“Gronk looks about as washed as a bachelor’s bedsheets.”
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Welcome back!
I’d like to get your input on something — last year I moved the weekly emails to Tuesday mornings once the season started so that it went out before waivers ran. The issue I found with that was it missed a lot of the interesting/insightful analysis that comes in during the week following the games. So this year I thought I’d try sticking with the newsletter going out on Thursdays (and possibly even Friday mornings) so that we capture all the good stuff. There’s plenty of waiver wire articles/info out there, so I figured it’s better to focus on making sure you get a summary of the best info from the entire week. Would love to hear your feedback on this, though. Shoot me a DM on Twitter or you can reply directly to this email.
As always, big thanks to everyone who’s joined the Patreon. The support means a lot, and it’s been cool to get to know some of you in the Discord channel. If you haven’t already joined, give it a shot, we’d love to have you.
Now let’s get to the headlines!
-Will
Join the discussion on these headlines in /r/fantasyfootball and /r/DynastyFF
Coachspeak & Beat Reporters:
Urban Meyer says they have to get James Robinson more involved.
“Brandon Aiyuk situation is nothing like the Dante Pettis one” (video)
“KJ Hamler said Teddy Bridgewater asked the equipment staff to move Hamler’s locker next to his.”
Analysis & Hype:
Rookie WR leaders in targets per route run (min 10 routes):
1. Rondale Moore - 38.5%
2. Anthony Schwartz - 31.3%
3. Devonta Smith - 27.6%
4. Terrace Marshall - 26.1%
5. Ja'Marr Chase - 25%
Big positive that these rookie WRs are getting looks when on the field.
Bryan Edwards ran more routes than any other Raiders WR on Monday.
Teddy Bridgewater earned a 95.7 Total QBR in Week 1, best in the NFL.
David Montgomery weekly fantasy football PPR finishes in his last seven games:
RB6
RB1
RB6
RB2
RB8
RB5
RB8
D'Andre Swift was in a route on 63% of the Lions' passing plays today. That is Kamara-esque. PPR finishes for backs between 60% and 70% routes and at least 40% of attempts (>50% today) since 2011: 16, 3, 4, 5, 9, 1, 3, 5, 1, 2, 3, 9, 3, 1
Great for D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams: “Penei Sewell was the second-best run blocker among all offensive tackles, per PFF, trailing only Trent Williams. Ranked No. 5 among tackles overall. Against Nick Bosa.”
Darren Waller's last six games:
10 catches, 105 yards, 1 TD
9 catches, 117 yards, 1 TD
5 catches, 112 yards
9 catches, 150 yards, 1 TD
7 catches, 75 yards
13 catches, 200 yards, 2 TD
Video evidence that Antonio Brown does in fact look like he did 4 years ago.
Joe Mixon had 8 rushing missed tackles forced in Week 1 which was most in the NFL. PFF also ranked him 1st amongst RBs in Week 1 with a grade of 80.6.
Drew Brees on Jameis Winston: “I guess, apparently, this is what the Saints have been missing.”
Ja'Marr Chase became just the 3rd WR drafted in the first round to have 100+ receiving yards in his NFL debut since 1990.
“Ja'Marr Chase had some drops in camp. Media ran with it. His ADP sunk 3+ rounds. Week 1:”
* 89.8% of the snaps
* 31 routes on 32 Burrow dropbacks
* Led team with 25.9% target share
* 5-101-1 result"
Ja’Marr Chase showing nice technique. (gif)
“Let Elijah Mitchell be a lesson. This week stash:
- Larry Rountree
- Rhamondre Stevenson
- Jaret Patterson
- Damien Williams
- Cordarrelle Patterson
- Alex Collins
Use that last bench spot on a lottery ticket. Beat the waiver wire.”
One of the under-the-radar storylines from Sunday was that Tyrod Taylor balled out. A quick search on Twitter shows most analysts loved what they saw.
This chart shows the number of receiving yards each team has allowed to each position, the percentage that represents, the number of targets allowed (and percentages), and the total receiving touchdowns allowed. (By positional designation, not where they lined up on the field.)
Top-5 RBs by share of backfield opportunities (carries + targets)
Najee Harris - 100%
Darrell Henderson - 94%
Christian McCaffrey - 94%
Clyde Edwards-Helaire - 90%
Antonio Gibson - 89%
“T.J. Hockenson was in a route on 81% of passing plays today — that is a big threshold at the position. Last season he was at 73%.”
PFF's highest-graded QBs in Week 1
1. Tom Brady - 93.0
2. Jameis Winston - 89.5
2. Jalen Hurts - 89.5
4. Teddy Bridgewater - 85.7
5. Justin Herbert - 84.7
Jalen Hurts (Career)
- 26.8 fantasy points per four quarters
- 26.6 fantasy points in games started and finished
Would rank behind only Lamar Jackson's 2019 season for the most by any QB in any season in NFL history
“If Justin Herbert or Trevor Lawrence did what Jalen Hurts just did everyone would be losing their minds”
Jalen Hurts went 27/35, 264 passing yards, 62 rushing yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs, 126.37 passer rating in week 1.
