The five biggest fantasy football takeaways from Week 1 of the 2016 NFL season
Every week in fantasy football there are going to players who surprise, disappoint and execute just like we thought they would. Unfortunately, season-long and possibly career altering injuries will also take place.
With only two games left, Week 1 of the NFL season is just about over. Some fantasy football owners have already wrapped up a victory while others are ready to panic.
Why you ask?
Here are the five biggest fantasy football takeaways from Sunday.
NASHVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 11: Jurrell Casey
5. Adrian Peterson Looked Human
When people talk about Adrian Peterson words like “freak,” “machine,” and “beast” get thrown around and rightfully so. Throughout his career Peterson has always found ways to produce big games and seasons despite average quarterback play and stacked boxes. However, that wasn’t the case on Sunday.
Peterson averaged 1.6 yards-per-carry on 19 carries.
ONE. POINT. SIX.
I get that having Shaun Hill at quarterback meant the Titans were able to focus all of their attention on the Vikings run game. Yet, only managing 31 rushing yards on 19 carries is alarming for somebody with Peterson’s reputation. Not to mention, the Titans run defense isn’t exactly the scariest in the NFL.
When Sam Bradford takes over in Week 2, it should help Peterson and the Vikings offense. But let’s not pretend Bradford is a Hall of Fame talent. Heck, he isn’t even a Pro Bowl talent. You can be sure Peterson will see plenty more stacked boxes throughout the season.
When it comes to NFL running backs, there always seems to be a dramatic drop-off towards the end of their careers. It happens to all the greats. At the age of 31 and with over 2,500 total touches under his belt, this could be Peterson’s time.
Is this an overreaction? Perhaps. Peterson can make all of this speculation go away (at least for another week) with an AP-like performance against the Packers on Sunday Night Football. But keep in mind in two games agains the Packers last season, Peterson only totaled 112 rushing yards on 32 carries.
Sep 11, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) audibles at the line of scrimmage against the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
4. Carson Wentz Looked NFL-Ready
A couple weeks ago, it looked like Carson Wentz was going to start his career as a third-stringer behind Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel.
Well a lot can change in two weeks because yesterday Wentz was the Eagles starter and he turned in a remarkable performance in his rookie debut. Wentz threw for 278 yards, 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions.
Who saw that coming? (Yes, Jeremy Klump I know you did)
Wentz had a better fantasy day than Blake Bortles, Philip Rivers, and Carson Palmer among others. Now am I ready to run out and add him off the waiver wire? No, not yet. However, this makes Philadelphia’s passing game something not to shy away from.
Jordan Matthews (7 receptions, 114 yards, 1 TD) is currently looking like a steal at his sixth-seventh round ADP. Zach Ertz (6 receptions, 58 yards) can safely be trotted out on a weekly basis as backend TE1.
In the right matchup and at his probable low-pricing, Wentz might be a guy you start in DFS. By “right matchup” keep in mind the Eagles play the Chicago Bears in Week 2. I’m just saying…
ATLANTA, GA – AUGUST 11: Tevin Coleman
3. The Falcons Backfield
All off-season, the Falcons coaching staff kept saying they were going to get Tevin Coleman more involved in the offense. The Falcons were even going to use the “hot hand” approach.
They showed on Sunday they were not bluffing.
Devonta Freeman finished the game with 15 touches while Coleman had 13. However, Coleman finished with 117 total yards while Freeman only had 40 total yards. The owners who spent a second-round pick on Freeman might want to look away because you know what the Falcons backfield is now? Say it with me kids: running back by committee.
I know it’s early but If you are a Freeman owner, this might be time to panic. The Falcons kept saying all offseason they were going to do this. They did it in the preseason and now they did it when the games matter. This didn’t happen by accident.
If you own Freeman, this might be a time where you hit up that league message board, tell people Freeman is on the block and see what kind of feedback you get. Every owner should be going to the waiver wire to see if Coleman is available.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – SEPTEMBER 11: Andrew Luck
2. Andrew Luck is Back
In 2014, owners who drafted Andrew Luck late in fantasy drafts got a steal.
In 2015, owners who drafted Andrew Luck early got a bust.
Now it’s 2016 and it appears Andrew Luck has returned to fantasy glory. Luck managed to throw for 385 yards, 4 touchdowns and 0 interceptions on 47 passing attempts.
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The Colts quarterback got off to a slow start in this game and spectators had their doubts. I even saw on Twitter a guy questioning if Andrew Luck was actually good as we thought (okay it was me). Then in the second half Luck threw for three touchdowns and narrowly brought the Colts back to win the game.
This offense runs through Luck. With the Colts defense surrounding over 400 yards and nearly 40 points, Luck is going to be forced to throw the ball an absurd amount of times a majority of weeks. If he manages to stay healthy for the entire 16 game season, there’s a good chance he leads the NFL in passing attempts. Also, there were six different Colts who either had a touchdown reception, four receptions or both.
Owners who have stock in the Colts offense should be feeling good today.
KANSAS CITY, MO – SEPTEMBER 11: Wide receiver Keenan Allen
1. Keenan Allen Likely Done for the Season
They say injuries are part of the game. While this may be true, it doesn’t make it any easier. After hauling in six receptions for 63 yards all in the first-half, Keenan Allen was carted off with apparent knee injury. According to Ian Rapoport, the Chargers believe Allen tore his ACL.
You are talking to a guy who owns Allen in three out of five leagues, so I get that owners are feeling betrayed. However, let’s keep in mind that Allen was betrayed too.
Allen was betrayed by his body once again.
After missing most of half of last season with a kidney injury, Allen worked his tail off to get himself ready for the 2016 season. However, his season is already done after just two quarters of play.
Allen was struggling to keep his tears back as he was carted off the field. Subsequently, someone tell all the Twitter trolls and keyboard cowboys out there to try and show some restraint and act a little humane.
For fantasy football purposes, Travis Benjamin and Tyrell Williams both get a serious bump and both should be owned in virtually every league now.
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