We get a lot of data points in Week 1 that either corroborate or destroy our offseason expectations. While it's important not to overreact, it's equally important to take notice. Let's dive into 2024's first issue of "Three Up, Three Down."
Three Up
WR Jameson Williams, Detroit
We always knew the talent was there with Jameson Williams. Williams was selected 12th overall in the NFL draft despite coming off an ACL tear in his final year at Alabama. The recovery set up for a disappointing rookie season. Year 2 for Williams started with a four-game gambling suspension. And now, in 2024, Williams entered Week 1 healthy and active for the first time in his pro career. After having never exceeded 68% of his team’s offensive snaps in a single game, Williams played 85% on Sunday night. He had 134 scrimmage yards, nearly doubling his previous career best. The usage was encouraging. He saw nine targets and a carry. But the talent displayed is what is especially exciting. He logged a top speed of 21.03 miles per hour, the fifth-highest speed of any ball carrier in Week 1. We heard offseason rumbling about Williams being a bigger part of the Lions' offense. Still, many managers took a wait-and-see approach and benched Williams in Week 1. Well, we saw enough in Week 1 that those managers can confidently fire him up in their Week 2 lineups.
RB J.K. Dobbins, LA Chargers
Not all that different from Jameson Williams, the talent was never a question with J.K. Dobbins. The former second-rounder came on strong at the end of his rookie season. But an offseason knee injury ended his 2021 sophomore campaign before it ever started. 2022 was plagued by a myriad of injuries. He started the 2023 season with a bellcow role for the Ravens, looking every bit as good as he did in his rookie season. But a Week 1 Achilles tear promptly ended that season. Dobbins now enters Year 5, and his first outside of Baltimore. There were many concerns about how Dobbins would look after his brutal series of injuries. But if Week 1 is any indication of what to expect going forward, Dobbins could be a potential league-winner. The burst, power, and vision are still there. He had two long runs that he was unable to finish, but that long speed should return as he distances himself from his Achilles injury and conditions better. The touches were split with veteran Gus Edwards, but Dobbins looked like the superior running back. He was drafted in most leagues, and his managers have to feel great about what they saw. But if he’s still on the waiver wire for whatever reason, don’t hesitate to make a splash.