Arizona
Andre Ellington was slated to be out at least one week with a foot injury and potentially more. Surprisingly, he played week one and was a factor on offense. If his foot was bothering him, I'd love to see him play completely healthy. He looks good to get back into your lineup, especially in PPR leagues. I wouldn't be too concerned about Larry Fitzgerald's low production game. The Chargers did a good job of defending him and Carson Palmer didn't appear to be locked in on him or any other receiver. He simply threw the ball to the open receiver. Once teams start to scheme against Michael Floyd, Fitzgerald will find his groove. In my opinion, Fitzgerald is a great WR to buy low on.
Atlanta
The Falcons are loaded with options from a rushing and receiving perspective. After Julio Jones and Roddy White is Harry Douglas and Devin Hester. Levine Toilolo is a big target that should continue to see red zone targets. For now I still see Steven Jackson as the Falcons primary rushing threat. He had double the carries (12) of the next closest rusher (6 - Jacquizz Rodgers) and he was the one who was in the game for two separate goal line situaitons inside the five yard line. Devonta Freeman is someone that I am excited about. I have a feeling his chance will come at some point in the near future and when he converts on that chance, there could be a change of momentum among Falcons backs.
Baltimore
Now that Ray Rice is out of the picture, the Ravens will lean on whoever gets the best results out of Bernard Pierce, Justin Forsett and Lorenzo Taliaferro. My gut says it will be a combination of Pierce and Forsett. Forsett has a history with HC Gary Kubiak, which bodes well for him. I see him in more of a change of pace role. I don't necessarily see him getting the bulk of the team's carries, that's not Forsett's game. Bernard Pierce had ball security issues last week, but he's not a fumble-prone back. I don't think he's in the dog house because of that. If he struggles, I wouldn't be surprised to see Taliaferro get a crack. Keep in mind, he led the league in rushing yards in the preseason with 243 yards. He's a bigger back, who can handle the load if given the opportunity. Pierce gets first crack, but Taliaferro is waiting in the wings.
Buffalo
The Bills got a big win at Chicago on opening day and they'll look to keep the momentum going with their home opener against the rival Dolphins. All this talk about Sammy Watkins has kept Robert Woods in a low profile, but he's someone that I was impressed with in preseason and it continued in week one. He level of play has improved greatly since last year, especially his run after the catch skills. He's someone who can be a very good flex option if his play continues.
Carolina
Kelvin Benjamin is legit folks. He already has his size to his advantage, but now he is already starting to learn how to play to his strengths and be a true WR1 for the Panthers. Expect to see more 5-6 reception games from Benjamin going forward with a high chance of a touchdown every week. Greg Olsen is also someone who should see plenty of looks, especially if teams have to defend against Benjamin. Olsen just missed a 25+ yard touchdown reception that would've put the game out of reach against Tampa Bay. Had he caught the ball his stat line would've been 9 catches for 100+ yards and two touchdowns.
Chicago
You have to look at the Bears offense as four legit weekly starters in Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, Matt Forte and even Martellus Bennett. Jay Cutler is prone to making his share of mistakes here and there, but he's a gunslinger, who will get his stats. In fantasy, there's nothing wrong with that. The matchup this week at San Francisco is not a great one, so don't assume too much from the box score.
Cincinnati
It appears clear that the Bengals want to get the ball in the hands of Giovani Bernard. It has come to the point where we should expect to see him reach 100+ total yards each week. An occasional score will inflate his number even more, especially in PPR leagues. So far in one game in Hue Jackson's ball-controlled, run heavy offense, Andy Dalton has 300 yards passing. I keep seeing more good games from Dalton and fewer bad games. We'll see if that continues.
Cleveland
The Browns impressed me with their comeback against the Steelers only to fall just a bit short. Ben Tate (knee) appears to be out for a period of time, but when you have reserves like Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell, the loss of Tate doesn't seem too drastic. I think both backs have the ability to make some noise, but if I had to choose one or the other, I like Crowell's game a bit more. He's more of a power attacking back with just the right amount of elusiveness to his game. His style of offense is better suited to the Browns plans, in my opinion. It's looking like Josh Gordon's suspension will get reduced, which means do whatever you can in your power to acquire him via trade or free agency. If you kept him on your bench, don't you dare drop him, because when he's eligible to play, he'll be a nice ace up your sleeve that can give your lineup an instant boost.
_allas
That's right, there is no D in Dallas these days. The Cowboys played horrible in their home opener, which was driven by 49ers fans. If this is any indication of what the team is going to do this year, it may be a long year for Tony Romo and the 'Boys. However, if they can keep pace with their opponents, the fantasy production could go through the roof. DeMarco Murray looks like a legit RB1 back that the team will rely on often. I anticipate a much better game from Dez Bryant this week at Tennessee. Terrance Williams also figures to be a big contributor once again. Both are good starts for week two.
