DID YOU KNOW?
Pass efficiency usually wins - Seven quarterbacks had a 70% completion percentage or higher in Week 1. Five of them won their game, two lost. Eli Manning and Drew Brees. It's hard to believe how efficient Eli Manning was in such a dreadful offensive performance from the Giants.
It's gotta be an anomaly, right? Every quarterback in the Top 12 in passing yards from Week 1 had at least one touchdown pass, except Tom Brady, who has enough Super Bowl rings for his entire hand and thumb.
Off to a good start - Last year Cam Newton had 19 touchdown passes and was sacked 36 times. This year he's off to a good start with 2 touchdown passes and 0 sacks. Blake Bortles was the only other starting quarterback to not get sacked.
He's still Drew Brees - Drew Brees had the highest QB Rating (104.7) last week among all losing quarterbacks.
Defense and rushing attack wins - The Ravens and Panthers were the only two teams to have more rushing first downs than passing first downs in Week 1. They also outscored their opponent by a combined 43-3 score.
At least you're not Tom Savage - The Houston quarterback was sacked by Jacksonville 6 times in 13 pass attempts. Deshaun Watson was only slightly much better, sacked 4 times in 23 pass attempts.
Quarterbacks with 300+ passing yards in Week 1 - Last 10 years
2017 - 6
2016 - 10
2015 - 6
2014 - 10
2013 - 12
2012 - 9
2011 - 14
2010 - 3
2009 - 6
2008 - 3
Is the workhorse back coming back? - There were five running backs with 100+ yards rushing in Week 1 and three were rookies - Kareem Hunt, Dalvin Cook, LeSean McCoy, Ezekiel Elliott and Leonard Fournette.
Running Backs with 100+ rushing yards in Week 1 - Last 10 years
2017 - 5
2016 - 2
2015 - 4
2014 - 7
2013 - 2
2012 - 5
2011 - 7
2010 - 3
2009 - 5
2008 - 7
Highest yards per carry - minimum 10 carries
Multi-purpose backs - Five running backs had 15 carries or more and 5+ receptions - Ezekiel Elliott, LeSean McCoy, Todd Gurley, Melvin Gordon and Kareem Hunt.
Worth noting - Six running backs had at least 10 carries in their game, of which at least one went for 20+ yards. Dalvin Cook, LeSean McCoy, Melvin Gordon, Kareem Hunt, DeMarco Murray and Marlon Mack.
Top rushers didn't always score - Only one running back in the Top 6 in carries (all had 20+ carries) scored a rushing touchdown in Week 1.
Leonard Fournette 27 carries, 1 TD
Ezekiel Elliott 24 carries, 0 TDs
Dalvin Cook 22 carries, 0 TDs
LeSean McCoy 22 carries, 0 TDs
Javorius Allen 21 carries, 0 TDs
C.J. Anderson 20 carries, 0 TDs
The #1 fantasy running back from Week 1 last year isn't even on a team this year - DeAngelo Williams. Arizona, please pick up the white courtesy phone.
The elite wide receivers of Week 1 - 28 players had 6 receptions or more in Week 1. Of those 28, there were 22 who had at least 50 yards receiving. Of those 22, there were 10 who had 10 targets or more. Of those 10 there was only one who scored at least one touchdown. That player is DeAndre Hopkins.
10 players with 6+ receptions, 50+ receiving yards and 10+ targets include...
- Antonio Brown, PIT
- Adam Thielen, MIN
- Golden Tate, DET
- Randall Cobb, GB
- Pierre Garcon, SF
- Larry Fitzgerald, ARI
- Corey Davis, TEN
- Terrelle Pryor, WAS
- DeAndre Hopkins, HOU
- Shane Vereen, NYG
Only 2 players had 100+ yards receiving in Week 1, compared to 11 last year. (Granted we had two less games this year)
- Tyreek Hill, KC 133 yards - win
- Golden Tate, DET 107 yards - win
Two rookies had 6+ receptions in Week 1
- Tarik Cohen, CHI 8 receptions
- Corey Davis, TEN 6 receptions
Four rookies had 50+ yards receiving last week
- 98 yards, Kareem Hunt, KC
- 76 yards, Cooper Kupp, LAR
- 69 yards, Corey Davis, TEN
- 69 yards, Kenny Golladay, DET
Superb pass defense - Baltimore, Dallas, Carolina, LA Rams, Green Bay, Buffalo, Oakland and Kansas City did not allow a passing touchdown in Week 1
Superb rush defense - Arizona, Denver, New Orleans, Cleveland, San Francisco, Tennessee, Washington, Jacksonville, Philadelphia, NY Giants, Minnesota, Baltimore, Carolina, Dallas and Green Bay did not allow a rushing touchdown in Week 1
Teams that did not allow any touchdowns in Week 1 - Baltimore, Dallas, Carolina, Green Bay
Questions, suggestions and comments are always welcome to haseley@footballguys.com