TEXANS-SAINTS SHOULD BE A FANTASY EXPLOSION
Week 1 fantasy football rankings
Sep 5, 2019, 12:37 pm
TEXANS-SAINTS SHOULD BE A FANTASY EXPLOSION
Football season is finally here, so let's take a look at how the fantasy ranks are stacking up for Week 1. Keep in mind, these are PPR rankings, and don't forget to set your lineup for Thursday Night Football. If you have any questions feel free to hit me up on Twitter. Be sure to check out my show MoneyLine with Jerry Bo on ESPN 97.5FM. We're on every Sunday from 10-noon, and we'll talk a lot of fantasy football and NFL gambling getting you ready for kickoff every Sunday.
Photo via Saints/Facebook
1Carson Wentz PHIvsWAS
2Patrick Mahomes KC@JAX
3Deshaun Watson HOU@NO
4Drew Brees NOvsHOU
5Baker Mayfield CLEvsTEN
6Aaron Rodgers GB@CHI
7Lamar Jackson BAL@MIA
8Jameis Winston TBvsSF
9Ben Roethlisberger PIT@NE
10Tom Brady NEvsPIT
11Russell Wilson SEAvsCIN
12Matt Ryan ATL@MIN
13Jared Goff LAR@CAR
14Dak Prescott DALvsNYG
15Cam Newton CARvsLAR
16Mitch Trubisky CHIvsGB
17Kyler Murray ARIvsDET
18Matthew Stafford DET@ARI
19Kirk Cousins MINvsATL
20Jimmy Garoppolo SF@TB
Photo via: Giants/Facebook
1Saquon Barkley NYG@DAL
2Alvin Kamara NOvsHOU
3Christian McCaffrey CARvsLAR
4Nick Chubb CLEvsTEN
5James Conner PIT@NE
6Dalvin Cook MINvsATL
7Le'Veon Bell NYJvsBUF
8Ezekiel Elliott DALvsNYG
9Chris Carson SEAvsCIN
10David Johnson ARIvsDET
11Todd Gurley LAR@CAR
12Mark Ingram BAL@MIA
13Leonard Fournette JAXvsKC
14Kerryon Johnson DET@ARI
15Joe Mixon CIN@SEA
16Devonta Freeman ATL@MIN
17Tevin Coleman SF@TB
18Austin Ekeler LACvsIND
19David Montgomery CHIvsGB
20Josh Jacobs OAKvsDEN
21Sony Michel NEvsPIT
22Duke Johnson HOU@NO
23Damien Williams KC@JAX
24Aaron Jones GB@CHI
25Marlon Mack IND@LAC
26Derrick Henry TEN@CLE
27James White NEvsPIT
28Phillip Lindsay DEN@OAK
29Tarik Cohen CHIvsGB
30Derrius Guice WAS@PHI
31Matt Breida SF@TB
32Kenyan Drake MIAvsBAL
33Latavius Murray NOvsHOU
34Justin Jackson LACvsIND
35Rashaad Penny SEAvsCIN
36Mile Sanders PHIvsWAS
Photo via New Orleans Saints/Facebook
1Michael Thomas NOvsHOU
2DeAndre Hopkins HOU@NO
3Davante Adams GB@CHI
4Julio Jones ATL@MIN
5Odell Beckham Jr CLEvsTEN
6JuJu Smith-Schuster PIT@NE
7Mike Evans TBvsSF
8Tyreek Hill KC@JAX
9Adam Thielen MINvsATL
10Julian Edelman NEvsPIT
11Keenan Allen LACvsIND
12Tyler Lockett SEAvsCIN
13Antonio Brown *Update: Out, inactive for Week 1.
