Many fantasy seasons have been wrecked by Week 1, but not in the
way you might think. For fantasy players passionate about the game,
terrible results in the first week of the season can seem crushing.
“After all the work I put in this offseason!”, they
might say. “Maybe I’m just not cut out for this after
all” might be the prevailing feeling for many.
But the season is only tanked after one week if you give into
these kinds of thoughts. Remember, it’s just one week! Those
who prevail at fantasy football over the long haul are those who
are willing to grind and to keep on fighting for wins. You don’t
need to go undefeated to win the trophy and they don’t crown
the champion after one or two weeks.
So let’s grind. This weekly article is all about helping
you notice the things many others will miss. It is about digging
into the data of what happened during each week to find players
you can pick up, or players you need to start, or players you
can move on from. We will look at snap and usage data, as well
as the stats, to find these important nuggets.
One-week samples are quite limited in what they can teach us,
but we can certainly still learn from them. Below I’ll give
some important notes for each of the major skill positions but
remember: don’t overreact in either direction. If you crushed
it, keep grinding. If you got crushed, keep grinding.
Running Back
Ezekiel
Elliott’s poor performance in Week 1 has many who invested
a first-round pick in him concerned. While it was an ugly fantasy
output, Elliott received 79% of the designed carries and was
on the field for 83% of the offensive snaps. The Cowboys decided
to try to beat the Bucs with a quick-passing game, and it looked
like the correct strategy. Elliott should be fine and he looked
quicker than he did in 2020.
Tony Pollard
played on 20 offensive snaps (Elliott played on 70). Pollard
did receive 7 touches on those snaps, so the Cowboys certainly
made an effort to get him involved. But so far, it looks like
his role will be similar to last season (spell Elliott and on
some long-down-and-distance situations). If you are desperate
for a running back to start, he should get 7-10 touches per
game. But barring an Elliott injury it does not look like his
role is going to grow exponentially this season.
Ronald Jones
again found himself in Arians’ doghouse after an early fumble.
He ended up playing only 6 snaps for the whole game. If this
plays out like last season, Jones will be back out there next
week. You should not drop him at this point. The issue with
the Bucs backs is that you never know who to play, but that
was the case coming into the season. Wait this one out and see
how it develops.
Because of Jones’ miscue, Leonard
Fournette ended up being the workhorse back in Week 1. He
played on 65% of snaps, getting 9 carries (32 yards) and 7 targets
(5-27). He did not score, so it was still a disappointing output.
I think his week-to-week usage will be frustrating, and I would
move away from him if you are able. Based on his Week 1 usage,
it might be a nice time to trade him if someone is interested.
Giovani
Bernard is still working his way into the offense but it
was clear he will be the main third-down back, as well as the
long-down-and-distance back. This is a valuable role in a Brady-led
offense, so despite Bernard playing on only 26% of snaps and
only getting 3 targets (2-12), I am still high on his potential.
Watch over the next couple weeks to see how this all pans out.
Miles Sanders
looked quick and dynamic on Sunday, making impressive cuts and
making defenders miss. He played on 66% of snaps and received
19 touches, going for 113 total yards. If this usage continues,
he will likely be a steal where he was being drafted.
Behind Sanders it was not Boston
Scott but Kenneth
Gainwell getting the work. He played on 35% of snaps and
got 11 touches – and scored. Gainwell will be one of the top
adds in most leagues, and based on this usage I would say it
is a smart pick up. The coaches could switch to Scott, but assuming
this usage stays the same, Gainwell could be a nice option as
he looked quick and dynamic.
Mike Davis
had a promising start for the Falcons, and almost scored on
an early drive. He looked strong and was running well then the
whole team fizzled. He did receive 6 targets, catching 3 for
23 yards, which helped his stat line. But he ended the day with
15 rushes for only 49 yards. The Falcons must improve as an
offense for Davis to be a worthwhile start, so those with Falcons
players must just hope this team plays better offense in Week
2.
After Zack
Moss was a surprise inactive in Week 1, Devin
Singletary played on 75% of snaps and received 14 touches
(11-72, 3-8). The Bills continued to be a passing offense, but
this makes Singletary very worthy of an add if he is on your
wire.
