Chiefs 1-0
Chargers 1-0
Raiders 1-0
Broncos 0-1
Chiefs~
In a wild 2020, the Chiefs kicked off the best part of this year with an opening day win against the Houston Texans. Here’s the breakdown of some notable performances and some guys I’m confident about and not for the rest of the season.
Notable Performances: Patrick Mahomes, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, and Sammy Watkins
Players I’m confident in ROS (Rest of Season):
Patrick Mahomes – On a pretty quiet night for Mahomes, he still managed to go 24/32, 211 yards, and 3 TDs. Considering the game flow and how the chiefs were up in the game for almost the entirety of the game, Mahomes still put up good numbers and will be reliable down the stretch.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire – Clyde Edwards-Helaire was 1 of 3 RB’s in week 1 who managed to have 100 yards rushing. His debut was nothing short of spectacular as the rookie was put to work early in the game and stayed busy to run the clock at the end of the game. Clyde finished with 25 carries for 138 yards and 1 TD. Clyde was targeted twice but failed to haul in a reception in his 19.8 points (PPR) rookie debut. Putting up 19.8 points in PPR formats with no receptions is impressive and shows that his ceiling is much higher than his output in week 1 which is why I am confident in Edwards-Helaire for the remainder of the season.
Travis Kelce – Kelce was targeted early and often in the first half of the game and managed to finish with a stat line of 6 Recs, 50 Yards, and 1 TD. Hauling in all 6 of his targets proves that the Mahomes-Kelce connection is still as good as ever and is a reason I am very confident in Kelce for the remainder of the 2020 season.
Tyreek Hill – Hill hauled in 5 Recs on 6 Targets in week 1 in a game where the ball was very evenly spread amongst all weapons. Hill’s stat line of 5 Recs, 46 Yards, and 1 TD was outshined by Sammy Watkins and his annual Week 1 magic. Hill still managed to be very effective with decent volume and that is the reason I am very confident in Tyreek hill for the rest of the 2020 season.
Players I’m NOT confident in ROS (Rest of Season):
Sammy Watkins – The week 1 magician struck again in his 2020 debut, finishing with a stat line of 7 Recs on 9 Targets for 82 Yards and 1 TD. So you’re probably wondering how this stat line landed Watkins on my list of Players I’m not confident in for the ROS and here’s why. Watkins had a huge dropoff in Average Points per Game in 2019 from the beginning of the season to the end and with all healthy weapons in KC there is nothing to stop it from happening again in 2020. This is a player that has good Flex value in deeper leagues but if 2019 was any indication of what’s to come, I would highly recommend trying to trade high on Watkins while you can and get good value for him before its too late.
Players you might want to add:
Darrel Williams – Williams is the clear cut #2 in KC and showed that he can still fit the role KC needs if anything were to ever happen to Clyde. Any fantasy teams that are thin at RB should target Williams if available.
Chargers~
The Chargers pulled out a week 1 victory by being the beneficiaries of a late missed field goal by CIN in the 4th quarter of a tight game. Here’s the breakdown of some notable performances and some guys I’m confident about and not confident on for the rest of the season.
Notable Performances: Austin Ekeler, Joshua Kelley, Hunter Henry, and Mike Williams
Players I’m confident in ROS:
Austin Ekeler – Ekeler had 19 carries for 84 yards in a win on Sunday. Many people are concerned with Ekeler’s 1 target and 1 Rec. The concern is a healthy one considering after the game, Head Coach Anthony Lynn didn’t have much to say about the matter other than to try and keep getting Ekeler touches. However, with a 58% Rushing share of the backfield, an average of 4.4 Yards per Rush, and some notable Red Zone carries is the reason why I am confident in Ekeler for the rest of the 2020 season.
Joshua Kelley – The rookie showed out in his debut showing flashes of pure athleticism and football IQ in the win on Sunday. Kelley finished with 12 carries for 60 yards and 1 TD. Kelley’s average of 5 Yards Per Rush was very eye-opening along with his very noticeable goal line touches. Kelley went undrafted in most leagues and should be a targeted guy to pick up on the Waiver Wire before week 2. Kelley shows promise to be a reliable handcuff with an upside of a possible Flex started in deeper leagues and that is why Kelley is a player I am confident in for the rest of the 2020 season.
Hunter Henry – Henry had an impressive week 1 by pulling in 5 Recs on 8 Targets and 73 Yards to go along with it. Going into 2020, a lot of people were skeptical of how much new QB Tyrod Taylor would target the Pro Bowl TE, and in Week 1 that was answered. Henry was targeted in important situations which proves he is the security blanket for Tyrod Taylor and is the reason why I am confident in Henry for the rest of the 2020 season.
Mike Williams – Williams once again proved that he is still one of the best 1 on 1 deep-ball receivers in the game after he made some acrobatic catches on Sunday putting up a stat line of 4 Recs on 9 Targets (Which led the team) and 69 yards. Tyrod Taylor took multiple shots downfield in 1 on 1 situations and showed his old self by being very careful with the football. These are all good signs for the Williams-Tyrod connection and is why Williams is on my list of players I’m confident in for the ROS.
