Week 1 Thoughts & Observations

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 6:00 am

Here are some random thoughts and observations now that the first week of the season is in the books:

This just in - Tom Brady is kinda good.

Be honest, if you had to pick 50 wide receivers in the league to catch a 99-yard touchdown pass would Wes Welker be on the list?

The Patriots' defense, though, doesn't look all that impressive. If Chad Henne can tear them up, what will Philip Rivers do to them in Week 2?

Speaking of Rivers, he topped 300 yards passing and threw two TDs and spent nearly the entire game struggling to get on the same page with Vincent Jackson and Malcolm Floyd. Expect that to change and expect Rivers to make a run at being this year's best fantasy QB.

Four QBs threw for more than 400 yards in Week 1. One of them was a rookie and the other was Henne. Go figure.

So Chad Ochocinco, how are you enjoying your stay in New England so far?

Reggie Bush was like a new toy the Dolphins couldn't wait to play with last night. He can be a PPR stud when healthy but I'm not sure giving him 20+ touches a game is the way to get victories. Not with Brandon Marshall and Davone Bess in the passing game too.

Life without Peyton Manning kinda sucks, doesn't it Indy?

Speaking of the Colts - here's my take on the fantasy breakdown in the passing game without Manning: Reggie Wayne remains a PPR stud. He could very well catch 100 passes again, making him outstanding value for those who drafted close to the start of the season. Dallas Clark is a low-end TE1. He really misses Manning. Pierre Garcon is a WR4. He's on the field a lot but he and Collins had zero chemistry in Week 1. I thought Austin Collie was in for a decline before the season began and I think he's a WR5 now with Collins. Start him at your own risk. As far as Collins, you can do better in all but Start-2 QB leagues. Honest, you can.

Speaking of values, I'm guessing Steve Smith (The Real Steve Smith) owners are feeling pretty good about where they got him. All Smith needed to be a Top 10-15 fantasy WR again was a QB to get him the ball. It sure looks like Cam Newton can get that job done this season. Smith looked like the Steve Smith of old on Sunday. He's still an outstanding wide receiver.

Kevin Kolb's debut in Arizona went well for the most part but I'm willing to bet he'll be told this week that getting the ball to Larry Fitzgerald needs to be a higher priority. The Cardinals aren't going to win too many games with Fitz being a non-factor as was the case against the Panthers.

If Week 1 is any indication, Beanie Wells may finally be ready to live up to the potential he has always had.

I said before the draft that there was no greater risk/reward pick than Maurice Jones-Drew. Based on how good he looked in the opener, it looks like the risk may pay off. I'm concerned about his lack of involvement in the passing game but he got 20+ touches and looked great. A healthy MJD is a stud, pure and simple.

Hey Kansas City, what the heck was that?

Ryan Fitzpatrick is on pace for 64 touchdown passes, Cam Newton is on pace for 48 total touchdowns and Mike Tolbert is on pace for 32 touchdown receptions this season. On pace stats are fun.

I don't think Jim Harbaugh is going to work any miracles with Alex Smith in San Francisco. He's too far gone to be saved.

I know he was just coming off a holdout and the Titans didn't want to overwork him, but nine carries for Chris Johnson? Nine carries? In a close game? Really?

Don't look now but the Texans have an abundance of riches at RB. Assuming all of them are healthy.

I don't expect the Broncos to go away from Kyle Orton anytime soon, but it's clear watching him that he's not the answer. He's nothing more than a mediocre NFL QB. I don't know if Tim Tebow is the answer either but at some point you at least have to find out.

Speaking of the Broncos, if I had a dollar for every time Knowshon Moreno took himself out of a game I could pay his salary for the next 10 years.

Nine carries for Chris Johnson? Really?

Remember when I told everyone not to get fixated on Greg Jennings' numbers last season when Jermichael Finley was in the lineup because it wasn't applicable to this season? Just sayin.

Hold on, there was just another penalty in the Raiders-Broncos game.

Sebastian Janikowski kick ball far.

Hey Ron Jaworski, don't feel bad for swearing on national TV. S**t happens to me all the time. See?

Ummm, wasn't Jared Cook supposed to be a top target in the Titans' passing game?

Someday people are going to realize Fred Jackson is a pretty good running back. Maybe. Until then, his fantasy owners will continue basking in the glow of the great value pick they made on Draft Day.

Did every team in the league score a touchdown on special teams or defense this week? Sure seemed like it.

On Sunday, the Rams lost Steven Jackson, Sam Bradford and Danny Amendola to injury. You couldn't script a more disastrous way to start the season in St. Louis.

DeSean Jackson looks like a guy who wants a new contract.

Donovan McNabb played the entire game against the Chargers and threw for 39 yards. Thirty-nine yards. I know he's not the player he once was and the Vikings' WRs other than Percy Harvin are atrocious but 39 yards? That's it? It's gonna be a long year in Minneapolis, I'm afraid.

That loud screeching sound you heard is the sound of LeGarrette Blount's fantasy hype grinding to a halt.

I'm a Wisconsin grad and I love Lance Kendricks, but the hype on him got way out of control before the season began. You saw why in Week 1.

