Fantasy Football 2022: Week 1 Flex Rankings

It’s Wednesday, and that means it’s time to break out the fantasy football flex rankings for Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season. If you’re new to the concept of flex rankings, these are simply the combined overall rankings for running back, wide receiver, and tight end for each week during the fantasy football season. These are not suggestions for who to start in your flex spots.

This list is our initial rankings, but it will change a lot throughout the week. If you want all the latest updates, then be sure to check our staff rankings page. Promo code “RATPACK” gets you 20% off of any FTN subscription.

Week 1 Flex Rankings (2022) – Top 100

These are the top 100 fantasy football flex rankings for Week 1 of the NFL season.

1. Jonathan Taylor @HOU (RB1) – He’s a workhorse stud who should get a fantastic gamescript in this one with the Colts currently sitting as seven-point favorites.

2. Christian McCaffrey vs. CLE (RB2) – Gamescript doesn’t matter for McCaffrey, who will get his whether the Panthers are winning or losing.

3. Derrick Henry vs. NYG (RB3) – The Titans are going to go right back to feeding Henry.

4. Austin Ekeler vs. LV (RB4) – Yes, the Chargers could reduce Ekeler’s snap share, but he’s still a borderline elite guy even with a slightly reduced workload.

5. Joe Mixon vs. PIT (RB5) – With the Bengals giving 6.5 points, expect a huge workload for Mixon on the ground.

6. Cooper Kupp vs. BUF (WR1) – Kupp is the best receiver in football, and he’ll pick right up where he left off.

7. Dalvin Cook vs. GB (RB6) – The new-look Vikings offense offers exciting potential for Cook’s fantasy outook.

8. Ja’Marr Chase vs. PIT (WR2) – Year 2 is going to be even bigger than Year 1.

9. Davante Adams @LAC (WR3) – Look for Derek Carr to force feed Adams the ball in the opener.

10. Justin Jefferson vs. GB (WR4) – The ascendant young receiver gets a tough matchup, but we aren’t going to overthink this one.

11. Alvin Kamara @ATL (RB7) – New Orleans figures to lean on Kamara in a game where they’re favored by 5.5 points.

12. Stefon Diggs @LAR (WR5) – Yes, Jalen Ramsey is on the other side of the field, but Diggs still figures to see heavy volume here.

13. CeeDee Lamb vs. TB (WR6) – No Amari Cooper means good things for Lamb’s workload.

14. Aaron Jones @MIN (RB8) – He’s in a timeshare with AJ Dillon, but the Packers’ lack of firepower in the passing game is good for Jones’ outlook.

15. Najee Harris @CIN (RB9) – Harris was fantasy’s No. 3 back last season, but he could find it tough sledding if the Steelers can’t move the football with Mitch Trubisky under center.

16. James Conner vs. KC (RB10) – Conner figures to see a heavy workload with minimal competition for touches in the Arizona backfield.

17. D’Andre Swift vs. PHI (RB11) – Swift was one of the most productive pass-catching backs over the first half of last season.

18. Saquon Barkley @TEN (RB12) – We’ll get our first look at the new (and improved?) Giants offense Sunday.

19. Leonard Fournette @DAL (RB13) – With very little competition for touches, Fournette should continue to eat in the Bucs backfield

20. Nick Chubb @CAR (RB14) – Chubb’s role as an early-down runner puts a cap on his fantasy outlook.

21. Michael Pittman @HOU (WR7) – This is a fantastic matchup for Pittman. He gets off to a hot start this season.

22. Mark Andrews @NYJ (TE1) – Last year’s top tight end gets a tasty matchup against the Jets.

23. Deebo Samuel @CHI (WR8) – With the contract dispute in the rearview, Samuel picks up where he left off.

24. Javonte Williams @SEA (RB15) – With the Broncos sitting as heavy favorites, Williams should get plenty of run in this one.

25. A.J. Brown @DET (WR9) – Reports out of Eagles camp have painted a very favorable picture of Brown’s chemistry with Jalen Hurts.

