Fantasy Fallout
What Week 1 Taught Us  |
| Easy Ed's kid is poised for big numbers this year. |
By: Evan Slade AKA Dusty Rhodes Stomach Splotch
Fantasy football is a fickle friend, one good week and you
feel like a football genius, breathing the same rarified air as other great
football minds that came before you, thought of in the same pantheon of
Belichick, Walsh and Lombardi. One bad
week and you’re a dumb stupid idiot! With no business playing pretend general
manager for a virtual professional football team. Week one is particularly judgemental on a
personal level. With recently drafted
players, your newborn team stands elevated, with that fresh-out-of-the-box, new
toy smell. Hope, joy and admiration
surrounds each one of your handpicked jocks right up until the opening
kickoff. With the least amount of injury
wear and tear and no bye week to force your hand on unwanted roster moves, week
1 is the purest chance you have to flex your general management and coaching
muscles and make a first impression on your league.
If it goes well you get clout, props and trade
offers galore. If it goes bad then you
lose confidence and get ridiculed on message boards for a few days, which as
you all know if a fate worse than death.
The truth is that one bad game won’t dictate your whole
season and your luck can change. So,
chin up buckaroo. Let’s look at what
happened around the NFL last week, process it and learn from it so we can come
back next week with a mended ego and a shrewd game plan.
WTF Happened Around the NFL Week 1:
 |
| The Bears Offense was stuck in the mud |
Green Bay VS Chicago:
(Final Score: Packers 10 – Bears 3)
The NFL’s kickoff classic on Thursday night ended up being
more like kickoff New Coke. The NFL’s
100th season opener featured two of the leagues’ oldest teams, the
Packers and the Bears, complete with a box score straight out of 1919. For fantasy fans there really wasn’t much to
cheer about. Aaron Rodgers looked below
average, Mitch Trubisky looked awful and if you started any player on either
team (other than a defense) you pissed away a starting roster spot and had two
days to stew about it before Sunday.
Bears notes: their defense looked like the same must start
unit they were a year ago and if Allen Robinson can stay healthy, he’ll be a
solid WR2 or flex play. If you’re in a
PPR league then Tarik Cohen will give you value but Matt Nagy proved yet again,
that he is way too uncommitted to the run to get any consistent value from any
of the Bears’ RBs on the ground.
Packers notes: the Pack’s D looked great forcing 5 sacks and
an interception. They were facing the
Bears offense however so I wouldn’t go making them my week in and out starter,
but they are definitely worth rostering as your bye week option or defensive
insurance policy. Aaron Rodgers will still have great weeks but he’s not the
MVP candidate he used to be, I’d consider him a matchup starter based on your
options. Davante Adams is too talented
to not play but curb the weekly 20+ point expectations you had for him coming
in to the season. Aaron Jones will give
you RB3 or flex starter value but I’d feel more comfortable with him on the
bench unless the matchup was advantageous. Jimmy Graham rose from the dead to
catch the only TD in this game. He’s worth
a waiver wire pick up but like most tight ends he’ll be TD dependent.
San Francisco VS
Tampa Bay: (Final Score: 49ers 31 – Buccaneers 17)
This one was an ugly
football game by two also-rans, it did however bear some fantasy fruit.
49ers notes: Jimmy G isn’t a fantasy starter, neither are
any of the 49er running backs. TE George
Kittle is an All-pro talent and remains the only 49er receiving target worth playing
in fantasy football. The 9ers D looked great today but that’s easy to do when
Jameis Winston gift wraps 2 pick sixes and 3 total interceptions for you. They have talent on the defensive side of the
ball but not all tests will be this easy, roster them at your own discretion.
Buccaneers Notes: Winston is showing that he shouldn’t be
your fantasy QB, Hell, he’s showing that he shouldn’t be Bruce Arians real
football QB. Move him to your bench or cut
and run now, streaky QB play is plentiful on the waiver wire. Ronald Jones had a nice game and showed his
not the same bum he was last year. He
has an RB2 ceiling but he’s trending up and should outpace Peyton Barber for
carries all year. Mike Evans laid an egg
Sunday but is too talented not to start week in and out. This 2 catch no TD game is likely the
exception and not the norm for 6’5” 26-year-old receiver. 2019 OJ Howard will be the same boom or bust
player he was in 2018, his talent dictates you start him weekly but his up and
down play and timeshare situation with Cameron Brate will give you fits.