You gotta love 1 game sample sizes: Corey Davis is on pace for 85 catches, and 1649 yards. Plus 34 touchdowns.
Air yards leaders so far:
1. Tyreek Hill: 231 air yards
2. DJ Chark: 199
3. CeeDee Lamb: 159
4. Marquez Valdes-Scantling: 156
5. Stefon Diggs: 150
6. Emmanuel Sanders: 159
7. Antonio Brown: 144
8. Brandin Cooks: 132
9. Amari Cooper: 127
10. Anthony Schwartz: 132
Najee Harris is making an appearance in both the Hype and Cold Water sections this week: “Najee Harris played 55/55 snaps for the Steelers today. He becomes the first running back since Christian McCaffrey in Week 15 of 2019 to play every offensive snap in a regular-season game.”
“Despite all the talk about Michael Gallup playing slot, he played 90% of his snaps out wide. Amari and Lamb mixed and matched at slot/flanker both playing around 40% in slot. Not quite position-less football but Lamb is no longer "just a slot guy". Wheels up for Ceedee Lamb”
“Over Dak Prescott's last five fully healthy games, Amari Cooper is averaging 24.8 fantasy points points per game. For reference, that would have *easily* made Cooper the WR2 over Tyreek Hill (21.9 FPG) last season.”
TE target share leaders after Week 1
1. Darren Waller, 35%
2. Adam Trautman, 30%
3. Kyle Pitts, 24%
4. Tyler Higbee, 23%
5. Noah Fant, 22%
6. Travis Kelce, 21%
7. George Kittle, 20%
“How good is Christian McCaffrey??? He is currently the #1 RB on the week and he didn't score a TD. I went back over the last 32 weeks and that has only happened once before (hint: it was also Christian McCaffrey in 2019). He's unfreaking stoppable for fantasy.”
“[Rob Gronkowski] was in a route 78% of Brady's drop backs and it could have been more — he was gassed at the end. Cameron Brate hit 38% and O.J. Howard only ran one route. Might not be the committee we thought.”
Threads on /r/fantasyfootball:
Week 1: "I watched the whole game" Takeaways and Longer Summaries
Reddit Adjusted Trade Values Week 2
"Defensive Maneuvers" & "Here's the Kicker" -- Week 2 Streaming of D/ST and Kicker
Are there any players you are panicking on?
Threads on /r/DynastyFF:
Dynasty 2021 Rookie Stock Watch - Week One Update!
Routes run and target rates from all the games so far this week.
Cold Water:
“James Robinson handled an absurd 85.4% of JAX's RB carries last season.
On Sunday, even with Travis Etienne done, Robinson handled just 35.7% of JAX's RB carries.”
“Najee Harris played every snap, but yesterday was a Week 1 win for the detractors of his offensive situation being a significant thorn. 35 of 45 yards rushing were after contact and none of his 16 carries were with 8+ defenders in the box per Next Gen Stats.”
“I consider earning targets a skill. Henry Ruggs has played 14 NFL games and his career-high in targets is five.”
Aaron Rodgers ends Week 1 as QB 35 in fantasy points. Only 32 teams played.
“Would have a way easier time believing Brandon Aiyuk's lack of playing time was due to the hamstring issue if they didn't also use him on punt return.”
“If he wants to be out there every single play, he’s got to be a lot better than the guy behind him.” Kyle Shanahan on Brandon Aiyuk. It’s worth watching the clip and deciphering for yourself just how grim the situation is. I lean towards it being mostly a recovering from injury kinda deal.
Shanahan says that Mitchell/Hasty simply beat out Trey Sermon in training camp/preseason
Zack Moss was a healthy scratch on Sunday.
The Fun Stuff:
“I think men created Fantasy Football to be able to talk to their friends for 17 weeks out of the year and not have to talk about real stuff. No relationships or politics talk. Only Jameis Winston”
This mashup of Burrow and Chase in LSU and Week 1.
Bryan Edwards trying to get targets.
The perfect lineup from Week 1
“Gronk looks about as washed as a bachelor’s bedsheets.”
Jameis Winston is on pace for 85 touchdowns and 0 turnovers.
Cheat code gets thrown around a lot these days, but that’s exactly what Kyler Murray is.
“Why was I not told Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp eat breakfast together before I drafted Robert Woods over him?”
Zach Wilson scrambling for his first NFL TD.
Poor Justin Jefferson.
Oregon's offensive line coach next to his players.
Juwan Johnson leaping.
The handshake between Jalen Hurts and Nick Sirianni
Trey Lance and Justin Fields both outscored Aaron Rodgers this week.
Gorgeous Terry McLaurin catch.
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