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Chris Welsh
What's up friends and welcome into Fantasy Pros. This is the Fantasy Football Podcast. I'm Chris Welsh and we've got more ranks for you Week 1 Quarterbacks and tight ends. Joining me, of course, is Pat Fitzmaurice and Andrew Erickson as we are going to be tackling and hopefully registering some pretty, pretty good ranks going into next week. See how we are going to finish this bad boy out. As mentioned on some of our previous episodes, go to fantasypros.com rankings and you guys can check out how the ebbs and flows of all these rankings go. Mr. Pat Fitzmaurice, there is a lot of volatility, I think at quarterback more than any other position. I know, I guess I've said that kind of in all the episodes we've done. But I mean we're talking about a position where a guy you might have taken 10th overall at that position and not considering starting. That example is Dak Prescott. Spoiler alert. He is not in the top 12 this week due to his matchup pick. People are legitimately wondering do I start Bryce Young over him or Trevor Lawrence? So this position, it is a weird one, especially into week one. And I expect there to be some weird volatility.
Pat Fitzmaurice
Yeah, probably the most matchup sensitive position there is, more so than running back and wide receiver, which can be matchup sensitive too. You know, if you've got a wide receiver going against a shutdown cornerback or a running back going against some impregnable run defense. But with quarterbacks like the numbers usually lay bare who the pushover defenses are and who the nasty defenses are. And we adjust our rankings accordingly. And that's why a lot of people stream quarterbacks because you can always find playable quarterbacks with good matchups on waivers.
Chris Welsh
In most cases, by the way, just ridiculous flex too. I mentioned in the RB episode, Fitzy was number eight in RBs. Also number nine in quarterbacks. Get a life, dude. Stop being so good at all this stuff. Geez. I know we're not worthy here. Erickson. Just, just as a quick aside, do you think there's anything people should give a little bit more consideration into Allah drafting Dak. You know he was moving up to like 11 and 10 on boards and then not even considering starting him in week one. Do you think that needs to be considered? Justin Fields is another good example. That was a guy that was moving into like nine or 10. We've talked a lot about the jets in our rank episodes, but now people are just plummeting him due to, due to playing the Steelers. Do you think that needs to be a little bit more of a heavy consideration for those type of guys when you're drafting but and or do people need to be considering drafting two quarterbacks if you are going to be like, should I not start Dak already?
Andrew Erickson
Well, I think that it goes into the late round quarterback strategy where we all talked about the season where it seemed like it was pick your flavor. This is such a long tier of guys like 10 plus quarterbacks that oh, I like this guy, I like his upside. And I think that you can use week one or the early season as a tiebreaker. If you don't feel comfortable Dak Prescott at the Eagles in Week 1, then don't draft him as your late round quarterback. Draft somebody else. Draft Drake May. So that's what I used and that's why I don't have Dak Prescott on any teams. Just because I didn't like the outlook for week one and I like the outlook for week one for some of these other guys. And now you're seeing that reflected in the Week 1 rankings. It doesn't mean that you can never have Prescott on your team. If he bombs week one well, you know that, hey, I still like him but now he's valued cheaper. So now I can go and acquire a player like that. So that's something that again, if you like all the quarterbacks then find tiebreakers. I think week one is a good way to do that.
Chris Welsh
Very, very well said. We're going to get to those top 12 quarterbacks and we've got tight end. It's not just about quarterbacks. We've got tight end ranks that are going to be happening. But first, if you want a chance to win the ultimate symbol of fantasy football dominance, the custom XL Champion turnover chain, courtesy of our friends over at Trophy Smack, the number one destination for epic fantasy football trophies, then this is your moment. This massive five pound chain isn't just for show, it's a statement. To enter. All you've got to do is subscribe to the Fantasy Pro's YouTube channel right now. Drop a comment below on any of our videos. Could be this one or any. And that's it. We're going to be announcing a winner right here on the channel. So make sure you turn on notifications so you know when videos are up and so you can claim your prize. This very, very awesome custom XL Champion turnover chain could be yours. Gentlemen, let's jump into this. Let's look at the big board of quarterbacks here. This is your top 12 quarterbacks for the week. So your QB ones obviously super flexes, they're screaming at us. Lamar Jackson comes in at number one, Josh Allen two, Jalen Hurts, three. Jaden Daniels, four, Joe Burrow five. Nothing crazy there. Baker Mayfield at six, Patrick Mahomes at seven, Kyler Murray, Bo Nicks. Now things get interesting. Trevor Lawrence at 10, Drake May at 11 and Brock Purdy at 12. So those are some new names versus what you were probably doing in draft season. A couple quarterbacks to talk about in this list. Let's actually start with Trevor Lawrence. So Trevor Lawrence I think kind of jumps out to me as a player that you know, I don't think a lot of people were super excited about was into the lower teens. He is ECR10 this week. Obviously due to matchup. You guys are on kind of different spectrum of it. So Fitzy, let's start with you. You are a complete buy of this. You actually have him one spot higher. You've got Lawrence at nine. So you're all in on Lawrence on this matchup with his wide receivers. Let's hear the take.
