What we learned from Week 1
Photo Credit: elitesportsny.com
Bills vs Rams
For more detailed views from Bills vs Rams click here
Eagles vs Lions
1) Jalen Hurts is going to be a good fantasy QB
Jalen Hurts came into this season hyped up for fantasy, and lived up to it. Hurts had an average day passing, throwing for 243 yards. He also added value as a rusher, tacking on 90 yards and a touchdown. Him and AJ Brown looked like they will be a stelar QB-WR tandem.
2) De'Andre Swift is unleashed
Swift was one of my personal favorites this season, and boy did he show off. He accounted for 170 total yards and a touchdown in a high scoring affair with Philly. Swift fell to the second round in most leagues, and that is looking like a steal. One concern with Swift is he did lose the goal line touch to Jamaal Williams, but Swift has so much value outside of TD dependency.
3) AJ Brown is WR1
Most are not surprised by this fact: AJ Brown is very good at football. AJ Brown exploded for 155 yards on 10 rec. That volume will continue to produce as Jalen Hurts continues to trust his explosive threat. Philly got a steal grabbing him from Tennessee, and fantasy managers got a steal drafting Brown where they did.
49ers vs Bears
1) Trey Lance's underwhelming performance is overblown
Trey Lance's first run as the starter in San Fran was dismal, with him managing only 11 fantasy points and the 49ers offense put up only 10 points in a loss to Chicago. Not the best start, but it was not a great sample to judge him with. He is still 22 years old with very limited starting experiences, so he may not be an immediate threat to defenses. Despite a dismal day he still managed to stay alive with some rushing value. The rainy weather was a big factor in a lot of his inaccuracy, limiting how much he could move down the field. Lance is going to be subject to criticism, but give him another week to prove his worth.
2) Khalil Herbert might steal David Montgomery's job
In a game that was run dominant, David Montgomery was a non factor. He led the team in carries, yet Herbert bested him in yardage. The rain played a factor in Montgomery's 1.5 YPC, but Herbert showed that he is more efficient than him. Montgomery is still a fantasy option due to his high volume, but if Herbert continues to impress, we could see a more committee-based approach.
3) Deebo Samuel will return to a "Wide-Back" position
Eli Mitchell will be out for a couple weeks, which should pave the way for the depth at RB to showcase the committee approach. We know that Shanahan is not afraid to give the ball to Samuel in any way, shape, or form. Samuel will get plenty of touches as a back and receiver and will likely jump in fantasy rankings going into Week 2.
Steelers vs Bengals
1) Ja'Marr Chase shines despite Burrow's struggles
Ja'Marr Chase looked to add onto his stellar rookie campaign by putting up 10 receptions for 129 yards. Joe Burrow struggled to get comfortable in the pocket with constant pressure by a stellar Steelers pass rush matched by a game and a half by Minkah Fitzpatrick. Chase was the favorite receiver by far with Higgens out and accumulated 16 targets in the game. Chase will not slow down and will continue to see a high amount of volume, especially if Higgens is sidelined.
2) Dionte Johnson is going to get his targets
DJ was coming off a shoulder injury, but that did not hold him back. He received 12 targets, one of which was one of the most insane catches not talked about in a win against Cincy. Trubisky looked solid as a passer and clearly trusted Johnson in the crunch time. Johnson did not receive a huge amount of yardage, but remains a target hog. Johnson will get more yards and touchdowns as Trubisky gets more comfortable and the offense improves throughout the season.
3) The Bengals offensive line still is a concern
Joe Burrow struggled against the Steelers dominant defensive line. Burrow had no time to deliver accurate passes which resulted in 4 INTs and a fumble. Despite this, Burrow managed to rank 6th in fantasy points this week. The pass blocking is still a concern for fantasy managers, but at least we know that Burrow can overcome it and remain fantasy relevant.
Patriots vs Dolphins
1) Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill can coexist
Both Waddle and Hill put up solid number against the Patriots, both managing to fall within the top 30 fantasy WR's. Waddle edged out Hill in the game, despite Hill receiving a higher target share, due to a touchdown by Waddle. It seems as if Tua trust both of them, so I would expect both of them to remain top tier WR options.
