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
Jonathan Taylor 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
- Stream of the Week: Rex Burkhead
- Fade of the Week: Matt Breida
Wide Receivers
- Start & Stream of the Week: Josh Reynolds
- Fade of the Week: Tee Higgins
Quarterbacks
- Start & Stream of the Week: Derek Carr
- Fade of the Week: Mac Jones
Tight Ends
- Start & Stream of the Week: Foster Moreau
- Fade of the Week: T.J. Hockenson
D/STs
- Start of the Week: Miami Dolphins
- Stream of the Week: Las Vegas Raiders
- Fade of the Week: Baltimore Ravens
Player Search, Find
Running Back
- Jonathan Taylor A+ Must Start
- Austin Ekeler A+ Must Start
- Najee Harris A Must Start
- Leonard Fournette A Must Start
- Joe Mixon A Must Start
- Antonio Gibson B+ Strong Start
- Saquon Barkley B+ Strong Start
- Damien Harris B+ Strong Start
- Elijah Mitchell B+ Strong Start
- James Robinson B Strong Start
- Darrell Henderson B Strong Start
- Miles Sanders B Strong Start
- Alexander Mattison B Strong Start
- James Conner B Strong Start
- Myles Gaskin C+ Start
- Josh Jacobs C+ Start
J.D. McKissicOUT- David Montgomery C+ Start
- Jamaal Williams C Start
- Cordarrelle Patterson C+ Start
- Boston Scott C+ Start
- Javonte Williams C Start
Melvin GordonOUT- Clyde Edwards-Helaire C Start
- Devonta Freeman C Start
- Nyheim Hines D+ Flex
- Godwin Igwebuike D+ Flex
- Alex Collins D+ Flex
- Devin Singletary D+ Flex
- Kenyan Drake D+ Flex
- Rhamondre Stevenson D+ Flex
- Jeff Wilson Jr. D+ Flex
- Ty Johnson D+ Flex
- Latavius Murray D Desperation
- Tevin Coleman D Desperation
- Kenneth Gainwell D Desperation
- Ronald Jones II D Desperation
- Sony Michel D Desperation
- Matt Breida D Desperation
- Rex Burkhead D Desperation
- Brandon Bolden D Desperation
- DeeJay Dallas F Hail Mary
- Devontae Booker F Hail Mary
- Qadree Ollison F Hail Mary
- Samaje Perine F Hail Mary
- David Johnson F Hail Mary
- Khalil Herbert F Hail Mary
- Carlos Hyde F Hail Mary
- Mike Davis F Hail Mary
Wide Receiver
- Cooper Kupp A+ Must Start
- Tyreek Hill A+ Must Start
- Mike Evans B+ Must Start
- Keenan Allen B+ Must Start
- Diontae Johnson B+ Must Start
- Justin Jefferson B+ Must Start
- D.K. Metcalf B+ Must Start
- Adam Thielen B Must Start
- Stefon Diggs B Must Start
- DeAndre Hopkins B Must Start
- Michael Pittman Jr. B Must Start
- Chris Godwin B Must Start
- Marquise Brown B Strong Start
- Ja'Marr Chase B Strong Start
- Tyler Lockett C+ Strong Start
- Mike Williams C+ Strong Start
- Terry McLaurin C+ Strong Start
- Jaylen Waddle C+ Strong Start
- Cordarrelle Patterson C+ Strong Start
- Brandin Cooks C+ Strong Start
- Brandon Aiyuk C Strong Start
- DeVonta Smith C Strong Start
- Darnell Mooney C Strong Start
- Marvin Jones Jr. C Start
- Rashod Bateman C Start
- Hunter Renfrow C Start
- Jerry Jeudy D+ Start
- Chase Claypool D+ Start
- Elijah Moore D+ Start
- Tee Higgins D+ Start
- Christian Kirk D+ Start
- Emmanuel Sanders D+ Start
- Odell Beckham D+ Start
- A.J. Green D+ Start
- Jakobi Meyers D+ Flex
- Courtland Sutton D+ Flex
- Russell Gage D+ Flex
- Van Jefferson D+ Flex
- Tyler Boyd D Flex
- T.Y. Hilton D Flex
- Cole Beasley D Flex
- Kendrick Bourne D Flex
