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| BUF at NE | CHI at GB | DAL at TB | DEN at CIN | DET at NO | JAX at IND | KC at BAL | MIA at ATL |
| MIN at CLE | NYJ at HOU | PHI at CAR | SD at OAK | SF at ARI | STL at SEA | TEN at PIT | WAS at NYG |
Week 1 Game Recap: Buffalo Bills 24, New England Patriots 25
Buffalo Bills
| QB Trent Edwards, Pass: 15 - 25 - 212 - 2 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 2 - 25 - 0 |
Edwards ran the no huddle well, with command over the scheme and solid, if overly safe execution. Edwards rarely hung in long enough to pass more than 5-10 yards downfield, but the deep routes run by Lee Evans and Terrell Owens opened up a lot of room underneath for passes to Fred Jackson and the tight ends. Edwards also looked good scrambling, gaining a key first down in the red zone on the way to a fourth quarter TD. Edwards numbers will be modest as long as he doesn't challenge the defense, but he should still be a very solid fantasy backup in this scheme. If he gets some gumption and grows out of the game manager role, he could be a surprise QB1.
| RB Fred Jackson, Rush: 15 - 57 - 0, Rec: 5 - 83 - 1 (7 targets) |
Jackson basically the engine of the offense. He ran very hard and strong for a back who isn't built for power. Jackson was patient and shifty in the open field, and he got a lot of yards after the catch on his receptions. Most of his yardage came in big chunks, and he scored on a screen pass in the red zone. Jackson will be a great start in PPR leagues until Marshawn Lynch returns, and he's probably closer to a 1A than a backup when Lynch is back.
| RB Xavier Omon, Rush: 2 - 8 - 0 |
Omon only got to touch the ball twice, but he did show great leg drive on his second carry.
| RB Marshawn Lynch |
Lynch didn't play, but it's important to point out that this offense will be very RB friendly in the passing game as long as Trent Edwards remains conservative.
| WR Lee Evans, Rec: 3 - 25 - 0 (6 targets) |
Evans got one downfield target that he couldn't haul in, but mostly he was a decoy. His few receptions were short and intermediate routes. His talent is basically wasted with a QB who won't air it out, but he does have the wheels to turn a short catch into a long gain. Don't drop him in a bout of impatience, he's still one of the most talented WRs in the league, and he and Edwards were on the same page early last year.
| WR Terrell Owens, Rec: 2 - 46 - 0 (3 targets) |
Owens had a drop and a pass interference penalty, and only caught two passes. One was a nice gain on a catch and run that Edwards created by getting keeping the play alive when the pocket broke down. The other came on the Bills desperation drive in the last minute. Owens is unlikely to come close to living up to his ADP unless Edwards approach changes.
| TE Derek Schouman, Rec: 3 - 41 - 0 (4 targets) |
Schouman got good yardage on his targets with hard running after the catch, but his role will remain limited, or even reduced as rookie Shawn Nelson learns the roles and expands his role.
| TE Shawn Nelson, Rec: 2 - 13 - 1 (4 targets) |
Nelson was a bigger part of the Buffalo offense than anyone expected. His blocks sprung at least one long run for Fred Jackson, and he scored the Bills first TD on a nice run after a short catch in the red zone. Nelson got another red zone target later, and had a short catch in the second quarter. He looked very athletic, and he could emerge as a big part of the passing attack as the season goes on.
New England Patriots
| QB Tom Brady, Pass: 39 - 53 - 378 - 2 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 1 - 9 - 0 |
Brady's night got off to a rough start. The Bills brought good pressure early, and Brady was uncharacteristically off on some of his first half passes. He tried to lob a ball over Aaron Schobel on a screen deep in Pats territory in the second quarter, and Schobel deflected it to himself and returned it for a TD. Brady settled down in the second half, and got in a great rhythm with Wes Welker and Randy Moss, basically moving the offense at will. Brady didn't really air it out all night, but he had that same look of perfect harmony with his receivers and the offensive scheme that he had in 2007. He will live up to his ADP as long as he stays healthy.
| RB Laurence Maroney, Rush: 10 - 32 - 0, Rec: 2 - 9 - 0 (2 targets) |
Maroney had a few decent runs, but he failed to convert a 4th and 1 early in the game, and he was generally thwarted by an aggressive Bills defense. Maroney did not get any goal line looks, which is a big hit to his expected value . He still clearly has the freshest legs of any Pats RB, but he didn't do anything to stake a claim to a larger role Monday night.
| RB Fred Taylor, Rush: 9 - 25 - 1 |
Taylor ran harder and stronger than any other Pats RB. Taylor's burst isn't what it used to be, but he did get the first and goal carry at the 1 and promptly converted. We have to assume that he's the back in goal line sets, and therefore, the NE back to own in non-PPR leagues.
| RB Sammy Morris (1 targets) |
Whether it was because of a lingering injury from training camp, or just a waning role, Morris barely saw the field on Monday night. If injuries strike ahead of him on the depth chart, he could have value, but he's not worth carrying right now.
| WR Randy Moss, Rec: 12 - 141 - 0 (16 targets) |
Moss didn't have of his patented levitating touchdown catches or easy deep catches as he streaked away from the defense, but he made all kinds of short catches that required taking punishment, and he was effective getting yards after the catch. Moss's biggest gain was on a short pass that he turned into a long gain. He looked as fast and explosive and sure-handed as ever. With Brady and Welker also operating well, Moss is on his way to a big year as long as he and Brady stay healthy. He's well worth the first round pick he cost in PPR leagues this year.
| WR Wes Welker, Rec: 12 - 93 - 0 (16 targets) |
Welker was injured in the preseason, and his condition was shrouded in secrecy (because that's just how Belichick rolls), but he looked like good old Welker all night, with the exception of a few drops. Welker's quicks got him open on his bread and butter short routes, but his run after catch yards were limited because of good defensive pursuit and tackling by the Bills. Welker is well on his way to his 110+ catch numbers he has put up the last two years, and he may even end up being a steal at his third round ADP in PPR leagues.
| WR Joey Galloway (2 targets) |
Galloway was barely targeted all night. He seemed to almost get free deep once, but Donte Whitner was flying over from the middle of the field, and Brady wisely threw the ball over Galloway and out of bounds. He won't get into the box score much this year unless defenses drastically change their approach to defending the Patriots offense.
| TE Ben Watson, Rec: 6 - 77 - 2 (7 targets) |
Just when you were ready to give up on Ben Watson, he goes and has one of the best weeks of any fantasy TE. Watson was the hot read for Brady on one catch, and he also got a red zone target before his scoring spree late in the game. Watson only had one drop, and he scored on the same post/seam route on both of his late TDs. The second one had tighter coverage, and Watson had to twist in the air to make the catch. He had six TDs in Brady's record-breaking season of 2007, and he should be picked up in non-PPR leagues because he clearly has Brady's trust going forward.
| TE Chris Baker, Rec: 1 - 7 - 0 (1 targets) |
Baker was supposed to be the #1 TE for the Pats, but he only had one target and catch, and Ben Watson got the important snaps in crunch time.