2) Mac Jones stock is plummeting
Mac Jones did not look good. He ranked 30th among QBs in fantasy points against Miami, despite having several opportunities to make plays. With other fantasy QBs that have more upside available, I would cut ties with Jones sooner rather than later.
3) Chase Edmonds receiving value is going to keep him on the field
Edmonds was not dominant, but as long as he remains a top receiver out the RB group he will edge them out. Raheem Mostert did some good things, but it was clear Edmonds will be the RB1 for the Fins. Edmonds ranked 36th among RBs, but with more opportunities later this year, he may see himself be a high end RB3 value.
Browns vs Panthers
1) CMC's touches are perfect for fantasy managers
CMC was not as dominant as we have seen him in the past, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. CMC has struggled with staying on the field, so limiting his early work is a good note for fantasy managers. As long as he can stay on the field, 14 touches a game will be safe. CMC is a skilled enough athlete to make the most with each touch, and remains the top TD option for Carolina. I beg Carolina to make sure CMC stays healthy until fantasy players.
2) Amari Cooper is not the WR1
With Brissett, the Browns offense was fine, showing to remain dominant in the run game. For Amari Cooper owners, though, it showed he will not be a consistent week to week fantasy options. I do not see Cooper's situation improving throughout the season, even when Watson comes back.
3) Robbie Anderson could see a fantasy comeback
Robbie Anderson showed that he still has fantasy value when he blew up for 5 receptions, 104 yards, and a touchdown. I do not expect Anderson to maintain that level of play throughout the season, but he could provide some matchup based value. With a lot of waiver wire attention being directed towards Curtis Samual, Jarvis Landry, and Julio Jones, it may be wise to snag him while most people wait another week.
Colts vs Texans
1) Jonathon Taylor is not slowing down
JT is the Colts offense and that is not going to change. He was dominant and anyone that drafted him with the 1st pick made a great decision. He had 31 attempts against the Texans, and came away with 161 yards. He also received 7 targets in the game as a nice addition to his already dominant rusher status. Barring injury, Jonathon Taylor will continue to see a high amount of volume
2) Dameon Pierce is not the workhorse back
The managers that drafted Pierce as a RB2 may have jumped on the hype train way too early. Rex Burkhead was the lead back, and if the Texans attempt to try and stay competitive that will not change. It would be better if most managers stash Pierce for now.
3) Michael Pittman Jr is off to a hot start
Anyone that jumped on Pittman early is celebrating that pick. Pittman exploded despite an underwhelming game from Matty Ice. He was targeted13 times and pulled in 9 of those for 121 yards and a touchdown. He is the clear WR1 in the offense, and will continue to see a high target share going forward.
Saints vs Falcons
1) Taysom Hill is still earning a paycheck
Taysom Hill continues to dominate as a Swiss army knife by becoming the 3rd highest scoring TE and rushing for 81 yards. There is no way in any world where Hill maintains this on a week to week basis, but with the lack of quality TE's, Hill will be a valuable pickup.
2) Experts were wrong about Cordarelle Patterson
Everyone said CP would not be able to repeat his 2021 season. So he comes into 2022 and scored the 4th most fantasy points. He rushed for 120 yards and caught 3 passes for 16 yards. It appears as if the Falcons will continue to utilize his special skillsets, and fantasy managers may have gotten an insane steal at his ADP.
3) Michael Thomas looks good, but not 2019 good
MT looked impressive in his return, catching 5 passes for 57 yards and 2 TDs. MT will be very valuable in most PPR leagues, but with a crowded group of WR's, his yardage may not be impressive. If he is healthy, he will be a high end WR2, that will border WR1 territory week to week
Ravens vs Jets
1) Breece Hall will not receive a heavy workload
Hall was out-touched by Micheal Carter 17-10, and despite showing some flashes, it looks as if Carter will be the lead back. Carter made the most of it totaling 100 yards. Hall still has a whole season to steal the job, but as of now, he might be better left stashed.