- Josh Reynolds D Flex
- Tim Patrick D Flex
- Kenny Golladay D+ Start
- Corey Davis D Flex
- DeAndre Carter F Desperation
- Sammy Watkins F Desperation
- DeSean Jackson F Desperation
- Olamide Zaccheaus F Desperation
- Sterling Shepard F Desperation
- Albert Wilson F Desperation
- Gabriel Davis F Desperation
- Laviska Shenault Jr. F Desperation
- Rondale Moore F Desperation
- K.J. Osborn F Desperation
- Bryan Edwards F Hail Mary
- Zach Pascal F Hail Mary
- Jamison Crowder F Hail Mary
- Amon-Ra St. Brown F Hail Mary
- Allen Robinson II F Hail Mary
- James Washington F Hail Mary
- Nelson Agholor F Hail Mary
- Darius Slayton F Hail Mary
- Jalen Reagor F Hail Mary
Quarterback
- Tom Brady A+ Must Start
- Kyler Murray A+ Must Start
Jalen HurtsLikely OUT for week 13- Patrick Mahomes A Must Start
- Lamar Jackson A Must Start
- Justin Herbert B+ Strong Start
- Matthew Stafford B+ Strong Start
- Russell Wilson B+ Strong Start
- Josh Allen B Strong Start
- Carson Wentz B Strong Start
- Derek Carr B Strong Start
- Joe Burrow B Strong Start
- Teddy Bridgewater C+ Start
- Kirk Cousins C+ Start
- Taylor Heinicke C+ Start
- Ben Roethlisberger C Start
- Tua Tagovailoa C Start
- Matt Ryan D+ 2QB/Superflex
- Tyrod Taylor D+ 2QB/Superflex
- Jared Goff D 2QB/Superflex
- Jimmy Garoppolo D 2QB/Superflex
- Zach Wilson F Hail Mary
- Mike Glennon F Hail Mary
- Trevor Lawrence F Hail Mary
- Mac Jones F Hail Mary
- Andy Dalton F Hail Mary
Tight End
- Travis Kelce A+ Must Start
- Mark Andrews A Must Start
- Pat Freiermuth B+ Strong Start
- Kyle Pitts B+ Strong Start
- Dallas Goedert B+ Strong Start
- George Kittle B+ Strong Start
- Rob Gronkowski B Strong Start
- Noah Fant B Strong Start
- Logan Thomas C+ Start
- Mike Gesicki C+ Start
- Dawson Knox C+ Start
- T.J. Hockenson C+ Start
- Evan Engram C Start
- Foster Moreau C Start
- Zach Ertz C Start
- C.J. Uzomah C Start
- Hunter Henry C Start
- Tyler Higbee C Start
- James O'Shaughnessy D Desperation
- Mo Alie-Cox D Desperation
- Albert Okwuegbunam D Desperation
- Tyler Conklin D Desperation
- Jared Cook F Desperation
- Gerald Everett F Desperation
- Jonnu Smith F Hail Mary
- Cole Kmet F Hail Mary
- Brevin Jordan F Hail Mary
- Ryan Griffin F Hail Mary
- Jack Doyle F Hail Mary
- Donald Parham Jr. F Hail Mary
- Cameron Brate F Hail Mary
D/ST
- Los Angeles Rams A+ Must Start
- Arizona Cardinals A+ Must Start
- Minnesota Vikings A Must Start
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers A Must Start
- Buffalo Bills B+ Strong Start
- Indianapolis Colts B Strong Start
- Las Vegas Raiders B Strong Start
- New York Giants C Start
- Miami Dolphins C Start
- New England Patriots C Start
- Philadelphia Eagles D+ Start
- Pittsburgh Steelers D+ Start
- Los Angeles Chargers D+ Start
- San Francisco 49ers D Start
- Denver Broncos D Start
- Kansas City Chiefs D Start
- Cincinnati Bengals F Desperation
- Washington Football Team F Desperation
- Chicago Bears F Desperation
- Seattle Seahawks F Desperation
- Houston Texans F Desperation
- Baltimore Ravens F Hail Mary
- Jacksonville Jaguars F Hail Mary
- Detroit Lions F Hail Mary
- New York Jets F Hail Mary
- Atlanta Falcons 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.