Najee Harris
had both a promising and concerning first game. He played on
every single offensive snap, which is remarkable in today’s
NFL. That alone makes him incredibly valuable, with huge upside.
However, he ran for only 45 yards on 16 carries, showing how
poor the Steelers offensive line is. He also only caught one
ball for 4 yards on 3 targets. If you drafted him, don’t be
concerned. Big days are coming when the Steelers face softer
defenses.
So far you do not want any Jets running backs, and cannot
start any of them until one emerges. They split the touches
and the snaps three ways, and nobody produced more than 26 yards.
Stay away for now, but hold onto Michael
Carter. He has the most upside if he were to emerge. For
Week 1, it was Ty
Johnson who played the most snaps (54%).
Christian
McCaffrey looked to be back to his old self. He played on
89% of snaps and received 30 total touches, even leading the
team in targets with 9 (26% target share).
What a great start for Joe
Mixon. He played on 78% of the snaps and rushed the ball
29 times. He went for 127 yards and a score on those runs, and
also caught all 4 of his targets for 23 yards. It looks like
Mixon could finally become a stud if this usage continues.
After Trey
Sermon was a surprise inactive and Raheem
Mostert was injured early in the game, it was rookie Elijah
Mitchell who had a huge day for the 49ers. On 64% of snaps,
he rushed the ball 19 times for 104 yards and a score. It remains
to be seen whether Sermon enters the picture again but one thing
we know is that Shanahan is not going to tell us anything. I
would add Mitchell this week, but don’t spend too much of your
budget on him. He is a nice young player, but the volatility
among these backs is going to be difficult to deal with.
Jamaal
Williams played on 35% of snaps, while D’Andre
Swift played on 68%. Swift received a whopping 11 targets
to lead the team, catching 8 for 65 yards and a score. Williams
also received 9 targets and caught 8 for 56 yards and Williams
scored on the ground. In essence, both backs were incredibly
useful options. Since Detroit does not have good receiving options,
the backs will both be very involved in the passing game. With
Detroit likely to be trailing in most games, both backs are
very good options.
The Jaguars were a mess from start to finish, which severely
limited the potential for James
Robinson to get going on the ground. He finished with only
5 carries. However, he played on 64% of snaps, compared to Carlos
Hyde’s 34%. He also received 6 targets, catching 3 for 29
yards. These are good signs, but Hyde was still involved, and
received 11 touches to Robinson’s 8. I anticipate Robinson will
move into a bigger role but I would hold off on starting him
if you can for a week or two to see how things shake out.
Mark Ingram
surprisingly got the huge bulk of the carries for the Texans,
going 26-85-1. He played on 46% of snaps, far more than either
Lindsay or David
Johnson. He is worth a pick-up in case this usage continues,
but he will be difficult to trust. The Jaguars somehow made
the Texans look decent, but this team will likely struggle to
move the ball most weeks. I would bid a small amount for Ingram
if you do bid on him.
Jonathan
Taylor and Nyheim
Hines were the only two backs to play for the Colts, and
they split snaps relatively equally (55% to 45%). Taylor received
23 touches and Hines received 15, so both were heavily involved
both rushing and receiving. This makes Hines potentially one
of the steals of your draft, and worth a weekly start if the
trend continues.
Chase Edmonds
and James Conner
also split snaps fairly evenly (58% to 49%). Edmonds rushed
12 times for 63 yards and Conner rushed 16 times for 53 yards,
but it was Edmonds who received the passing down work (4 receptions
for 43 yards). That work is quite valuable in this offense and
should mean that Edmonds has more overall value if he continues
getting early down work as well.
Austin
Ekeler playing on 58% of snaps is not too concerning, nor
is the fact that he only received 15 carries. What is concerning
is that he did not receive a single target. Most of his value
has come through receiving during his career, so this is something
to watch. If he continues not to be involved in the passing
game, he is someone to trade if you can. For now, keep playing
him and hope he gets more involved through the air.