New York Giants VS
Dallas: (Final Score: Cowboys 35 – Giants 17)
2 things got exposed in Dallas, the Giants defense and Pat
Shurmur’s suspicious ass play calling. Exhibit
A: having a stud running back average 10.9 yards per carry in the game and only
giving him 11 carries. Exhibit B: Late in the 4th quarter, 4th
and 1 from the Dallas 7 yard line, Shurmur calls a bootleg to the short side of
the field with a QB who uses an hourglass to time his 40. The WR’s don’t get open, Manning can’t
scramble for the yard and a sack/fumble/turnover happens. The defense
rests. No literally, the Giants defense
slept walked through this whole game.
Giants Notes: If you own Saquon Barkley or Evan Engram then
start them every week. If you own any
other Giant player, then move them to your bench.
Cowboys Notes: Dak
Prescott played like the big money QB he’s soon to be, 405 yards and 4 TDs is
about as good as it gets. Sure not every
week will be this easy but don’t be afraid of rolling with Dak this
season. Zeek and Cooper are must starts
if you have them and even Michael Gallup showed he can put up numbers (158
yards on 7 grabs) making him a waiver wire target and flex option based on
opponent. Jason Witten Scored a TD in
his return to football which is a nice story, but his 3 catches for 15 yards
was otherwise uninspiring for fantasy owners, keep him on the bench if you
sentimentally drafted him.
 |
| Dorf on Football Earned the tie |
Detroit VS Arizona:
(Final Score: Lions 27 – Cardinals 27)
Can you believe the Lions blew that 4th quarter
lead??!!
Lions Notes: Stafford had a great fantasy stat line in week
1 (385 yards passing 3 TDs 0 INT and 22 rush yards to boot which got him over
the 400 total yard mark). Is this the
year Stafford becomes fantasy relevant again? One week is too small a sample
size to know for sure but snagging him off the waiver wire and stashing him on
the bench until you know for sure couldn’t hurt. Also T.J. Hockenson looks like a stud tight
end with 131 yards and TD in his rookie debut.
Slide him in to your starting TE slot if you haven’t already.
Cardinals Notes: The more things change the more they stay
the same. The only players on the
Cardinals worth starting are David Johnson who can still put up RB1 numbers (137
scrimmage yards and a receiving TD today) and the ageless Larry Fitzgerald who
had 8 grabs for 113 yards and 1 TD.
Cincinnati VS
Seattle: (Final Score: Seahawks 21 – Bengals 20)
This back and forth tilt ended up being the surprise treat
of the week.
Seahawks Notes: Chris Carson is the clear starting RB for
Seattle and proved he can be a factor catching passes too (6 grabs and a
receiving TD to go along with his rushing score). Russell Wilson should be a
match up play going forward. No matter
how much money the Seahawks pay him he’s never going to be a 300 yard a game
passer. If he finishes the year with
3,500 yards and 30 passing TDs then he’s had a good year by his standards, if
you’re expecting more you’re probably going to be disappointed.
Bengals Notes: Who knew!? Andy Dalton may have some fantasy
value this year after all. He put up
400+ yards and a couple TDs. Who Knew
again!? John Ross made a conspicuous visit from bustville, hauling in 7 grabs
for 158 yards and 2 TDs. This could just
be an early season blip but that wont stop everyone in your league from putting
a free agent bid on him as he becomes the hottest thing on the waiver wire
ahead of week 2.
LA Chargers VS
Indianapolis: (Final Score: Chargers 30 – Colts 24) (OT)
Overtime, the fantasy football friend you forgot about.
Colts Notes: No Luck, no problem. TY Hilton still rewarded points with 2
receiving TDs. Meanwhile Marlon Mack put
up 1990’s era RB numbers with 25 carries, 174 rushing yards and a TD. Both guys remain must starts if you have
them.
Chargers Notes: Nothing we didn’t expect. Rivers will be solid all year, Keenan Allen
remains the most underrated WR#1 in fantasy football and Austin Ekeler will be
your fantasy team’s MVP until week 7 or 8 when Melvin Gordon ends his holdout
and the Chargers coaches decide to go committee styles rendering them both
useless to you. Isn’t fantasy football grand?
 |
| Pay-jax a bitch for the Skins' |
Washington VS
Philadelphia: (Final Score: Eagles 32 – Redskins 27)
This was another exciting game that snuck up on us and was
chalked full of surprises.