Denver
I didn't come away impressed with Montee Ball in week one. He wasn't hitting holes with burst and he didn't have a lot of yards after contact. If anything, I'd argue that C.J. Anderson was more effective running the ball in tight spaces. He had more power and leg drive than Ball. I don't see a 1a and 1b approach at running back for the Broncos, but Anderson is someone that I have my eye on. Ronnie Hillman (illness) did not suit up for week one, so there's no knowing how much Anderson's role will change with him in the mix. Montee Ball may have had a mediocre week one, but he still scored a touchdown and he's got a sweet match up this week agains the Chiefs, whose run defense went in the toilet after the injury to LB Derrick Johnson. I would not worry too much about Demaryius Thomas' low stat line of 4 receptions for 48 yards. He has had problems before going up against CB Vontae Davis. I expect him to be more involved going forward.
Detroit
Some observations of the Lions - Calvin Johnson looks much healthier than he did at the end of last year when he was having knee issues. As good as Calvin is, he's a lower extremity injury away from being a notch below his normal stellar self. I'm not saying he's going to get injured, but if you can get a king's ransom for him, I'd consider it. It's a long year and we saw his level play drop after week 12. Joique Bell had more carries than Reggie Bush and remains a decent RB2 option. I'd like to see him get more than one catch, but that will likely come. Detroit loves to throw to their backs. Bush should normally average 100+ total yards a game. He failed to do so against the Giants and he has a tough match up this week at Carolina. You can be sure that Carolina's LBs will be spying him all game long. I still like Bush as a weekly starter, especially in PPR leagues.
Green Bay
Another season, another early concussion for Eddie Lacy. Last year he missed a game with a concussion. As of now, he is expected to be cleared for play this week vs. the Jets but monitor this sitaution throughout the week. He is still entrenched as the team's primary rusher, but it does look like James Starks will see some carries as well. In week one vs. Seattle, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb were the only wide receivers targeted. Whether or not that continues is yet to be seen, but that's not great news for Jarrett Boykin or Davante Adams.
Houston
Ryan Fitzpatrick was efficent when he needed to be, but 14 completions is not a good sign for fantasy production. The silver lining is that Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins were the two most targeted receivers with nine and five targets respectively. In my opinion, Houston is going to live and die by Arian Foster. I see them feeding him the ball early and often, as long as he is productive. Ride Foster until the wheels come off, because that's exactly what I think Bill O'Brien is going to do.
Indianapolis
The Colts handed the ball off just nine times against Denver. Andrew Luck threw 53 passes, completing 35 of them. Ahmad Bradshaw looks like a much better back than Trent Richardson, however I don't see Indianapolis making him their primary rusher. Utilizing Bradshaw is a good strategy. Overusing him is a mistake, especially given his tendency to get banged up over the course of a season. I would be pleased to have Reggie Wayne or T.Y. Hilton on my roster. Even Hakeem Nicks can be a spot flex option. I don't think the end of the road is near for Nicks, contrary to some beliefs in the offseason. Dwayne Allen is a monster of a match up for opposing defenses. It's only a matter of time before he enters TE1 territory.
Jacksonville
The talk of the Jaguars is that of rookie wide receiver Allen Hurns, who had three long catches, including two touchdowns on his first two touches of his pro career. He figures to be a part of the offense going foward, but I also don't think you should forget about Marqise Lee either. I'm not a big fan of Toby Gerhart and stayed away from him in drafts this year. To me he seems too much of a plodder to be an effective back in the Jaguars offense and I always feared he'd have some kind of ankle injury that would hamper his production. Could I be wrong - sure, but to me he's not worth the investment. Don't forget about Marcedes Lewis. Their are much worse tight ends on the waiver wire than him. If you are in need of a tight end, consider Lewis. He was targeted nine times last week, catching six for 35 yards. That's not teriffic, but it is something to build on. He is likely not going to be among the top waiver claims, but he has the ability and opportunity to be a big part of the offense and this week, the Jaguars are at Washington.
