10 Fantasy Football scoring leaders from NFL Week 1

Catch up on anything you missed from NFL week 1 with our look at the top10 fantasy football scoring leaders from Sunday.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) was among the fantasy football scoring leaders in his return to the Colts. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL season got off to a strong start with plenty of action on Sunday. Some fantasy football owners are celebrating their first win of the season while others are searching for answers. If you had any of these fantasy football scoring leaders, you’re probably in good shape since they got off to great starts.

Each week in our fantasy football scoring leaders, you can find the top options at each of the main fantasy positions. We’ll highlight the players who went off and powered their fantasy teams to win. You want your players to be on this list and not on the fantasy football busts which will come out later today.

Make sure to check back later today too for our fantasy football sleepers who emerged out of Week 1. For all our weekly coverage make sure to drop a bookmark on our fantasy football hub so that you’re ready for Week 2. You can also check out our new start/sit tool and follow @FansidedFantasy on Twitter to help you get into the winners’ circle for next week.

The following ten players were the fantasy football scoring leaders from Week 1 based on most standard scoring systems.

Sep 11, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts tight end Dwayne Allen (83) catches the ball while Detroit Lions defensive back Rafael Bush (31) tackles him in the second quarter of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Dwayne Allen-TE-Indianapolis Colts

All of the Colts got a huge boost in fantasy football value with the return of Andrew Luck, and Dwayne Allen started his season with a solid week of production. The Colts offense wasn’t their problem against the Lions, but the Indy defense couldn’t do enough to get them a win.

Allen was re-signed this offseason while Coby Fleener headed to New Orleans as a free agent. The Colts look like they will definitely utilize Allen heavily in the passing game. He was targeted six times and hauled in four passes for 53 yards and a touchdown.

The only tight end with more fantasy points in some scoring systems was his teammate Jack Doyle who caught a pair of touchdowns. As the season progresses, he should get even more work since I don’t think Doyle will keep vulturing red zone looks as the season progresses.

Sep 11, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter (99) picks up a Tennessee Titans fumble and runs for a touchdown during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Minnesota won 25-16. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota Vikings D/ST

The Vikings lost Teddy Bridgewater in the preseason, but they didn’t let it get them down starting the season with a nice 25-16 win over the Titans. The Vikings traded for Sam Bradford, but Bradford wasn’t ready so Shaun Hill got the start this week.

With the offense staying relatively conservative, the Vikings defense brought their A-game especially in the second half. Until they allowed a touchdown in the last 30 seconds, the Vikings held the Titans scoreless in the entire second half after allowing ten points in the first half.

They picked up a pair of sacks and six tackles for loss against Tennessee while forcing three turnovers. They returned two of those turnovers for defensive touchdowns in the second half to power the Vikings to their comeback win.

The Minnesota defense as among the fantasy football scoring leaders and helped any owner who stuck with them after Bridgwater’s loss. Up next for the Vikings, though, they face a stiff test against the Packers and Panthers the next two weeks.

Sep 11, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) throws the ball against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Jameis Winston-QB-Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Famous Jameis started his sophomore season in style and his efforts earned him a spot among the fantasy football scoring leaders from this week. Winston led the Bucs to a big win on the road and put up good numbers doing so.

Winston threw four scores in Tampa’s win totaling 281 yards on 23-of-33 passing. He did throw one interception and only added three yards on the ground. Still, his totals were definitely strong enough to make him a top performer from this week.

Winston looked very comfortable in the new up-tempo Tampa attack, and he should be a very nice fringe QB 1 moving forward. However, Winston’s schedule ahead is absolutely nuts. He takes on the Cardinals, Rams, Broncos, and Panthers in the next four weeks, so he may not have numbers like this again for a while.

Sep 11, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Willie Snead (83) makes a catch while defended by Oakland Raiders defensive back Sean Smith (21) in the second quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Willie Snead-WR-New Orleans Saints

New Orleans’ offense lit up the Raiders, and Snead is the first of three Saints to make our fantasy football scoring leaders list. Snead was drastically under-drafted, and he totally went off in Week 1.

Snead caught all nine passes thrown his way by Drew Brees and racked up an impressive 172 yards and a touchdown. Snead’s touchdown was a one-yard strike on fourth-and-goal showing he has the trust of Drew Brees and the offense.

Snead is a very nice WR3 going forward, and he can definitely go off as he showed this week. The Saints are going to have to throw a lot with their defense struggles, so Snead will be a good play even though he probably won’t be over 150 yards every week.

Sep 11, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) catches a pass in front of New York Jets corner back Darrelle Revis (24) during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

A.J. Green-Cincinnati Bengals

Green started the season with a bang tearing up the Jets and Darrelle Revis as the Bengals stormed back to a memorable 23-22 win in New York. The Bengals receiver torched the Green Gang’s defense and was totally unstoppable. He would have led the way for all fantasy WR except that he didn’t get into the end zone multiple times.

