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| Other Week 1 Game Recaps | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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: Kansas City Chiefs 24, Baltimore Ravens 38
Kansas City Chiefs
| QB Brodie Croyle, Pass: 16 - 24 - 177 - 2 TD / 0 INT |
Croyle got the call for a spot start with Matt Cassel unable to go, and he really drew the short straw by having to visit Baltimore in Week 1. He struggled early to just get plays off and was benched for a series in favor of Tyler Thigpen. Croyle hung tough against the relentless Raven pressure, but he only really led the team on one true scoring drive, as one TD came on special teams, and another was only a six-yard drive. Still, Croyle had the highest passer rating of any KC starting QB in three years, and he had to make head coach Todd Haley happy, even though he couldn't come through at the end of the game. Matt Cassel is expected to return for next week's contest so Croyle will have to wait for another chance later in the year.
| QB Tyler Thigpen, Rush: 1 - 2 - 0 |
Thigpen played one series against the Ravens in the second quarter of Week 1. Brodie Croyle was ineffective early so Thigpen came in to try and light a spark for the Chiefs. Thigpen was only given the one series and he ran once for two yards and did not attempt a pass. Odds are that, after Croyle's decent performance after returning, Thigpen will go back to QB3 status.
| QB Matt Cassel |
Cassel was deactivated for Week 1 against Baltimore, allowing for Brodie Croyle to step into the starting role to open the season. Look for Cassel to bounce back from his knee injury and start Week 2.
| RB Larry Johnson, Rush: 11 - 20 - 0, Rec: 1 - 6 - 0 (1 targets) |
It is tough to gauge Johnson's performance against Baltimore, as they are one of the toughest run defenses in the NFL. Johnson was hit often in the backfield and could barely get going, so it is hard to say if Johnson has lost a step if he never gets to take one. If anything, the issues are with the Kansas City offensive line as they need to give Johnson and company more breathing room to get things going. Johnson has to have a better time of it next week against Oakland and with QB Matt Cassel expected back.Dwayne Bowe suffered from having to face Baltimore on the road in Week 1 without his top passing quarterback. Bowe already had to deal with trying to get open against a formidable defense, but without Matt Cassel he struggled mightily. Four catches, 40 yards and a score had to be a pleasant surprise for his fantasy owners with the deck stacked so heavily against him. Bowe only had one grab before the fourth quarter, but it was a two yard touchdown which made it highly productive. The challenges will not get easier next week against Oakland.
| RB Jamaal Charles, Rush: 4 - 8 - 0, Rec: 4 - 29 - 0 (4 targets) |
Charles was used more as a receiver than as a rusher against a formidable Ravens defense in Week 1. Most of his yardage came on a meaningless catch just before halftime, so his current threat level to Larry Johnson's workload is quite low. Look for him to put up bigger stats next week against Oakland.
| WR Mark Bradley, Rec: 4 - 73 - 0 (7 targets) |
Bradley was the most targeted wideout for the Chiefs in Week 1, catching the eye of backup QB Brodie Croyle seven times. His biggest reception was a 50 yard deep ball in the fourth quarter as the Chiefs tried to catch up on the scoreboard. Bradley looked solid as the secondary option for Kansas City in the passing game and will see a large number of targets as long as defenses focus on shutting down Dwayne Bowe. This trend likely will continue next week with Oakland's Nnamdi Asomugha shadowing Bowe next week.
| WR Dwayne Bowe, Rec: 4 - 40 - 1 (5 targets) |
Dwayne Bowe suffered from having to face Baltimore on the road in Week 1 without his top passing quarterback. Bowe already had to deal with trying to get open against a formidable defense, but without Matt Cassel he struggled mightily. Four catches, 40 yards and a score had to be a pleasant surprise for his fantasy owners with the deck stacked so heavily against him. Bowe only had one grab before the fourth quarter, but it was a two yard touchdown which made it highly productive. The challenges will not get easier next week against Oakland.
| WR Bobby Engram, Rec: 2 - 19 - 0 (2 targets) |
Engram remains a veteran possession receiving option for the Chiefs, meaning both that he will not get many targets nor will he have very many (if any) big days this season. His numbers should increase when Matt Cassel gets back healthy as defenses will be focused on shutting down Dwayne Bowe, leaving the short and intermediate routes open for Engram to try and move the chains.
