I’m going to open this week’s article in similar fashion to my peers. Unfortunately, I never met Mike Tagliere, and I never got a chance to work directly with him on a podcast. But, as a fellow content creator at FantasyPros, I got the privilege of interacting with him on Twitter and Slack occassionally. Mike was a hell of a dude, and I could tell that even in our limited interactions. His work ethic and passion were impossible to miss, just like the love he had for his family.
The outpouring of support from the community has been overwhelming to witness, and it really shows just how big of an impact Tags had on everyone he met and everyone who read or listened to his words. We’ll miss you Tags.
If you would like to support Mike Tagliere’s family, we have created a GoFundMe where you can give and show your support. You can find that here.
Once the season begins, the most difficult parts of any fantasy manager’s week are start or sit decisions. These lineup choices can make or break a week, but unfortunately, not everyone has time to sit down and read lengthy fantasy advice articles. That’s where Quick Grades comes in. Each week of the football season, I’ll be providing a condensed and easily digestible chart of grades for over 250 fantasy-relevant players based on the following four criteria:
Fantasy Ability
Dalvin Cook is a week-winner due to his big-play ability and proficiency as a receiver out of the backfield
Expected Volume
Travis Kelce is always heavily targeted as one of Kansas City’s top pass-catching options
Matchup
David Montgomery finished 2020 as an RB1 thanks to a highly-favorable end-of-season schedule
Surrounding Talent
Sam Darnold has a strong group of skill-position players around him now that he’s in Carolina
Each of those criteria will be graded on a scale of 1-25, with the cumulative total resulting in a final grade (A+ to F) and a recommendation based on that grade. The criteria are weighted differently based on position, so it’s not a direct 1-for-1 conversion. Surrounding talent refers to offensive line for RB, quarterback play for WR and TE, and skill-position talent for QB.
The players are sorted by grade in descending order with the highest grades at the top and the lowest at the bottom. The highest-graded players receive A+ (Must start), and the lowest receive F. However, there are varying degrees of the F grade, and some players with this grade are flex plays, desperation plays, Hail Mary plays, or should remain on your bench, depending on the grade and position.
I’ll also include DST grades, and just like the skill-position players, there will be four criteria used for grading on a scale from 1-25, and final grades will be from 1-100. The four criteria for a DST grade are: Matchup, Turnovers, Sacks, and Points Allowed.
The link to the original Quick Grades Google Document can still be found below. In addition to the player grades, I’ll provide:
- Start of the Week: A player outside of the elite, weekly must-starts who could have a big week
- Stream of the Week: The best player who will likely be available on your waiver wire
- Fade of the Week: A notable player who could be in for a let-down performance
Link to Full Quick Grades Document
It’s easy to see that an ‘A+’ or ‘A’ grade makes a player a must-start, but it might not make sense at first glance why some players are rated ‘C’ or worse and still have ‘Start,’ ‘Strong Start,’ or ‘Flex’ attached to their names. Because of all the different variables that go into a player’s performance in any given week, only those players with the absolute highest potential, best matchup, and strongest talent get ‘A+’ or ‘A’ grades. Therefore, even solid plays will earn grades that may appear sub-optimal on the surface, but it’s all relative from position-to-position. The hard cutoff is 50 for every position, as grades lower than this will earn a ‘Desperation’ or ‘Hail Mary’ tag in every situation.
Now that I’ve covered the basics, let’s get to the grades. Best of luck in all your matchups this week, and if you have any questions, please hit me up on Twitter @ZaktheMonster.
Note: As always, remember to check back on FantasyPros ahead of kickoff to get the latest injury news. These grades assume full health at the time the article is published on Friday morning.
