Fantasy Football top scorers by position: NFL 2024 week 1

Week 1 is always a tough one in fantasy football. We don’t yet know who will perform as expected or not, who will be a breakout star, and who might get an early injury. Now that the week is over, here were the top performers of the first week of NFL fantasy football (all numbers based on PPR leagues, which are the most common).

NFL Fantasy Football Week 1 top performers

NFL Fantasy Week 1 Top QBs

Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen led the quarterbacks in their win over the Arizona Cardinals, when he became the only player in NFL history to have four career games with both two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns. He finished with 18 of 23 completions (78.3%) for 232 yards and the two TDs, plus nine carries for 39 yards and the two TDs on the ground.

According to NextGen Stats, Allen had the fourth-highest dropback success rate of his career (66.7%) as well as his most efficient since Week 4 last season when they beat the Dolphins (69%).

Allen managed to escape a serious injury to his non-throwing hand. In the 4th quarter, when he made a rushing touchdown, he leapt over safety Budda Baker into the end zone and with the ball in his left hand, he landed on his right elbow on the ground. His left hand and wrist were wrapped by the trainers, but he stayed in the game and has since been cleared to play in the Bills’ Thursday night game against the Miami Dolphins in Week 2.

NFL Fantasy Week 1 Top RBs

In his debut with the Philadelphia Eagles, running back Saquon Barkley led the rankings in their 34-29 win over the Green Bay Packers in São Paulo on Friday night. He finished the game with 24 carries for 109 yards and two touchdowns, plus an 18-yard touchdown catch from QB Jalen Hurts.

NFL Fantasy Week 1 Top WRs

Of the NFL wide receivers, it was Green Bay Packers’ Jayden Reed who led the way in Week 1. He was Jordan Love’s go-to target in Week 1, catching just four of six - one of which was a 70-yard reception - for 138 yards and a touchdown, plus one 33-yard rushing touchdown. Love is expected to miss three or four games, so keep that in mind for Reed’s future with a backup QB, but his Week 1 performance may end up getting him more involved in the offense as well.

NFL Fantasy Week 1 Top TEs

Baltimore Ravens’ Isaiah Likely led the tight ends in Week 1 by a landslide. Despite his toes being out of bounds on one touchdown catch, causing it to be called back and the Ravens to ultimately lose to the Chiefs, Likely was the leader in both targets and receptions for both teams. He ended the game 9-of-11 for 111 yards and a 49-yard touchdown.

NFL Fantasy Week 1 Top Defenses

The Chicago Bears defense topped the charts with a blocked punt return and an interception for a touchdown plus another interception, one fumble, and three sacks, finishing with 24 fantasy points in their 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans.

NFL Fantasy Week 1 Top Kickers

Two kickers were tied for the most fantasy points in Week 1 - Pittsburgh Steelers’ Chris Boswell and San Francisco 49ers’ Jake Moody. Boswell was the only reason the Steelers were even on the board against the Atlanta Falcons, making six field goals (tying an NFL record) for 57, 56, 51,44, 40, and 25 yards to give them the 18-10 win. Moody also made all six of his field goal attempts, plus both extra point tries in the Niners’ 32-19 win over the Jets on Monday.