It was an outstanding Week 1, as we kicked off the regular season Thursday in Friday in Brazil and Sunday all across the NFL. After studying for draft day, then wondering how the projections would play out, we finally have some data to mull over.
Unfortunately, we also have some major injuries from Week 1. The Cleveland Browns lost tight end David Njoku to what might be a multiweek injury. In the same game, Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson also suffered a knee injury. The injuries weren’t limited to tight end as Puka Nacua checked out in the first half with a knee injury, opening the door for others to step up. In addition, the Green Bay Packers lost Jordan Love to what should be a multiweek injury, while Christian McCaffrey was a surprise scratch and could miss even more time.
We’re only heading into Week 2, and you don’t want to panic after only one game. But there were some alarming situations outside of the injuries, which could change the fantasy picture dramatically going forward.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running backs
The emergence of quarterback Baker Mayfield has taken some pressure off the backfield, one that thoroughly was dominated by Rachaad White in 2023. Now, rookie Bucky Irving enters the picture as a legitimate threat to see 10-plus touches per contest.
In Week 1, Irving rushed nine times for 62 yards and caught two of three targets for 14 yards vs. the 15-31-0 rushing line and six catches for 75 yards on a half-dozen targets for White. There’s reason to believe we’ll see something of a similar split going forward, but the upcoming week vs. Detroit points toward more from White through the air.
Miami Dolphins running backs
In Week 1, it was De’Von Achane who had the most carries against the Jacksonville Jaguars, rushing 10 times for 24 yards and a touchdown. The 2.4 yards-per-carry average was awful, but he made up for it in the passing game, cashing in all seven targets for 76 receiving yards.
Raheem Mostert, who ran for an NFL-best 18 rushing scores while tying for the league lead with 21 scores in 2023, was limited to six rushes for just nine yards, and 19 scrimmage yards on eight total touches. Yuck. He is not even worth starting in deeper leagues if that continues. Things went so bad for Mostert, who dealt with a chest injury, that even Jeff Wilson Jr. outproduced him, leading the team with 26 rushing yards on five carries. Mostert has a lot of tread on the tires still, but this was an ugly, disappointing start for fantasy managers hoping for a 2023 redux. Watch the injury report ahead of Thursday’s game as Wilson and rookie Jaylen Wright could be asked to fill in.
Green Bay Packers passing game
The Green Bay Packers not only traveled over 4,000 miles to Brazil to take an L against the Philadelphia Eagles, but they lost much, much more. Quarterback Jordan Love was knocked out of the game with a sprained medial collateral ligament late in the second half of the 34-29 loss. The good news is that the anterior cruciate ligament was intact, although Love will be sidelined for multiple weeks.
General manager Brian Gutekunst had the foresight to acquire Malik Willis from the Tennessee Titans toward the end of training camp, and he is expected to keep the seat warm while Love recovers. He is rather new to the system, however, so expect a vanilla offense as he gets his feet wet, with low-risk short and intermediate routes. That’s not what fantasy managers of Jayden Reed, Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs want to hear. It appears the next three, four or five games could be a slow go for the receivers. The biggest winner might be Josh Jacobs, who could be leaned upon more in a ground-based attack, and Reed may not feel as significant a drop in targets and production as the others. Stay tuned.
Baltimore Ravens tight ends
Fantasy managers drafted Mark Andrews to be himself, a bona fide TE1 in all formats. And, again, it’s only one game. There is plenty of time for the veteran to get back in the game. He was returning from a lengthy layoff, but when was used in Kansas City on Thursday, he appeared to be tentative.
Meanwhile, Lamar Jackson seemed to have a lot more confidence in Isaiah Likely, who shined with nine receptions, 111 yards, and a touchdown. He nearly had a second touchdown, which would have stunned the Chiefs at the horn, but instant replay showed Likely’s big toe grazing the back line of the end zone, and the score was wiped out. Still, fantasy managers of Andrews are going to want an insurance policy, scooping up Likely immediately. But, expect to have plenty of competition off the waiver wire, if he wasn’t drafted in the first place.
WR Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints
It’s a little disconcerting to peruse the scoreboard, see a team with 47 points, and then check live scoring to see your WR1 has managed just two receptions for 11 yards on two targets. Things got out of hand in a hurry, and Olave just never had a chance to be needed. Fellow wideout Rashid Shaheed opened the scoring with a 59-yard touchdown, and it was 17-0 after just one quarter. The Saints built a 30-0 lead in the second quarter, and they were already started to power down the passing game. It turned into a more ground-based attack with the lopsided score sooner rather than later. Shaheed had two receptions for 14 yards on four targets after his huge score three minutes in. Olave had six or more targets in 13 of his 16 games last season and nine or more targets on nine occasions. He is the unquestioned WR1 in NOLA, so don’t overreact after just one game. We should have a much more competitive battle in Week 2 at Dallas, and Olave is expected be a huge part of the game plan.
San Francisco 49ers running backs
Ouch. If you drafted San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey with the No. 1 overall pick in fantasy, it wasn’t a pleasant Monday night. He worked sparingly during training camp and the preseason due to a calf injury, but it was all signs pointed to him being ready for Week 1 against the New York Jets. He carried a questionable tag into the game, then there was mention of an Achilles injury, too, and he was a surprise inactive. RB Jordan Mason stole the show, rolling for a career-best 147 yards and a touchdown in the 32-19 win, which was a Scorigami, by the way. Mason looked like he is more than adequate of carrying the mail, if and when needed.
There are conflicting reports about CMC’s status for Week 2, but there is a feeling he could be rested again with a game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on artificial turf. Bad news, as the Niners play the Rams at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in Week 3, also on turf. If McCaffrey misses further action, Mason is a great addition. He is going to be a huge waiver-wire add, regardless, costing a good chunk of FAAB, after this big performance against a strong Jets D. RB Isaac Guerendo is the third-string tailback in San Francisco, and just one Mason injury away from fantasy relevance, too.
Other utilizations of note
RB Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens: Eight targets vs. Kansas City was mostly a product of Baltimore having to throw late and struggling to run the ball. He’s still worthy of a speculative waiver claim.
RB Alexander Mattison, Las Vegas Raiders: Six targets turned into a 4-43-1 line for the former Minnesota Viking, and he’s locked into the pass-catching role in contrast to the one-dimensional Zamir White.
RB Jaleel McLaughlin, Denver Broncos: His 10 carries and five receptions may have generated only 28 total yards, but McLaughlin’s workload shouldn’t be ignored.
WR Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants: While all things New York’s offense is rather dismal, but Robinson offered a glimmer of hope with his 12 targets as an underneath outlet for a team with a shaky line, suspect running backs, and no tight end to speak of.
WR Devaughn Vele, Denver Broncos: The Broncos had to throw probably more than desired, and Vele was on the receiving end of eight targets, albeit for just 39 yards. There’s a hole to fill behind Courtland Sutton in this passing game, so keep an eye on this 26-year-old rookie.
