Players to Invest Faith in After Week One

Jordan Whittington (WR) Los Angeles Rams:

I have zero clue as to why his name is not being discussed by analysts everywhere. Working primarily in the slot and using McVay’s patented motion offense Whittington tallied an impressive 126 yards on 11 receptions in two games with Stetson Bennett leading the offense during preseason ball. Although I am not a firm believer in the preseason production one puts up, all I know is that he was a sixth round draft pick that scraped and clawed his way into a roster spot. In his first game against the Lions he had a touchdown grab that was called back due to Aiden Hutchinson getting his facemask pulled down and an impressive special teams tackle where he blew up Kalif Raymond showing that he wants to play football. Now with Puka down can you really rely on Tyler Johnson who had one big breakout play versus the Lions and in four seasons has a career high of 360 yards? No. Are you expecting Tutu Atwell to replace Puka? No. So why not take a flier on a young rookie who has produced well out of the slot and is turning coaches heads every time he sets foot on the gridiron. He’s in all your fantasy leagues given that ESPN projects him to score an abysmal 1.9 fantasy points.

J.K. Dobbins (RB) Los Angeles Chargers:

Watching what I saw in week one with this guy was simply astonishing. A man who could have completely given up on the game of football that trained harder than most players do in the NFL to rehab an injury known as a death sentence to the average running back, the Achilles tear. A man who had played nine games in the last three years prior to signing with the Chargers suits up and puts up a dominant performance on the ground for his new head coach Jim Harbaugh. The game script for Harbaugh is and always will be ground and pound first, which will mean Dobbins should assume the role of a featured back along with Gus Edwards who will simply give J.K a breather and keep his legs fresh. Dobbins somehow reached into his tool bag and displayed the burst, vision, and quick cuts that made him such an enticing player to root for coming out of OSU. The thought of having two elite offensive tackles and no one on the roster in the backfield that possesses his skillset, makes him a surefire RB2 so long as his health holds up. 135 yards on 10 carries was something special to watch. A man of faith and a hell of a ball player, he deserved every minute of it. Just watch any interview with him and he is smiling ear to ear.  

Bucky Irving (RB) Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

You know what. I will die on this hill ten times out of ten. I think by the end of the year the Buccaneers will realize how valuable Irving is to their ground game and his usage will skyrocket as the year progresses. Having 9 rushing attempts for 62 yards and two catches for fourteen yards was completely unexpected from him. It just goes to show how valuable this man could be as a handicap player or as someone who could just take the ground game away from Rachaad White because of how inefficient White is in that realm. Along with White, Irving is also a phenomenal pass catcher which will definitely aid in him seeing much more volume than the general consensus of fantasy football experts would expect. The 31 yard scamper he had against the Commanders looked like he shot out of a cannon and his ability to jumpcut and change gears will surely be on display at some point this season. If he’s sitting on your waivers go pick him up right now. I loved him pre-draft and punched the air when my leaguemate stole him out of my grasp in the fourth to last round of my fantasy draft.

Keon Coleman (WR) Buffalo Bills:

What a time to be a Keon Coleman fan. In his first game against a garbage defense he put up a respectable performance that cemented him as a WR1 candidate in this Bills passing attack. Four catches for 51 yards was all the Bills needed to win when adding Josh Allen and James Cook on the ground. I full-heartedly believe Coleman is about to nuke the Miami Dolphins on primetime and I see the opportunity for him to put up numbers that will make him a household name in Buffalo. I love how after Xavier Worthy had a solid first game fans were immediately putting the magnifying glass on Coleman’s game. He is a far better receiver of the football than Worthy, but Worthy provides you with a different skill set where he’s getting end-arounds and usage in the quick game that highlights his elite speed. People always want to act as if fantasy dictates how good a player is, but that is quite far from the truth. Coleman will be the perfect guy in a Josh Allen passing game where he can easily launch the deep ball and allow Keon’s 6’ 3’’ frame to elevate above any defender he matches up with. Loved him coming into the NFL Draft and I see such a high ceiling with this guy it isn’t even funny.

Joe Mixon (RB) Houston Texans:

I must give credit where credit is due with Mixon. He exploded on the ground in week one asserting himself as the Texans workhorse back. He didn’t get 3rd down or two minute drill work in the offense, but that doesn’t matter with the offensive line that the Texans have assembled. Mixon running behind this line could put up huge numbers this season which may be key to give Stroud elite balance that he just didn’t have with Devin Singletary, although he had a career year in 2023. The only part that makes me slightly skeptical about Mixon is that the Colts have a very bad run defense and this game might not have been the greatest indication for how the season will shake out. That being said Mixon runs hard, his teammates give him high praise, and his only competition truly is Dameon Pierce who likely will never steal Mixon’s workload. Dare Ogunbowale getting the third down duties might not even hold up this year as well, which would send Mixon’s value to the moon with the added PPR production the third down role gives running backs. I completely whiffed with my preseason take on Mixon and now am making my amends by giving Mixon his flowers after disproving the doubts I had. The reason I was so low on him was his poor efficiency metrics he had in Cincy behind a ragtag offensive line. 