Pat Fitzmaurice
Yeah, I like the matchup at home against the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers gave up the third most fantasy points to quarterbacks last year, 20.7 fantasy points per game. And Panthers also gave up A league high 35 touchdown passes to quarterbacks. Their opponent passer rating of 105.4 was the worst in the league. And I trust Liam Cohen to maximize the talents of Trevor Lawrence.
Chris Welsh
Mr. Andrew Erickson, you are not as sold you've got him a little bit closer to like draft equity. You do not have him as a QB one. Probably a solid super flex in your mind, I'm guessing. But you've got to make QB15 so you do not want to get him out here as your starter this week. I don't know if that means you would start. We use Dak as an example. Dak did not make this. Justin Fields, those two players. I don't know if you have Lawrence still over those guys and you buried or not, but what's your take on Trevor Lawrence this week.
Andrew Erickson
I do have him over those guys that you mentioned so Fields and Prescott. To me he's still a waiver wire quarterback stream, but he's the top guy, right? If you are feeling concerned about the guy you drafted, then Lawrence is probably the first guy I would go to that's on waivers that you could go and pick up and start this week assuming that you don't have to drop a a good player from your bench. So I'm just, I'm just a little bit hesitant to buy into the Liam Cohen, Trevor Lawrence experience hitting in week one just because sometimes it takes time with some of these guys learning new offenses, new receivers. Travis Hunter is a rookie. He's going to be out there. So that's the only reason why. And the Panthers, yes, they have tried to improve their defense and but that being said, Lawrence is still the best streamer you can get off waivers.
Chris Welsh
A little bit off book here. I want to ask you guys because Patriots and Drake May's godfather, Drake May, where are we at on him? He's 11 on this board. Fitzy, you are the conductor of the Drake May train here. He's a QB one in this range. Yay or nay? Do you have Drake May higher than Trevor Lawrence this week?
Pat Fitzmaurice
One spot behind QB10.
Chris Welsh
Okay, so he's a QB1. Any take, any takeaway on Drake May for you, for him this week?
Pat Fitzmaurice
Play him with confidence. Like I think he's going to run. I'm excited about the running upside for Drake May. I think he could give us 800 plus rushing yards this year.
Chris Welsh
All right, top 10 quarterback Erickson, show me quarterback nine, Kyler Murray.
Andrew Erickson
That's why. Quarterback nine, Drake, QB 11. You're starting Drake May starting Drake May starting him.
Chris Welsh
Right. But Fitz wins. Fitz is still the godfather and the conductor so he gets all of that.
Andrew Erickson
This is true. And I'm. I'm just fake.
Chris Welsh
Yeah, yeah. You're so much lower. It's so ridiculous how you've had him, but he is a QB one in both of your eyes are green with, with the consensus here. This is a really big gap between you guys and even though he didn't make this list, we are going to do like a quarterback that you like outside of the top 12. This one has some, I think big implications because Jordan Love is Ericsson's QB8 this week. Fitzy, you've got him at 17, so you've got him way down. So this is a huge quarterback gap here. So Erickson, let's start with you, Jordan Love, all In wide receivers are kind of messy. What the running game is just. I mean, you got them higher than Drake May. You got him higher than Kyler Murray. You are all in on Jordan Love for week one.