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Running Backs
- Start of the Week: Elijah Mitchell
- Stream of the Week: J.D. McKissic
- Fade of the Week: Chuba Hubbard
Wide Receivers
- Start & Stream of the Week: Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
- Fade of the Week: Kendrick Bourne
Quarterbacks
- Start of the Week: Justin Fields
- Stream of the Week: Sam Darnold
- Fade of the Week: Lamar Jackson
Tight Ends
- Start of the Week: Mike Gesicki
- Stream of the Week: Will Dissly
- Fade of the Week: Robert Tonyan
D/STs
- Start & Stream of the Week: New York Giants
- Fade of the Week: Detroit Lions
Player Search, Find
Running Back
- Derrick Henry A+ Must Start
- Alvin Kamara A+ Must Start
- Jonathan Taylor A+ Must Start
- Aaron Jones A+ Must Start
- Nick Chubb A Must Start
- Austin Ekeler A Must Start
- Dalvin Cook B+ Must Start
- Najee Harris B+ Must Start
- Miles Sanders B+ Must Start
- David Montgomery B+ Must Start
- D'Andre Swift B Strong Start
- Kareem Hunt B Strong Start
- Antonio Gibson B Strong Start
- Chris Carson C+ Strong Start
- Ezekiel Elliott C+ Strong Start
- Elijah Mitchell C+ Strong Start
- Myles Gaskin C+ Strong Start
- Saquon Barkley C Start
- Nyheim Hines C Start
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire C Start
- Mike Davis C Start
- Kenyan Drake C Start
- Zack Moss C Start
- Melvin Gordon III C Start
- Trey Sermon C Start
- Devin Singletary C Start
- Josh Jacobs C Start
- Javonte Williams C Start
- Ty'Son Williams D+ Flex
- Damien Harris D+ Flex
- Sony Michel D+ Flex
- Chase Edmonds D Flex
- J.D. McKissic D Flex
- Chuba Hubbard D Flex
- Kenneth Gainwell D Flex
- Cordarrelle Patterson D Flex
- Leonard Fournette D Flex
- Tony Pollard D Desperation
- Jamaal Williams D Desperation
- Ronald Jones II D Desperation
- James Conner D Desperation
- AJ Dillon F Desperation
- Latavius Murray F Desperation
- Tony Jones Jr. F Hail Mary
- Alexander Mattison F Hail Mary
- Kyle Juszczyk F Hail Mary
- Michael Carter F Hail Mary
- Royce Freeman F Hail Mary
- Ty Johnson F Hail Mary
- Peyton Barber F Hail Mary
Wide Receiver
- Tyreek Hill A+ Must Start
- Davante Adams A+ Must Start
- Cooper Kupp A Must Start
- Stefon Diggs A Must Start
- Keenan Allen A Must Start
- Allen Robinson II A Must Start
- Amari Cooper A Must Start
- CeeDee Lamb B+ Must Start
- Justin Jefferson B+ Must Start
- D.J. Moore B+ Must Start
- Calvin Ridley B+ Must Start
- Mike Williams B+ Must Start
- D.K. Metcalf B+ Strong Start
- Tyler Lockett B+ Strong Start
- Terry McLaurin B+ Strong Start
- DeAndre Hopkins B Strong Start
- Adam Thielen B Strong Start
- Brandin Cooks B Strong Start
- Courtland Sutton B Strong Start
- Chris Godwin B Strong Start
- Julio Jones OUT for week 4
- Deebo Samuel C+ Strong Start
- Mike Evans C+ Strong Start
- Robert Woods C+ Strong Start
- DeVonta Smith C+ Strong Start
- Emmanuel Sanders C+ Strong Start
- Antonio Brown C+ Strong Start
- Corey Davis C Start
- Chase Claypool C Start
- Cole Beasley C Start
- Marquise Brown C Start
- Jakobi Meyers C Start
- Odell Beckham Jr. C Start
- Will Fuller V C Start
- JuJu Smith-Schuster C Start
- Michael Pittman Jr. D+ Flex
- Kenny Golladay D+ Flex
- Darnell Mooney D+ Flex
- Brandon Aiyuk D+ Flex
- Robby Anderson D+ Flex
- Jaylen Waddle D+ Flex
- Jalen Reagor D+ Flex
- Rondale Moore D+ Flex
- Henry Ruggs III D+ Flex
- Mecole Hardman D+ Flex
- Tim Patrick D+ Flex
- Nick Westbrook-Ikhine D+ Flex
- Marquez Callaway D Desperation
- DeVante Parker D Desperation
- Cordarrelle Patterson D Desperation
- Sammy Watkins D Desperation
- Christian Kirk D Desperation
