2017 Fantasy Football: Week 1 Quick Hits
Superstars to miss time
As the initial news on David Johnson’s wrist sounded good, owners had their worlds shocked as reports started to come out hinting that DJ could miss a significant amount of time. This news is nothing but heartbreaking for many that took him first overall. As for the top 3 QB Luck, signs are also not looking promising. He is already listed as inactive for week 2 and there are rumors he could be out longer with shoulder issues. No matter how long Luck is out for, the entire Colts offense looks lost without him.
Questions from other injuries
Aside from the premier players that got injured this week, the other injuries in week one have left us with many questions. What will the targets look like for the new look Jaguars now that Allen Robinson is done for the season with a torn ACL? Similarly, what will the touches look like for the Baltimore backfield with Woodhead looking to miss significant time? And finally, when will Odell Beckham return and what will it do to the Giants offense? All of these are situations could have major fantasy implications as the season plays out.
Rookies with big games
Almost right off of the bat on Thursday night, Kareem Hunt burst onto the fantasy scene with in a record debut. He totaled 246 yards and was able to punch it in three times, which has led to some outrageous week one trade offers. The 4th overall pick, Leonard Fournette went for 100 yards and a touchdown on the aforementioned Jaguars and looks like the workhorse they drafted him to be. Preseason hero Kenny Golladay went off for 2 TDs and will surely be highly sought after in any league he is not currently owned. Perhaps the most impressive showing in week one was the show that Tarik Cohen put on when he went for 113 yards on 13 touches. These exciting rookies are also worth taking a shot on as they too could have major fantasy implications on the upcoming year.
Better than expected
Staying on the positive side of things, both Corey Davis and Ty Montgomery were used more than expected in their respective offenses. Davis was limited in the preseason with a hamstring injury and missed a lot of valuable training camp time. The inexperience seemed to not matter as he was targeted a team high 10 times for 6 catches and 69 yards. The Packers also made it clear that they have full trust in Montgomery as the starter by giving him 23 total touches and 19 total carries. This is a good indication that Montgomery will be fantasy relevant once again this year.
Rookie QBs get a chance
Going into week 1 we all knew that the Browns would roll out their new rookie Deshone Kizer against the favored Steelers. Kizer did all he could with this opportunity by going for 222 yards with a touchdown and interception while keeping the game close the whole way. What was a little more unexpected was the switch that took place at halftime for the Texans. The starter, Tom Savage, got off to an abysmal start and was replaced by Deshaun Watson at half time. Watson started off by connecting with superstar DeAndre Hopkins for a touchdown but that was the lone high point for Watson. Watson is expected to start in week 2, so there will be more clarity for the output of the Texans offense as the season progresses.
Deep dive on the waiver wire
For those of you trying to beat the crowds and pick up the next waiver wire hottness before week 2 starts, consider taking a shot on rookie D’Onta Foreman. In a season that has seen rookie running backs excel early, Foreman could make some noise if he is able to find the endzone with his increased workload that has been rumored to come. Lamar Miller is still ahead of him and will be for the foreseeable future, but a few touchdowns are not out of the question and this would send his stock skyrocketing.
New powerhouse offense
Sam Bradford put on a show against the Saints on Monday night. He was able to total 346 yards for 3 touchdowns, 2 of which were to Stefon Diggs, who also looked great. This new look pass-first offense in Minnesota was flashy and hard to stop as Bradford carved up the Saints defense. If Bradford continues to pick apart defenses, he could be a sneaky top 10 finisher at the position.
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