Browns QB Deshaun Watson completed 16 passes on 29 attempts for 154 passing yards with one TD and INT apiece. He also added 45 rushing yards and a TD on the ground on 5 carries. Aside from a bone-headed third-quarter INT to Bengals S Dax Hill, Watson played reasonably well in the rainy Cleveland weather. We’re still too early in the season to say that Watson is officially “back to form,” though he’ll have a solid opportunity to further prove himself next week against the Steelers on Monday night primetime. The Pittsburgh defense allowed the highest total offensive yards (391) of any team in the early slate of Week 1 vs. the 49ers.
Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence threw 32 times for 241 yards and two TDs in Sunday's win over the Colts. WR Christian Kirk saw just three targets (9.4% share), catching one for nine yards. WR Calvin Ridley, WR Zay Jones, TE Evan Engram, and RB Travis Etienne tallied more targets. There will be better days ahead for Kirk. But Ridley certainly looks like the top dog in this passing game -- and Kirk might not be significantly ahead of Jones and Engram. Consider him a WR3 going forward.
Jaguars WR Calvin Ridley had a big opener in every way. He posted big numbers: 8 catches, 101 yards, and a score. And he saw big volume: 11 targets for a 34.4% share. Ridley got open at will against a shaky Colts secondary and looked explosive after the catch. He's in for a big fantasy season and gets plus matchups the next three weeks vs. the Chiefs, Texans, and Falcons.
Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase logged 5 catches on 9 targets for 39 receiving yards in Sunday’s 24-3 loss vs. the Browns. His teammate Tee Higgins recorded zero catches on 8 targets in Week 1. HC Zac Taylor spoke optimistically following the contest, saying, “This isn’t the team that we are going to be. We all understand that,” per The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. Fantasy managers looking to get more in Week 2 vs. the Ravens sure hope so. Chase came close to double-digit PPR points, but Higgins being completely shut out is the biggest concern. We’ll hold off on getting too worried, however. QB Joe Burrow struggled to hold onto the football due to wet conditions and eventually had to wear a glove on his hand. There are assuredly brighter days ahead for the Cincinnati offense.
Steelers DL Cameron Heyward left Sunday's loss to the 49ers with a groin injury. He tried to return but left again shortly thereafter and missed the rest of the game. We'll see about the severity heading into Week 2.
Bengals RB Joe Mixon recorded 13 attempts for 56 rushing yards in Week 1’s loss to the Browns. He also added 3 catches on 5 targets for 17 receiving yards as a receiver. The Bengals’ offense as a whole experienced a hard time getting anything going in the crummy Cleveland weather. Fortunately, there’s some hope to hold onto moving forward. Mixon dominated the RB workload, receiving 13 of the team’s 15 carries (86.6%). No other Bengals’ back saw more than 2 attempts. Managers looking ahead to Week 2’s matchup vs. the Ravens can feel good about the workhorse-like share from Mixon.
In a surprising turn of events, Bengals QB Joe Burrow was pulled from Week 1’s contest vs. the Browns in the fourth quarter. He completed 14 passes on 31 attempts for a career-low 82 passing yards with no TDs or INTs in the blowout 24-3 loss. While the rainy weather in Cleveland played a factor in this contest, it’s still a letdown to see the newly minted richest QB in the NFL post such poor numbers. It’s worthy of mention that Burrow struggled to grip the football and had to put on a glove midway through the game. Fantasy managers looking ahead should see far greater results from Burrow and the Bengals as they host the Ravens in Week 2.
Jaguars RB Tank Bigsby popped in a one-yard TD in Sunday's season-opening win over the Colts. The rookie got both of Jacksonville's carries from the 5-yard line and in. But he was out-carried overall by RB Travis Etienne 18 to 7. Bigsby also saw just one target -- and dropped it, resulting in an INT. We'll see how this backfield evolves over the course of the season. But, in the short term, Bigsby looks like a TD-or-bust fantasy play.
Jaguars RB Travis Etienne racked up 104 total yards and a TD in the Week 1 win over the Colts. The score was a 26-yard burst in the fourth quarter to put the game away. More importantly, Etienne out-carried RB Tank Bigsby 18 to seven and out-targeted him five to one. Bigsby did vulture a one-yard TD and might continue to be favored at the goal line. But if Etienne continues to get this type of volume, he'll deliver as a top-15 fantasy RB. Etienne will find himself in a likely shootout vs. the Chiefs in Week 2 and then gets favorable matchups against the Texans and Falcons in Weeks 3 and 4.
Ravens S Marcus Williams injured his left shoulder in Sunday's game against the Texans and was ruled out shortly thereafter. We'll see about the severity. Williams lost seven games to a dislocated wrist last year, his first with Baltimore.
NFL Network reports that Ravens RB J.K. Dobbins is feared to have suffered a torn Achilles. He's scheduled for an MRI to confirm. It'd be a season-ending injury for Dobbins, who had seemingly just worked back to 100% from his devastating 2021 knee injury. Dobbins' absence would leave Baltimore's backfield to Justice Hill and Gus Edwards.
Texans S Jalen Pitre left Sunday's game against the Ravens with a chest injury and was quickly ruled out. We'll see about the official diagnosis. M.J. Stewart entered the game in Pitre's place in a secondary already missing S Jimmie Ward (hip).
Update: Pitre went to the hospital with a bruised lung after taking a knee from Ravens QB Lamar Jackson. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that Pitre "should be OK." We'll see how much time he's expected to miss.
Chargers RB Isaiah Spiller is a healthy scratch for today's opener vs. the Dolphins. It's confirmation that Joshua Kelley is the No. 2 RB behind Austin Ekeler.
Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth is questionable to return to Sunday's game vs. the 49ers with a chest injury. We'll update his status when we know more.
Update: Freiermuth returned to the game.
Steelers WR Diontae Johnson went down with a hamstring injury in the third quarter of Sunday's game vs. the 49ers and was quickly ruled out. That doesn't bode well for his status going forward. Stay tuned for an update on Johnson's injury.
Colts RB Evan Hull was knocked out of Sunday's game vs. the Jaguars with a knee injury. That leaves all the backfield work to RB Deon Jackson for the rest of this one. We'll update Hull's status when we know more.
Patriots WR DeVante Parker (knee) is inactive for today’s game vs. the Eagles. That leaves JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kendrick Bourne, and Demario Douglas as New England’s top three WRs. Smith-Schuster is a viable WR3 play. TE Hunter Henry could also see an extra target or two with Parker out.
Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson (illness) is active for today’s game vs. the Eagles. He missed Friday's practice with a stomach bug but should be ready for his usual role today.
Packers WR Romeo Doubs (hamstring) is active for today’s game vs. the Bears. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported this morning that Doubs is expected to be limited today. He’s not a recommended fantasy starter.
Dolphins RB De'Von Achane is a healthy scratch for today's game vs. the Chargers. The rookie has some work to do to earn a role in this offense. Raheem Mostert and Salvon Ahmed will handle backfield duties for Miami today.
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