Fantasy Football Week 1 Rankings: Matchups and Projections for Players We Love

It was a good start to the 2022 fantasy football season if you had Josh Allen and/or several other Buffalo Bills players, because they put on quite a show in Thursday night's NFL opener.

The Bills went on the road and defeated the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams, pulling away in the second half for a 31-10 victory at SoFi Stadium. Allen passed for 297 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 56 yards and a score.

Maybe you didn't get off to the best fantasy start after going with either running back Cam Akers or wide receiver Allen Robinson II, neither of whom made an impact for the Rams' offense. That's OK, because there's still plenty of action to come this weekend.

With one game down and 15 more to go in Week 1, here are updated rankings heading into the rest of the NFL weekend, along with some of the best matchups of the week.

1. Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert (vs. LV)

2. Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (at NYJ)

3. Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes (at ARI)

4. Denver Broncos QB Russell Wilson (at SEA)

5. Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow (vs. PIT)

6. Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray (vs. KC)

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Tom Brady (at DAL)

8. Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (at DET)

9. Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers (at MIN)

10. Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott (vs. TB)

Matchup to Watch: Denver Broncos QB Russell Wilson (at SEA)

This one doesn't need much of an explanation. Russell Wilson, who played his first 10 NFL seasons with the Seahawks, is going into Seattle for a Monday night matchup with his new team.

The 33-year-old quarterback shouldn't need motivating to have a big showing in his old stomping grounds.

The Seahawks' defense isn't as strong as it once was. It's going to have trouble stopping Wilson, who will likely be airing it out a good bit to his new two top playmakers, Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy.

The Broncos are poised to have plenty of offensive success this season, and it'll be important for them to start on the right note. That will happen thanks to Wilson, who will utilize the knowledge he has of his former team's defense for a strong Week 1 showing.

Projection: 303 yards and three touchdowns

1. Indianapolis Colts RB Jonathan Taylor (at HOU)

2. Tennessee Titans RB Derrick Henry (vs. NYG)

3. Los Angeles Chargers RB Austin Ekeler (vs. LV)

4. Carolina Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey (vs. CLE)

5. New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara (at ATL)

6. Minnesota Vikings RB Dalvin Cook (vs. GB)

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Leonard Fournette (at DAL)

8. Cincinnati Bengals RB Joe Mixon (vs. PIT)

9. Green Bay Packers RB Aaron Jones (at MIN)

10. Pittsburgh Steelers RB Najee Harris (at CIN)

Matchup to Watch: Indianapolis Colts RB Jonathan Taylor (at HOU)

This is an obvious one, because Jonathan Taylor is a strong fantasy play every week. But this matchup is going to give him an opportunity to put up some huge numbers right off the bat in 2022, as the Texans always have trouble stopping him.

When the Colts faced their AFC South rival last season, the 23-year-old was phenomenal both times. In Week 6, he ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns vs. the Texans in Indianapolis; in Week 13, he rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns in Houston.

Can Taylor have that type of success again on Sunday in Houston? Absolutely. He's the No. 1 running back in fantasy for a reason, and the Texans' defense is still a struggling unit that won't be able to contain him.

Projection: 135 yards and two touchdowns

1. Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson (vs. GB)

2. Las Vegas Raiders WR Davante Adams (at LAC)

3. Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase (vs. PIT)

4. San Francisco 49ers WR Deebo Samuel (at CHI)

5. Dallas Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb (vs. TB)

6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Mike Evans (at DAL)

7. Indianapolis Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. (at HOU)

8. Philadelphia Eagles WR A.J. Brown (at DET)

9. Arizona Cardinals WR Marquise Brown (vs. KC)

10. Los Angeles Chargers WR Mike Williams (vs. LV)

Matchup to Watch: Los Angeles Chargers WR Mike Williams (vs. LV)

The AFC West is filled with strong offenses this season, as all four teams have the potential to put up big numbers. That includes the Chargers and Raiders, which may play a high-scoring shootout in Sunday's season opener in Las Vegas.

Los Angeles quarterback Justin Herbert is going to air it out a good bit, and Mike Williams should be one of his top targets.

The 27-year-old receiver is poised for a big season, plus he's gotten off to strong starts in the past. Last year, he had six touchdowns through the first five weeks, recording 82 or more receiving yards four times during that stretch.

Williams will open 2022 in similar fashion, connecting with Herbert for some big plays against the Raiders' defense. He brings big-play ability to the Chargers' offense and that will again be on display.

Projection: 117 yards and a touchdown

1. Baltimore Ravens TE Mark Andrews (at NYJ)

2. Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce (at ARI)

3. San Francisco 49ers TE George Kittle (at CHI)

4. Las Vegas Raiders TE Darren Waller (at LAC)

5. Dallas Cowboys TE Dalton Schultz (vs. TB)

6. Atlanta Falcons TE Kyle Pitts (vs. NO)

7. Philadelphia Eagles TE Dallas Goedert (at DET)

8. Chicago Bears TE Cole Kmet (vs. SF)

9. Arizona Cardinals TE Zach Ertz (vs. KC)

10. Detroit Lions TE T.J. Hockenson (vs. PHI)

Matchup to Watch: TE Dallas Goedert (at DET)

The Lions gave up 378.9 total yards per game last season, the fourth most in the NFL. Their defense could struggle again this year, and the Eagles will be the first team to try to capitalize on it on Sunday.

Philadelphia's passing attack should be greatly improved with the addition of wide receiver A.J. Brown. Plus, quarterback Jalen Hurts is in position to take another step forward in his development. So, the Eagles should have success through the air in Week 1, boding well for Dallas Goedert, who is among the tight ends with the highest fantasy ceilings.

The 27-year-old should get into the end zone in the season opener, and that will be enough to get him a top-10 finish at the position in Week 1.

Projection: 44 yards and a touchdown