There was absolutely nothing sexy about drafting Cedric Benson but his Week 1 performance looked pretty good to me. That's another guy who fell further than he should have. There simply are not many RBs who are locked into 20 or so carries a week. Benson is one of them. That has value - or it should have had in more drafts. I talked to an NFFC owner in New York who wasn't thrilled about drafting him and I told him not to sweat it because Benson would give him good value considering all the carries he's bound to receive.

I'm not ready to write off Ryan Grant just yet. I know James Starks looked good in the opener but I think Grant has more to offer than people suspect. I still believe.

I don't think you can trust him as a RB3 every week but in potential shootouts, Darren Sproles makes for a mighty fine flex in PPR formats.

Mark Ingram didn't get the touchdown but it was mighty telling that with the game on the line, the Saints put the ball in his hands against the Packers and not Drew Brees.

Tony Gonzalez sent a little reminder that it's not time to put him out to pasture just yet.

And finally, Ray Rice is off to a great start to be this year's No. 1 fantasy RB. But LeSean McCoy just might catch him.

BONGIZMO · Post by **BONGIZMO** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 6:42 am

Great stuff as always Tom!

BLACKHAND · Post by **BLACKHAND** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 9:20 am

great stuff tom but :

is deAngelo williams as bad as he looked in week one.

jason whitten could have monster year.

is matt ryan due to throw 3 td's to roddy this week.

tavarais jackson , alex smith and mcnabb together just threw for 300 yards.

jordy nelson is good.

devery henderson this years brandon llyod

76erfan · Post by **76erfan** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 9:25 am

roddy white isnt scoring 3 td's vs the eagles corners...I think the RB and TE are better plays since the eagles LB's are their weak link

Route Collectors · Post by **Route Collectors** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 9:25 am

Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:

Remember when I told everyone not to get fixated on Greg Jennings' numbers last season when Jermichael Finley was in the lineup because it wasn't applicable to this season? Just sayin.
Just to be fair. Remember when you told everyone Jordy Nelson was being overdrafted and Donald Driver was a good value? As long as we're just sayin then I'm "just sayin"

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 9:34 am

Originally posted by Route C:
quote:Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:

Remember when I told everyone not to get fixated on Greg Jennings' numbers last season when Jermichael Finley was in the lineup because it wasn't applicable to this season? Just sayin.
Just to be fair. Remember when you told everyone Jordy Nelson was being overdrafted and Donald Driver was a good value? As long as we're just sayin then I'm "just sayin"

[/QUOTE]Driver is still a good value. Seven targets, four receptions, one red zone target in the first game. For where he was being drafted, Driver remains outstanding value.

It's possible I undersold Nelson, though.

Route Collectors · Post by **Route Collectors** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 10:40 am

I'm just messin with ya Tom. The real story for me in week 1 was how happy I am to be watching football again.
I played against Brady in the auction and really didn't care. The only thing that mattered was 2 games on a Monday night....watching football til 1:40 AM. What a ridiculous Nirvana that was!

Max Factor · Post by **Max Factor** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 10:56 am

Wasn't moving the kickoff to the 35 yard line supposed to reduce injuries? Nate Kaeding doesn't think so.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 11:50 am

Originally posted by Max Factor:
Wasn't moving the kickoff to the 35 yard line supposed to reduce injuries? Nate Kaeding doesn't think so. This is such a dumb rule change that was done by owners in suits who had no concept of what happens here. Remember, there are still guys blocking and head-butting all the way down the field until the ball goes out of the end zone or the guy takes a knee. There are still possible injuries right up until the end.

In fact, I think you saw so many kickoff returns for TDs because the kickoff team is going half-ass, just expecting the ball to be kicked out of the end zone. They also seem to be getting too deep, hoping to pin the offense inside the 20 instead of filling all of their lanes. It's an insane rule that is as boring as they come.

After watching so many kickoffs go out of the end zone in the Packers' opener, I saw the Saints kick off deep in the end zone again and said "what a stupid rule this is." After Randall Cobb ran it back 108 yards for a TD, my smart ass 9-year-old boy said "yeah, nice rule dad. It worked pretty good this time." Yeah, right kid.

Talk to me later.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 12:23 pm

Originally posted by THE_BLACKHAND:

is deAngelo williams as bad as he looked in week one.

Nope, but it isn't going to get any better for him this week against the Packers.

jason whitten could have monster year.

Yup. He and Romo are tight and Witten tends to be the guy Romo looks for when he's in trouble.

is matt ryan due to throw 3 td's to roddy this week.

I expect one of those games from Roddy but not sure it comes this week against the Eagles. White vs. Asomugha should be a great matchup. This could be another game where Tony Gonzalez steps up nicely.

tavarais jackson , alex smith and mcnabb together just threw for 300 yards.

Smith and Jackson have stunk their entire careers but it's really sad to see McNabb on their level now. What a mighty fall from grace.

jordy nelson is good.

Yeah, he can play but I still wonder how consistent he'll be. He's had plenty of good games in the past but consistency has been an issue. That's usually the case with No. 3 WRs. It's rare that they deliver big-time production consistently. That's one of the reasons I wasn't as high on Collie as others even before Peyton's injury became a significant issue.

devery henderson this years brandon llyod You meant Lance Moore when he gets healthy, right?