Underdog Battle Royale Week 1 Rankings

September 4, 2024

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Steve Shoup

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Quarterbacks:

Josh Allen
C.J. Stroud
Kyler Murray
Joe Burrow
Tua Tagovailoa
Anthony Richardson

Sleepers: Dak Prescott, Caleb Williams, Trevor Lawrence, Baker Mayfield, Jayden Daniels, Geno Smith, Sam Darnold

The Quarterback position this week does feel a little top-heavy with so many elite QBs playing prime time. Josh Allen absolutely stands out in a great match-up vs the Cardinals’ defense. This should be a high-scoring faster-paced game, making Murray one of the better options as well. Allen just carries the greater upside of the two, and could break the slate if he has the same Red zone rushing role he did a year ago.

If you do want a QB outside of this game, the clear option is C.J. Stroud. The Colts’ defense is very questionable, and this is another game that could be faster-paced. Stroud now has more weapons and a better OL in front of him, and he could throw for 300+ 3-4 TDs.

After the top three QBs, I think the gaps get a little bit closer. Burrow is very interesting as I think people might be lower on him coming off the injury and with Chase maybe holding out. This Patriots’ defense could be very different without Bill Belichick, and the Bengals could jump out of the game early in this one.

Both Tua and Lawrence are interesting in a potential shootout game, and both with some top-end weapons.

Anthony Richardson can be a fantasy stud, but I do think this Texans defense is better than people think this year, so the ceiling might be a bit lower. Prescott has a tougher match-up, but it’s hard to ignore the QB who threw the most TDs in the league last year.

I like the rookies as fliers and Baker Mayfield vs a bad Commanders secondary is very interesting. Geno Smith is in a similar boat vs a bad Broncos defense, and an offensive coordinator that should have them attacking vertically more this year.

Running Backs:

Bijan Robinson
Travis Etienne Jr.
Kenneth Walker III
Rachaad White
Joe Mixon
Alvin Kamara
Jonathan Taylor
De’Von Achane
James Conner
Raheem Mostert
James Cook
Najee Harris

Sleepers: Zack Moss, Tony Pollard, Chuba Hubbard, Rhamondre Stevenson, Chase Brown, Devin Singletary, Gus Edwards, J.K Dobbins

I think the running back position is one where I don’t want to get too cute this week. Mainly I’m looking to get two of the top 12 guys, as you primarily want the Flex to be an RB. I think there is a drop-off after the top 5 options, but you can take some stands and hope you are right.

Kamara has some questions surrounding his offense, but the Panthers’ defense isn’t exactly one that is considered a major threat, so he has the upside for one of his bigger games. I like taking a shot at one of the Dolphins RBs and hoping you are right, Mostert is obviously the cheaper one making it a lot less risky.

If I’m getting out of the top 12, I do like trying to figure out either the Bengals or the Chargers backfield, as I could see both teams running the ball late in the game.

Wide Receivers:

Sleepers: Tank Dell, Terry McLaurin, Khalil Shakir, George Pickens, Amari Cooper, Christian Kirk, Brian Thomas, Calvin Ridley, Michael Pittman Jr., Chris Godwin, Keenan Allen, Keon Coleman, Josh Palmer

There are a lot of WR options so this is a position where I like to spend higher on one guy, but the 2nd WR to maybe take a lower owned option. Some of these teams with undefined WRs depth charts could be very interesting, including some top offenses like the Jags, Texans, and Bills.

I also like targeting some WR 1s who might see an outsized role this week. Guys like Drake London, Terry McLaurin, George Pickens, Josh Palmer, and Amari Cooper figure to fit this bill. They might not always be in these types of spots, but the team is breaking in some newer WRs so either go with the clear number 1, and/or the guy with experience with the QB.

Tight Ends:

Dalton Kincaid
Trey McBride
Kyle Pitts
Evan Engram
Brock Bowers
David Njoku

Sleepers: Jake Ferguson, Dalton Schultz, Pat Freiermuth, Cade Otton, Hunter Henry, Noah Fant, Zach Ertz

Kincaid, McBride, and Pitts do feel like they are a tier above everyone else at the position this week. All three could legitimately lead their team in targets, and all have the downfield ability to put up big yards as well. Now none have shown themselves to be major TD threats yet, so that’s possibly how they don’t dominate the week, but it’s likely that their targets are 3-5 more than just about every other name on this list.

The next three feel like another tier break, as they have potential upside, but there is a question mark for each. Engram at times has shown himself to be heavily involved, and he may end up closer to the top group than this one, but there are just so many options in Jacksonville.

Bowers is a rookie and has the most questionable QB play, but the upside is definitely there. Njoku has the talent, but the match-up could be a bit tough, and Watson hasn’t really produced big results for him.

If you pass on these 6, there are some sleeper options, but you are really going to need to get lucky with at least one if not two TDs. Ferguson has the potential RZ role, but the match-up isn’t great. Schultz is just competing with so many other top WRs.

Of this group I think Otton or Fant (assuming he plays) could be my favorite. They play two of the weakest defenses, and won’t be owned at all. If you get a game where instead of going 5 for 50, they go 7 for 80 and a TD (or 2), that could be enough to propel you into the top of the leaderboard.