Green caught a NFL-high 12 passes for a league-high 180 yards against Revis, and he did get into the end zone one time. Green was targeted 13 times in the game and is clearly the top option for Andy Dalton and the Bengals.

Next week, Green and the Bengals get a divisional matchup on the road in Pittsburgh in what should be a high-scoring shootout. Continue to deploy Green as an elite WR1 going forward with confidence.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Spencer Ware (32) is tackled by San Diego Chargers safety Dwight Lowery (20) in the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 33-27. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Spencer Ware-Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs didn’t have Jamaal Charles in Week 1, but for a “replacement” Spencer Ware just fine ultimately earning his way into our fantasy football leading scorers. Ware went off even though he didn’t get a ton of carries since the Chiefs were playing from behind for much of the game.

Ware did most of his damage as a receiver out of the backfield catching seven passes for 129 yards. He added 11 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown. Ware was surprisingly involved in the passing game and looked like he can contribute in many of different ways.

Ware may not give Charles back his full workload when Charles finally gets back from last year’s injury. Charles has been limited in practice, but he has been practicing. Ware’s future fantasy football value depends on Charles’ recovery, but for this week he was one of the best.

Sep 11, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) and wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) celebrate after a touchdown during the second quarter of a game against the Oakland Raiders at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Brandin Cooks-WR-New Orleans Saints

Cooks came into the week as a fringe WR1, but he cemented his status as an elite starter. Unfortunately, the Saints defense wasn’t so elite and the Raiders were able to come all the way back and beat New Orleans on a two-point conversion in the closing minute of the game.

Cooks did most of his damage on one highlight-reel play taking a pass 98 yards for a touchdown. He grabbed a second touchdown while hauling in six of the nine targets sent his way. Cooks ended up with 143 yards receiving and added 11 more yards on a rushing play as well.

You can start Cooks with confidence next week against the Giants, and he should be a great option at WR as long as he and Brees have to compensate for their struggling defense.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) is congratulated after scoring the winning touchdown in overtime against the San Diego Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 33-27. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Alex Smith-QB-Kansas City Chiefs

Smith wasn’t started in hardly any leagues, but he was one of the fantasy football scoring leaders of the week. He led the Chiefs charge back form way down to their division-rival Chargers throwing the ball 48 times. Normally the Chiefs run a pretty conservative attack, but they took to the air early and often as they tried to climb back in their opener.

Smith completed 34 of his 48 passes for an impressive 363 yards. He did throw an interception, but he added 15 yards on the ground and ran for the game-sealing touchdown in overtime.

Smith may not be a weekly starter in fantasy football, but when the team needed him he stepped up and delivered a big game. I still wouldn’t start him outside of two-QB setups, but he did definitely put up an impressive Week 1 which makes his fantasy owners pumped and ready for the rest of the season.

Sep 11, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) makes a throw while pressured by Oakland Raiders defensive end Jihad Ward (95) in the fourth quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Raiders won 35-34. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Drew Brees-QB-New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees started the season in style although the Saints defense got shredded by the Raiders and New Orleans opened the year with a tough loss. Brees was criticized coming into the season and some thought he would slow down coming into the season at 37 years old. He got his new deal, though, and celebrated with a huge game in Week 1.

Brees threw for 424 yards on 28-of-42 passing. He connected with Brandin Cooks on a 98-yard touchdown which was the longest play in Saints’ history. He also threw a second touchdown to Cooks and connected on two other touchdowns with Willie Snead, his second WR, and Travaris Cadet out of the backfield.

Brees clearly established he’s a top-tier QB with this performance, and he’ll be a great start next week against the Giants. Last year he and Eli both put up silly numbers in the Big Easy, and he’ll look to be in the fantasy football scoring leaders again next week as the Saints head to NYC.

Sep 11, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) looks to pass in the first half against the Detroit Lions at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Andrew Luck-QB-Indianapolis Colts

Like Drew Brees, Luck put up huge numbers but couldn’t do enough to carry his defense to a Week 1 win. The Indianapolis defense was banged up coming into the game, and they lost even more players during the game leaving them too short-handed to stop the Lions in their 39-35 loss.

Luck did all he could to get the win in his return throwing for 385 yards and four touchdowns as he led the Colts comeback which had them up a point before the Lions’ final drive. Luck added 21 yards on his three rushing attempts and also added a two-point conversion.

Going forward, there’s no question that Luck should be able to put up great numbers as he tries to compensate for the Colts defensive struggles. Next week, he’ll head to Denver in a tough matchup, but after that he has the Chargers, Jaguars, and Bears which should be a productive stretch for Luck.