Kenneth Walker III (RB) Seattle Seahawks:

An absolute dominant performance for K9 in week one when it came to volume has completely shut down the idea that Zach Charbonnet would cut into his workload this season. All throughout camp Seattle sang their praises for K9 and in week one these praises came into fruition with K9 being the engine for a Seattle offense that struggled mightily against the Broncos. Even after a minor abdominal injury there is no doubt in my mind that K9 will continue to put up big numbers. This year I think people are forgetting what Walker could potentially do in the passing game which we didn’t see in the first game, but can expect to see moving forward. He just possesses every tool an elite back needs. Balance, power, vision, and speed have always been on full display for the guy since the moment he set foot on the field at Wake Forest and then for MSU. I liked him coming into the year and now my feelings towards him having a huge year have only grown after seeing Charbonnet get work solely in garbage time after K9 sat out due to an abdominal strain. K9 is the only fantasy guy week in and week out that you can 100% rely on in Seattle. Go trade for him in your fantasy leagues ASAP.

Josh Downs (WR) Indianapolis Colts:

Downs hasn’t played a down this season, but after watching the Colts first game I couldn’t help but search my waiver wire for him. He was a team captain as a rookie and in his rookie campaign he showed flashes of immense talent that surely can be put to use in a Shane Steichen offense. Steichen is a QB whisperer who knows how to get the ball in the hands of his best playmakers. On this Colts offense I think Downs has a golden opportunity considering he won’t draw the top matchups from opposing defenses. I see his value in the intermediate passing game as something that is undeniable and in this AR led passing attack nothing is certain when it comes to target share especially when seeing him only complete nine passes in the season opener. Pick him up off waivers, maybe even alongside Adonai Mitchell because if Richardson finds consistent accuracy in the passing game this offense could reach an unforeseen level of filthiness. People seem oddly low on a guy who was as productive as Downs was in his rookie season. 

Anthony Richardson (QB) Indianapolis Colts:

I’ve never seen a player at any position, especially the quarterback position, that has shown more flashes in less time than Anthony Richardson has. In five career games he has shown he has incredible arm talent, elite speed for his massive frame, and an ability to place the ball into windows that usually are only open for the games best of the best at the quarterback position. He’s in quarterback heaven with Shane Steichen as I just mentioned in my Downs piece, but it couldn’t be better for AR to develop into an elite quarterback across the board. His skill set allows the Colts to climb back from any deficit they face. After injuring his shoulder like he did last year in the first four games, launching deep balls with the accuracy he displayed against the Texans was far from a given. I’m excited for what is to come from AR and in fantasy this guy is going to be unconscious this year already making a case as a top five fantasy QB moving forward. 

Isaiah Likely (TE) Baltimore Ravens: 

I already covered all bases with this one. Talked about his value as a pick in fantasy draft, highlighted how it could be easy for Mark Andrews to bust this season, and last but not least discussed how frequently the Ravens would run two tight end sets this year, which is exactly what happened in week one. He slots in as the Ravens second or third most reliable target in the offense if you somehow foresee Andrews reclaiming his role behind Zay Flowers. Likely almost made one of the nicest catches of the week in the back of the endzone if his shoe size was 14 instead of size 15. He single handedly willed the Ravens back into their bout with KC and I only see his role continuing to expand this season after being the Ravens best kept secret coming into the year. Finishing as the top TE in all of fantasy football week 1 was on nobody’s radar, but I am quite happy I projected him to do well this year. I don’t know what Todd Monken’s game plan is in Baltimore moving forward, but I sincerely hope it isn’t made up of a million ticky tack screens to Zay Flowers like it was last Thursday because that was painful to watch. 

Saquon Barkley (RB) Philadelphia Eagles: 

What we saw from Barkley in week one was simply put, inspired ball. The guy ran as if he was possessed all game breaking tackles and making people miss as if he were fresh out of this year’s draft. He wants to prove to the Giants that they are completely inept and right now they look so goofy for paying Daniel Jones after one fluke season. Congrats Daniel Jones you beat notorious playoff choker Kirk Cousins after having a gimmicky 9-7-1 season. Anywho, Barkley had receiving volume, had no competition on the ground, and finally gets to enjoy running behind an elite offensive line that gives him the opportunity to be the number one overall RB in all of fantasy football this season. You heard that right. The RB1 in all of fantasy football. He disproved every hater that said this isn’t the Saquon of old and proved that even with elite talent around him in the receiving game and a QB that can run the football, he can put up elite numbers. No running back has a better situation than Saquon as long as he stays healthy and the only ones that rival his situation are David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs that split touches in Detroit’s two headed monster backfield. I’m excited for Saquon and I’m happy he gets to go back to Pennsylvania and enjoy time in the limelight.