Week 1 – 2013 Quarterbacks (QB) Fantasy Football Rankings

While spring fantasy football magazines were quick to promote Colin Kaepernick as a hot name to draft this summer an Achilles injury to star receiver Michael Crabtree put those talks quickly on ice.

While NFL lines at Top Sportsbook will likely tilt favorably to the 49ers in most weeks without Crabtree, fantasy owners had to be concerned about this chances of putting up top ten numbers this year.

Until the 49ers third game in the preseason against the Vikings anyway.

In that game fantasy owners began to see what rookie receiver Quinton Patton was capable of in the slot and we also noticed No.2 receiver Marlon Moore looked like a player who would contribute to the offense.

I’m not sure I could say with confidence, any receiver was ready to make an impact before that game other than Anquan Boldin and of course tight end Vernon Davis.

In the fourth preseason game, Coach Jim Harbaugh decided to have his first-team offense play (with the exception of Frank Gore) and Kaepernick responded with a quick drive for a touchdown that featured both Moore and Patton on the long touchdown reception.

By the end of August Kaepernick was moving back up fantasy boards as a top eight option at this position.

New Found Struggles or Same Old Story?

Week one will be a big test for Kaepernick as defensive coordinator Dom Capers has had an entire offseason to get ready for him, after he embarrassed his defense last January in the playoffs. I’m sure Capers will take a chapter out of the Ravens defensive game plan in the Super Bowl, and that is to attack Kaepernick at all times.

Because of the success Kaepernick showed us at the end of the preseason and his success against the Packers last January, he’s a must start for most fantasy owners this week.

Week 1 Rankings – QB | RB | WR | TE | K | D/ST |