Redskin Notes: Case Keenum had a great day with 380 yards
and 3 TDs catapulting himself in to fantasy relevance. Terry McLaurin, the 3rd
round pick out of Ohio State is a dawg!
He caught 5 balls for 125 yards and a TD. Even if he doesn’t do that every week he’s
likely to lead his team in targets this year and the fact that he’s a rookie
makes him an very attractive waiver wire addition in keeper leagues. Derrius Guice disappointed with a lousy 1.8
yard per carry average before suffering a knee injury that is reportedly going
to linger and cost him playing time. This
could lead the ‘one more ride’ storyline that Adrian Peterson fantasy owners
are hoping for.
Eagles Notes: DeSean Jackson should have been in your
starting lineup against his old team, but he wasn’t because either that broker
finger scared you or you really didn’t think he had anything left in the
tank. Either way you were wrong, and it
cost you. He’ll always be a boom or bust
play, but when he booms, its sonic. Wentz
was good and can start for your team. Oh, and Doug Pederson once again doesn’t
want you to own any Philly running backs in fantasy football and will continue
to game plan against your interests. Until the committee gets sorted out, leave
your Eagles RB on the bench. It may
never get sorted out.
LA Rams VS Carolina:
(Final Score: Rams 30 – Panthers 27)
This felt like a ‘knock the rust off’ game for both teams
but they picked up steam in the 2nd half.
Rams Notes: The passing game was trash but it will improve
so don’t panic on Goff or whichever Ram WR you own. Todd Gurley had 97 yards on just 14 carries
which was impressive, but you can just tell that Sean McVay is going to have
him on a pitch count all regular season making a repeat of his monster 2018
fantasy season unlikely. He’s still a must start player. Malcolm Brown will
vulture TDs all season long like he did in week one (2 TDs) which gives him
flex player value. Start their Defense also if you have them.
Panthers Notes: Christian McCaffrey showed why he was a top
3 pick in most leagues. He had 128
rushing yards and 2 TDs combined with 10 catches for an extra 81 receiving
yards. If you own him in a PPR league
then this season is on pace to be historically great for him. Leave Cam Newton out of your fantasy plans
until he proves he’s 100% healthy.
 |
| Big Back Breaks Browns |
Tennessee VS Cleveland:
(Final Score: Titans 43 – Browns 13)
The Browns hype train is delayed for at least another week
thanks to the Titans.
Browns Notes: Mayfield looked lost and none of the high-profile
skill players produced in week 1. It’s
too early to pull the plug on the whole thing and obviously Nick Chubb and
Beckham Jr. are must starts but Mayfield, Landry and David Njoku are play at
your own peril and if you don’t have better options than them this early in the
year then either you play in a very, very deep league or your team is in for a
long season.
Titans Notes: Marcus Mariota had 3 passing TDs but one week
doesn’t make up for years of inconsistency and health concerns so I’d leave him
on the scrap heap or at least on your bench until he turns performances like
that into his trend. Derek Henry picked
up right where he left off at the end of last year, looking like a beast! He had 84 rushing yards and a TD and also
took a screen pass 75 yards to the crib to turn his fantasy day from decent to deluxe.
Delanie Walker also proved he’s back to
being one of the better TE’s in football. Their defense also played themselves
into a roster spot in the fantasy world.
Kansas City VS
Jacksonville: (Final Score: Chiefs 40 – Jaguars 26)
So much for a bounce back season for the Jags. Between Nick Foles injury and self-destructing
defense, this week one match up appears to have killed Jacksonville’s season in
the crib.
Jaguars Notes: Fournette and the Jags D were both big disappointments
and nether appears on pace to have the breakout season fantasy owners were envisioning. 2nd year wide out D.J. Chark was a
bright spot and is worth picking up if you need WR help but don’t expect consistency
from any Jaguar WR thanks to major QB questions going forward.
Chiefs Notes: Mahomes is still in MVP form. LeSean McCoy had a bigger role than expected
which should worry Damien Williams’ owners.
Tyreek Hill's injury was unfortunate considering his high draft stock but
it opened the door for Sammy Watkins’ 3 TD monster afternoon. He becomes a must start WR#1 until further
notice.
NY Jets VS Buffalo:
(Final Score: Bills 17 – Jets 16)
Hopefully you didn't have too many fantasy starters tied to this
one.