Nick Chubb
and Kareem Hunt
split the snaps down the middle (53% to 47%). Chubb received
15 carries and 2 targets, while Hunt only received 6 carries
and 3 targets. Those numbers will be closer in many games, but
both were still productive and scored against KC. Both are solid
weekly starts behind this excellent offensive line.
Fantasy managers are again freaking out about Clyde
Edwards-Helaire, after he went for only 72 total yards in
Week 1. Still, he played on 72% of snaps and was essentially
the only back involved. There will be quiet games for him, but
keep the faith – there will be big games too.
Myles Gaskin
was certainly the main back for the Dolphins, playing on 54%
of snaps and dominating touches. He still didn’t do much as
the Patriots defense played well, but he has a lot of upside
and is a nice trade target if a manager is down on him.
James White
played on only 37% of snaps, but he got basically all of the
passing down and long-down-and-distance work. This led to 7
targets, and he caught 6 of them for 49 yards. It is likely
White is available in many leagues, and in PPR leagues he should
retain steady value.
Meanwhile, promising rookie back Rhamondre
Stevenson barely got on the field, and only received 1 carry
and 1 target. It is likely his role will grow, but we cannot
be sure of anything with a Belichick team. You will need to
be patient with this situation, and wait on Stevenson.
I would advise completely ignoring Week 1 when it comes to
Aaron Jones.
The entire Packers team was out of sorts, particularly Rodgers,
with nothing clicking. Jones should turn it around as soon as
Rodgers does.
Tony Jones
played on 35% of snaps behind Kamara, and rushed 11 times for
50 yards. That’s a good sign for those who invested in him this
pre-season. Still, it was a very strange game, so wait to see
if it continues before you stick him in your lineups.
Melvin
Gordon got the headlines with his long TD run, but interestingly
he and Javonte
Williams both played the same number of snaps (50% each).
Gordon had 14 touches and Williams had 15. If this split continues,
both have nice weekly upside. If one starts taking over, he
would become very valuable.
Saquon
Barkley played on only 48% of snaps, and did not factor
in the game much at all. He went 10-26 on the ground. The Giants
need to figure out a way to get him more involved quickly, but
perhaps he is still not 100% healthy. Part of the challenge
in Week 1 was that the Broncos defense is very good, but it
doesn’t get any easier with Washington in Week 2.
Damien
Williams played on 43% of snaps, and got most of the passing-down
work. He received 5 targets and caught 4 for 28 yards. He also
got 6 carries. He is going to be involved for the Bears, and
is a great stash in case Montgomery gets injured.
It was Darrell
Henderson’s backfield in Week 1. He played on 94% of snaps
and got all but one carry. However, don’t bank on this continuing,
as Michel is still learning the offense and McVay loves to change
things up. Still, it was encouraging if you drafted Henderson,
as he was also productive (16-70-1) on the ground.
It started out as the Ty’Son
Williams show for the Ravens, but he was slowly phased out
in favor of Latavius
Murray in the second half. By the end of the game, Williams
played 51% of snaps, Murray 31%, and Trenton
Cannon 13%. Williams and Murray both scored, but it looks
like as soon as Murray is fully up to speed, this is going to
be his backfield. I would sell Williams if you get someone interested
due to the nice statistical output.
Josh Jacobs
finished with two touchdowns, but he only received 10 carries,
which he took for 34 yards. Further, he only played on 52% of
snaps. Kenyan
Drake played on 48% of snaps and received 6 carries himself.
More importantly, Drake received virtually every snap in long-down-and-distance
situations and clear passing downs, and he was effective catching
the ball (5-59). This will likely mean Drake has more value
than Jacobs, since targets are worth more than carries. I’d
consider targeting Drake in a trade if you need a RB in PPR
leagues.
Wide Receiver
What a Week 1 for Amari Cooper! His whopping 16 targets will
likely be his highest number for the season, and was due to
the Cowboys’ pass-heavy game plan. They decided to stay
away from the middle of the field, due to the strength of the
Bucs’ defense there, and instead pass to the edges. It
worked for the most part, despite the loss. Cooper played on
88% of snaps and looked healthy.
