Week 1 Fantasy Football Studs
The NFL returned over the weekend and what a glorious weekend it was. It has become a tradition here at the Fantasy Footballers to award the title of “Stud” to players who fit the bill, and “Dud” to those players who pooped in their big boy pants. Each week the Fantasy Footballers will pay their respects to the weekend that was on the podcast but if you are unable to listen in, fear not, I have you covered with this written tribute to the fantasy stud muffins from Week 1. You can also jump to the Week 1 Duds article.
Make sure you listen to today’s podcast to get Andy, Mike, and Jason’s reactions from all the Week 1 action.
Quarterbacks
Alex Smith @ NE
-368 passing yards, 4 TDs, 3 rushing yards
Patrick Mahomes Alex Smith really showed off the talent that made him a highly touted prospect coming out of college and made him an early 1st round pick in the NFL Draft. Mahomes Smith was aggressive and connected on not one but two 75+ yard TD completions.
Matthew Stafford vs AZ
-292 passing yards, 4 TDs, INT, 14 rushing yards
Maybe what they say is true, you do get what you pay for.
Running Backs
Kareem Hunt @ NE
-17 carries, 148 rushing yards, TD, 5 receptions, 98 receiving yards, 2 TDs
After fumbling on his first carry, the rookie RB found himself in the doghouse “Kareem the Dream”, “Krispy Kareem”, “Franklin”… Call him whatever you want, but I’m going to go with “Stud”. Hunt showed his agility and balance from his days at Toledo and even displayed some speed on a couple big plays.
Mike Gillislee vs KC
-15 carries, 45 rushing yards, 3 TDs
If there was one thing we were fairly certain about coming into the season it was that Gillislee would take over as the big back in Belichick’s backfield. Now that this has been confirmed, there’s only one question remaining: how did LeGarrette Blount only manage to score 18 TDs in this offense last season?
Ezekiel Elliott vs NYG
-24 carries, 104 rushing yards, 5 receptions, 36 receiving yards
140 total yards with no TDs may seem underwhelming considering the season Elliott had in 2016. But given the offseason he’s had, his owners should be thankful he was even allowed to take the field in Week 1.
Todd Gurley vs IND
-19 carries, 40 rushing yards, TD, 5 receptions, 56 receiving yards
Todd Gurley picked up right where he left off last season, low-efficiency with high-volume. Owners may not be excited to watch the game tape, but if he’s your RB2 you should be excited to slot him into your lineup.
Leonard Fournette @ HOU
-26 carries, 100 rushing yards, TD, 3 receptions, 24 receiving yards
The rookie RB did not disappoint in his NFL debut. However, in true Jacksonville Jaguars fashion, the Jags gave a goal line carry to the fullback which unsurprisingly failed. But the Jags were not deterred, on a possession later in the game they made sure to get good ol’ Tommy Bohanon a goal line TD.
Tarik Cohen vs ATL
-5 carries, 66 rushing yards, 8 receptions, 47 receiving yards, TD
The human joystick was nothing short of electric against the Falcons. All due respect to Jordan Howard, but Cohen was basically the Bears’ entire offense on Sunday. With the injury to Kevin White, expect Cohen to be heavily featured in the passing game moving forward. (P.S. I think Jay Griz may have a new man crush)
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
LeSean McCoy vs NYJ
-22 carries, 110 rushing yards, 5 receptions, 49 receiving yards
If you have never had McCoy on your fantasy team and want to know what it’s like, just rewatch Sunday’s game vs the Jets. It was a perfect microcosm of owning Shady. He was an absolute beast, then he got “injured”, then he had a TD vultured by a backup RB.
Ty Montgomery vs SEA
-19 carries, 54 rushing yards, TD, 4 receptions, 39 receiving yards
This game showed why Montgomery is such a valuable asset for your fantasy roster. Even on a day in which the Packers struggled to run the ball, TyMo managed to find the end zone, as he is likely to do in an Aaron Rodgers-led offense, and he provides a safe floor in PPR leagues with his receiving skills.
Wide Receivers
Danny Amendola vs KC
-6 receptions, 100 receiving yards, 7 targets
With injuries to Julian Edelman and Malcolm Mitchell, there was some excitement for what Amendola could do in this offense. The only hesitation was his propensity to get injured. Well… the production was there, as was the injury. Amendola eventually left the game with a head injury after taking several big hits.
Tyreek Hill @ NE
-7 receptions, 133 receiving yards, TD, 8 targets, 5 rushing yards
Tyreek the Freak is fast.
