Summary of Game Of The Week - Week 1
My first ever game of the week saw the Jets take on the Ravens. You can find that here. If you remember the big players, we were evaluating were QB Lamar Jackson coming off his unsuccessful contract negotiations, Zach Wilson who we figured wouldn’t be able to play and he didn’t, so he is still a question mark with his injury. We also talked JK Dobbins who I sand bench which was excellent considering his inactive status prior to the game as the data told us for how he was leading up to the game coming off his injury, Michael Carter and Breece Hall were the featured backs on the Jets side with Carter seeing 10 carries for 60 yards and 7 receptions for 40 and Breece Hall seeing 6 carries for 23 yards and 6 receptions for 38 yards. Carter earned 17.00 fantasy points on Sleeper and Breece Hall 10.10. Both respectable and about where we thought they might end up.
On the receiver side Devin Duvernay really stepped into his role going 4 for 54 and recording two TD’s while Rashod Bateman went 2 of 5 for 59 with a touchdown. Bateman’s outside of the long TD pass does make you worry a little but not enough to take him out of your flex position if that’s where you have him as it was only week 1 and we will see how he starts working in more. On the Jets side Elijah Moore had a decent day and if it wasn’t for the Touchdown called back could have looked really good. Garrett Wilson saw good time and a nice split with Elijah Moore and Corey Davis speaking to good usage for the year.
From a tight end perspective Mark Andrews really under delivered. He finished the game ok but not what was expected at his draft position with him going 3 and 4th rounds easily, even 2nd in some. We hope to see more connections from him and Lamar this week as the Ravens take on the Dolphins.
Week one gave us some good looks at some potential flex options and starters for fantasy league owners to start gathering information when looking at lineups for week 2 and trades.
Let’s jump into this week’s GOTW!
Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers
I’m going to be honest; did I think Aaron Rodgers would be great this season? No that’s why he is on my 2022 fantasy bust list. Did I think he would throw a touchdown against the Vikings week 1? Yes, I did…I was wrong. Week 1 saw a terrible outing for Rodgers who threw for 195 yards, an interception, and no touchdowns. His top receiver was running back AJ Dillon. All in all, losing Davante Adams showed and not in a good way but more of a way where Christian Watson drops a wide open touchdown. There is a lot of work to do. I honestly think that they will get it together enough this year. We are talking about a guy who last year looked worse in week 1 and went on to win the MVP. He won’t win the MVP this year, Im going to put myself out there and say it but he will figure out a way to get footballs in receivers hands and make plays.
On the other side we have Bears QB Justin Fields. Fields went 8-17 for 121 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception. He figured out ways to execute that ultimately ended in a W. I think Fields is a good pick-up on a week by week basis due to his mobility and a few weapons he has on offense. I don’t see him as a QB1 week to week, not yet anyways. With that said he put up ok numbers considering the rain and field conditions.
Running Backs
I love the Green Bay running backs in fantasy. Both Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon I expect to put up consistent numbers week to week. Both can be bruising backs if they want to be, break tackles for extra yards and both have good hands catching out of the backfield. This past week proved that they are going to be used a lot especially with the way their receiving unit looks. In my opinion these are two guys that you cant go wrong with in your lineup. Yes Jones is more of an RB1 and Dillon an RB2/3 but I think this year with Adams gone and Lazard injured the first few weeks Dillon is a good RB2.
For the Bears: David Montgomery had volume in the game but had a hard time moving forward. He ended the game with 17 carries for 26 yards and had 24 receiving yards. This week he is going up a top tier defensive line and with Chicago’s O-line the way they are I don’t see much of a different result. If you have other options on your team, I would put them in this week over Montgomery. It looks like it’s going to be a long day for him.
Wide Receivers
What is there to say about Green Bay’s receivers that hasn’t already been said. They are inconsistent and nobody really knows what they are going to be able to do. Sammy Watkins has 1-2 big games a year but its so inconsistent that you don’t know when that will be. Randall Cobb is no different. The other guys are young. Romeo Doubs saw a 14.3% target rate last game and Christian Watson saw a 14.8%. They are getting equal looks but nobody has taken that step up outside of the workhorse running backs. Allen Lazard looks to be the best option after return from injury, he practiced today but he isn’t a guy I would put in my lineup until we see what he can do once he returns.
For the Bears there aren’t many options. Equanimeous St. Brown will have to sit on the bench until he shows what he can really do (one game isn't enough). The only potential receiver I would think about starting at flex is Darnell Mooney and that is because I’m giving credit that the field and conditions were the way they were and that played a big factor in the ability to pass the ball. I would hope to see more targets to him and more yards. If I have an equal or better option however, i’m putting them in because I don’t trust the offensive line of the bears to give Fields enough time to throw the ball and if Fields gets in trouble he has the mobility to make something out of the play on his own. Cole Kmet had a lot of hype prior to the season and though I can’t count him out because of the game-plan due to weather he will have to put up some good numbers for me to jump on that bandwagon after seeing just 1 target in a game that you would think if there was any passing going on he would be looked at for some shorter routes.
With all of that said I think Green Bay finds a way and comes out on top to get their first win of the season. The Bears were helped by the absence of George Kittle, injury to Elijah Mitchell and weather conditions and I think the Packers led by their fearless leader Aaron Rodgers finds a way to do what he always does to the Bearsand win in my opinion. Good Luck to all this week, and cheers to big players making big plays for all of you!am
