2011 Fantasy Football News: Week 1 Roundup

Posted by Jeff Mans on 09/12/2011 | 0 Comments

Tags: fantasy football, week 1, cam newton, andy dalton, tom brady, sam bradford, michael vick, rex grossman, mark sanchez, matt ryan, jay cutler, tony romo, drew brees, aaron rodgers, steven jackson, ben tate, adrian peterson, beanie wells, ray rice, cedric benson, matt forte, tim hightower, mike tolbert, ryan matthews, jamaal charles, legarrette blount, darren mcfadden, cadillan williams, steve smith, andre johnson, calvin johnson, kenny britt, danny amendola, hakeem nicks, marques colston, dez bryant, anquan boldin, plaxico burress, fred davis, jason witten, evan moore, ed dickson, desean jackson, nate kaeding, sebastian janikowski, david nelson, ryan fitzpatrick, matt stafford

Every NFL season is unique in and of itself just as no two fantasy seasons are alike.  Today was the start of a brand new season, one that will wash away our memories of last year and all we thought we knew this off-season.  The first Sunday of the 2011 season saw highly paid superstars fail miserably, new coaches guiding their team to victory, rookies that played like All-Pro veterans and a team that looks lost without its leader.  It was a glorious start for some of us while others can’t wait for week two to be here.  Let’s take a look around the league and discuss all of the highs and lows of this first week shall we? 

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Pittsburgh at Baltimore

Producers

Joe Flacco – 17-29, 224 yards, 3 TD’s passing

Ray Rice – 19-107 yards, 1 TD rushing; 4-42 yards, 1 TD receiving

Anquan Boldin – 4-74 yards, 1 TD receiving

Ed Dickson – 5-59 yards, 1 TD receiving

Mike Wallace – 8-107 yards receiving

Disappointments

Ben Roethlisberger – 22-41, 280 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT passing

Rashard Mendenhall – 12-45 yards rushing

Lee Evans – 0-0 yards receiving

Injuries

James Harrison – LB – Right Knee strain, status is day-to-day

Game Notes

The Steelers defense has some major issues right now.  Free agency, injuries and age have caught up with them in a major way and they are no longer a unit that should strike fear in fantasy owners. 

Anquan Boldin had another TD reception called back due to offensive holding as well. 

Indianapolis at Houston

Producers

Ben Tate – 24-116 yards, 1 TD rushing

Andre Johnson – 7-95 yards, 1 TD receiving

Reggie Wayne – 7-106 yards, 1 TD receiving

Disappointments

Joseph Addai – 8-29 yards rushing

Dallas Clark – 4-39 yards receiving

Owen Daniels – 1-12 yards receiving

Injuries

Derrick Ward left the game in the third quarter with a right ankle sprain.  He was walking on the sidelines and isn’t expected to miss any time.

Kevin Walter has a significant shoulder injury that could lead to him missing extended time.  If there is a break in the shoulder than he may miss the remainder of the season.

Game Notes

Anybody who runs the football for the Texans should be considered a RB1 this season.  The offensive line is mauling defenders and creating huge running lanes in the process. 

The performance by the Colts offense in this game proves that Peyton Manning is indeed the best player in the NFL.  Without him, this team went from Super Bowl contender to Andrew Luck contender real quick

Atlanta at Chicago

Producers

Jay Cutler – 22-32, 312 yards, 2 TD’s passing

Matt Forte – 16-68 yards rushing; 5-90 yards, 1 TD receiving

Michael Turner – 10-100 yards rushing; 3-40 yards receiving

Disappointments

Matt Ryan – 31-47, 319 yards, 1 INT passing

Roddy White – 8-61 yards

Game Notes

Atlanta has a lot of weapons but it doesn’t appear as though Matt Ryan knows how to use them.  He seems overwhelmed by having so many options that he tries to be too perfect with every read and throw which is causing him to dance around too much in the pocket. 

Bears WR Roy Williams left the game with a strained groin muscle but was laughing and stomping around on the sidelines after suffering the so called injury. 

Cincinnati at Cleveland

Producers

Cedric Benson – 25-121 yards, 1 TD rushing

Colt McCoy – 19-40, 213 yards, 2 TD passing

Ben Watson – 3-45 yards, 1 TD receiving

Evan Moore – 3-35 yards, 1 TD receiving

Disappointments

Peyton Hillis – 17-57 yards rushing

A.J. Green – 1-41 yards, 1 TD receiving

Injuries

Andy Dalton left the game with a right wrist injury and did not return.

Game Notes

The offensive line for the Bengals will save them this season.  The guys up front are big, space clearing maulers and will help the younger skill position players greatly. 

