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What You Need to Know From Week 1

Sigmund Bloom's What You Need to Know From Week 1
By Sigmund Bloom, September 13, 2023

What You Need to Know From Week 1
Photo: USA Today Sports

DET-KC

  • David Montgomery is going to get enough work (including goal line) to be an every-week RB2
  • Jahmyr Gibbs got the short end of the RBBC in touches and snaps, but he was impressive on his touches, explosive, and breaking tackles. Expect more work going forward. The team has said as much. Be patient.
  • Marvin Jones fumbled and looked like a player in the winter of his career. Josh Reynolds was superior as an outside receiver option and should be picked up if bench size allows
  • Second-round pick Sam LaPorta was a big part of the pass offense and should be in lineups as a high-floor TE1
  • Patrick Mahomes II was terrific but let down by drops, including one crushing gaffe by Kadarius Toney that turned into a defensive touchdown on a terrific play by Lions second-round pick Brian Branch.
  • Jerick McKinnon was barely used, even though Travis Kelce was out. The team is likely saving him for December/January. Whether to hold him depends on bench size.
  • Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Isaih Pacheco split the work in the backfield. Neither was impressive as a runner, but Pacheco was more involved as a receiver than he was last year. Pacheco's value should solidify once Kelce is back and the offense has more scoring opportunities.
  • Skyy Moore was out of sync with Mahomes. Both he and Toney aren't essential holds. Second-round pick Rashee Rice was better in limited opportunities and might end up being the best play from this wide receiver group this year, which still is unlikely to produce a consistent fantasy option.
  • Noah Gray failed to do anything of note in place of an injured Kelce.

CIN-CLE

  • Joe Burrow had the worst game of his career. But the conditions were against him, and he was rusty after missing the whole summer with a calf injury. He has started slowly before and should bounce back against Baltimore.
  • Joe Mixon dominated work in the backfield, and his backups didn't do anything to change that going forward. He'll do more once this offense gets going.
  • Tee Higgins was held out of the box score but got eight targets. He was just another victim of this miserable day for the Bengals and should be okay going forward.
  • Deshaun Watson didn't return to old form, but he had a touchdown run against an unaware defense and was at least better than Burrow. He's a QB1 against the Steelers on Monday night.
  • Nick Chubb got four catches in addition to ruling the game on the ground. He looks likely to deliver on first-round draft capital.
  • Elijah Moore and Amari Cooper got the same amount of targets. With Jim Schwartz improving the Browns defense, this might not be a prolific passing game. It's not clear that either will be more than a WR3/Flex.
  • David Njoku was unable to carry over momentum from a great summer, in part because of the run-heavy approach Cleveland took since they could control the game.

SF-PIT

  • Brock Purdy picked up where he left off and trusted Brandon Aiyuk to make big plays in tight coverage. Aiyuk could be a fantasy WR1 this year.
  • Christian McCaffrey was in control in the backfield, and Elijah Mitchell was used more as a backup than a committee member. McCaffrey might be the most valuable player in fantasy this year, and Mitchell isn't as valuable as we thought he might be.
  • The Steelers defense got a big day from T.J. Watt and still barely slowed down the 49ers offense.
  • The Steelers offense was frustrated all day except for a successful two-minute drill at the end of the first half. It might be that the 49ers defense is just that good, but optimism about Kenny Pickett and Co. seems unfounded right now.
  • Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren's split was closer than last year, with Warren getting more work in the passing game. If the Steelers offense isn't improved, this backfield could fail to give us a consistent fantasy option.
  • Diontae Johnson left with a hamstring injury that will sideline him for a few weeks. Allen Robinson and Calvin Austin III's roles should grow while Johnson is out. George Pickens will be the de facto #1, but none are dependable unless we see improvement against Cleveland.
  • Pat Freiermuth suffered a chest injury and suffered in fantasy with the rest of the Steelers offense. It's not clear that he'll be a fantasy TE1 this year.

HOU-BAL

  • C.J. Stroud was a game competitor, but this offense was overmatched. The passing game still made Robert Woods and Nico Collins viable WR3/Flex plays in PPR leagues, and they could have lasting value if Stroud and the offense hit their stride during the season.
  • Dameon Pierce didn't dominate the backfield as the preseason indicated he might. He did at least have more involvement in the passing game, but for now, he looks more like a flex than a strong RB2, with the matchup against Indianapolis this week key to determining his value going forward.
  • Dalton Schultz wasn't a key part of the offense and is droppable now that he's not in the valuable TE1 role in Dallas.
  • Lamar Jackson was sloppy with the ball, and it wasn't an auspicious debut for the Todd Monken offense. The Ravens did score three times, but none were through the air. Jackson should get better against the Bengals this week.
  • J.K. Dobbins went down with a torn Achilles. Justice Hill scored twice, but this should be a three-way committee with Gus Edwards and Melvin Gordon going forward.
  • Zay Flowers got the ball often by design and looks like the only viable play among the Ravens receivers. Rashod Bateman was a clear third fiddle and is only a hold until this passing game gets humming.
  • Isaiah Likely was a disappointment in place of Mark Andrews and should be dropped with Andrews likely back this week.