26. Travis Kelce @ARI (TE2)

27. Mike Evans @DAL (WR10)

28. Tyreek Hill vs. NE (WR11)

29. Mike Williams vs. LV (WR12)

30. Keenan Allen vs. LV (WR13)

31. Antonio Gibson vs. JAX (RB16)

32. Tee Higgins vs. PIT (WR14)

33. Diontae Johnson @CIN (WR15) – Keep an eye on Johnson’s status, as there’s a chance the Steelers wideout doesn’t play in Week 1.

34. Terry McLaurin vs. JAX (WR16)

35. DJ Moore vs. CLE (WR17)

36. Marquise Brown vs. KC (WR18)

37. Travis Etienne @WAS (RB17)

38. Brandin Cooks vs. IND (WR19)

Ezekiel Elliott Week 1 Fantasy Football Flex Rankings

39. Ezekiel Elliott vs. TB (RB18) – This is brutal matchup for Elliott. It’s wise to temper your expectations for him.

40. Elijah Mitchell @CHI (RB19)

41. Josh Jacobs @LAC (RB20)

42. Cam Akers vs. BUF (RB21) – Akers says he’s ready to go for the opener and figures to be heavily involved on the ground.

43. Rashaad Penny vs. DEN (RB22)

44. Courtland Sutton @SEA (WR20)

45. DK Metcalf vs. DEN (WR21)

46. Jaylen Waddle vs. NE (WR22)

47. Gabe Davis @LAR (WR23) – He’s now the Bills No. 2 and is poised to break out in 2022.

48. Rashod Bateman @NYJ (WR24)

49. Allen Robinson vs. BUF (WR25)

50. Darnell Mooney vs. SF (WR26)

51. David Montgomery vs. SF (RB23)

52. Amon-Ra St. Brown vs. PHI (WR27)

53. Michael Thomas @ATL (WR28)

54. Damien Harris @MIA (RB24)

55. Chase Edmonds vs. NE (RB25)

56. AJ Dillon @MIN (RB26)

57. Dameon Pierce vs. IND (RB27) – Pierce was a hot commodity at the end of fantasy football draft season, but it’s wise to pump the brakes just slightly and view him as a flex option in Week 1.

58. Elijah Moore vs. BAL (WR29)

59. Rhamondre Stevenson @MIA (RB28)

60. Jerry Jeudy @SEA (WR30)

61. JuJu Smith-Schuster @ARI (WR31)

62. Amari Cooper @CAR (WR32)

63. Adam Thielen vs. GB (WR33)

64. Christian Kirk @WAS (WR34) – Kirk figures to be Trevor Lawrence’s favorite target and slides into WR3 territory.

Tyler Lockett Week 1 Fantasy Football Flex Rankings

65. Tyler Lockett vs. DEN (WR35)

66. Kyle Pitts vs. NO (TE3)

67. Clyde Edwards-Helaire @ARI (RB29)

68. George Kittle @CHI (TE4)

69. DeVonta Smith @DET (WR36)

70. Brandon Aiyuk @CHI (WR37)

71. Allen Lazard @MIN (WR38) – Packers head coach Matt LaFleur indicated that Lazard may not play this week. Stay tuned.

72. Miles Sanders @DET (RB30)

73. Cordarrelle Patterson vs. NO (RB31)

74. Tony Pollard vs. TB (RB32)

75. Robert Woods vs. NYG (WR39)

76. Breece Hall vs. BAL (RB33) – Be careful with the rookie, as we don’t know how the Jets will distribute touches between Hall and Michael Carter.

77. Hunter Renfrow @LAC (WR40)

78. Kareem Hunt @CAR (RB34)

79. Dalton Schultz vs. TB (TE5)

80. Michael Carter vs. BAL (RB35)

81. Chris Godwin @DAL (WR41) – Godwin was noncommittal about his Week 1 status, so there’s a strong possibility he doesn’t play.

82. T.J. Hockenson vs. PHI (TE6)

83. Kadarius Toney @TEN (WR42)

84. Drake London vs. NO (WR43)

85. Darren Waller @LAC (TE7) – Waller has battled a hamstring injury in camp but is trending toward playing in Week 1.

86. Devin Singletary @LAR (RB36)

87. Marquez Valdes-Scantling @ARI (WR44)

88. Dallas Goedert @DET (TE8)