two tight ends in Chip Kelly’s offense. Jared Cook is a guy many are high on—I’m probably medium on—but don’t like him this week against a Cardinals team that was among the league’s best in limiting tight ends last season.
Kicker
- Blair Walsh at Detroit
- Josh Brown at Dallas
- Adam Vinatieri vs. Oakland
- Shaun Suisham vs. Tennessee
- David Akers vs. Minnesota
- Phil Dawson vs. Green Bay
- Stephen Gostkowski at Buffalo
- Ryan Succop at Jacksonville
- Matt Bryant at New Orleans
- Dan Bailey vs. NY Giants
- Steven Hauschka at Carolina
- Sebastian Janikowski at Indianapolis
- Rian Lindell at NY Jets
- Jay Feely at St. Louis
- Alex Henery at Washington
- Josh Scobee vs. Kansas City
- Rob Bironas at Pittsburgh
- Randy Bullock at San Diego
- Kai Forbath vs. Philadelphia
- Nick Novak vs Houston
- Mason Crosby at San Francisco
- Greg Zuerlein vs. Arizona
- Garrett Hartley vs. Atlanta
- Robbie Gould vs. Cincinnati
- Dan Carpenter vs. New England
I really wanted to include Caleb Sturgis, Giorgio Tavecchio and Graham Gano, but cool names aren’t enough to make this prestigious list I guess.
Defense
- Patriots at Buffalo
- Seahawks at Carolina
- Texans at San Diego
- Bears vs. Cincinnati
- Buccaneers at NY Jets
- Rams vs. Arizona
- Cardinals at St. Louis
- Colts vs. Oakland
- Steelers vs. Tennessee
- Bengals at Chicago
- Titans at Pittsburgh
- Jets vs. Tampa Bay
- Chargers vs. Houston
- 49ers vs. Packers
- Browns vs. Miami
- Jaguars vs. Kansas City
- Chiefs at Jacksonville
- Vikings at Detroit
- Dolphins at Cleveland
- Redskins vs. Philadelphia
- Saints vs. Falcons
- Panthers vs. Seattle
- Packers at San Francisco
- Giants at Dallas
- Lions vs. Minnesota
If you picked the 49ers defense, you’re probably going to use them. But with last year’s embarrassing playoff loss still spoiling Green Bay’s cheese, I could see this turning into a high-scoring affair. If you’re playing the waiver wire for defenses this season, allow me to introduce you to the Bucs, Titans and Colts defenses, who all take on offenses with significant question marks.
If you’ve still got more fantasy drafts, you can find cheat sheets here.
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