14Brandin Cooks LAR@CAR
15Stefon Diggs MINvsATL
16Kenny Golladay DET@ARI
17Robert Woods LAR@CAR
18Chris Godwin TBvsSF
19Cooper Kupp LAR@CAR
20Tyler Boyd CIN@SEA
21Dede Westbrook JAXvsKC
22Josh Gordon NEvsPIT
23Amari Cooper DALvsNYG
24D.J. Moore CARvsLAR
25Emmanuel Sanders DEN@OAK
26Will Fuller HOU@NO
27Calvin Ridley ATL@MIN
28T.Y. Hilton IND@LAC
29Sterling Shepard NYG@DAL
30Mike Williams LACvsIND
31Marvin Jones DET@ARI
32Curtis Samuel CARvsLAR
33Allen Robinson CHIvsGB
34Robby Anderson NYJvsBUF
35Alshon Jeffery PHIvsWAS
36Jarvis Landry CLEvsTEN
37DeSean Jackson PHIvsWAS
38Larry Fitzgerald ARIvsDET
39Michael Gallup DALvsNYG
40Marquise Goodwin SF@TB
1Travis Kelce KC@JAX
2George Kittle SF@TB
3Zach Ertz PHIvsWAS
4Evan Engram NYG@DAL
5OJ Howard TBvsSF
6Hunter Henry LACvsIND
7Jared Cook NOvsHOU
8Vance McDonald PIT@NE
9Delanie Walker TEN@CLE
10Austin Hooper ATL@MIN
11Greg Olsen CARvsLAR
12T.J. Hockenson DET@ARI
13David Njoku CLEvsTEN
14Mark Andrews BAL@MIA
15Darren Waller OAKvsDEN
Photo via: Cowboys/Facebook
1 Ravens @MIA
2 Eagles WAS
3 Seahawks CIN
4 Cowboys NYG
5 Browns TEN
6 Broncos @OAK
7 Bills @NYJ
8 Bears GB
9 Chargers IND
10 Rams @CAR
11 Jets BUF
12 Vikings ATL
13 Saints HOU
14 Chiefs @JAX
15 Lions @ARI
1Justin Tucker BAL@MIA
2Greg Zuerlein LAR@CAR
3Wil Lutz NOvsHOU
4Stephen Gostkowski NEvsPIT
5Michael Badgley LACvsIND
6Ka'imi Fairbairn HOU@NO
7Jake Elliott PHIvsWAS
8Brett Maher DALvsNYG
9Jason Myers SEAvsCIN
10Matt Prater DET@ARI
11Dan Bailey MINvsATL
12Harrison Butker KC@JAX
13Mason Crosby GB@CHI
14Robbie Gould SF@TB
15Matt Bryant ATL@MIN
In Houston, the winning standard has been set so high that anything short of World Series contention now feels like failure. And yet, the 2025 Astros find themselves at an unfamiliar crossroads—caught between the fading brilliance of past stars and the uncertain promise of what comes next.
Jose Altuve is at the center of this issue. His early struggles (-0.5 WAR) may indicate more than just a temporary slump. And when he swung at the first pitch after Lance McCullers had just endured a grueling 33-pitch inning on Sunday, it raised a bigger question: who has the influence to talk to Altuve?
The Astros’ culture has long been praised for its accountability, but who inside the clubhouse has the standing to challenge or counsel Altuve or other vets when needed? With so many veteran voices gone, there’s a growing sense that no one does—and that’s a problem. That’s why the idea of bringing back Michael Brantley—not as a player, but as a respected voice—could make some sense. Brantley was always viewed as a quiet leader, and his presence could restore some of the guidance this roster desperately needs.
Batter up?
While the Astros have built a reputation for reviving pitchers' careers, their track record with hitters is far less impressive. There are few, if any, examples of a bat joining Houston and unlocking a new level. That failure in development becomes especially stark when considering how much they’re currently leaning on homegrown youth.
Which brings us to Zach Dezenzo. The 24-year-old rookie is showing he belongs—his .737 OPS makes him one of the more productive bats in a lineup that desperately needs stability while Yordan Alvarez nurses an injury. While Victor Caratini provides the Astros with the ability to switch hit, he's hitting just .217. Dezenzo should be starting every day in left, with Yordan out. Jose Altuve, who has already played too many innings this year, should be shifted to DH duties to ease his physical burden. The Astros should go with Cam Smith in right and keep Jake Meyers in center to round out the outfield.
GM Dana Brown has made clear that he views Dezenzo as a first baseman or left fielder for the future. So why not get him in the lineup while Yordan's out and see what he can do with consistent playing time?
Of course, losing Yordan Alvarez is always going to hurt. But the numbers tell a surprising story. Yordan currently holds a -0.4 WAR, right there alongside Altuve and Christian Walker as the only Astros with negative marks. On paper, the team hasn’t lost much production. But let’s not kid ourselves—Yordan’s mere presence alters how opponents pitch to this team. The lineup without him lacks fear factor, and the margins get razor-thin.
Speaking of margins, one move that may haunt this front office is the decision to sign Christian Walker. The veteran first baseman is hitting just .205 with a .617 OPS—far below the level expected from a player earning $20 million annually through 2027. Compare that to Jon Singleton, who posted better numbers in 2024 and currently boasts an .880 OPS in Triple-A with the Mets organization. Walker's defense is strong, but it's hard to argue that justifies the price tag. Singleton might not be a Gold Glover, or anything close, but he came much cheaper and was quietly more productive with the bat.
No regrets?
There’s also a broader question looming: if fans had known that Altuve’s massive contract extension would potentially cost the team the ability to re-sign current MVP candidates Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman, would they still have supported the deal? Hindsight is cruel, but with Altuve’s decline and Tucker and Bregman thriving, it’s a fair debate. Houston might have paid for the past instead of securing its future.
Big deals on the horizon?
All eyes now turn to owner Jim Crane. This winter, Houston's payroll will have considerable room to maneuver. But will Crane commit to restocking the lineup with All-Star-caliber bats, or will his reluctance to offer long-term deals keep the Astros stuck in a holding pattern? It’s one thing to let players walk. It’s another to fail to replace them.
The Astros still have the bones of a contender, but the road back to dominance is getting steeper. The team can’t simply rely on what used to work. It’s time for difficult conversations, bold lineup changes, and a rethinking of how this organization develops—and retains—offensive talent.
We have so much more to get to. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday!
*ChatGPT assisted.
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