Week one of the fantasy football season is always a joy! The first full week of playing the waiver wire is too. There is a balance to be met between properly evaluating your team needs versus the talent available. Don’t add a player to your fantasy football team if you don’t need one.
As mentioned last week, be wary of players who posted fluke stats in Week 1. Two players to hesitate adding are wide receiver DeSean Jackson (concussion) and more so, tight end Will Dissly of the Seahawks. Jackson has been notorious of late going in and out of fantasy football relevance especially because he’s been injury-prone. Dissly had a great week and should continue getting good playing time but consistency is an issue.
QUARTERBACKS
1 Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
2 Case Keenum, Broncos
3 Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buccaneers
4 Alex Smith, Redskins
All four quarterbacks above shouldn’t be on any waiver wires in 12 and 16 team leagues. Patrick Mahomes is still available in a few leagues. Despite minimal NFL experience, he looked right at home in the Chiefs offense. He’s a weekly starter in deeper leagues.
Universally available, Ryan Fitzpatrick has three more games to make his case to be the Buccaneers permanent starter for 2018. While he should have a tougher challenge this week (Eagles), he shouldn’t be on any league’s waiver wire.
On his new team, Case Keenum is surrounded by top receiving targets. His week one stat line was soured because of three interceptions. But he makes for a weekly option in deeper leagues and is likely available on most waivers
A conservative stat line is trade mark Alex Smith. But, he’s a player he who can regularly finish top ten or twelve each week.
RUNNING BACKS
1 Adrian Peterson, Reskins
2 James Conner, Steelers
3 Dion Lewis, Titans
4 TJ Yeldon, Jaguars
5 Chris Thompson, Redskins
6 Phillip Lindsay, Broncos
7 Austin Ekeler, Chargers
The above referenced running backs were top twenty finishers this past week.
Still, available in some leagues, both Adrian Peterson and James Conner look to have the starter’s reigns on their respective teams. Short of injury, Peterson has the slightly better outlook as the team starter where James Conner’s value would be dampened if Le’Veon Bell returns.
Likewise, in the few league’s they’re still available, Dion Lewis had a strong outing as the Titans running game got shutdown and Chris Thompson picked up where he left off as a strong option in the Redskins passing game. More available is Austin Ekeler who splashed in the Chargers passing game too. All three are more less RB3s or flex-options.
Philip Lindsayturned heads with 17 touches, more than Devontae Booker. Whether this continues remains to be seen. But meanwhile, he’s worth a roster add in deeper leagues.
TJ Yeldon posted similar numbers as Lindsay but added a touchdown score. His increased role was a result of Leonard Fournette leaving the game due to a “minor” hamstring injury. Move Yeldon up two spots if Fournette’s injury is more serious than expected.
Lindsay and Yeldon are available in most leagues.
Wide Receivers
1 Kenny Stills, Dolphins
2 Randall Cobb, Packers
3 Brandon Marshall, Seahawks
4 DeSean Jackson*, Buccaneers
5 Kenny Golladay, Lions
6 Geronimo Allison, Packers
7 Bruce Ellington, Texans
8 Dante Pettis, 49ers
Available in many leagues, Kenny Stills showed why he is likely the Dolphins best receiving threat. He should be rostered in all leagues.
Sunday night’s comeback performance by Aaron Rodgers reminded us all that Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison are both fantasy football relevant. More so Cobb, both are widely available and should be viewed as WR3 and WR4/5 fantasy football plays, respectively.
The Seahawks Doug Baldwin already went down to injury, this time, injuring his good knee Sunday. Brandon Marshall immediately stepped up scoring a touchdown. He almost hauled in a second. As long as Baldwin is out or remains gimpy, Marshall should maintain WR3-type fantasy football status. Brandon Marshall is available in almost every league.
A fantasy football after though for many, DeSean Jackson (concussion) made a splash Sunday with a top five finish. The concern is whether he can maintain this production and stay healthy all season. Second-year player Chris Godwin could eat into D-Jax production all season long. Godwin makes for a good fantasy football start if Jackson misses Week 2.
A TFG fantasy football darling, second year wide receiver Kenny Golladay had his biggest role in the Lions offense yet with twelve targets, eclipsing one hundred-plus yards. His role should only increase and is a worthy option going forward available in about half the league out there.
If Will Fuller and Marquise Goodwin miss Week 2, Bruce Ellington and Dante Pettis make for plug-n-plays in deeper fantasy football leagues.
Tight Ends
1 Jared Cook, Raiders
2 George Kittle, 49ers
3 Jack Doyle, Colts
4 Eric Ebron, Colts
5 David Njoku, Browns
6 Will Dissly, Seahawks
Jared Cook was amazing in Week 1 leading all tight ends in targets, receptions, and yards. And, it didn’t appear to be a fluke as Cook was heavily involved in the passing offense even before the Raiders fell behind. Cook is available in about half of the fantasy football leagues.
George Kittlewas targeted 9 times, tied for third among tied ends. This number would likely increase if Marquise Goodwin (bruised thigh) misses Week 2. Kittle is still available in some leagues.
With the return of Andrew Luck, the Colts passing game came alive with both Jack Doyle andEric Ebron being beneficiaries. Both produced similar yardage with Ebron scoring a touchdown. Doyle is the better fantasy football option as he was targeted 10 times to Ebron’s five.
David Njokuis still available in a few leagues. He’ll be a weekly low-end TE1 for Tyrod Taylor.
The Seahawks Will Dissly made the most of his five targets, hauling three in for 105 yards and one touchdown. For now, he’s a better bench stash than top waiver wire pick-up as we’ve seen Seahawks tight ends flash before.
Defenses
1 Jets
2 Bears
3 Dolphins
While many are celebrating the Jets offense this Monday, the Jets defense finished tops in most fantasy football formats bolstered by their five interceptions and two defensive touchdowns. While a repeat may not be realistic, they should be able to handle a Dolphins offense hardly comparable to the one boasted by the Lions. The Jets are available in almost every league.
The Bears defense was a sleeper fantasy football defensive last week against a Packers offense which could be counted to turn the ball over against them. They’re still a solid unit, only owned in about half of fantasy football leagues. The Bears should be involved in another defensive battle against the Seahawks Monday night.
After an offseason which saw the Dolphins defense add good free agent and rookie talent, the Dolphins defense made the most of being one of TFG’s deep sleeper’s for Week 1. The Dolphins’ defensive unit has a winnable game in Week 2 against the Jets, a game that should be a defensive battle.