CeeDee Lamb
played on 73% of snaps, (13 fewer than Cooper). However, he
was just as involved, receiving 15 targets. Together Lamb and
Cooper received 53% of Dak’s throws. Lamb had a great fantasy
game, but it could have been bigger, as he had two bad drops
and a third that should have also been caught. Still, you can
see he is very dynamic and a weekly must-start. With Michael
Gallup (calf) getting injured late in the game, both Cooper
and Lamb should continue to be featured.
Don’t overreact to Mike Evans’ slow game in Week
1. He had 2 or 3 passes tipped by the defense, which could have
resulted in big gains. Also, Gronkowski took two red-zone touchdowns,
and those will often go to Evans. His day is coming. He played
on 94% of snaps and the Cowboys looked to be shading the defense
his way, forcing other guys to beat them.
Antonio Brown played on 65% of snaps, and was essentially
on the field only in 11 personnel packages (3 wide receivers).
That’s what we expected. Still, he was very productive
and clearly has a good connection with Brady. He received 7
targets, a 14% target share, and turned those into 5-121-1.
There will be days when he catches 3-45, since there are lots
of mouths to feed in this offense. But, he is worth a flex start
most weeks.
Chris Godwin received a whopping 14 targets in Week 1, an
elite 28% target share. Since he basically plays every snap
(98% in Week 1), he should be a very reliable weekly starter.
DeVonta Smith played the most snaps (62) of any Eagles skill
player (87%). He also led the team in targets with 8 (23% target
share), going 6 receptions for 71 yards and a score. In his
first game in the NFL he looked the part of a No.1 receiver.
Jalen Reagor is more likely to be on your wire, and he impressed
in Week 1 as well. He caught all 6 of his targets and scored.
This is not a high-volume passing offense, but Reagor is a great
athlete and can score from anywhere on the field.
It was a very disappointing Week 1 for Calvin Ridley. He
tied for the team-lead in targets with 8 and played on 85% of
snaps, but only produced 5-51. It was an awful day for the Falcons
as a team, and they produced less than 300 total yards of offense.
You have to stay the course and hope their offense improves.
Stefon Diggs did not go off, but he did receive 14 targets,
good for a 27% target share. He finished with 9 receptions for
69 yards. Much bigger days are ahead.
Meanwhile, it was Cole Beasley getting a massive target share,
going 8-60 on 13 targets. I thought we might see Emmanuel Sanders
as the second option in this offense, and that still might be
the case in future weeks, but Beasley looks like he will remain
heavily involved. It is worth noting that all three of those
receivers played on more than 90% of snaps, with Gabriel Davis
(the only one who scored) at 51%. With the volume of passing
the Bills do, all four options should be rostered.
JuJu
Smith-Schuster played on 53-of-58 snaps (91%), and received
a 25% target share. He only caught 4-52 but it was a positive
start.
Meanwhile, Chase Claypool played on 67% of snaps and received
5 targets (3-45). This was a slow start for the second-year
player, but I anticipate he will receive more looks as we go
along. He would be a nice trade target after the slow start.
Diontae Johnson remained Ben’s primary option, receiving
10 targets despite having to leave the game for a bit in the
first half. He finished 5-36 with a score. If he can stay healthy,
much bigger days are coming – but that seems like a very
big “if.”
Corey Davis continued to look the part on Sunday. He had
a 19% target share and turned his 7 targets into 5-97-2. He
also played on 89% of snaps.
The flip side is Elijah Moore, who struggled in his debut.
Despite playing on 86% of snaps, he caught only 1 of his 4 targets,
for negative yardage. I believe in Moore’s talent and
think this was a case of the rookie jitters. Hold onto him if
he’s on your roster, and if someone drops him this week,
I’d definitely pick him up.
D.J. Moore was clearly the leading receiver for the Panthers.
He played on 81% of snaps and received 8 targets (6-80) and
a carry for 14 yards. He should be an excellent weekly start.
Robby Anderson also played 81% of snaps, but he only received
3 targets. However, the one he caught went for a long touchdown.
This was similar to how Anderson’s stats looked the last
time he played with Darnold in New York, while last season with
the Panthers he was used more like a possession receiver. Watch
carefully in the next few weeks to see if he receives more targets
in the short and intermediate areas.