Mohammad Massaquoi is a guy who is available in many leagues right now yet is the top receiving option here in Cleveland.  He should be a steady performer in PPR leagues this season.

Detroit at Tampa Bay

Producers

Matthew Stafford – 24-33, 305 yards, 3 TD’s passing

Calvin Johnson – 6-88 yards, 2 TD’s receiving

Disappointments

LaGarrette Blount – 5-15 yards rushing

Jahvid Best – 21-72 yards rushing; 4-42 yards receiving

Injuries

Josh Freeman left the game temporarily due to leg cramps but did return after missing one series. 

Game Notes

Detroit must learn how to close out games and not just try and sit on the ball and run out the clock.  There is so much firepower on this offense they need to keep the pedal to the metal in order to close out games. 

Tennessee at Jacksonville

Producers

Kenny Britt – 5-136 yards, 2 TD’s receiving

Matt Hasselbeck – 21-34, 263 yards, 2 TD’s passing

Maurice Jones-Drew – 34-97 yards, 1 TD

Disappointments

Chris Johnson – 9-24 yards rushing; 6-25 yards receiving

Luke McCown – 17-24, 175 yards passing

Marcedes Lewis – 2-23 yards receiving

Jared Cook – 1-7 yards receiving

Injuries

Marcedes Lewis was in and out of this game with what is believed to be a calf strain.  He will be re-evaluated during the week. 

Game Notes

MJD started out this game looking fast and fresh but slowed down tremendously later on.  It didn’t appear as though his knee was much of a factor but he did seem a little slower or perhaps more hesitant at times today. 

Matt Hasselbeck could have put his team in position to win this game but threw up a hail mary type pass on the final drive the resulted in an interception and thus the end of the game. 

Buffalo at Kansas City

Producers

Ryan Fitzpatrick – 17-25, 208 yards, 4 TD’s

Scott Chandler – 5-63 yards, 2 TD’s receiving

Steve Johnson – 4-66 yards, 1 TD receiving

Disappointments

Matt Cassel – 22-36, 119 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

Dwayne Bowe – 2-17 yards receiving

Steve Breaston – 2-26 yards receiving

Injuries

Matt Cassel appeared to wince several times in this game which leads me to believe he is still reeling from the back/ribcage injury he suffered in the final week of the preseason. 

Game Notes

The Chiefs are not going to be good this year.  The loss of Charlie Weis as offensive coordinator and Todd Haley’s disturbing use of his players will be the downfall of this team. 

Jamaal Charles lost yet another fumble in this game.  Charles has had a long and storied history in protecting the ball and with every turnover his touches become more and more limited.  It doesn’t matter how many yards he averages, he won’t be on the field if he keeps putting the ball on the ground. 

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Philadelphia at St. Louis

Producers

Michael Vick – 14-32, 187 yards, 2 TD’s passing; 10-98 yards rushing

LeSean McCoy – 15-122 yards, 1 TD rushing; 2-15 yards, 1 TD receiving

DeSean Jackson – 6-102 yards, 1 TD receiving

Disappointments

Jeremy Maclin – 1-20 yards receiving

Sam Bradford – 17-30, 188 yards passing

Mike Sims-Walker – 1-5 yards receiving

Injuries

Steven Jackson left the game after his 47 yard TD run on the first drive of the game due to an injured quad muscle.  Jackson is scheduled to undergo an MRI and could wind up missing a couple of weeks. 

Danny Amendola appears likely out for the year after dislocating his elbow on a fourth quarter fall.  The injury looked hideous and I wouldn’t be counting on anything more from Amendola this season. 

Sam Bradford also left the game in the fourth quarter with an injured right index finger.  There is fear that there may be some ligament or even nerve damage in the finger so this is one to watch closely throughout the week. 

Game Notes

The Rams got off to a great start but Jackson’s injury, followed by all of the other injuries really took the wind out of their sails.  Michael Vick is so amazing to watch with how effortless his runs and throws appear to the naked eye.  DeSean Jackson dropped two easy TD passes in this game as well including a 75 yard bomb where he was all alone along the sidelines and watched the ball go right through his arms. 

N.Y. Giants at Washington

Producers

Rex Grossman – 21-34, 305 yards, 2 TD’s passing

Tim Hightower – 25-72 yards, 2 TD rushing; 3-25 yards receiving

Fred Davis – 5-105 yards receiving

Hakeem Nicks – 7-122 yards receiving

Disappointments

Eli Manning – 18-32, 268 yards, 1 INT passing

Brandon Jacobs – 6-29 yards rushing

Chris Cooley – 2-21 yards receiving

Injuries

Hakeem Nicks banged up his knee late in this game but it didn’t appear to be very serious.  He was not on the field however for the Giants final few drives. 