JAX-IND

  • Trevor Lawrence to Calvin Ridley has the look of a special connection. Ridley will be a value as a third-round pick if Lawrence focuses on him this much with this much success.
  • Zay Jones was still a strong play on the strength of a spectacular one-handed touchdown. He's a solid WR3/Flex.
  • Christian Kirk was in a smaller role than Evan Engram in the passing game and doesn't look like a consistent play going forward, while Engram should remain a solid TE1.
  • Travis Etienne was bottled up for most of the game, he but broke a long touchdown to ice the game and was also used more in the passing game. He'll be a high-floor RB2 who might level off as an RB1 in this quality offense.
  • Tank Bigsby scored, but he had a few mistakes, including one that led to a defensive touchdown and didn't do much on his other touches. He'll be an Etienne injury upside hold, not an RBBC flex play.
  • Anthony Richardson was set up for success by Shane Steichen with quick passing and designed running opportunities. He could have had another score late if he didn't get a little banged up. He has the look of a fantasy QB1.
  • Deon Jackson was the clear lead back and was terrible on his touches. Evan Hull left with a knee injury that landed him on injured reserve. Look for Jake Funk and Zack Moss to get more opportunities this week - if Moss is healthy enough to play in his case. Jonathan Taylor should be ready to play in Week 5 if the Colts don't trade him.
  • Michael Pittman was the clear focus of the passing game and should be a big value pick and fantasy WR2 if this usage continues.

TEN-NO

  • DeAndre Hopkins was the clear WR1, leaving little meat on the bone for Treylon Burks or Chigoziem Okonkwo against a tough Saints defense.
  • Ryan Tannehill threw three picks. If this continues, we could see Malik Willis or Will Levis by Thanksgiving.
  • Derrick Henry still looks viable as a fantasy RB1 when the Titans aren't facing good defenses, but Tajae Spears was on the field just as much and looked explosive and demanding more touches. He was open for a long catch, but Tannehill missed him.
  • Derek Carr has revitalized the Saints passing game, and he created three viable wide receiver plays. Michael Thomas is a WR3/Flex as long as he's healthy, Chris Olave looks like a WR1, and Rashid Shaheed was the best play of all despite only being in on about half of the snaps. Shaheed is a priority waiver pickup this week.
  • Juwan Johnson and Taysom Hill were duds as fantasy tight ends. It looks like this pass offense will run through the wideouts.
  • Jamaal Williams got all of the backfield work but was ineffective. Kendre Miller should get a shot once he's healthy, but Alvin Kamara's value is up simply on the possibility of Williams fading into the background soon if his performance doesn't improve. Give some credit to the Titans run defense, who face the Chargers this week.

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Tags Analysis Davante Adams Jordan Addison Brandon Aiyuk Cam Akers Josh Allen Keenan Allen Tyler Allgeier Mark Andrews Tutu Atwell Calvin Austin III Saquon Barkley Rashod Bateman Tank Bigsby Kendrick Bourne Kayshon Boutte Brian Branch Treylon Burks Joe Burrow Derek Carr Ty Chandler Zach Charbonnet Nick Chubb Nico Collins James Conner Dalvin Cook James Cook Amari Cooper Kirk Cousins Gabe Davis Stefon Diggs J.K. Dobbins Joshua Dobbs Jahan Dotson Romeo Doubs Demario Douglas Rico Dowdle Greg Dulcich Clyde Edwards-Helaire Gus Edwards Austin Ekeler Ezekiel Elliott Evan Engram Zach Ertz Mike Evans Noah Fant Justin Fields Joe Flacco Zay Flowers Pat Freiermuth Jake Funk Kenneth Gainwell Jimmy Garoppolo Jahmyr Gibbs Antonio Gibson Chris Godwin Dallas Goedert Noah Gray Breece Hall Najee Harris Derrick Henry Hunter Henry Justin Herbert Tyler Higbee Tee Higgins Justice Hill Taysom Hill Tyreek Hill T.J. Hockenson DeAndre Hopkins Sam Howell Chuba Hubbard Evan Hull Hayden Hurst Jalen Hurts Deon Jackson Lamar Jackson Josh Jacobs Jerry Jeudy Brandon Johnson Diontae Johnson Juwan Johnson Roschon Johnson Aaron Jones Daniel Jones Mac Jones Zay Jones Alvin Kamara Travis Kelce Joshua Kelley Dalton Kincaid Christian Kirk Cole Kmet Cooper Kupp Sam LaPorta Trevor Lawrence Will Levis Isaiah Likely Drake London Jordan Love Patrick Mahomes II Alexander Mattison Baker Mayfield Christian McCaffrey Jerick McKinnon Jaleel McLaughlin Terry McLaurin DK Metcalf Jakobi Meyers Kendre Miller Elijah Mitchell Joe Mixon David Montgomery Darnell Mooney Elijah Moore Skyy Moore Zack Moss Raheem Mostert Luke Musgrave Puka Nacua David Njoku Chigoziem Okonkwo Chris Olave K.J. Osborn DeVante Parker Rashaad Penny Samaje Perine George Pickens Kenny Pickett Dameon Pierce Kyle Pitts Tony Pollard Dak Prescott Brock Purdy Hunter Renfrow Josh Reynolds Rashee Rice Anthony Richardson Desmond Ridder Calvin Ridley Bijan Robinson Aaron Rodgers Curtis Samuel Miles Sanders Dalton Schultz Rashid Shaheed Geno Smith JuJu Smith-Schuster Isaiah Spiller Matthew Stafford Rhamondre Stevenson C.J. Stroud Courtland Sutton D'Andre Swift Tua Tagovailoa Ryan Tannehill Jonathan Taylor Patrick Taylor Adam Thielen Logan Thomas Michael Thomas Kadarius Toney Adam Trautman Sean Tucker Deuce Vaughn Ken Walker III Jaylen Warren Christian Watson Deshaun Watson T.J. Watt Rachaad White Jamaal Williams Javonte Williams Kyren Williams Malik Willis Garrett Wilson Russell Wilson Zach Wilson Robert Woods Bryce Young

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