Terrace Marshall Jr. played on 53% of snaps, as the third
receiver, and received 6 targets. His production will likely
be uneven early this season, but he has nice upside in this
offense.
Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson both played on virtually
every snap (94% and 92%), and they received 10 and 9 targets
respectively. Thielen scored two touchdowns and caught 9 of
his targets, so it was a big day for him. Jefferson almost scored,
and his big days are coming. Both are excellent weekly starts.
K.J. Osborn looks to have won the third receiver job in Minnesota.
Most have still not heard of him, but he played on 81% of snaps
and received 9 targets, catching 7 for 76 yards. There will
be games when the Vikings run the ball better and Cousins does
not throw 49 passes like he did in Week 1, but Osborn is a name
to know if you need receiving help. For PPR leagues, he could
be a Cole Beasley type producer if he is able to hold off Dede Westbrook.
After all the negative talk surrounding Ja’Marr
Chase this offseason, he came out and balled in Week 1.
He led the receivers in snaps, playing on 90%, and also led
them in all other categories, finishing with 5 receptions for
101 yards and a score on 7 targets. That’s a 26% target share,
phenomenal for a rookie in his first game. I will be starting
him with confidence moving forward.
Tee Higgins also had a nice game, and it looks like he and
Chase will each be the main producers this season. He received
5 targets and caught 4 for 58 yards and a score.
Deebo Samuel reminded everyone that he’s a very good
player on Sunday. He received a ridiculous 46% target share
on Sunday, and caught 9 of those 12 targets for 189 yards and
a score. That sort of production will not be typical, but if
you drafted Samuel you are a happy camper right now. Just play
it carefully, as Brandon Aiyuk should re-enter the picture moving
forward.
Aiyuk played on only 47% of snaps and did not receive a target.
Aiyuk’s hamstring injury along with a nice training camp from
Trent Sherfield,
limited Aiyuk. Remember, this is a one-week sample. Wait a couple
weeks and see what happens before you make any drastic moves.
D.J. Chark played on 84% of snaps and received 12 targets.
Unfortunately he dropped several of them and only ended up catching
3 but he did salvage his day with a long touchdown.
Marvin Jones and Laviska Shenault also both received heavy
targets (9 each). If the Jaguars continue to struggle and trail
in games, all three should remain heavily involved. Jones actually
played the most snaps (91%), so he is definitely worth a pick
up if he snuck through to your wire.
Brandin Cooks looks to be the only Texans skill player worth
rostering, as we suspected. He played on 78% of snaps and caught
5 of 7 targets for 132 yards. The Texans will likely have a
tougher time moving the ball in future weeks, but Cooks should
still get garbage time receptions either way.
Michael Pittman Jr. and Zach Pascal both played almost every
snap, but neither produced much outside of Pascal’s two
scores. It was a very disappointing result for those who drafted
Pittman, and you must hope the Colts passing offense starts
clicking.
I was surprised by the volume Christian Kirk got in Week
1, playing on 57% of snaps and catching 5 balls for 70 yards
and two scores. Obviously the touchdowns come and go, but he
was more involved than I thought he would be. Rondale Moore
did get more involved as the game went on, also finishing with
5 targets (4-68). I believe Moore will take more of this work
as the season progresses, so be cautious when it comes to Kirk.
The Titans offense seemed to be totally out of sorts on Sunday,
likely because Tannehill had been out on the Covid list leading
up to Week 1. The loss of OC Arthur Smith could not have helped
either. Better days are likely ahead for both Julio Jones and
A.J. Brown. Brown salvaged his day with a second-half touchdown,
but still only finished with 4 receptions for 49 yards. Jones
only had 3 catches for 29 yards. Don’t panic on either,
and wait to see how the next couple weeks shake out.
It was a very encouraging week for Mike Williams, who received
12 targets, a 26% target share. He caught 8 of them for 82 yards
and a score. This lends some credence to the offseason idea
that he would play the “Michael Thomas role” in
this new offense. He is worth weekly starting consideration
if this continues.