Andrew Erickson
I just like the matchup against the Detroit Lions. I know that their defense is expected to be better after they all got hurt last year, but they're still dealing with some of the injuries from last season. Not all those guys have come back into the starting lineup. And yes, Aiden Hutchinson is back in the lineup as well, but he's also coming off a season ending injury. Is he going to be as effective against a Packers offensive line that I feel relatively good about? So yes, the receivers are a little bit banged up, but the two guys that I care about the most in terms of Jordan Love's weapons, Matthew golden and Tucker Kraft, those guys are going to be out there and I think they're going to be firing on all cylinders. So I like Jordan Love a lot in this matchup.
Chris Welsh
Fitzy very disappointed. What's up with you and Jordan Love? What's going on?
Pat Fitzmaurice
It's just that the packers wide receiver situation is so up in the air. I mean, Matthew golden might be the number one receiver, hasn't played an NFL game yet. Jaden Reed playing with the Jones fracture in his foot. Romeo Dobbs, Don Tavian Wicks. Meh. And I do like Tucker Kraft a lot as much as Erickson. But the Lions are stingy against tight ends and to me it's just, I don't feel great about this matchup. The Lions have an excellent secondary. They're getting Aiden Hutchinson back from injury to terrorized quarterbacks. And you know, Love missed some time with that non throwing thumb injury in late in training camp. And Love didn't play especially well in his two starts against the Lions last season. 11.9 fantasy points and 14.5 fantasy points in those two starts with only one touchdown pass.
Honey German
Hola, It's Honey German and my podcast. Gracias. Come Again is back. This season we're going even deeper into the world of music and entertainment with raw and honest conversations with some of your favorite Latin artists and celebrities. You didn't have to audition?
Honey German's Guest
No, I didn't audition. I haven't auditioned like over 25 years.
Honey German
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Honey German's Guest
Oh yeah.
Honey German
We've got some of the biggest actors, musicians, content creators and culture shifters sharing their real stories of failure and success. You were destined to be a star. We talk all about what's viral and trending with a Little bit of chisme, a lot of laughs and those amazing vivas you've come to expect. And of course, we'll explore deeper topics dealing with identity struggles and all the issues affecting our Latin community. You feel like you get a little whitewashed because you have to do the code switching.
Honey German's Guest
I won't say whitewashed because at the end of the day, you know, I'm me. Yeah. But the whole pretending and co, you know, it takes a toll on you.
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Listen to the new season of Gracias. Come again as part of Michael Tura Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcast.
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Get fired up, y'.
Chris Welsh
All.
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Season 2 of Good Game with Sarah Spain is underway. We just welcomed one of my favorite people and an incomparable soccer icon, Megan Rapino. The show and we had a blast. We talked about her recent 40th birthday celebrations, Co hosting a podcast with her fiance sue, bird watching former teammates retire and more. Never a dull moment with Pino. Take a listen. What do you miss the most about being a pro athlete? The final. The final and the locker room. I really, really like you. Just, you can't replicate. You can't get back. Showing up to the locker room every morning just to sh.
Andrew Erickson
Talk.
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Chris Welsh
I'm a little bit more with 50 on this, so just giving a hard time. QB 17 versus QB 8. Quarterback that did not make this list a quarterback that is not in the top 12 that you think should be. Fitz, you've got an interesting name. Let's hear it. Yeah.
Pat Fitzmaurice
So my top 12 match is the ECR top 12, but the guy you just missed for me was Justin Herbert. And Herbert just usually plays well against the Chiefs for whatever reason. In nine career starts against Kansas City, Herbert has averaged 266 passing yards and two touchdown passes per game. He's also run for three touchdowns against the Chiefs and he's averaged 7.9 yards per pass.
Chris Welsh
Erickson, are you sticking with the. You. You kind of just did give us the guy. Jordan Love was not in the top the top 12. And is that. That's your guy?
Andrew Erickson
Yeah, I would stick with him. And if I had to list off another quarterback, it would be the guy he's facing and it would be Jared Goff. So definitely I was fading Jared Goff throughout redraft season. But I mean, is it all going to come crumbling down in week one for Jared Goff? Maybe not. So look, this, this Packers Lions game has a pretty high game total. So, I mean, there can be points.