Baltimore Ravens
| QB Joe Flacco, Pass: 26 - 43 - 307 - 3 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 5 - 18 - 0 |
Flacco had his biggest day in his young career, throwing for his first 300+ yard game along with three touchdowns against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1. Flacco used seven different receiver options, connecting with all of them at least twice for the afternoon. Flacco looked as calm and poised as ever in the pocket, feeling his way around and moving well behind the line to buy himself more time whenever it took longer for his options to get open. While the Chiefs did not put up a big challenge, Flacco looked very good and much more polished than he did a mere 12 months ago as a rookie. Flacco also added 18 yards rushing on five carries, further boosting his fantasy value.
| RB Ray Rice, Rush: 19 - 108 - 0, Rec: 2 - 12 - 0 (4 targets) |
Rice was the featured tailback for the Ravens in Week 1, racking up over 100 yards for just the second time in his young career. He lost out on a touchdown by stepping out at the one-yard line and getting vultured by Le'Ron McClain. Rice was highly productive all game, gaining 75 yards in the second half alone. He is not much of a cutter or slash and dash back, but he will hit a hole hard and run strong behind his pads, gaining full advantage of what his offensive line gives him. Should he start to get more goal line work the fantasy RB2 could move up in value as the season wears on, but for now he is limited in upside with both Willis McGahee and LeRon McClain stealing his scoring opportunities.
| RB Willis McGahee, Rush: 10 - 44 - 1, Rec: 4 - 31 - 1 (5 targets) |
Rumors of McGahee's demise are apparently exaggerated. His main workload came within the Red Zone for the Ravens, as he found the end zone twice for Baltimore against Kansas City in Week 1. His touchdown catch was far from designed (it looked like a goal line pass play to Todd Heap) but with Flacco scrambling McGahee found open spaces in the left flat and caught an easy touchdown. McGahee finished the game with a touchdown plunge late to cap a two touchdown afternoon. He will not get many touches behind Ray Rice, but if he gets goal line work his value should skyrocket.
| RB LeRon McClain, Rush: 6 - 19 - 1, Rec: 3 - 23 - 0 (4 targets) |
McClain is technically a fullback and the third rushing option for Baltimore, but when you are third on one of the best running teams in the NFL, you are far from irrelevant. McClain vultured a touchdown from Ray Rice as he got the all-important final yard for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, but he was lined up as a fullback on the play. He also added 23 yards as a receiver, looking good on a few short screen passes, including a 15-yarder that was lost due to a penalty. Deciding which Baltimore back to go with may be tough each week, but for a cheap backup who can punch the ball into the end zone, McClain should be a nice waiver wire target in touchdown heavy leagues.
| WR Mark Clayton, Rush: 1 - 9 - 0, Rec: 5 - 77 - 1 (9 targets) |
Clayton rebounded from yet another injury, this one a hamstring problem from the preseason, with a very strong game in Week 1. Clayton led all Ravens with five catches, 77 yards and a pretty touchdown on the longest play of the game for Baltimore, a 31-yard rainbow of a pass from Flacco that hit a leaping Clayton at the goal line for the score. Clayton exploited a weak secondary and helped Flacco to his best career passing day. The challenge will be higher against the Chargers next week but Clayton makes for a nice flex option in deeper WR leagues.
| WR Derrick Mason, Rec: 4 - 47 - 0 (10 targets) |
Mason had just four catches for 47 yards in Week 1 against Kansas City, a smaller number than many would expect with Joe Flacco topping 300 yards. Mason nearly had a gorgeous touchdown catch at the back of the end zone but the pass was slightly overthrown and Mason could not pull it in and get his feet down. Mason looked strong and will be Flacco's best option most weeks and remain a strong fantasy WR3 in PPR leagues practically every week.
| WR Kelley Washington, Rec: 3 - 43 - 0 (3 targets) |
Kelley Washington flashed his receiving abilities early in Week 1 against Kansas City, demonstrating the skills that made him climb the depth chart to third wideout for the Ravens. Washington made a leaping grab over middle of the field for his first catch and followed up with two more grabs for the game to cement his role as the third WR, keeping Demetrius Williams on the bench. When the Ravens did go 4-wide early, backup QB Troy Smith came on the field rather than Williams. Keep his name in mind should either Mark Clayton or Derrick Mason get injured.
| TE Todd Heap, Rec: 5 - 74 - 1 (8 targets) |
Heap looked quite good in Week 1 for Baltimore, getting open over the middle of the field and moving the chains inside the Red Zone for Baltimore. Converting five of his seven targets for 74 yards, Heap highlighted his day with a third quarter nine yard touchdown grab from Joe Flacco. Heap was also the likely intended target on Willis McGahee's touchdown catch but the Chiefs covered him well. Grab Heap off of the waiver wire now if you need TE help on your roster.