Breesy Does It
Football season is officially underway!
You have no idea how long I've been waiting to say – or write in this case – those five words, and let's just say that Week 1 was not a disappointment. There were some monster games from a few larger than life superstars that had some cheering like little kids and others throwing there remote controls at their televisions – my sympathies go out to those of you who had to face Drew Brees and Adrian Peterson. So, without further adieu, here are the top performers and under performers from a wild Week 1.
Top 5 Quarterbacks:
1. Drew Brees – 358 Pass Yds, 6 TDs, 1 INT – Talk about picking up where you left off. Brees had the Saints offense flying on Sunday, albeit against a fantasy player's best friend – the Detroit Lions. With that said, Brees managed to set an NFL record for the most touchdown passes in the first week of the season, and he might have another record on his radar if he keeps this up – Tom Brady better sleep with one eye open.
2. Tony Romo – 353 Pass Yds, 3 TDs, 0 INTs – No T.O., no problem. Romo spread the ball out to six different receivers, with Jason Witten, Roy Williams, and Patrick Crayton all going over 70-yards. Totaling three touchdown passes from over 40-yards out also wasn't too shabby for Mr. Romo and Co. For now – and I stress "for now" – questions have been answered about the offense in Big D.
3. Joe Flacco – 307 Pass Tds, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 18 Rush Yds – What happened to Baltimore's traditional conservative gameplan? They basically crumpled it up and threw it out, because when you chuck the ball up 43 times that's referred to as a "pass happy" offense. It looks like the Ravens have loosened the reins on the second year signal caller, and why not? Flacco is a matchup play as of right now, but don't be surprised if he turns into a borderline QB1 by the time this season is all said and done.
4. Matt Hasselbeck – 279 Pass Yds, 3 TDs, 2 INTs – It was encouraging to see a healthy Hasselbeck out on the field making plays again for a Seahawks offense that desperately needs him. Mr. Clean could end up putting up decent numbers because he plays in a division where there are no "lights out" defenses. He also has decent weapons around him, making him a sneaky play when the matchup is right.
5. Matt Ryan – 229 Pass Yds, 2 TDs, 0 INTs – Boy, is Matt Ryan happy that Tony Gonzalez is in town or what? He picked up Turner's struggles on the ground with a very serviceable fantasy performance, justifying why fantasy owners drafted him in the 5th or sixth round. Look for more days like this out of Ryan, as he and Rowdy Roddy White look to get back on the same page.
Top 5 Running Backs:
1. Adrian Peterson – 180 Rush Yds, 3 TDs, 1 Rec, 18 Yds – I'm pretty much speechless on this one. "All Day" looked like a man amongst boys on Sunday, as his 64-yard score looked like it should be in a video game, hitting the "highlight stick" all the way down the field. Brett Favre may be the household name, but AP looks poised to take his game to the next level this year – I didn't think that was possible – and solidify why owners made him the first overall pick this year.
2. Thomas Jones – 107 Rush Yds, 2 TDs – It didn't start off pretty for TJ, but he somehow managed to total over 100-yards in the second half, while finishing with a head scratching 5.4 yards-per-carry average. Give the Jets some credit, as they stuck with the run even when it wasn't working at all. If Sanchez continues to prove himself, defenses will begin to back off, creating more running room for the Jets backs.
3. Willis McGahee – 44 Rush Yds, 1 TD, 4 Rec, 31 Yds, 1 TD – So it begins. Ray Rice managed to go over the 100-yard mark, but McGahee was a goal line vulture that stole the show. His value may have been somewhat resurrected, but make no mistake because Rice had nineteen carries to McGahee's ten.
4. Julius Jones – 117 Rush Yds, 1 TD, 2 Rec, 19 Yds – I guess anyone can look good against the Rams. Like his brother above, Julius managed to eclipse the 100-yard plateau, while showing some burst on his 62-yard score. As long as he stays healthy – a big "IF" – there is no one in the way of Jones getting every down touches, making him a borderline RB2 in most weeks.
5. Maurice Jones-Drew – 97 Rush Yds, 1 TD, 5 Rec, 26 Yds – The third Jones to make the list, MJD was all over the field on Sunday. The human bowling ball was heavily involved in both the running and passing games – as expected – because the Jaguars don't have many other weapons. Look for a lot more weeks like this from MJD, as the Jags look to get him the ball early and often.
