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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: Washington Redskins 17, New York Giants 23
Washington Redskins
| QB Jason Campbell, Pass: 19 - 26 - 211 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 1 - 16 - 0 |
Campbell had decent numbers in Week 1 against the Giants, but he struggles to pass the all important "eyeball test". He was unable to get the ball into the hands of his top wideout Santana Moss with any regularity and he drew the ire of head coach Jim Zorn on several occasions for mistakes made on the field. Most of his numbers were racked up in the second half once the Giants were up by 13, so the performance is a bit skewed. Campbell also cost the Redskins a touchdown when he held the ball too long in the pocket on a rare occasion when he had ample time and was then sacked by Osi Umenyiora who stripped the ball and ran it back for a touchdown.
| RB Clinton Portis, Rush: 16 - 62 - 0, Rec: 1 - 10 - 0 (1 targets) |
Portis opened Week 1 with a strong run of 34 yards, breaking through a huge hole on the left side of the line. That was not a sign of things to come, however, as he could not equal that distance with his next 15 carries combined. Portis looked the part but the offensive line and the overall offense lacked cohesion and executed poorly. The good news for fantasy owners of Portis is twofold -- the Giants are a very good run defense team, and Ladell Betts was hardly a factor either with just two carries. Portis should continue to be in fantasy lineups in Week 2 against St. Louis.
| RB Ladell Betts, Rush: 2 - -1 - 0, Rec: 1 - 23 - 0 (2 targets) |
Well, so much for that "third down back" label for Mr. Betts. Three touches for Ladell Betts in Week 1 against the Giants is hardly a third of the workload. Betts' biggest play came on a breakdown where Jason Campbell flipped him the ball where Betts scampered an unplanned 23 yards. Betts was a footnote to a sub par offensive performance for Washington and his bigger upside remains as a handcuff to Clinton Portis.
| WR Antwaan Randle El, Rec: 7 - 98 - 0 (9 targets) |
With the Giants swarming all over Santana Moss and no other wideout stepping up, the second wide receiver role fell to veteran Antwaan Randle El. Randle El stepped up and delivered, catching seven passes for 98 yards as he worked the middle of the field to try and help Washington to get back into a tough contest against the Giants. Despite the solid numbers, it remains a difficult call to put Randle El into a fantasy lineup due to the unpredictable nature of anyone beyond Chris Cooley or Santana Moss on a weekly basis for Washington.
| WR Santana Moss, Rec: 2 - 6 - 0 (5 targets) |
Moss is the clear #1 option at wideout for the Redskins, but the problem with that designation is that the other teams got that memo too. The Giants either put their best cover corner or rolled double coverage to Moss all game, limiting him all game to just two catches for six scant yards. Until other options start to step up with some consistency to warrant better coverage from the opposition, expect Santana Moss to struggle against above average defenses.
| WR Malcolm Kelly, Rec: 1 - 6 - 0 (1 targets) |
Malcolm Kelly was named the number two receiver for the Redskins but had just one short catch in the fourth quarter for Washington. He hardly is worth a roster spot except for very deep leagues.
| TE Chris Cooley, Rec: 7 - 68 - 1 (8 targets) |
Chris Cooley stepped up in Week 1 against the New York Giants, posting seven catches for 68 yards and a touchdown. Cooley helped the Redskins move the ball in the second half as the Giants rolled coverage over Santana Moss and took away that option for Jason Campbell, working the middle of the field to give Campbell a second option. With Cooley's score he has already matched his 2008 total and if he continues to get numerous targets on a weekly basis he will be a strong fantasy TE option on a weekly basis.