Kansas City
The Chiefs laid an egg in their home opener, losing to a surprising Titans team. Jamaal Charles had just 34 total yards on seven carries and four receptions. Is it time to worry about Charles? I say no way. He is too good of a talent to be in a slump, however this week the Chiefs play at Denver. If he had another poor rushing game, I wouldn't be that suprised. But it's still not time to panic. Dwayne Bowe returns from his one game suspension this week. We'll see how much of an effect that has on Donnie Avery's fantasy outlook. My gut says Bowe's presence will help the offense. Travis Kelce and Anthony Fasano were both involved in the offense last week. I wouldn't be surprised to see Kelce eventually take more snaps but for right now, he's still behind Fasano for playing time. If the Chiefs defense continues to struggle, look for Bowe and potentially Avery, to see a lot of targets.
Miami
Knowshon Moreno continues to surprise me. Just when I think he's last year's news, he has a big game and all the sudden is someone to consider as a fantasy threat. He does have a tendency to get hurt though, so I'm not all-in on any Moreno hype. I'm not that high on Lamar Miller either, especially if he'll be splitting time with Moreno. On a positive note for Miller, he was the one with five targets and four catches, while Moreno had none. Miller also scored a touchdown that was called back due to a penalty. At first glance the Dolphins offense, particularly Ryan Tannehill, is looking at Mike Wallace as the primary target followed by the short passing game to Miller or Charles Clay. Wallace should see more positive results at Buffalo this week.
Minnesota
Adrian Peterson may have been overshadowed by Cordarrelle Patterson in week one, however it's foolish to be down on Peterson. Any given week, he can explode for 100 yards and two touchdowns. This week, the Vikings host New England, where the Patriots allowed 190+ rushing yards to Miami. Don't worry about Peterson, his time is definitely coming and it could be this week. There may not be a player who does more with less than Cordarrelle Patterson. He doesn't rack up the targets or the carries, but he has a nose for the big play which is huge in a fantasy sense. He's capable of a big game every week, imagine if the touches increase!
New England
The Patriots have had their share of troubles against Miami, especially in south Florida. I wouldn't put too much concern into the early season woes, especially with Rob Gronkowski gaining more confidence on his knee each week going forward. He should start to see an increase in snaps this week which is good news for Tom Brady and company. Shane Vereen is looking like a very good RB2 option, especially in PPR leagues. His goal line carry is definitely something to be excited about. Everytime I watch Julian Edelman hit the turf after a catch I envision him coming up limp with a sprained ankle or knee. The manner in which he throws his body around is conducive to injury. Maybe it's just me, but I see him just as injury prone as his teammate Danny Amendola.
New Orleans
The Saints look like they have found a gem in Brandin Cooks. Not only is he making plays, but it looks like Sean Payton and Drew Brees are purposely looking for him on certain plays. His rookie year, albeit young so far, reminds me of how Philadelphia utilized DeSean Jackson in his rookie season. Consider Cooks a must start going forward. He and Kelvin Benjamin should battle for the Rookie of the Year award all season long. The Saints are loaded with fantasy talent. Aside from Drew Brees, Jimmy Graham, Marques Colston, Brandin Cooks and Pierre Thomas are weekly plays. Even Mark Ingram can be entered into that mix for now.
NY Giants
The Giants aren't playing good football right now and getting Detroit at home didn't exactly help matters. I would not be terribly surprised to see Eli get benched for Ryan Nassib at some point this year, especially if the wheels come off the wagon completely. From a fantasy perspective, Rashad Jennings is still going to get plenty of touches. The Giants have the benefit of playing NFC East teams, which should yield big games for Victor Cruz and Rueben Randle. Jerrell Jernigan looks like he and Victor Cruz swapped uniforms. We'll see if that continues week two against the Cardinals. Larry Donnell is a candidate for the out of nowhere tight end who could become fantasy relevant. If you are looking for a tight end to grab and stash, Donnell appears to be that guy.
NY Jets
I have long been a Chris Johnson supporter, but I'm starting to feel like Chris Ivory may start to see more carries and eventually get himself into a committee approach at running back. Ivory runs with more burst and power than Johnson right now and it looks like the Jets are starting to realize that. Dare I say Geno Smith looked awfully efficient in week one against Oakland. We'll see how he does this week at Green Bay. If he can turn in a solid performance at Lambeau, I may have to elevate my opinion on him and the Jets passing game.
Oakland
Derek Carr threw mostly short-ranged passes last week against the Jets. I expect that to continue this week against Houston and their strong pass defense. This is not a good match up for James Jones or Rod Streater, however Marcel Reece, Darren McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew could see extensive work as pass-catching backs. It will take some convincing for me to be on board with any Raiders players from a fantasy perspective. I just don't see the weekly production coming from anyone anytime soon.
