“There are only two ways of telling the complete truth – anonymously and posthumously.” - Thomas Sowell

1) Of the 32 current starting quarterbacks, Patrick Mahomes owns the highest percentage of 400 and 300-yard passing games over his career.

No surprise there. Mahomes has thrown for 400-yards or more three times (9.4%) or over 300-yards 17 times (53.1%) in 32 starts. The more interesting numbers come from No.3 and No.5 on the list – Daniel Jones (5-of-14 for 35.7% over 300) and Kirk Cousins (32-of-94 for 34%), respectively. I’ll bet those statistics do surprise you. Don’t be dissuaded from starting or trading for Jones due to the game against Pittsburgh - the Steelers defense is really, really good.

2) If you “own” Austin Ekeler you should be worried.

True. Ekeler’s best attribute is his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and make chunk plays. In the opener, however, he was targeted just one time for three yards. Rushing 19 times is good, but getting Ekeler in space is more important. Unfortunately, it’s just not Tyrod Taylor’s style to throw to running backs, even great receiving ones. In three years as a starter in Buffalo, with LeSean McCoy in the backfield, Taylor threw to all his running backs just 21.5% of the time. Also, Joshua Kelly, the rookie from UCLA, looked good getting plenty of opportunities and rushing for 60 yards and a score on 12 carries.

3) It doesn’t matter who the starting running back is for New England.

Fact. This time it’s not because head coach Bill Belichick will use different RB strategies every game as in the past. In 2020, the cause of the failure of all Patriots running backs will be Cam Newton. The quarterback will vulture a large number of red zone rushing attempts and touchdowns. He’s at his most dangerous when near the goal line so why wouldn’t the smartest coach in the league use him there? Trading away Sony Michel or James White should be a priority if you can still get anything close to their value.

4) Despite running in three touchdowns on 25 carries, the most important fact of the day surrounding Josh Jacobs is he was targeted six times in the passing game.

True. We know he can run. What we were concerned about was Jacobs’ lack of usage in the passing game last season (27 targets and 20 receptions in 13 games). His six targets and four receptions were a career high (college and pro). Proceed with caution, however, the Panthers defense was horrible on Sunday and this from a team who finished dead last in RB fantasy points allowed in 2019 (26.3 FPts/G). If he produces similar results in Week 2 against a much tougher New Orleans team then I’ll be ready to move Jacobs up a tier in value.

5) James Conner is injured again.

What else is new? He injured an ankle early on in the game against the Giants and was MIA in the second half. What is more important to fantasy owners is how well his replacement, Benny Snell, ran. Nineteen carries for 113 yards. Although he’s a “must claim” for all Conner owners, unlike the starter, Snell does not get involved in the passing game. They brought in Jaylen Samuels for most passing downs which would limit Snell’s upside.

Lies

“Any fool can tell the truth, but it requires a man of some sense to know how to lie well.” – Samuel Butler

1) Matt Ryan is on pace to throw for 7,200 yards.

While the numbers are true (450 x 16), it’s obviously not going to happen. Just use it as an example for not going overboard by first weekend statistics. By the way, he’s still a pretty good fantasy option considering he’s posted 65 300-yard passing days in 190 career starts (34.2%).

2) Despite an MVP award and the highest quarterback ADP in 2020, Lamar Jackson has thrown for 300-yards or more just once in the regular season.

It was Opening Day in 2019 against Miami in a 59-10 win. Irrelevant. Jackson has also run for 100 yards or more six times, including 12 rushing touchdowns, which in fantasy is far more valuable than simple passing yards. If you subtract out the first nine games in 2018 when Jackson didn’t start, but was used as a “weapon,” he’s given fantasy owners a yardage bonus in seven of 23 quarterback starts (30.4%). That one 300-yard passing day doesn’t look so bad now does it? Sometimes numbers lie.

3) All the media hype about Washington rookie Antonio Gibson was warranted.

4) Russell Gage (9-114-0) is now a viable every week fantasy option.

Ryan threw the ball 54 times for his 450 yards and two scores, but that’s not going to happen every week. Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage each saw 12 targets, but Gage should still be thought of as the third option among the Falcons wideouts. And eventually Ryan will rediscover his fondness for his tight ends, in this case, the newly acquired Hayden Hurst. Seattle had no pass rush to speak of, next week in Dallas, that won’t be the same. The Cowboys issue is stopping the run.

5) The return of Ben Roethlisberger made JuJu Smith-Schuster the happiest man in Pittsburgh.

Maybe. I’d put him just behind head coach Mike Tomlin, OC Randy Fichtner and Kim Miale (Smith-Schuster’s agent as he’s a UFA in 2021), but they all have to be smiling Tuesday. Along with a defense who no longer has to shut out its opponent to win a football game and 1.7 million people in the Pittsburgh metro area, the Steelers saw Big Ben’s worth starting late in the second quarter. After knocking off the early rust early, the final three quarters were vintage Roethlisberger. Do not trade JuJu, or for that matter Diontae Johnson (10 targets), unless you are vastly overpaid.