NFL Fantasy Football Week 1
Not only is football back, but fantasy football Week 1 is upon us. The 2019 NFL season starts in Chicago and ends in Miami at Super Bowl 54. In between, fantasy champions will be crowned. Big performances are going to come out of nowhere. Players thought to be superstars will morph into busts. Always a wild ride, things change rapidly in the fantasy football world. You need to know what players are on the rise and who is taking a slide.
Just last weekend, veterans such as LeSean McCoy and Carlos Hyde found themselves in vastly different situations. Rookies such as Devin Singletary and Darwin Thompson saw their fortunes rise and fall. In some cases, the rich, such as Deshaun Watson, are getting richer.
With most of the weekend news already having been analyzed, we are moving ahead. Our Sizzle/Fizzle feature we brought you during the preseason will continue during the regular season. Consider it a very helpful component when formulating your weekly strategy!
Sizzle
Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys
Sorry for playing Captain Obvious, but the end of Elliott’s holdout marks a turning point in the fantasy season. The owners who showed no trepidation in spending a high pick on Zeke can celebrate. Those who had Le’Veon Bell in 2017 remember a sluggish start. Those who drafted Bell last year experienced misery. Elliott’s owners may not even have to worry about a bad beginning. With Amari Cooper good to go as well, the Cowboys should start big against the Giants.
Austin Ekeler/Justin Jackson, RBs, Los Angeles Chargers
The soaring stock of Ekeler, and to a lesser degree, Jackson, resulted from Melvin Gordon’s holdout. Although the signs regarding Gordon’s return seemed to be negative, there was a chance he would unexpectedly come back. With no Gordon insight, both Ekeler and Jackson are good starts on Sunday.
Matt Breida, RB, San Francisco 49ers
Depth charts are often ceremonial, especially in San Francisco’s backfield. Still, Breida tops the chart at the moment. With San Francisco’s depth having been thinned, Breida looks better and better. The odds are good he outperforms Tevin Coleman, who was selected higher in many fantasy drafts.
Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers
It was a fearsome moment during Week 3 of the preseason when Newton injured his foot. While everything pointed in the right direction, Newton’s absence from the injury report represents a moment to celebrate. He will be ready for a potentially high-scoring showdown against the defending NFC champion Los Angeles Rams. Newton’s good health also bodes well for breakout candidates D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel.
Fizzle
Kalen Ballage, RB, Miami Dolphins
Remember those days during the offseason where Ballage made fantasy waves? A dismal showing by Ballage in the third preseason game against Jacksonville took the shine off. Then Kenyan Drake returned to health. Following that, Miami traded tackle Laremy Tunsil, one of their few quality players, to Houston. Ballage will not disappear, but the mirage of him being a reliable weekly starter sure seems to be over.
Adrian Peterson, RB, Washington Redskins
For most of the summer, Peterson looked like a draft day bargain. Derrius Guice seemed to be unhealthy and the Redskins would be forced to give Peterson another heavy workload. After Guice looked sharp against Atlanta, Washington head coach Jay Gruden stated Guice would get more carries than Peterson. When you factor in Chris Thompson’s presence and a bad line, Peterson’s outlook has become bleak.
Trey Burton, TE, Chicago Bears
Burton, a fringe TE1, will be a game-time decision for Thursday night’s opener against Green Bay. It remains to be seen if Burton’s groin will be a long-term concern. Nonetheless, your best move would be to bench Burton this week given the circumstances. His potential absence probably helps Allen Robinson the most. However, it provides a small uptick to all of the skill players in Chicago’s spread-the-wealth attack.
N’Keal Harry, WR, New England Patriots
After the dizzying array of news and moves over the weekend, New England kept making headlines on Monday. Harry, their first-round draft pick, was placed on injured reserve. Although Henry’s draft stock had plunged, many still gambled on the rookie with a late-round selection. Right now, holding onto Harry does not make a lot of sense in most non-dynasty formats.
Make sure to check back each week for our NFL Fantasy Football Sizzle and Fizzle report!