Philadelphia
The Eagles should have a strong game against the Colts and their lack of a pass rush. Nick Foles didn't look great in the opener, but he did enough to win the game and passed for over 300 yards. Aside from LeSean McCoy, my radar is on Zach Ertz, Riley Cooper and Darren Sproles. I'm on the fence with Jeremy Maclin, especially if he draws coverage by Vontae Davis, who did a good job keeping Demaryius Thomas in check last week. This is a good, if not great match up for Chip Kelly and the Eagles.
Pittsburgh
Antonio Brown keeps getting better and better. I see him maintaining his Top 6 ranking this year. He's not going anywhere anytime soon. Heath Miller wasn't much of a factor in week one, but I see him being utlized more this week at Baltimore. LeVeon Bell's performance raised my eyebrows. He definitely looks like he will be the team's featured back all season long and should produce solid fantasy numbers this year. I need to see more from Markus Wheaton, but he looks like he has turned the corner from his low stat line rookie season.
San Diego
Apparently Antonio Gates isn't going away anytime soon. Ladarius Green may be one of the best receivers on the team, but right now he is still second fiddle behind Gates. It took Keenan Allen a few weeks to emerge last year, maybe the same will ring true for Green. For now, Gates is still a big target for Philip Rivers. Danny Woodhead was pretty much a non-factor in week one. I highly doubt he'll fade away, but it doesn't look like he'll be in line for 4-6 receptions a game like he was last year. It's still early, but there is some concern there if you were expecting another 50+ catch season.
Seattle
Not only is the Seattle defense the best in the league, but their offense is looking mighty strong as well. Russell Wilson may not see a lot of 35+ pass attempt games, but he's doing a solid job despite the fact. The strength of the Seahawks defense is the only reason why Wilson isn't one of the best fantasy quarterbacks in the league. He has the ability to make plays consistently, the only problem is he doesn't have to do it that often. Marshawn Lynch is already in mid-season form and it looks like Seattle is going to ride him for all that he's worth. He is someone that I want on all of my teams. I'd even consider trading Jamaal Charles for him. There's something special about this Seahawks team. They are playing like the champions they are and nobody is getting in their way, especially at home.
San Francisco
The 49ers host the Bears this week, who just gave up 170+ rushing yards to the Bills. I like Frank Gore this week and could also see Carlos Hyde seeing plenty of action as well. Chicago had one of the worst run defenses in the league last year and so far the same is ringing true. Michael Crabtree (hamstring/calf) was more of a decoy last week than anything. Anquan Boldin and Vernon Davis were the beneficiaries. Crabtree's health will return to normal soon and he'll be a common target for Colin Kaepernick in the coming weeks
St. Louis
The Rams may have a strong defense, but it definitely didn't show up last week against Minnesota. Shaun Hill (quad) is looking doubtful this week at Tampa Bay, which means Austin Davis will get the start. Davis came into the game and moved the ball well against the Vikings, but at that point, the game was out of reach. He'll have his work cut out for him this week against a good Buccaneers defensive line. It was Brian Quick, not Kenny Britt who emerged as the Rams downfield threat. I was not high on Britt this year, but Quick is someone to watch going forward.
Tampa Bay
I don't know if it was Carolina's defense that stymied Josh McCown, but he didn't look like the same McCown who elevated his game in Chicago last year. Vincent Jackson found it hard to make plays. We'll see if Jackson's game get better against the Rams this week. I have a sneaky feeling that we will see Mike Glennon at some point this year. Even before Doug Martin got hurt (knee) he didn't look that good running the ball. If it wasn't for a fluke fullback run by Javorskie Lane, the Bucs would've only mustered 21 yards rushing. Hopefully the Bucs can right the ship against the Rams.
Tennessee
It seems clear that Bishop Sankey won't be the team's primary ball carrier just yet. Shonn Greene showed that he can be an effective rusher and therefore has my attention as a potential waiver wire claim. He looked good against the Chiefs, especially his yards after contact, which isn't something I'm used to seeing from him. He may have another strong outing this week against Dallas. Jake Locker was impressive week one, targeting both Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter seven and six times respectively. Both are considerred to be good plays this week against the Cowboys defense.
Washington
Alfred Morris showed good pile-driving power against the Texans. He may not be a strong contributor in the passing game, but his rushing ability makes up for it. He didn't score last week, but he should see plenty of scoring opportunities this year. Pierre Garcon picked up where he left off last year, being Robert Griffin's primary target. Garcon should once again approach 90+ receptions. Jordan Reed (hamstring) looks like he will miss a couple games, which means Niles Paul will see more snaps as his replacement at tight end. It's only one game into the season, but Robert Griffin looks like he is again running for his life at times. I will be shocked if he makes it through the whole season healthy.
Questions, suggestions and comments are always welcome to haseley@footballguys.com