2) Rashod Bateman will compete with Duvernay
Considering he was only targeted 4 times, Devin Duvernay made an impact in the game. He reeled in all his targets for 54 yards and two touchdowns. While Duvernay may not be a viable consistent fantasy option, it is clear that he is the 3rd pass catcher in the offense, and may steal some looks away from Bateman. Bateman led the team in receiving, even though he only had 2 catches. Bateman only had 5 targets, which is a concern for fantasy owners as they already are against the Ravens run heavy game script. Bateman made the most of his catches though, so he will remain in the WR2-3 range.
3) Jets are not afraid to let Flacco sling it
Do not read this wrong, Flacco was not anything overly impressive this game. This just is saying the Jets are allowing him to throw at will. He threw almost 60 passes this game, most of them being short passes. He threw for over 300 yards and a touchdown in garbage time, and the single interception was not fully on him. He is not a relevant fantasy option at the moment, but his amount of passing attempts are a hopeful sign for those with any of the Jets receivers.
Jaguars vs Commanders
1) Antonio Gibson should be the RB1 in Washington
While it seems overall faith in Gibson is still low, Gibson made the most of all his opportunities against the Jaguars. He carried the ball for 58 yards on 14 carries, and caught 7 catches for 72 yards. He usually has his receptions stolen by JD McKissic, so it is a very good sign that he was a big factor with Carson Wentz. it is unlikely that Gibson remains consistent with Wentz at the helm, but it is an improvement from last season. Until Brian Robinson returns healthy, Gibson is a RB2.
2) Travis Etienne looked explosive, but James Robinson lead the group
Not discrediting Etienne's performance at all, but Robinson was impressive. Coming on an injury, he immediately returned to form, and ranked 7th in fantasy RBs. He is the main back in the red zone and is likely to stay the lead back.
3) Curtis Samual earned a lot of looks
Similar to what we saw in Caroline with Rivera, Samual will earn a lot of touches. He had 11 targets and 4 carries. McLaurin and Dotson will steal some targets, but he remains big in opportunities. He asserted himself as an offensive weapon and will likely see good volume throughout the season.
Packers vs Vikings
1) Aaron Rodgers needs some help
The Packers WR's were not good. Flat out. Even with Lazard coming back soon, Rodgers needs some help. His most talented weapons are his RB's, who will both see high volume this year. Unless the Packers WR's turn things around, Rodgers will struggle to remain a high end fantasy QB
2) Justin Jefferson may be the highest scoring WR this year
JJ was dominant against the division rival Packers. He clearly benefited from a new offensive scheme, and will continue this trend week in and week out. It is not unlikely, considering Mathew Stafford's early struggles, that JJ edges out Kupp in fantasy scoring. JJ was a stellar pick this year and will be a league winner.
3) AJ Dillon and Aaron Jones are equals
Both will be high end RB2's, borderline RB1's every week. Dillon and Jones are both extremely talented and will receive a lot of volume. Dillon will likely see more TD's due to a bigger frame in the red zone, but both have an insane amount of value. Do not let the low scoring Packers week 1 offense scare you from them. It would be a tough decision to bench either of them going forward.
Giants vs Titans
1) Saquan is back
Saquan fell in most drafts, but with a fully healthy offseason, he came in swinging. He was the highest scoring RB and is the focal point of the Giants offense. It is not too early to say that Saquan enters a weekly RB1 range.
2) Titans receivers will provide little fantasy value
As expected, Henry is the man for the Titans. WR's Robert Woods and Treylon Burks provided little fantasy value in the game, and probably will not be consistent options this year. If you are stashing a Titans WR, i would start considering waiver options.
3) Kadarius Toney snap share is a huge concern
Toney was poised for a breakout, but saw only 7 snaps. He was fully healthy, so this is likely from an absent preseason. This is not a good sign for managers holding him for later. If his snap share remains low, it might be time to cut ties with Toney.
Raiders vs Chargers
1) Devante Adams does not need Aaron Rodgers to succeed
Adams was fantastic in his first game as a Raider. He received an insane 17 targets and pulled in 10 for 141 yards. He will see a high amount of targets all season long, and will be one of the premier fantasy WR's. Derek Carr was not impressive, yet Adams still made an impact on the game.
