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 every fantasy-relevant player 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 & Stream of the Week: J.D. McKissic
- Fade of the Week: Josh Jacobs
Wide Receivers
- Start of the Week: Tyler Lockett
- Stream of the Week: Amon-Ra St. Brown
- Fade of the Week: Courtland Sutton
Quarterbacks
- Start & Stream of the Week: Taylor Heinicke
- Fade of the Week: Teddy Bridgewater
Tight Ends
- Start & Stream of the Week: Ricky Seals-Jones
- Fade of the Week: Tyler Conklin
D/STs
- Start & Stream of the Week: Cincinnati Bengals
- Fade of the Week: Pittsburgh Steelers
Player Search, Find
Running Back
- Aaron Jones A+ Must Start
- Najee Harris A Must Start
- Jonathan Taylor A Must Start
- Antonio Gibson A Must Start
- Austin Ekeler A Must Start
- Derrick Henry A Must Start
- James Robinson B+ Must Start
- Ezekiel Elliott B+ Must Start
Christian McCaffreyOUT for week 6- D'Andre Swift B+ Strong Start
- Joe Mixon B+ Strong Start
- Kareem Hunt B+ Strong Start
- Dalvin Cook B Strong Start
- Zack Moss C+ Strong Start
- Darrell Henderson Jr. C+ Strong Start
- Myles Gaskin C Start
- Javonte Williams C Start
- Khalil Herbert C Start
- Devontae Booker C Start
- Damien Harris C Start
- Melvin Gordon III D+ Flex
- Darrel Williams D+ Flex
- Chase Edmonds D+ Flex
- J.D. McKissic D+ Flex
- Chuba Hubbard B+ Start
- Josh Jacobs D+ Flex
- Latavius Murray D+ Flex
- Tony Pollard D+ Flex
- Jamaal Williams D+ Flex
- Jerick McKinnon D+ Flex
- Alex Collins D+ Flex
- James Conner D+ Flex
- Nyheim Hines D Desperation
- Devin Singletary D Desperation
- AJ Dillon F Desperation
- Malcolm Brown F Desperation
- Sony Michel F Desperation
- Alexander Mattison F Desperation
- Mark Ingram II F Hail Mary
- Kenyan Drake F Hail Mary
- Samaje Perine F Hail Mary
- David Johnson F Hail Mary
- Jeremy McNichols F Hail Mary
- Ty'Son Williams F Hail Mary
Wide Receiver
- Tyreek Hill A+ Must Start
- Davante Adams A+ Must Start
- Stefon Diggs A Must Start
- Cooper Kupp A Must Start
- D.K. Metcalf B+ Must Start
- DeAndre Hopkins B+ Must Start
- D.J. Moore B+ Must Start
- Tyler Lockett B+ Must Start
- Justin Jefferson B+ Must Start
- CeeDee Lamb B+ Must Start
- Keenan Allen B+ Must Start
- Mike Williams B+ Must Start
- Terry McLaurin B+ Must Start
- Amari Cooper B Strong Start
- Robert Woods B Strong Start
- Diontae Johnson B Strong Start
- A.J. Brown B Strong Start
- Brandin Cooks B Strong Start
- Ja'Marr Chase B Strong Start
- Adam Thielen B Strong Start
- Chase Claypool B Strong Start
- Kadarius Toney C+ Strong Start
- Emmanuel Sanders C+ Strong Start
- Marquise Brown C+ Strong Start
- Courtland Sutton C+ Strong Start
- Marvin Jones Jr. C Start
- Darnell Mooney C Start
- Jaylen Waddle C Start
- Jakobi Meyers C Start
- Tyler Boyd C Start
- Laviska Shenault Jr. C Start
- Tee Higgins C Start
- Michael Pittman Jr. C Start
- Amon-Ra St. Brown D+ Flex
- Odell Beckham Jr. D+ Flex
- Julio Jones D+ Flex
- Mecole Hardman D+ Flex
- Henry Ruggs III D+ Flex
