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 & Stream of the Week: Eno Benjamin
• Fade of the Week: Alex Collins

 

Wide Receivers

• Start & Stream of the Week: Marcus Johnson 
• Fade of the Week: Darnell Mooney

 

Quarterbacks

• Start & Stream of the Week: Cam Newton
• Fade of the Week: Tua Tagovailoa

 

Tight Ends

• Start & Stream of the Week: Ricky Seals-Jones
• Fade of the Week: Austin Hooper

 

D/STs

• Start & Stream of the Week: Dallas Cowboys
• Fade of the Week: Philadelphia Eagles

 

Player Search, Find

Running Back

• Najee Harris A Must Start
• James Conner A Must Start
• Aaron Jones A Must Start
• Ezekiel Elliott A Must Start
• Nick Chubb A Must Start
• Christian McCaffrey B+ Must Start
• Dalvin Cook B+ Must Start
• Jonathan Taylor B+ Must Start
• Joe Mixon B Strong Start
• James Robinson B Strong Start
• Austin Ekeler B Strong Start
• Leonard Fournette B Strong Start
• D'Andre Swift B Strong Start
• AJ Dillon B Strong Start
• David Montgomery B Strong Start
• Myles Gaskin C+ Start
• Saquon Barkley C+ Start
• Darrel Williams C+ Start
• Josh Jacobs C+ Start
• Michael Carter C+ Start
• Elijah Mitchell C Start
• Antonio Gibson C+ Start
• Mark Ingram II C Start
• Clyde Edwards-Helaire C Start
• Kenyan Drake D+ Flex
• DeVonta Freeman D Flex
• Jordan Howard D+ Flex
• Zack Moss D+ Flex
• Boston Scott D+ Flex
• D'Ernest Johnson D+ Flex
• Eno Benjamin D+ Flex
• D'Onta Foreman D+ Flex
• Alex Collins D Flex
• J.D. McKissic D Flex
• Jeff Wilson Jr. D Flex
• Ty Johnson D Flex
• Devin Singletary F Desperation
• Tony Pollard F Desperation
• Adrian Peterson F Desperation
• Kenneth Gainwell F Desperation
• Jeremy McNichols F Desperation
• Nyheim Hines F Desperation
• Jamaal Williams F Desperation
• David Johnson F Desperation
• Giovani Bernard F Hail Mary
• Ronald Jones II F Hail Mary
• Carlos Hyde F Hail Mary
• Chuba Hubbard F Hail Mary
• Alexander Mattison F Hail Mary
• Salvon Ahmed F Hail Mary
• Devontae Booker F Hail Mary

Wide Receiver

• Tyreek Hill A+ Must Start
• Davante Adams A+ Must Start
• Deebo Samuel A Must Start
• Stefon Diggs B+ Must Start
• A.J. Brown B+ Must Start
• Keenan Allen B+ Must Start
• CeeDee Lamb B+ Must Start
• Amari Cooper B+ Must Start
• Mike Evans B+ Must Start
• D.K. Metcalf B+ Must Start
• Marquise Brown OUT for Week 11
• Justin Jefferson B Strong Start
• D.J. Moore B Strong Start
• Mike Williams B Strong Start
• Adam Thielen B Strong Start
• Chris Godwin C+ Strong Start
• Ja'Marr Chase C+ Strong Start
• Tyler Lockett C+ Strong Start
• Brandin Cooks C+ Strong Start
• Diontae Johnson C+ Strong Start
• DeVonta Smith C+ Strong Start
• Terry McLaurin C+ Strong Start
• Corey Davis C+ Strong Start
• Michael Pittman Jr. C Start
• Emmanuel Sanders C Start
• Jaylen Waddle D+ Start
• Tee Higgins D+ Start
• Marvin Jones Jr. D+ Start
• Rashod Bateman D+ Start
• Cole Beasley D+ Start
• A.J. Green D+ Start
• Hunter Renfrow D+ Start
• Christian Kirk D+ Start
• Elijah Moore D+ Start
• Kadarius Toney D+ Start
• Kenny Golladay D Flex
• Jarvis Landry D Flex
• Mecole Hardman D Flex
• Brandon Aiyuk D Flex
• Michael Gallup D Flex
• Bryan Edwards D Flex
• Tyler Boyd D Flex
• Robby Anderson D Flex
• Jamison Crowder D Flex
• Donovan Peoples-Jones D Flex
• Marcus Johnson F Desperation
• Allen Robinson F Desperation
• Jamal Agnew F Desperation
• T.Y. Hilton F Desperation
• Marquez Callaway F Desperation
• Deonte Harris F Desperation
• Laviska Shenault Jr. F Desperation
• Randall Cobb F Desperation
• Gabriel Davis F Desperation
• Marquez Valdes-Scantling F Desperation
• Darnell Mooney F Desperation
• K.J. Osborn F Hail Mary
• Tre'Quan Smith F Hail Mary
• Allen Lazard F Hail Mary
• Quez Watkins F Hail Mary
• Rondale Moore F Hail Mary
• Tyler Johnson F Hail Mary
• Jalen Reagor F Hail Mary
• Kalif Raymond F Hail Mary
• James Washington F Hail Mary
• Amon-Ra St. Brown F Hail Mary
• DeSean Jackson F Hail Mary
• Zach Pascal F Hail Mary

