Fantasy NFL Week 1: Surprises, disappointments & waiver adds

With all the hype surrounding Elijah Moore and Garrett Wilson coming into the season, it was Davis that led the Jets in targets (nine), receptions (six), and receiving yards (77) in Week 1. We can’t expect that to continue with the youngsters getting their feet wet as the season progresses, but it’s reason enough we shouldn’t forget about the former Titans’ first-round pick.

Will Mariota be fantasy relevant again? He was productive in a heart-breaking 27-26 loss against a formidable Saints defense, throwing for 215 years and rushing for 72 yards with one score. If head coach Arthur Smith continues calling runs for Mariota, there is a chance he will help this season.

Derrick Henry remains the centerpiece of Tennessee’s offense, but Hilliard is more than an afterthought as the team’s third-down back. He caught three passes for 61 yards and two touchdowns in a losing effort. Hilliard lacks the snaps to be a regular contributor in fantasy leagues, but perhaps that will change if the Titans can’t find viable receiving options.

Most thought Patterson’s breakout 2021 season was a fluke, but that doesn’t look like the case after Week 1. He was the fifth most valuable back in PPR leagues after seeing 25 touches, including 22 carries. Patterson drafters might have found a steal again.

Travis Etienne received all of the hype entering the season, especially with Robinson recovering from a torn Achilles. Robinson wasn’t only active, but he was also the most productive fantasy back with 11 carries for 66 yards and two scores. The Jags running back situation is shaping up to be a headache for all involved.

A nightmare fantasy week started early for Akers drafters, as the Rams back looked timid in the Thursday opener and gave way to Darrell Henderson for much of the game, seeing only 12 snaps. After rushing back from a torn Achilles in last year’s playoffs, Akers will have to perform better to see more playing time.

The Cowboys had a game they’d like to forget, scoring only three points. Lamb was blanketed by the Bucs defense for much of the night without much help, but his two catches on 11 targets was an embarrassing result. Now that Dak Prescott is sidelined, Lamb is looking like a clear bust.

There were questions coming into Sunday’s game about Prescott’s injured ankle, but now he has to contend with a different injury. Prescott struggled all night against Tampa Bay’s defense, completing 14-of-29 passes for 134 yards before suffering a fractured thumb that could cost him 6-8 weeks.

The worries about Rodgers’ lack of receivers had been overlooked by many given the defending MVP’s greatness, but he had a poor Week 1 performance. Rodgers failed to throw a touchdown and averaged only 5.7 yards per attempt with a game that killed fantasy lineups, accumulating only 195 yards.

While A.J. Brown had a terrific day with 10 catches, Smith was almost nowhere to be found. The second-year wideout garnered only four targets and failed to record a catch in Week 1.

The undersized Carter hasn’t been fantasy relevant in his four NFL seasons, but that changed in Week 1 while playing in place of the injured Keenan Allen. He led all Chargers wideouts in fantasy points, with three catches for 64 yards and one touchdown. Carter is likely to see more attention if Allen misses time.

Rashod Bateman was the Ravens wide receiver who garnered most of the attention in drafts, but the speedy Duvernay upstaged him in Week 1. He caught all four of his targets for 54 yards and two touchdowns, immediately providing value despite the run-heavy Baltimore offense.

It didn’t take long for Hurst to establish himself as C.J. Uzomah’s replacement, finishing with five catches for 46 yards. It should be noted the Bengals’ offense had over 100 snaps in the overtime contest against the Steelers, but Hurst has a chance to be a low-end TE1 worthy of rostering.

The Cowboys are already in trouble with Dak Prescott possibly out 6-8 weeks. Rush might not be the best backup plan, but he has the weapons to produce with CeeDee Lamb and Dalton Schultz, along with the return of Michael Gallup in a few weeks. There’s a chance that Rush becomes a worthy matchup play down the line.

The Shanahan offense has been a boon for running backs over the years between Mike Shanahan and now his son, Kyle Shanahan. With Elijah Mitchell likely out two months due to a knee injury, Wilson Jr. is the next man up in San Francisco with an opportunity to be a huge producer. He had 11 touches in rough conditions in Chicago on Sunday and could be set to carry the load in the near future.