2) Herbert is really good
Keenan Allen will hopefully be back in week 3, which should be a good sign for the Chargers, but regardless Herbert is going to ball. Mike Williams was a non-factor this game, and Herbert still was driving. The offense was contained by a tough Raiders defense, yet still came away with a win. Herbert is in a tier with Mahomes and Allen when it comes to fantasy QB's, and will likely stay for a long time.
3) Darren Waller will not regress with Adams
Many thought Waller would see a big hit, yet the athletic tight end pulled in 4 catches for 79 yards in the loss to LA. The guy who took the biggest hit was Hunter Renfrow, who will likely move to a TD dependent option in fantasy. For Waller owners, I would expect him to remain inside the top 10 TE's every week.
Chiefs vs Cardinals
1) Patrick Mahomes is great with or without Tyreek Hill
After being pushed aside this offseason, Pat Mahomes showed that the Chiefs still have an electric offense. Mahomes led the Chiefs to a dominant win against the Cards, throwing 5 touchdowns along the way. He spread the ball around effortlessly, and will continue to remain locked in as a QB1.
2) Hollywood Brown saved fantasy managers with a touchdown
Overall, Hollywood was quiet in his first game, but far from the hype he received this offseason. Similar to Baltimore, Brown has some holes in his game, but remained a solid threat deep with Murray. Brown saved fantasy owners who took a risk starting him by getting a late TD. Luckily for Brown owners, he remains in a good situation with Hopkins out and Moore working his way back to the field.
3) Chiefs WR's will depend on the week
Outside of Travis Kelce, there is no clearcut WR. Juju Smith-Schuster, Mecole Hardman, and MVS all saw solid production and one could only guess which one will lead the pack each week. Luckily for fantasy owners Patrick Mahomes is good enough to keep them all relevant, but none of them will likely maintain a consistent fantasy performance throughout the season.
Buccaneers vs Cowboys
1) Godwin leaving the game is not a great sign for managers
Godwin cannot stay on the field. It is not uncommon for hamstring injuries coming off an ACL tear, but it is still alarming for managers to see him leave the game. He will likely be sidelined a few weeks, but when he returns he should see solid volume. Mike Evans still owns the red zone, and Julio flashed in his chances. With injury history and other mouths to feed, there is a lot of concern for Godwin this season.
2) Cowboys need to trade for a QB
Cooper Rush will not keep the cowboys WR's alive in fantasy. I would expect CeeDee Lamb to take a solid hit in numbers, which is disappointing for managers who expected a fantastic season. Dak avoided IR, so he could be back soon to save the season, but until then I pray that the Cowboys explore other options (maybe Jimmy G or Mason Rudolph).
3) Lenny puts weight concerns to rest
All Fournette heard about all season was his weight. He turned that into a 127 rushing yards week 1, and looked to be the main aspect of the Bucs offense. For those who grabbed Fournette after he fell, I would continue to expect him to receive a lot of volume with Bucs WR's struggling to remain on the field.
Broncos vs Seahawks
1) Javonte Williams will shake Melvin Gordon off at some point this season
Javonte Williams passed the eye test. He would have walked away with the RB1 role if he would have not fumbled on the 1. He will get more chances at touchdowns later in the season, and will receive a lot of targets this year. His 12 targets will likely regress, but his explosiveness off the catch will likely separate him from Gordon at some point this year.
2) Despite a solid game from Geno, Seattle WR's are not going to be collectively great
Geno Smith was solid in the win against Denver. That being said, both DK and Lockett fell outside the top 50 fantasy scoring options. DK will likely remain a PPR option as he will receive a lot of short targets, but both remain difficult to start in most formats.
3) Jeudy and Sutton can both be solid fantasy options
On the flip side, the Broncos WR's both found themselves in the top 40 options, and will both be viable options, especially when the Broncos can finish off drives. Russ Wilson gives more vertical threat options and will continue to improve as he builds more chemistry and rhythm with his WR's.