Quarterback

• Patrick Mahomes II A+ Must Start
• Josh Allen A+ Must Start
• Dak Prescott A+ Must Start
• Lamar Jackson B+ Must Start
• Kyler Murray B+ Must Start
• Tom Brady B+ Strong Start
• Justin Herbert B+ Strong Start
• Aaron Rodgers B+ Strong Start
• Russell Wilson B Strong Start
• Cam Newton B Strong Start
• Jalen Hurts B Strong Start
• Joe Burrow B Strong Start
• Ryan Tannehill C+ Start
• Daniel Jones C Start
• Kirk Cousins C Start
• Derek Carr C Start
• Trevor Lawrence D+ 2QB/Superflex
• Taylor Heinicke D+ 2QB/Superflex
• Justin Fields D+ 2QB/Superflex
• Carson Wentz D+ 2QB/Superflex
• Baker Mayfield D+ 2QB/Superflex
• Tua Tagovailoa D+ 2QB/Superflex
• Tyrod Taylor D+ 2QB/Superflex
• Jimmy Garoppolo D Hail Mary
• Joe Flacco D Hail Mary
• Trevor Siemian D Hail Mary
• Mason Rudolph F Hail Mary
• Tim Boyle F Hail Mary
• Taysom Hill F Hail Mary

Tight End

• Travis Kelce A+ Must Start
• Darren Waller A+ Must Start
• Mark Andrews A Must Start
• Pat Freiermuth A Must Start
• Dawson Knox B+ Strong Start
• George Kittle B+ Strong Start
• Mike Gesicki B Strong Start
• Rob Gronkowski B Strong Start
• T.J. Hockenson B Strong Start
• Dallas Goedert C+ Start
• Zach Ertz C+ Start
• Adam Trautman C+ Start
• Dalton Schultz C+ Start
• Evan Engram C Start
• C.J. Uzomah C Start
• Ricky Seals-Jones D+ Start
• Cole Kmet D+ Desperation
• Tyler Conklin D+ Desperation
• Dan Arnold F Desperation
• Jared Cook F Desperation
• Gerald Everett F Desperation
• Anthony Firkser F Desperation
• Mo Alie-Cox F Desperation
• O.J. Howard F Hail Mary
• David Njoku F Hail Mary
• Donald Parham Jr. F Hail Mary
• Austin Hooper F Hail Mary
• Ryan Griffin F Hail Mary
• Tommy Tremble F Hail Mary
• Jack Doyle F Hail Mary

D/ST

• Buffalo Bills A+ Must Start
• Cleveland Browns A Must Start
• Carolina Panthers B+ Must Start
• Arizona Cardinals B Must Start
• Miami Dolphins B Must Start
• Los Angeles Chargers C+ Strong Start
• Tennessee Titans C Strong Start
• Washington Football Team C Strong Start
• Green Bay Packers C Strong Start
• San Francisco 49ers C Strong Start
• Cincinnati Bengals D+ Start
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers D+ Start
• Dallas Cowboys D+ Start
• Las Vegas Raiders D+ Start
• Pittsburgh Steelers D+ Start
• Baltimore Ravens D+ Desperation
• Chicago Bears D+ Desperation
• New Orleans Saints D+ Desperation
• Minnesota Vikings D Desperation
• New York Jets F Desperation
• Indianapolis Colts F Desperation
• Houston Texans F Desperation
• Philadelphia Eagles F Hail Mary
• Seattle Seahawks F Hail Mary
• New York Giants F Hail Mary
• Detroit Lions F Hail Mary
• Jacksonville Jaguars F Hail Mary
• Kansas City Chiefs F Hail Mary

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