- Quintez Cephus D Desperation
- Hunter Renfrow D Desperation
- Nelson Agholor D Desperation
- Bryan Edwards D Desperation
- Zach Pascal D Desperation
- Elijah Moore OUT for week 4
- K.J. Osborn D Desperation
- Cedrick Wilson D Hail Mary
- Amon-Ra St. Brown D Hail Mary
- Terrace Marshall Jr. D Hail Mary
- A.J. Green F Hail Mary
- Deonte Harris F Hail Mary
- Olamide Zaccheaus F Hail Mary
- Marquez Valdes-Scantling F Hail Mary
- Quez Watkins F Hail Mary
- Braxton Berrios F Hail Mary
- Van Jefferson F Hail Mary
- Kendrick Bourne F Hail Mary
Quarterback
- Josh Allen A+ Must Start
- Patrick Mahomes II A+ Must Start
- Justin Herbert A Must Start
- Dak Prescott B+ Must Start
- Russell Wilson B+ Must Start
- Jalen Hurts B+ Must Start
- Justin Fields B Start
- Kyler Murray B Start
- Ryan Tannehill B Start
- Kirk Cousins B Start
- Matthew Stafford C+ Start
- Tom Brady C+ Start
- Lamar Jackson C+ Start
- Taylor Heinicke C+ Start
- Sam Darnold C+ Start
- Baker Mayfield C+ Start
- Aaron Rodgers C+ Start
- Matt Ryan D+ 2QB/Superflex
- Teddy Bridgewater D+ 2QB/Superflex
- Derek Carr D+ 2QB/Superflex
- Zach Wilson D+ 2QB/Superflex
- Jimmy Garoppolo D+ 2QB/Superflex
- Ben Roethlisberger D+ 2QB/Superflex
- Jared Goff D+ Hail Mary
- Mac Jones D+ Hail Mary
- Jameis Winston D Hail Mary
- Daniel Jones F Hail Mary
- Jacoby Brissett F Hail Mary
- Carson Wentz F Hail Mary
- Davis Mills F Hail Mary
Tight End
- Travis Kelce A+ Must Start
- Darren Waller A Must Start
- T.J. Hockenson B+ Must Start
- Noah Fant C+ Strong Start
- Rob Gronkowski C+ Strong Start
- Mike Gesicki C+ Strong Start
- Kyle Pitts C Strong Start
- Mark Andrews C Strong Start
- George Kittle C Strong Start
- Logan Thomas D+ Start
- Dawson Knox D+ Start
- Dalton Schultz D+ Start
- Jonnu Smith D+ Start
- Hunter Henry D Start
- Tyler Higbee D Start
- Dallas Goedert D Start
- Austin Hooper F Desperation
- Jared Cook F Desperation
- Robert Tonyan F Desperation
- Tyler Conklin F Desperation
- Albert Okwuegbunam F Desperation
- Blake Jarwin F Desperation
- Cole Kmet F Desperation
- Jack Doyle F Desperation
- Will Dissly F Desperation
- Tommy Tremble F Desperation
- Adam Trautman F Hail Mary
- Evan Engram F Hail Mary
- Zach Ertz F Hail Mary
- David Njoku F Hail Mary
- Hayden Hurst F Hail Mary
- Maxx Williams F Hail Mary
- Anthony Firkser F Hail Mary
- Pat Freiermuth F Hail Mary
- Tyler Kroft F Hail Mary
D/ST
- Buffalo Bills A+ Must Start
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers A Must Start
- Washington Football Team A Must Start
- Indianapolis Colts B+ Must Start
- Miami Dolphins B+ Must Start
- Tennessee Titans B Must Start
- New Orleans Saints B Strong Start
- Baltimore Ravens C+ Strong Start
- New York Giants C+ Strong Start
- Los Angeles Rams C Start
- Chicago Bears D+ Start
- Denver Broncos D+ Start
- Green Bay Packers D Start
- Kansas City Chiefs D Start
- San Francisco 49ers D Start
- Carolina Panthers D Desperation
- Atlanta Falcons D Desperation
- Pittsburgh Steelers D Desperation
- Cleveland Browns F Desperation
- Arizona Cardinals F Desperation
- Las Vegas Raiders F Desperation
- Dallas Cowboys F Hail Mary
- Minnesota Vikings F Hail Mary
- New England Patriots F Hail Mary
- Philadelphia Eagles F Hail Mary
- Seattle Seahawks F Hail Mary
- Detroit Lions F Hail Mary
- Los Angeles Chargers F Hail Mary
- New York Jets F Hail Mary
- Houston Texans F Hail Mary
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Zachary Hanshew is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Zachary, check out his archive and follow him @zakthemonster.