Game Notes

Tim Hightower was the feature back for the Redskins all afternoon which is a good sign for his fantasy value.  Eli Manning needs to learn to rely on a second and third option in the passing game as Hakeem Nicks won’t be able to carry this full a load going forward. 

Seattle at San Francisco

Producers

Doug Baldwin – 4-83 yards, 1 TD receiving

Ted Ginn Jr. – 102 yard kickoff return for TD; 55 yard punt return for TD

Disappointments

Everybody else who played in this game

Injuries

Tavaris Jackson got the wind knocked out of him in the third quarter but unfortunately for Seahawks fans he remained in the game. 

Game Notes

Neither of these offenses were good today.  The Seahawks have some potential especially when they get LG Robert Gallery and WR Sidney Rice back from injury and learn how to use TE Zach Miller properly.  The 49ers will need more miracles like this out of Ted Ginn to be competitive offensively this season. 

Minnesota at San Diego

Producers

Mike Tolbert – 12-35 yards, 1 TD rushing; 9-58 yards, 2 TD’s receiving

Phillip Rivers – 33-48, 335 yards, 2 TD’s, 2 INT’s passing

Disappointments

Donovan McNabb – 7-15, 39 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT passing

Vincent Jackson – 2-31 yards receiving

Bernard Berrian – 0-0 receiving

Injuries

Nate Kaeding was taken off the field on a cart on the opening kickoff in which Percy Harvin returned for a TD.  It appears as though Kaeding will miss significant time with a knee injury and thus should be dropped in all leagues. 

Mike Tolbert appeared to suffer a knee injury late in this game.  He was down for several minutes before limping off the field with help from teammates.  His status will be updated throughout the week. 

Game Notes

The Vikings offense outside of Adrian Peterson is horrible.  Percy Harvin is an explosive player as he demonstrated by returning the opening kickoff 103 yards for a TD.  Ryan Matthews looked real good but it is a nightmare for fantasy owners that he won’t get the ball anywhere near the goal line.  I still feel that Matthews will be the better fantasy player the rest of the way but it is going to take guts to keep starting him over Mike Tolbert. 

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Carolina at Arizona

Producers

Cam Newton – 24-37, 422 yards, 2 TD’s passing; 8-18 yards, 1 TD rushing

Steve Smith – 8-178 yards, 2 TD’s receiving

Kevin Kolb – 18-27, 309 yards, 2 TD’s passing

Early Doucet – 3-105 yards, 1 TD receiving

Beanie Wells – 18-90 yards, 1 TD rushing; 4-12 yards receiving

Disappointments

DeAngelo Williams – 12-30 yards rushing

Jonathan Stewart – 7-26 yards rushing

Larry Fitzgerald – 3-62 yards receiving

Injuries

The Panthers lost LB Jon Beason in what looks like a season ending type injury.  Beason collapsed without contact while running after TE Jeff King in the third quarter and appeared to be clutching his Achilles.  This would be a tremendous loss to the Panthers defense. 

Game Notes

Nobody in this industry like Cam Newton more than I heading into the season but this performance even for me was ridiculous.  Although he will be a good fantasy QB, this is without a doubt the best game he will have this season.  The best part of Newton’s performance is that it makes WR Steve Smith a useful fantasy player once again. 

Lost in all of the Cam Newton hoopla was that Cardinals QB Kevin Kolb was also tremendous in this game.  Kolb took a lot of hits and was under constant pressure but still delivered the throws when needed to get his team the win. 

Dallas at N.Y. Jets

Producers

Mark Sanchez – 26-44, 335 yards, 2 TD’s, 1 INT passing

Tony Romo – 23-36, 342 yards, 2 TD’s, 1 INT passing

Miles Austin – 5-90 yards, 1 TD receiving

Dez Bryant – 3-71 yards, 1 TD receiving

Jason Witten – 6-110 yards receiving

Plaxico Burress – 4-72 yards, 1 TD receiving

Disappointments

Shonn Greene – 10-26 yards rushing

Santonio Holmes – 6-70 yards receiving

Derrick Mason – 3-13 yards receiving

Injuries

No significant injuries to report in this game.

Game Notes

Don’t buy into the media’s reaction to this game.  The fact remains that Tony Romo is a top 10 fantasy QB in any format while Mark Sanchez shouldn’t even be owned in leagues of less than twelve.  Dez Bryant is a complete stud and needs the ball thrown to him more no matter what cornerback is covering him. 

 

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