Players I’m NOT Confident in ROS:
Tyrod Taylor – Taylor in week 1 was to no one’s surprise, average. Taylor is known for being very careful with the football and he proved that by throwing no INTs in week 1. However, Taylor didn’t throw any TDS either against a subpar CIN Def. This is cause for concern for Taylor’s fantasy value going forward and is why he is on my list of players I’m not confident in for the ROS.
Players to monitor: Keenan Allen
Allen is on my list of players to monitor for very obvious reasons. Henry matched Allen’s targets in Week 1 and Williams had one more target than Allen in Week 1. I don’t believe this will be the case for the ROS considering Allen just got paid a lot of money. However, there are very few coincidences in Fantasy Football so be sure to keep a close eye on Allen’s production in Week 2. Allen is without a doubt the best receiver on the team but with new QB Tyrod Taylor, we still aren’t sure who his favorite target is which leaves the possibility of maybe Phillip Rivers was the main part of Allen’s success all these years.
Raiders~
The Raiders pulled off a high scoring 34 point Win against the Panthers on Sunday. Here’s the breakdown of some notable performances and some guys I’m confident about and not confident on for the rest of the season.
Notable Performances: Josh Jacobs, Henry Ruggs, and Darren Waller
Players I’m confident in ROS:
Josh Jacobs – Jacobs stat line of 25 carries for 93 yards and 3 TD’s was exactly why he was taken in the 1st round of most fantasy drafts this year. Jacobs’ ceiling is as high as anyone in the league and he proved that on Sunday. As long as Jacobs can remain healthy, his usage in that Jon Gruden offense should have him as a top 5 fantasy RB for the 2020 season and is why he’s on my list of players I’m confident in for the ROS.
Henry Ruggs – Ruggs led all receivers with 5 Targets and he pulled in 3 of them for 55 yards giving him an 18.3 yards per catch average to start the 2020 season. Ruggs showed signs of pure athleticism and talent that separate him from the other receivers on the roster. Ruggs will be a solid WR2 talent for the remainder of the 2020 season. My expectation is Ruggs will see a lot of big plays and higher volume as the season goes on and is why he is on my players I’m confident in for the ROS.
Darren Waller – Waller looked promising in his debut by leading the team with 8 targets and pulling in 6 of them for 45 yards in week 1. I’d expect Waller to continue this trend as the year goes on even though Witten did manage to steal 1 goal line target from Waller which may happen every once in a while. With only Ruggs as a true threat, Waller is someone I’m very confident in for the ROS.
Players I’m NOT confident in ROS:
Hunter Renfrow – Renfrow saw only 2 targets in a close high scoring game where Carr threw the ball 30 times. Agholor saw 1 target in this game and it was for a 21 yard TD where he flashed some good athleticism and big play ability. The injury to Tyrell Williams made Renfrow’s ADP rise in the offseason but in week 1 it was concerning to see Renfrow have such a small role in a highly offensive scoring game. This is why Renfrow is on my list of players I’m not confident in for the ROS.
Broncos~
The Broncos are the only team in the AFC West to not come away with a win in Week 1 as they lost to the Titans on Monday night 16-14. Here’s the breakdown of some notable performances and some guys I’m confident about and not confident on for the rest of the season.
Notable Performances: Melvin Gordon, Noah Fant, and Jerry Jeudy
Players I’m confident in ROS:
Melvin Gordon – Gordon’s first game with his new team was a good one as he finished with an average of 5.2 YPC on 15 rushing attempts and 78 Yards with 1 TD. Gordon’s usage increased when Phillip Lindsay left the game due to Turf Toe. Turf Toe can be an injury that can linger and cause players to miss a good amount of time depending on pain management. Lindsay had gotten an MRI Tuesday morning but they decided to get a second opinion so word on Lindsay’s injury should be out by Wednesday afternoon. Gordon only touched the ball 15 times but he made the most of it and fought for some hard-earned yards behind a shaky offensive line. This is why Gordon is on my list of players I’m confident in ROS.
Noah Fant – Fant had a great start to the season finishing with 5 Recs on 6 Targets (2nd to Jeudy) for 56 Yards and 1 TD. Fant proved once again he is a big play type of guy in that offense and that he can create after the catch. Without Courtland Sutton, Fant and Jeudy retained more targets and were efficient with their touches. Fant was used in the red zone and in big-time situations which is why he is on my list of players I’m confident in ROS.
Jerry Jeudy – Jeudy looked very sharp in his opening debut going 4 for 56 on a team-high 8 Targets. Without Sutton, Jeudy is a solid WR2 play and will still be a solid flex play when Sutton returns to the field. Jeudy was making quick cuts and showed he can create after the catch in tough situations. His ability to work out of the slot or on the outside will definitely create more possibilities for him in this offense and is the reason why he is on my list of players I’m confident in ROS.
Players I’m NOT confident in ROS:
Phillip Lindsay – Lindsay showed he can still get some tough-earned yards in a close game with the Titans on Monday Night. Lindsay’s night was cut short after leaving the game with turf toe. Lindsay managed to get 24 yards on 7 carries before leaving the game. As of now, there’s no timetable for when Lindsay will return and if Monday Night is any indication on how he will be used for the ROS I would keep Lindsay only if you need a Flex player in a tight position but I would still look to play any Flex type WR over Lindsay if possible. This is why Lindsay is on my players I’m not confident in for ROS.