Don’t get overly concerned about Terry McLaurin. The
Washington offense got thrown out of sorts when Ryan Fitzpatrick
left with injury, and the Chargers defense played well. Further,
Washington throw only 21 total passes, which helps explain why
McLaurin only caught 4 balls. Better weeks are likely ahead,
even with Fitzpatrick likely out for a few weeks.
Tyreek Hill looked like the best receiver in Week 1, catching
11 of 15 targets for 197 yards and a score. The extra targets,
including some closer to the line of scrimmage, means he has
grown into a complete receiver. No other Chiefs wide receiver
is worth starting, including Mecole Hardman, until they perform
consistently.
Jaylen Waddle had a nice debut, playing on 80% of snaps and
catching 4 of 6 targets for 61 yards and a score. He looks to
have to picked up the pro game quickly, and is worth an add
if he is available in shallower leagues. Next week Will Fuller
returns from suspension, so it will be interesting to see if
Waddle or Devante Parker loses targets as a result.
The Patriots played a base 12 personnel offense, with Agholor
and Jakobi Meyers playing virtually every snap. Agholor received
7 targets (5-72-1) and Meyers received 9 targets (6-44). Both
should be dependable week to week.
Marquez Callaway caught only 1 ball for 14 yards, but don’t
be too concerned. Winston only had to throw 20 passes in this
blowout, and better days are ahead statistically for the Saints
passing game.
Courtland Sutton played on 80% of snaps, leading Denver receivers,
but only caught one ball for 14 yards. That is concerning, but
do not drop him. It could have been that he had Bradberry covering
him for much of the day, and he is still getting up to speed
after his ACL injury. With Jerry Jeudy out for a few weeks due
to a high-ankle sprain, Sutton may actually be a sneaky start
in Week 2.
Sterling Shepard played on 95% of snaps for the Giants, and
received a 24% target share. He caught 7 of his 9 targets for
113 yards and a score. Kenny Golladay heated up as the day went
on, and finished with 4 receptions on 6 targets for 64 yards
(on 85% of snaps). Golladay will be their number one option
over the course of the season, but don’t forget about
Shepard.
Don’t worry about Allen Robinson. He was facing a strong
defense in Week 1 and received 11 targets, playing on 91% of
snaps. If Fields gets in as QB soon, that will make him even
more dangerous.
It looks like Cooper Kupp is Matthew Stafford’s favorite
target. He received a whopping 10 targets on only 26 passes
(38% target share), catching 7 for 108 yards and a score. He
also was inches from a second score. Robert Woods will remain
involved, but it looks like Kupp might be the top WR to roster
from the Rams.
It wasn’t a big day for Darnell Mooney, but don’t
miss the fact that he played every single snap in Week 1. He
received 7 targets and caught 5 for 26 yards. He could explode
when Fields becomes the starter, and would be a sneaky trade
target this week.
Marquise Brown and Sammy Watkins had nice showings in Week
1. Brown played on 69% of snaps and caught all 6 of his targets,
and scored. Watkins caught 4 of his 8 targets for 96 yards (a
27% target share). While Rashod Bateman remains out, both are
intriguing flex plays.
Tight Ends
Rob Gronkowski was one of the surprises of Week 1. He looked
a bit washed last season, but was back to vintage Gronk against
the Cowboys. He received 8 targets and caught all of them, for
90 yards and two touchdowns. Most importantly, he played on
88% of snaps, while Cameron Brate played on 28% and O.J. Howard
played on 9% (and neither received a target). You can target
him in leagues where you need a tight end, but maybe wait until
he has a down week and then try to get him.
Dalton Schultz looks like he will remain the starter at tight
end for the Cowboys, for now. He played on 68% of snaps, while
Blake Jarwin played on 57%. Schultz received 6 targets (6-45)
and Jarwin received 4 (3-20). It’s possible Jarwin takes
more of the work as the season goes on, as he’s still
likely recovering from his knee injury. Schultz is a decent
pick-up if you are in need of tight end help.
It is still a timeshare between Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert,
but things appear to be shifting Goedert’s way. Goedert
played on 73% of snaps and Ertz played on 58%, and Goedert received
5 targets to Ertz’ 2. Ertz should only be a desperation
start, but Goedert is a middle-of-the-pack option.
