WEEK 1 Disappointments

Week 1 Disappointments:

Marvin Harrison Jr (Caution level: Moderate to Medium):

Kyler once again shows he is not an elite guy in the NFL as a passer, especially in the pocket. MHJ wasn’t schemed for at all, play calling was terrible for the Cardinals, and they ultimately choked an easy win versus the Bills. How many more times in Deejay Dallas’ career are we going to see him break off a touchdown kick return? Never again. This offense was quite basic, keeping Mcbride and Michael Wilson on underneath routes and sending Harrison on only go balls and deep posts/corners, which will change. Harrison Jr. touching the ball is a NECESSITY considering he went top 5 in this year’s draft.

Drake London (Caution level: Medium):

This is what happens when you throw in a QB coming off a bad achilles injury into the fire against a stout Pittsburgh defense. With London I don’t get too worried because Kirk should improve and is playing in an incredibly weak division top to bottom. If Cousins proves to be an absolute bust moving forward there is a saving grace in Michael Penix Jr. who is an NFL starting caliber talent off the jump. It will be interesting to see how many down the field shots this team takes when they aren’t facing T.J Watt and Alex Highsmith. I think Pitts it’s going to be more reliable than London because of his redzone upside and Kirk’s tendency to target his tight end dating back from his college days and throughout his whole NFL career.

Michael Pittman Jr (Caution level: High):

I don’t really think Pittman Jr. will be a reliable fantasy guy all year long with how the roster is constructed. With AR’s propensity to chuck long balls and Josh Downs plus Adonai Mitchell vulturing deep targets in this offense, I just don’t see a path for Pittman to fantasy success. Josh Downs had a stellar rookie campaign and in the intermediate passing game once AR hones in his accuracy Downs might be his go to guy much like last year with Downs and Minshew. He was a pretty garbage fantasy pick off the rip and moving forward in a run heavy game plan with a QB that will spread the wealth it’s looking treacherous for Pittman. 

Dalton Kincaid (Caution level: Low to Moderate):

Much like last year I see Kincaid getting eased into this passing game in which last year he was a very reliable target. As a tight end I don’t see him as a league winner, but he’s most definitely a top ten option at the position. He has a good floor with a low ceiling considering how this offense sees Josh Allen and James Cook account for most of the touchdown volume. He won’t be putting up 2.1 that often, but he was definitely overvalued ADP wise. The Bills most definitely didn’t unleash an intricate offensive scheme when playing against the sorry defense of the Arizona Cardinals, which to me slots him in as a buy low candidate if your league mates aren’t wise. There will be games when his frame is needed, just not in week 1.  

Mark Andrews (Caution level: HIGH): 

This guy is completely toast. I know he recently got into a car accident, but Likely does everything on the football field better than Andrews. He’s faster, has more athleticism when highpointing passes, and could even be a better blocking TE than Andrews. Andrews just won’t be the same after the gruesome injury he had last year and with Todd Monken’s questionable scheme. Screens in abundance, condensed two tight end formations, and the Ravens obsession with Zay Flowers are all going to kill Andrews this season. Sell him off his name. If he has no value, wait till he puts up a decent performance and ship him out.  

Evan Engram (Caution level: HIGH):

Did you really expect Engram to do well this season? He was a checkdown merchant in an offense that immensely struggled last season at points. With Brian Thomas Jr. now in the offense he is absolutely the team’s fourth or fifth option behind Christian Kirk, Thomas, Etienne, and maybe even Gabe Davis. Engram’s upside isn’t great unless you expect him to get career bests this year like he did last year, but as I explained to you that was a direct result of having a reeling offense. You are essentially praying for touchdown production to create a scenario in which he’s reliable, but once again with Brian Thomas Jr finding the endzone is his specialty. When looking at the situation he is in you have to think about talent and opportunity. None of the two jump out at you with Engram in this Jags passing attack.

Zamir White (Caution level: Low):

What we witnessed week one is Zamir’s floor. If you are worried about White pick up Dylan Laube as his handicap because Alexander Mattison has proven he can’t truly handle an RB1 workload in years past. Zamir will be fine moving forward as the flex/mid RB2 you picked him at. I just think there was lots of rust in this Oakland offense to start the season and that once the passing game starts to get going then the run will open up along with it. Just look at last year when Pierce was at the helm and Davante Addams started to get going. It directly led to more opportunity on the ground and Zamir was stellar and efficient in the red zone. Buy low on this guy and you won’t regret it. 

Amari Cooper (Caution level: Catastrophic): 

This Browns Offense through the air with Deshaun Watson at quarterback is an abomination to put it nicely. Amari Cooper feasted last year due to Joe Flacco leading the troops into battle and it’s crazy to think that a far post prime Flacco was a way better situation than a guy you offered a record guaranteed contract to. I think the Browns running back room will hold the most value for this offense and in the passing game I like Jeudy better in the short game than Cooper just because of his speed and shifty route running. It’s almost the perfect storm in Cleveland for Cooper to not produce. I love Amari Cooper and feel terrible for him that he has to put up with this QB play.

Joe Burrow (Caution level: Moderate):

This one may be the hardest of all to judge. The Bengals offense has simply been through the ringer since their super bowl appearance with injuries and play calling that just doesn’t seem to generate the explosive plays we expect from Burrow and company. I’m a huge skeptic of the offensive line once again and it is completely mind boggling how the Bengals continue to march out a sorry unit to protect Burrow each and every year. With Tee Higgins potentially saving the Bengals you can’t give up quite yet, but if the pocket continues to collapse it will be hard for Burrow to make throws down the field and this offense could have a far worse floor than many expect. I don’t like what Zac Taylor has done in Cincy and I’m hopeful that the pressure this team is put under will create diamonds.

Chris Olave  (Caution level: Moderate):

Olave is just such a supremely talented guy in a bad situation. This game he wasn’t needed, but moving forward in any competitive game Olave is going to be leaned on heavily because he is by far their number one guy. His ADP was way too high heading into the year, but he definitely could churn out a high end WR2 season if the Saints OC concocts an offense that moves the defense and creates space for Olave to make plays. I love him talent wise, but for fantasy he is a massive gamble. I think he’ll turn things around though once Derek Carr is in tight games and needs someone he can rely on.