Pat Fitzmaurice
So it's hard to score fantasy points when you're getting bear hugged by Micah Parsons. Erickson.
Andrew Erickson
Yeah, well, he's got his back injury, so we'll see how much he plays.
Chris Welsh
Yeah, if he's got the epidural out. All right, let's go talk about some tight ends. We've got the top 12 tight ends with a couple interesting notes here. Looking at the big board. Brock Bowers comes in at number one. Trey McBride, two. George Kittle, three. There you go, easy stuff. Sam Laporta at four. Travis Kelce, TJ Hawkinson, David Njoku, Mark Andrews, Evan Ingram, Tucker Kraft, that's your top 10. Followed by Tyler Warren and then Jake Ferguson comes in at number 12. So pretty. Again, as you would expect, as it pretty much should be in week one. Not too many crazy, crazy things in here. Let's start with a player that you guys have way higher than consensus. And I was kind of doing the same thing here and we talked about this in the wide receiver episode. The Bengals are not a great defense and someone's going to eat them up. You guys are saying it's David and Joku. He is ECR tight in seven. You both have him at four. Erickson, why don't we start with you all in on David and Joku this week?
Andrew Erickson
This week one matchup was why it was so hard for me to keep David and Joko low in my Redraft rankings because I knew week one was against the Bengals and I knew he was going to smash just like that's how confident I am about in Joku this week. He destroyed the Bengals last season when he played them and when we saw him play with Joe Flacco, the guy was an absolute Monster. He's averaging nine targets per game, 29 target rate per out run. Last season he led all tight ends and end zone targets per game. 13th overall in targets per game. Not at just tight end among all players that caught passes last season. So look, I think maybe his usage changes a little bit if they use a little bit more of Harold Fannin. But for week one expecting a third round rookie to eat into this veteran who's established has rapport with Joe Flacco. If this game turns into a shootout and joke is going to go for over 100 yards and maybe scored a touchdown. So he is if you went late round tight end and Joku or if somehow and Joku didn't get drafted, that's the guy you should start this week.
Chris Welsh
Fitzy, it's just the big three that are above him for you this week it is.
Pat Fitzmaurice
And Erickson nailed the Njoku angle. The other angle is this matchup against the Bengals defense that gave up the most fantasy points to tight ends last year. Here are the numbers compiled by tight ends against Cincinnati in 2024. 111 catches, 1,114 yards and 10 touchdowns. So basically tight ends collectively against the Bengals last year were like peak. Rob Gronkowski, we'll take that.
Chris Welsh
We'll take that all day long. Mark. Mark Andrews sounds pretty good. That sounds pretty, pretty good. Sold. Next up on the list, let's talk about Mark Andrews. ECR tight end eight. Fitzy, you've got him at seven. Erickson, you've got him at 10. I feel like ironically Tucker Kraft, who we're not going to talk about again, we kind of already talked about you guys are on like different sides of that and maybe the matchup and actually he might be part of the reason. You know, one is higher and one is lower on specifically Mark Andrews. It's the Tucker Kraft effect. But Fitz, you tell us you're a little bit higher on Andrews here. So what do you got for him in week one?
Pat Fitzmaurice
Well, Andrews really wasn't a guy I wanted to draft. Sort of a fade for me in draft season. But I think the time to feel good about him is early in the season because Isaiah likely is not expected to play in week one. He's recovering from a broken bone in his foot. And that makes the target outlook a little sunnier for Andrews or at least better than it would be if likely were around.
Chris Welsh
All right, Erickson, you are not quite as excited. You've got him at 10. At tight end, you're not. Doesn't look like you're benching him or anything like that. But do you think production is going to be a little bit muted?
Andrew Erickson
I think this is probably where my ranking is wrong. So someone that I'll probably have to move up because Likely's out. This is prime time for Mark Andrews to back him up. Touchdowns, especially in a game against the Buffalo Bills where there could be no defense. I mean, it's Lamar versus Josh Allen. There should be points galore. Maybe your guy Delta Kincaid Welsh can catch touchdown too. Maybe you can get involved. So I think I probably have to move, especially in the half PPR ranks where I mean right now, Evan Ingram ahead of him. I, I don't think that that's necessarily going to stay like that, Kelsey. He has to catch a touchdown, I think to outscore Mark Andrews. So I'm probably going to move him up. But I get. I struggle when I put him next to guys like Kraft and Tyler Warren where I just see the explosive yards after the catch. I think maybe those guys see a little bit more volume here in week one. But touchdowns, I mean, I don't know what the touchdown odds are, but if you look at that, Mark Andrews is pretty close to even money or a plus 100 to catch a touchdown in week one.
