Stompin' Tom Connors
Footballguy
Week 1 always brings some surprises.
Teams still trying to gel on both sides of the ball. Certain situationsneed to be played out on the field in the first 60 mins of the season (split time back roles, whether guys coming back from injury have "it" back, aging vets and whether they seem like they will have gas in the tank for another year, etc.).
This Week One has been fantastic so far. In addition to the above, you had multiple teams (IND, KC, among others) coming back from deep holes; many squads (Broncs, Raiders, Seattle, among others) winning in the last waning moments of the game; one overtime and 7 games decided by 5 points or less (4 games by just 1 point). Shootouts on one hand, surprisingly defensive games on another.
Boys and girls, football is BACK, baby!
What were some of your favorite storylines/callouts so far?
Here are some of mine:
From an NFL perspective: Raiders still committing penalties like it's the 90s, but their revamped squad can play tough. Even if their D isn't clicking, they can sactually hang with the best in a shootout, and show the balls to play for the win -- and execute. Very unlike the Raiders of the last 10 years.
From a fantasy perspective: team on a tear Week 1 with a solid 50+ point lead into tomorrow. Loving the decision to take Julius Thomas a little earlier than I usually take TEs because of the drop I saw to the next tier -- will be super-viable every week.
Other stories I'm liking:
1) All of AFC West teams playing tough this week -- Raiders winning a tough shootout on the road; KC defending their house against a surprisingly effective SD offense, Denver KO'ing the Panthers again.
2) RBs justifying drafters' faith: CJ Anderson, the Murrays from Oakland and Tennessee, Melvin Gordon, Forte, Ryan Matthews, Shady McCoy, even Doug Martin and Langford.to a degree with solid games.
WRs guys are super excited they landed: AJ Green, who may have slipped slightly beneath ADP. Kelvin Benjamin playing up to his hype, as does Mike Evans in TB. Amari Cooper looking all-world; Jordan Matthews and Alshon Jeffry looking dangerous as expected. Doug Baldwin proving he may not just settle back to his mean, as at least I expected.
3) Backs and receivers proving their hype: Ware in KC; Lacy in GB proving the "he's still fat" crowd that he can still rumble and looks to be all the way back;
Tejan Sharpe is the real deal. Will Fuller was hyped but still highly underrated in that offense.
4) Players who reminded us they are very much deserving of the hype their counterparts get: Crowell well outproducing Duke; Forsett looking strong in BAL's carousel backfield, Jennings producing across all 3 downs. Both Cooks and Snead exploded without affecting each others' production;
5) Vets continuing to cement their value: Gore, Clay Matthews, Jason Witten, and above all, AJ Green.
6) Situations to keep an eye on: Many were wary of Devonta Freeman, thinking Tevin Coleman looked great when he was healthy last year. This year, Coleman looks to be the force to be reckoned with.
Brandon LaFell may be very productive even as other receivers get healthier on the Bengals' roster.
Mike Wallace had eyes on him this preseason, and while he's not coming from out of nowhere, looking like he will have a great season reeling them in from Flacco.
How Christine Michael and Rawls will share the load going forward.
Victor Cruz did well coming back -- and if he keeps it up, no question Giants looking like they have the best 3 WRs in the NFL
People were expecting Sims to have a consistent role (as I did) -- but with his continued performance, Bucs would be foolish not to deal more carries his way -- possibly at an expense to Martin's yearly attempt forecasts.
Minny looks like they didn't miss a step with a new QB, and look primed to have a great season on both sides of the ball.
I could go on and on.
What did you see in this crazy Week 1 that made you sit up and take notice?
Teams still trying to gel on both sides of the ball. Certain situationsneed to be played out on the field in the first 60 mins of the season (split time back roles, whether guys coming back from injury have "it" back, aging vets and whether they seem like they will have gas in the tank for another year, etc.).
This Week One has been fantastic so far. In addition to the above, you had multiple teams (IND, KC, among others) coming back from deep holes; many squads (Broncs, Raiders, Seattle, among others) winning in the last waning moments of the game; one overtime and 7 games decided by 5 points or less (4 games by just 1 point). Shootouts on one hand, surprisingly defensive games on another.
Boys and girls, football is BACK, baby!
What were some of your favorite storylines/callouts so far?
Here are some of mine:
From an NFL perspective: Raiders still committing penalties like it's the 90s, but their revamped squad can play tough. Even if their D isn't clicking, they can sactually hang with the best in a shootout, and show the balls to play for the win -- and execute. Very unlike the Raiders of the last 10 years.
From a fantasy perspective: team on a tear Week 1 with a solid 50+ point lead into tomorrow. Loving the decision to take Julius Thomas a little earlier than I usually take TEs because of the drop I saw to the next tier -- will be super-viable every week.
Other stories I'm liking:
1) All of AFC West teams playing tough this week -- Raiders winning a tough shootout on the road; KC defending their house against a surprisingly effective SD offense, Denver KO'ing the Panthers again.
2) RBs justifying drafters' faith: CJ Anderson, the Murrays from Oakland and Tennessee, Melvin Gordon, Forte, Ryan Matthews, Shady McCoy, even Doug Martin and Langford.to a degree with solid games.
WRs guys are super excited they landed: AJ Green, who may have slipped slightly beneath ADP. Kelvin Benjamin playing up to his hype, as does Mike Evans in TB. Amari Cooper looking all-world; Jordan Matthews and Alshon Jeffry looking dangerous as expected. Doug Baldwin proving he may not just settle back to his mean, as at least I expected.
3) Backs and receivers proving their hype: Ware in KC; Lacy in GB proving the "he's still fat" crowd that he can still rumble and looks to be all the way back;
Tejan Sharpe is the real deal. Will Fuller was hyped but still highly underrated in that offense.
4) Players who reminded us they are very much deserving of the hype their counterparts get: Crowell well outproducing Duke; Forsett looking strong in BAL's carousel backfield, Jennings producing across all 3 downs. Both Cooks and Snead exploded without affecting each others' production;
5) Vets continuing to cement their value: Gore, Clay Matthews, Jason Witten, and above all, AJ Green.
6) Situations to keep an eye on: Many were wary of Devonta Freeman, thinking Tevin Coleman looked great when he was healthy last year. This year, Coleman looks to be the force to be reckoned with.
Brandon LaFell may be very productive even as other receivers get healthier on the Bengals' roster.
Mike Wallace had eyes on him this preseason, and while he's not coming from out of nowhere, looking like he will have a great season reeling them in from Flacco.
How Christine Michael and Rawls will share the load going forward.
Victor Cruz did well coming back -- and if he keeps it up, no question Giants looking like they have the best 3 WRs in the NFL
People were expecting Sims to have a consistent role (as I did) -- but with his continued performance, Bucs would be foolish not to deal more carries his way -- possibly at an expense to Martin's yearly attempt forecasts.
Minny looks like they didn't miss a step with a new QB, and look primed to have a great season on both sides of the ball.
I could go on and on.
What did you see in this crazy Week 1 that made you sit up and take notice?
