Fantasy Football: Week 1 Wide Receiver Rankings

Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Atlanta Falcons stud wide receiver Julio Jones tops our Week 1 fantasy football wide receiver rankings.

Jones is set to torch a Chicago Bears defense Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field, but he isn't separated from the pack by much. Other great starts include Doug Baldwin, Amari Cooper, Kelvin Benjamin, Stefon Diggs and Pierre Garcon.

To help you figure out who to sit or start at the position, take a look at my top 50 wide receivers for Week 1.

TOP SHELF

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin has maintained a low profile in fantasy football circles despite consistently putting up elite statistics. He enters the 2017 season as Russell Wilson's top option and with a matchup against the Green Bay Packers. Last season, the Packers allowed the most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. Baldwin is a top-4 option this week against this beatable secondary.

Oakland Raiders top target Amari Cooper is a must-start WR1 against the Tennessee Titans this week. Tennessee allowed the most yards and the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers last season. Look for Cooper and Derek Carr to attempt to rev up their connection early in this contest. I have Cooper ranked as my No. 7 option at wide receiver.

SNEAKY PLAYS

Terrell Pryor and Kirk Cousins debut their connection against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1. Luckily for the Washington Redskins stars, the Eagles surrendered the third-most yards and fantasy points to opposing wide receivers in 2016. Look for a huge amount of targets going to Pryor in this one. He is a low-end WR1.

Carolina Panthers pass catcher Kelvin Benjamin looks to put up big numbers this season and faces the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1. Last year, the 49ers allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to the position. Benjamin is a WR2 in this matchup, so you should expect a touchdown from the playmaker.

LONGSHOTS

Minnesota Vikings speedster Stefon Diggs should benefit from a fast-paced game in Week 1. The Vikings host the New Orleans Saints, and should they fall behind, Diggs will see plenty of action. He is a low-end WR2 in deeper leagues and a WR3 in shallow leagues, in this matchup.

Former Washington Redskins wide receiver Pierre Garcon dons his new San Francisco 49ers jersey this weekend against the Carolina Panthers. Look for WR3 production from the wide out against this very beatable secondary. Last season, the Panthers allowed the fifth-most yards to the position. I'm expecting a big-time yardage day for Garcon here as the 49ers could be playing from behind.