Kyle Pitts did not produce much in the way of statistics,
but he did tie for the team-lead in targets with 8. He also
played on 68% of snaps. That is very impressive for a rookie
tight end in his first game. Keep the faith and hope the Falcons
improve as a team.
Hayden Hurst might be a player to keep an eye on if you are
desperate for a tight end. He played on 60% of snaps and caught
all 4 of his targets for 28 yards.
Dawson Knox is another one to keep an eye on if you’re
desperate. He played on 56% of snaps and caught all four of
his targets for 41 yards. However, he is very difficult to trust
since the Bills have so many weapons.
Interestingly, rookie Pat Freiermuth played two more snaps
for the Steelers than Eric Ebron (29-27), and both had one reception.
Keep an eye on this situation to see if Freiermuth snaps increase
as the weeks move on.
Tyler Kroft is yet another tight end to keep in mind if you’re
desperate. He played on 66% of snaps and received 5 targets,
going 3-26.
T.J. Hockenson received 10 targets and caught 8 of them for
97 yards and a score. He played on 85% of snaps. Hockenson could
finally move into the top three tight ends this season, if Detroit
is going to be trailing and needing to throw on a weekly basis.
George Kittle played on all but 3 snaps and received a 20%
target share. Unfortunately, that only equated to 5 targets
(4-78). He looks healthy so if you drafted him early don’t
be concerned.
Some players have fantasy value due to situation, and that
may be the case with James
O’Shaughnessy. He received 8 targets, catching 6 of them
for 48 yards. Since the Jags may trail often, he might be worth
a pick up if you are desperate for a tight end.
Gerald Everett scored in his first game with the Seahawks,
and he had a second touchdown called back. Some might see that
he only had 2 receptions and think he won’t produce this
season, but Wilson only threw 23 passes against the Colts. Big
games are likely coming for Everett.
Jared Cook fit right into the Chargers offense in Week 1.
He caught 5 of 8 targets for 56 yards, and played on 58% of
snaps. He could turn out to be a great late-round value.
With Odell Beckham Jr. out, it was David Njoku who led the
Browns in receiving, catching 3 of 5 targets for 76 yards. The
Browns like to spread the ball around, and Njoku is unlikely
to lead the team in any receiving category again this season.
Still, it is possible that he remains involved and splits snaps
with Austin Hooper and Bryant.
Noah Gray had some buzz in the preseason, and some thought
he might get significant snaps next to Kelce. That didn’t
happen in Week 1, as he only played on 7 snaps. Blake Bell played
on 19 snaps and looks to be ahead of Gray for now.
Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry played over 70% of snaps in
the Patriots’ 12-personnel base offense. Smith caught
all 5 of his targets for 42 yards and Henry caught all 3 of
his targets for 31 yards. Since both will be on the field, each
should be nice weekly options (especially against softer defenses).
Juwan Johnson caught two touchdowns, but Adam Trautman played
on 82% of snaps and received 6 targets, very promising numbers.
Trautman may be dropped in many leagues, and he is worth scooping
up if you need a tight end.
Noah Fant led the Broncos in targets on Sunday with 8, catching
6 for 62 yards. That is an excellent start with Bridgewater
at the helm and Fant looked agile and strong. He is a solid
weekly start.
Cole Kmet was very involved for the Bears, catching 5 of
7 targets for 42 yards. He played on 74% of targets and is clearly
their top tight end.
It was a nice start for Tyler Higbee, in the post-Gerald Everett era. He received 6 targets, second on the team, and
caught 5 for 68 yards. He also played on 100% of snaps. It looks
like he might be a steal in the middle rounds.
Mark Andrews had a slow game, with only 5 targets (3-20),
but the whole Ravens offense struggled in Week 1. He was on
the field for 81% of snaps and better days should be ahead.
Meanwhile, Darren Waller led the league with 19 targets in
Week 1 and finished with 10 receptions for 105 yards and a score.
Even in the ridiculously long game, he played on all but 5 snaps.
Kevin Scott is a fantasy pro who has made over $100,000 playing
fantasy football. Catch his podcast "Grinding the Data"
and you can follow him on Twitter @kevinscottff.