It’s Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season, with the season opener Thursday night featuring the Buffalo Bills against the defending champion Los Angeles Rams.
We’re back again this year with weekly fantasy football streamers at quarterback, tight end and team defense.
Here are your top quarterback, tight end and team defense fantasy streamers for Week 1.
Quarterback: Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons
Before a torn ACL ended his 2021 season, the “YOLO” version of Winston was nowhere to be found as the Saints’ quarterback. He threw just three interceptions in 161 pass attempts, with 14 touchdowns and a career-best 102.8 passer rating. What he could’ve done over more than seven games will go unrealized, and a preseason foot injury is not an issue anymore.
The Saints will have wide receiver Michael Thomas back, finally. Jarvis Landry and rookie Chris Olave were added to the receiving corps this offseason, and a healthy Alvin Kamara is one of the best pass-catching backs in the NFL.
In Week 1 Winston gets the Atlanta Falcons, who were among the worst defenses against quarterbacks last year as they allowed 31 touchdown passes (tied for third-most in the league). Casey Hayward is a notable upgrade opposite underappreciated stud A.J. Terrell at cornerback, but the unit still has a lot to prove and covering all the Saints’ weapons will be difficult.
Winston combines upside and floor to become my top quarterback streamer for Week 1.
ESPN Ownership: 32.9%
Yahoo! Ownership: 46%
Others To Consider: Baker Mayfield, Carolina Panthers vs. Cleveland Browns; Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars at Washington Commanders (check availability); Carson Wentz, Washington Commanders vs Jacksonville Jaguars; Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans vs. New York Giants; Matt Ryan, Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans; Justin Fields, Chicago Bears vs. San Francisco 49ers (check availability); Daniel Jones, New York Giants at Tennessee Titans (two-QB leagues); Jacoby Brissett, Cleveland Browns at Carolina Panthers (two-QB leagues)
Tight End: Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Everett set career-highs for catches (48) and yards (478) last season with the Seattle Seahawks, and he got a clear upgrade to his situation upon signing with the Chargers this offseason. There’s ample competition for targets from Justin Herbert (Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Austin Ekeler). But the Chargers had the sixth-fastest situation-neutral pace and the fourth-highest pass rate in neutral game scripts last year (credit to Football Outsiders and Sharp Football respectively), so there should be some room for Everett. There was some preseason talk about him getting a stray carry or two on jet sweeps even.
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Week 1 against the Las Vegas Raiders is lined up to be a high-scoring game, and Vegas seems to agree with point totals in the range of 52-53 depending on the outlet. The Raiders were also among the 5-10 worst defenses against tight ends last year, for what that’s worth.
Based purely on the prospect of a touchdown, Everett is a viable tight end streamer for Week 1. But I’m willing to project a handful of catches and 50-60 yards too, which pushes him to the top of the heap for me this week.
ESPN Ownership: 11.9%
Yahoo! Ownership: 22%
Others To Consider: David Njoku, Cleveland Browns at Carolina Panthers (check availability); Austin Hooper, Tennessee Titans vs. New York Giants; Irv Smith Jr., Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers; Mo Alie-Cox, Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans; Tyler Conklin, New York Jets vs. Baltimore Ravens; Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars at Washington Commanders
Team Defense: Miami Dolphins vs. New England Patriots
The Dolphins were a middle of the pack defense across the board last year, and they’ll be down cornerback Byron Jones (ankle, PUP list). But their Week 1 matchup is too good to look away from.
The New England Patriots lost offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to the Las Vegas Raiders’ head coaching job. Taking his place as the play caller seems to be Matt Patricia, and if not him then it’s Joe Judge or even Bill Belichick. The set of skill talent around quarterback Mac Jones is not incredibly daunting with an offensive mind calling the shots, let alone with what the Patriots will have.
Miami has been a tough place for the Patriots to play historically dating back to Tom Brady being the quarterback, and them heading to South Florida early to get acclimated to the weather is a sign something is in Belichick’s head (not that he’d say so). There’s a chance it gets ugly on Sunday, but it won’t be ugly in any way, shape or form for the Dolphins’ defense.
ESPN Ownership: 38.6%
Yahoo! Ownership: 19%
Others To Consider: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers; Tennessee Titans vs. New York Giants; Washington Commanders vs. Jacksonville Jaguars; Carolina Panthers vs. Cleveland Browns; New York Giants at Tennessee Titans; Minnesota Vikings vs Green Bay Packers
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