Amari Cooper @ TEN
-5 receptions, 62 receiving yards, TD, 13 targets
This stat line is firmly in the “meh” category, tbh. However, what you don’t see in the box score is that Amari Cooper was targeted 4 times in the red zone by Derek Carr! He only received 13 red zone targets in the entire 2016 season. It’s nice to see that Derek Carr got my letters.
Kenny Golladay vs AZ
-4 receptions, 69 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 7 targets
So smooth.
Golden Tate vs AZ
-10 receptions, 107 receiving yards, 12 targets
If Kenny G is smooth jazz, Golden Tate is classic rock. He never gets old and always comes through for you whether you want to jam or get out of a jam.
Nelson Agholor @ WAS
-6 receptions, 86 receiving yards, TD, 8 targets
Remember when we all laughed at reports this offseason about Agholor making strides in this offense? Who’s laughing now? The USC product showed his rapport with Carson Wentz, as he is one of the few pieces of this offense to return from 2016.
Antonio Brown @ CLE
-11 receptions, 182 receiving yards, 11 targets
I wonder if Antonio Brown drove the 135 miles to Cleveland in Brandon Marshall‘s Porsche.
Justin K. Aller/Getty Images
Jordy Nelson vs SEA
-7 receptions, 79 receiving yards, TD, 8 targets
There has to be a data base somewhere that can tell me how many of Jordy’s career TDs have come on “free plays” after Rodgers has drawn the defense offsides. I’m guessing it’s a lot.
DeAndre Hopkins vs JAX
-7 receptions, 55 receiving yards, TD, 6 targets
Tom Savage was an abject disaster in this game, but then Deshaun Watson came in to save the day. He established the Clemson connection on his first pass attempt and saved Hopkins’ day and possibly, his season.
Tight Ends
Jason Witten vs NYG
-7 receptions, 59 receiving yards, TD, 9 targets
The veteran’s stat line isn’t all that impressive from up close, but taking a step back it was a solid addition to a career list of achievements that now includes being the Cowboys’ all-time leader in receiving yards with 11,947.
Zach Ertz @ WAS
-8 receptions, 93 receiving yards, 8 targets
In addition to being the center piece of many a fantasy football team names, it turns out that Ertz is also one heck of a TE. Grabbing all 8 of his targets for nearly 100 yards, Ertz did just about everything in this game, except score.
Austin Hooper @ CHI
-2 receptions, 128 receiving yards, TD, 2 targets
Mr. Hooper delivered an early candidate for the most vicious stiff arm of the season en route to his 88-yard TD.
David Banks/Getty Images
Jesse James @ CLE
-6 receptions, 41 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 8 targets
Jesse James knows that people were excited for Vance McDonald once the Steelers traded for the former 49er, but Jesse James don’t care, he’s an outlaw.
Defense
Los Angeles Rams vs IND
-9 pts allowed, 4 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 2 TDs
When Andrew Luck was declared Out for this game the writing was on the wall, not unlike the graffiti in Inglewood.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ HOU
-7 pts allowed, 10 sacks, INT, TD
Many owners, targeted this game because the Texans defense was supposed to chew up Blake Bortles, but on Sunday the tables were turned as the Jags upset the Texans in their homecoming following Harvey.
Kickers
Giorgio Tavecchhio
-2/2 XP, 4/4 FG, Long of 52
Giorgio “The Foot” Tavecchio did his best Sea Bass impression at Tennessee on Sunday in a performance that will go unnoticed and unappreciated in many fantasy leagues.
Honorable Mentions
Carson Wentz @ WAS
-307 passing yards, 2 TDs, INT
Tyrod Taylor vs NYJ
-224 passing yards, 2 TDs, INT, 38 rushing yards
Derek Carr @ TEN
-262 passing yards, 2 TDs
Matt Ryan @ CHI
-321 passing yards, TD, 11 rushing yards
DeShone Kizer vs PIT
-222 passing yards, TD, INT, 17 rushing yards, TD
Jonathan Stewart @ SF
-18 carries, 65 rushing yards, 2 receptions, 17 receiving yards, TD
Terrance West @ CIN
-19 carries, 80 rushing yards, TD
Cooper Kupp vs IND
-4 receptions, 76 receiving yards, TD, 6 targets
Randall Cobb vs SEA
-9 receptions, 85 receiving yards, 13 targets
Charles Clay vs NYJ
-4 receptions, 53 receiving yards, TD, 9 targets