New York Giants
| QB Eli Manning, Pass: 20 - 29 - 256 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 3 - -3 - 0 |
While it was not a pretty performance, Eli Manning did just enough for the Giants to have a balanced attack against the Redskins in Week 1 and to post an opening victory for the 2009 season. Manning's statistics were solid, even if he did not look particularly spectacular on every throw. Manning spread the ball amongst seven different receivers. The only receiver that Manning seemed to key on was Steve Smith, as he was the lone Giant with over four receptions. Manning led the team on what should have been another scoring drive, but Brandon Jacobs couldn't covert on fourth and 1 inside the Redskins five-yard line.
| RB Brandon Jacobs, Rush: 16 - 46 - 0, Rec: 2 - 17 - 0 (3 targets) |
Jacobs lead the touches out of the New York Giant backfield as expected, but the spread between Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw was closer that one might have guessed for Week 1. Washington stacked the box often, especially on short yardage, as Jacobs could not convert a key fourth and one situation in the Red Zone that cost an early chance for New York to seize control of the game. Jacobs did show burst at times, collecting a nice 15 yard scamper but more often than not he was brought down after a few yards. Jacobs finished with much less than a five yard per carry average, a number he established last season.
| RB Ahmad Bradshaw, Rush: 12 - 60 - 0, Rec: 3 - 11 - 0 (4 targets) |
Bradshaw posted good numbers in Week 1 against Washington (12 carries, 60 yards) but the more telling item was that he was not used exclusively on passing downs. Bradshaw was used almost as a tandem or committee back for the Giants, posting 12 rushes in comparison to Brandon Jacobs' 16 carries. Bradshaw still had more receptions than Jacobs, but Bradshaw has both a higher gear and a more explosive burst once he clears the first hole. The Giants are smart to use Bradshaw more often in their attack going forward.
| RB Danny Ware |
Ware was expected to contribute some this season to a team most known for the running attack last season in a third RB role. That plan went out the window after Ware dislocated his elbow. This does mean that Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw will dominate the touches until Ware is healthy again.
| WR Steve Smith, Rec: 6 - 80 - 0 (8 targets) |
Smith stepped up his game in Week 1 against the Redskins, leading all Giants receivers in catches and yardage. QB Eli Manning started to really look for Smith after the half and Smith rose to the occasion with several tough catches over the middle of the field. With both Domenik Hixon falling off the fantasy radar and the Week 1 injury to Hakeem Nicks, the biggest benefactor of the new receiver situation in New York should be Steve Smith. Expect him to start again next week against the Cowboys on Sunday night and be high on Eli Manning's target list.
| WR Mario Manningham, Rec: 3 - 58 - 1 (4 targets) |
Mario Manningham made all the highlight reels in Week 1 with his 30 yard touchdown catch and run down the sideline against the Redskins. Manningham looked to be very quick and explosive after the catch, a trait that Domenik Hixon failed to display in the Giants' first contest. His two other catches were both early on, highlighted by a 25 yard grab deep over the middle. Manningham may soon contend for a bigger role in the Giants' passing attack.
| WR Hakeem Nicks, Rec: 2 - 18 - 0 (4 targets) |
Rookie Hakeem Nicks had just two catches in Week 1. Nicks did get behind the defense and showed surprising speed on one deep route. Just when he was starting to show some promise and rise up the depth chart, he got rolled up on from behind by a Redskin defender after his second catch in the fourth quarter. The injury at first appeared rather bad as he was tackled from behind, but he was able to get off the field on his own power but noticeably limping. Nicks returned to the game after x-rays on crutches and results of the films showed no broken bones. Nicks will likely be out for a few weeks and then will have to re-start his assault on the depth chart to get more playing time.
| WR Domenik Hixon, Rec: 1 - 10 - 0 (3 targets) |
Hixon did not produce much in Week 1, catching only one ball for 10 yards. He trailed Mario Manningham, Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith as far as Eli Manning's target list, so Hixon has fallen far from his pre-season estimation of him both starting and being the next stand in or replacement of Plaxico Burress. Hixon is borderline rosterable at this point and he should be strongly considered for a cut if you can find a better waiver wire pickup this week.
| TE Kevin Boss, Rec: 3 - 62 - 0 (3 targets) |
Boss was quiet all of Week 1 until late in the game where he snagged two balls for over 20 yards each. Until that point he had just one reception for 11 yards. Boss is only valuable as a fantasy TE backup at this point unless the Giants start throwing in his direction far more often or if some wideouts start to become injured.