Pat Fitzmaurice
He had one in. He had one in each of his two games against the Browns last year.
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Touchdown.
Chris Welsh
And like I said, I felt like Tucker Kraft was kind of like a piece that moves Andrews for both of you, whether you like craft, not that you dislike Kraft, but you know, if it's. You had mentioned like the matchup could be a little bit tougher. You're all in Erickson on Kraft, so that might have the effect that pushes him down. You know, you say Kincaid. Kincaid would be one of the those tight ends that did not make the top 12 that I think I would push into the top 12. But let's see what you guys think. So one deep tight end, he didn't make this list. Maybe it's a guy that is going to get there or someone that people should be taking a look at. Fitz, who do you got?
Pat Fitzmaurice
Brenton Strange for the Jaguars. Now the starting tight end following Evan Ingram's departure and he kicks off the season with a plus matchup against the Panthers, who gave up the second most fantasy points to tight ends last season. They allowed 11 touchdowns to tight ends.
Chris Welsh
Okay, Erickson, what do you got for.
Andrew Erickson
Us going to Drake Mays red zone target Hunter Henry against the Las Vegas Raiders. I think Henry's gonna have a big red zone role. He saw that with Josh McDaniels and McDaniels last or the last time they played together or coached together in New England. So yeah, I think if the Patriots offense scores points, I think Drake Bay is going to be throwing touchdowns to Hunter Henry. And when it comes to these late round tight ends or guys you're streaming, you catch touchdown, bang your top five tight end on the week. That's all you got to do.
Chris Welsh
Easy money, easy Money. Go to fantasypros.com rankings if you guys want to check out what the tight ends are looking like all the way up until kickoff. If you're going to help you make some of those decisions, we can also help you make those decisions where we've got our Sunday stream. We've got our Sunday streams are back a couple hours before kickoff. Hopefully you guys join us over on the YouTube. YouTube.com fantasypros answering your questions. I'll be there. There's always a rotation of different guys and Erickson and Pat will be in there sometimes on betting pros, but we got two hours of coverage for you. If you missed any of your fantasy questions, we got you set. That's going to do it. Quarterbacks and tight ends in the books For Andrew Erickson and Pat Fitzmaurice, I'm Chris Welch. Thank you guys so much for hanging out with us. Good luck in week one and we'll talk to you next time right here on Fantasy Pros.
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Chris Welsh
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Honey German
Hi, it's Honey German and I'm back with season two of my podcast, Gracias. Come again. We got you. When it comes to the latest in music and entertainment with interviews with some of your favorite Latin artists and celebrities. You didn't have to audition.
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No, I didn't audition. I haven't auditioned like over 25 years.
Honey German
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In this episode, Chris Welsh, Pat Fitzmaurice, and Andrew Erickson break down their Week 1 quarterback and tight end rankings and tiers, spotlighting studs, sleepers, and must-starts. The discussion hones in on key ranking decisions, the volatility at quarterback for opening week, streaming options, matchup-based analysis, and deeper cuts for fantasy managers looking for an early edge.
Chris Welsh kicks off with the unpredictability at QB:
Pat Fitzmaurice explains the matchup-driven nature of QB value:
Rankings List:
Context: Several unconventional names crack the top 12, notably rookie Bo Nix and Baker Mayfield, with some familiar faces (e.g., Dak Prescott) notably outside the top tier.
Fitzy’s Take:
Erickson's Take:
On Week 1 volatility:
On Jordan Love:
On tight end scoring:
On Mark Andrews' outlook:
Casual, expert, and debate-driven, with plenty of direct advice, playful banter, and evidence-based takes. The hosts mix stats with conviction, bringing both authority and entertainment.
For detailed rankings and weekly updates, visit fantasypros.com/rankings.