Jets Notes: Le’Veon Bell had some rust but he still put up
decent #’s for a guy who hadn’t played in a year. The Jets Defense can play and are worth rostering. Sam Darnold still has a long way to go to
become an average NFL QB.
Bills Notes: Devin Singletary should get more carries going
forward this year, Josh Allen also has a way to go before being a good QB but
is at least exciting to watch. John Brown
had a big game and looks to be the Bills #1 target in the passing game.
 |
Atlanta VS Minnesota: (Final Score: Vikings 28 – Falcons 12)
Falcons Notes: Matt Ryan played like hot garbage but still
put up 300+ yards and a couple TDs. He’s
not going to capture that MVP form he had a few years ago but he can still win
you fantasy games. Julio Jones is still
a must start weapon and Calvin Ridley still has an uncanny ability to find pay
dirt, play him as your WR#3 or flex with confidence.
Vikings Notes: When healthy Dalvin Cook is one of the best
all around backs in the NFL. Look for
him to keep up the RB#1 numbers so long as he’s playing. Bench Cousins until
you need him on a bye week or a favorable match up. Vikings D is looking like
the real deal this year. Start ‘em if you
got ‘em.
Baltimore VS Miami:
(Final Score: Ravens 59 – Dolphins 10)
Yikes. This one got ugly early.
Ravens notes: Lamar Jackson throws a beautiful ball with
such an effortless flick of the wrist. Go back and watch the highlights of this
one. Whoever said he’s a running QB only
got it twisted. Sure he wont do that
every week but after an outing like that you pretty much have to keep him as
well as every other Ravens skill player in your starting line up until they
start to comeback down to reality when facing stiffer competition. You don’t want to chase points as a fantasy
coach, but with a below average Cardinals team coming to town don’t be surprised
if lightning strikes twice.
Dolphins Notes: I have no notes. They were perfect at being horrible in this
one. Cut all fantasy ties with all
Dolphins.
New England VS
Pittsburgh: (Final Score: Patriots 33 – Steelers 3)
No one expected the Steelers to win this one but they could
have at least gotten off the bus for it.
Steelers Notes: Owners of their new big 3 (Ben, Juju and
Conner) have to expect things to get better.
But then again with the Seahawks on tap for week two you may want to
curb your expectations until they start showing more signs of life in Steel City.
Patriots Notes: Brady isn’t just fantasy relevant at age 42,
he’s on the hunt for another MVP! If Antonio Brown can get his act right then
this will be the best WR corps Brady has had in over a decade. Keep him as your QB1. The Pats D is also worth starting.
 |
| Can I Kick it? Yes ya can. |
Houston VS New Orleans:
(Final Score: Saints 30 – Texans 28)
The stars were out for this one. Very few fantasy letdowns or surprises on primetime.
Texans Notes: Carlos Hyde had a bigger role than expected
and played well. Look for him and Duke
Johnson to split carries all season.
Johnson has more upside in PPR leagues but both can get the job done
on the ground too. Hyde averaged 8.3
yards/carry and Johnson had 6.3. If
Houston didn’t inexplicably abandon the run then both backs could have gained
100 yards and they could have won the game. Use them both as RB#3’s or flex players until
Bill O’Brien shows more commitment to the run.
Saints Notes: Really nothing new here. Brees is also in MVP mid-season form at age 40
which is impressive. All of their studs
from last season are still studs and should remain in your line up. Also make Will Lutz your starting kicker.
 |
| "Please don't leave me too, man" |
Denver VS Oakland: (Final
Score Raiders 24 – Broncos 16)
A feel good win in primetime for the Raiders who were
recently scorned by their crazy ex, Antonio Brown.
Raiders Notes: Derek Carr played well but he shouldn’t be
your fantasy QB. The Raiders have a good
O-line. That’s a good sign for rookie RB
Josh Jacobs who had a large game on Monday night. Look for more of the same from him going
forward. Tyrell Williams should have a
good season thanks to Brown sneaking out the bathroom window. Try to pick him up if he’s available in your
league. You can never have too many producing WRs.
Broncos Notes: This
defense is better than how they played on Monday. They play the Bears in week two and that should
be a get right match up for them. Start
them if you can. Emmanuel Sanders is a
good flex play and Courtland Sutton looks like he is ready for a break out
season, even with Joe Flacco pulling the trigger.
