2023 Fantasy Football: Week 1 Flex Rankings – Catching Kelce

We made it! The wait is finally over, and the 2023 NFL season is finally about to begin. With that begins another season of my weekly Flex rankings, which will be published every Thursday morning. Normally when it comes to Week 1, rankings are pretty cut and dried. There are no bye weeks, and everyone is relatively fresh and healthy. Without current data and trends to work off of, it usually ends up being a “start your studs” kind of week. However, it feels like this week, there are more studs in question than usual. There are a few situations where we know players are going to sit out. Jonathan Taylor, Alvin Kamara, and Cooper Kupp are a few top-tier players who come to mind. But there are a few players whose status in my Week 1 Flex Rankings is still in doubt.

Tight End News and Notes

I usually do not start with tight end news, but Travis Kelce hyperextended his knee in practice this week and is questionable for the season opener. Mark Andrews and George Kittle are also dealing with injuries, though both returned to practice on Wednesday. Considering how ugly the tight end position can get in fantasy football, this is not an ideal situation for fantasy managers. The good news is that we will know the status of these players before early lock. The Chiefs play on Thursday, while both the Ravens and 49ers are in the early window on Sunday. However, reinforcements may be necessary if any of these tight ends miss their Week 1 game. I ranked all three as if they were playing. But Kelce in particular is a bit lower in my Flex rankings than he would be under normal circumstances.

Running Back News and Notes

The news is mostly positive on the running back front. Breece Hall and Javonte Williams will be in action in Week 1 after suffering season-ending injuries last fall. While both backs carry significant upside, there is also cause for concern. I am not expecting either running back to dominate touches early given their long roads back, despite what Sean Payton has said regarding Williams. Both teams have other capable options, namely Dalvin Cook and Samaje Perine. Unfortunately, that muddies the waters a bit when it comes to Week 1 Flex rankings. I think all four running backs mentioned are potential Flex plays. But because of the uncertainty involved, I don’t know if any of them are must-starts. I have all of them in the RB26-RB35 range.

Wide Receiver News and Notes

Jerry Jeudy took part in a limited practice on Wednesday. I am still not convinced we will see him in Week 1. He was injured two weeks ago, and reports at the time suggested he would miss several weeks. If we get some more positive news leading up to Sunday, I will move him up in my rankings. Rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba is another wideout who may rise in my Flex rankings between now and Sunday. He underwent wrist surgery just two weeks ago but is trending towards playing in Week 1. Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs missed Wednesday’s practice, which has raised some eyebrows. For now, I am not moving either in my weekly rankings. Watson is still a high-end fantasy starter, while Doubs cannot yet be trusted in fantasy circles.

Week 1 Flex Rankings for Fantasy Football

More Week 1 Rankings: Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End | Half-PPR by Position | Flex Rankings

Mick Ciallela is consistently among the top-ranked analysts on FantasyPro’s accuracy rankings. Think twice before you question his Week 1 Flex Rankings.