- Allen Robinson II D+ Desperation
- Robby Anderson D+ Desperation
- Cole Beasley D+ Desperation
- Christian Kirk D+ Desperation
- Rondale Moore D+ Desperation
- Nelson Agholor D Desperation
- Hunter Renfrow D Desperation
- Tim Patrick D Desperation
- Bryan Edwards D Desperation
- A.J. Green D Desperation
- Van Jefferson D Desperation
- Kendrick Bourne F Hail Mary
- Zach Pascal F Hail Mary
- K.J. Osborn F Hail Mary
- Cedrick Wilson F Hail Mary
- Terrace Marshall Jr. F Hail Mary
- Allen Lazard F Hail Mary
- Josh Reynolds F Hail Mary
- Byron Pringle F Hail Mary
- Adam Humphries F Hail Mary
- Parris Campbell F Hail Mary
- DeSean Jackson F Hail Mary
Quarterback
- Josh Allen A+ Must Start
- Patrick Mahomes II A+ Must Start
- Kyler Murray A+ Must Start
- Matthew Stafford B+ Must Start
- Dak Prescott B+ Must Start
- Justin Herbert B Strong Start
- Lamar Jackson C+ Strong Start
- Taylor Heinicke C+ Strong Start
- Trevor Lawrence C+ Strong Start
- Joe Burrow C+ Strong Start
- Aaron Rodgers C Start
- Kirk Cousins C Start
- Daniel Jones C Start
- Justin Fields C Start
- Sam Darnold C Start
- Ryan Tannehill D+ 2QB/Superflex
- Geno Smith D+ 2QB/Superflex
- Davis Mills D+ 2QB/Superflex
- Mac Jones D+ 2QB/Superflex
- Ben Roethlisberger D+ 2QB/Superflex
- Carson Wentz D+ 2QB/Superflex
- Derek Carr D+ Hail Mary
- Baker Mayfield D+ Hail Mary
- Teddy Bridgewater D Hail Mary
- Jared Goff F Hail Mary
- Tua Tagovailoa F Hail Mary
Tight End
- Travis Kelce A+ Must Start
- Darren Waller A Must Start
- Mark Andrews B+ Must Start
- Mike Gesicki B Must Start
- T.J. Hockenson C+ Strong Start
- Noah Fant C+ Strong Start
- Hunter Henry C Strong Start
- Tyler Higbee C Strong Start
- Dalton Schultz D+ Start
- Dawson Knox D+ Start
- Jared Cook D+ Start
- Ricky Seals-Jones D+ Start
- Jonnu Smith D+ Start
- David Njoku D Desperation
- Dan Arnold D Desperation
- Robert Tonyan D Desperation
- Tyler Conklin F Desperation
- Mo Alie-Cox F Desperation
- Austin Hooper F Desperation
- Jack Doyle F Hail Mary
- C.J. Uzomah F Hail Mary
- Evan Engram F Hail Mary
- Donald Parham Jr. F Hail Mary
- Cole Kmet F Hail Mary
- Gerald Everett F Hail Mary
D/ST
- Buffalo Bills A+ Must Start
- Dallas Cowboys B+ Must Start
- Los Angeles Rams B Must Start
- Denver Broncos B Must Start
- Indianapolis Colts C+ Strong Start
- Cincinnati Bengals C+ Strong Start
- Cleveland Browns C+ Strong Start
- Los Angeles Chargers C+ Strong Start
- Pittsburgh Steelers C+ Strong Start
- Arizona Cardinals C+ Start
- Carolina Panthers C+ Start
- Miami Dolphins D+ Start
- Green Bay Packers D+ Start
- Minnesota Vikings D+ Start
- Chicago Bears D Desperation
- Las Vegas Raiders D Desperation
- Detroit Lions D Desperation
- New England Patriots D Desperation
- Baltimore Ravens F Desperation
- Seattle Seahawks F Desperation
- Jacksonville Jaguars F Hail Mary
- Houston Texans F Hail Mary
- New York Giants F Hail Mary
- Kansas City Chiefs F Hail Mary
- Tennessee Titans F Hail Mary
- Washington Football Team 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.