Top 5 Wide Receivers:
1. Reggie Wayne – 10 Rec, 162 Yds, 1 TD – Out of all the QB-WR combos in the league, Manning to Wayne is as good as money in the bank. With the possibility of Anthony Gonzalez being out a few weeks, that only means more looks for Wayne, as he looks to build off a monster Week 1.
2. Santonio Holmes – 9 Rec, 131 Yds, 1 TD – Holmes was clearly Big Ben's go to guy on Thursday night. The Superbowl hero looks to build off that success and finally take that next step into fantasy football relevance. If this week was any indication, the Steelers showed that they are not shy about abandoning the running game and letting it fly on offense.
3. Patrick Crayton – 4 Rec, 135 Yds, 1 TD – Eighty of Crayton's 135-yards came on one play, but that's fantasy football. Either way, Romo will continue to look Crayton's way as the season progresses, because he is an explosive threat on the Boys' offense.
4. Greg Jennings – 6 Rec, 106 Yds, 1 TD, 1 2-pt conversion – He exploded late in the game for a 50-yard bomb, but that's the type of ability that Jennings has. Don't be surprised if he finishes the season as the top fantasy wideout, because the chemistry between him and Rodgers is scary good.
5. Devery Henderson –5 Rec, 103 Yds, 1 TD – Henderson lives and dies by the big play, and Sunday was no different as he notched a 58-yard score. He always seems to make a few appearances every year in the Top 5, but his inconsistency has him in the Bottom 5 more often than not.
Top 5 Tight Ends:
1. John Carlson – 6 Rec, 95 Yds, 2 TDs – This kid is for real, and he looks poised to take a giant leap in '09. He has quickly emerged as Hasselbeck's favorite target in the redzone, and will be a very serviceable TE1 throughout the season.
2. Jeremy Shockey – 4 Rec, 31 Yds, 2 TDs – Not many yards, but Shock got the job done with his two scores. On such a potent offense, don't look for Shockey to put up gaudy numbers each week but, as Drew Brees has shown, he's not shy about spreading the wealth.
3. Todd Heap – 5 Rec, 74 Yds, 1 TD – Take a picture, because we have a Todd Heap sighting. He was so often on the stinker list last season that I'm shocked to see his name as a top performer. Who knows, maybe you're one who's willing to forgive and forget about last year – I know, I'm not.
4. Tony Gonzalez – 5 Rec, 73 Yds, 1 TD – No surprise here. Tony G has made a living as the most consistent tight end on the planet that he can pretty much have a weekly reservation as a Top 5 finisher. He'll be Ryan's safety blanket all season long, as there is nothing to worry about on this front.
5. Chris Cooley – 7 Rec, 68 Yds, 1 TD – Cooley totaled his touchdown output from all of last season on Sunday, as Jason Campbell gave him a lot of looks over the middle. Last year's low touchdown showing was an anomaly, and look for him to have a major bounce back.
Bottom 5 Quarterbacks:
1. Jake Delhomme – 73 Pass Yds, 0 TDs, 4 INTs, 1 FL – A no brainer here. Daylight come and Jake should've stayed home.
2. Matt Schaub – 166 Pass Yds, 0 TDs, 1 INT
3. David Garrard – 122 Yds, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, 14 Rush Yds – His poor preseason carried into the regular season.
4. Marc Bulger – 191 Yds, 0 TDs, 0 INTs
5. Jay Cutler – 277 Yds, 1 TD, 4 INTs, 16 Rush Yds – His debut couldn't have gone any better – insert joke here.
Bottom 5 Running Backs:
1. Michael Turner – 65 Rush Yds, 0 TDs – 3.0 ypc nothing to write home about.
2. Brandon Jacobs – 46 Rush Yds, 0 TDs, 2 Rec, 17 Yds
3. Willie Parker – 19 Rush Yds, 0 TDs, 1 Rec, 5 Yds
4. LenDale White – 28 Rush Yds, 0 TDs, 1 Rec, 5 Yds – Giving up tequila didn't help much this week.
5. Steve Slaton – 17 Rush Yds, 0 TDs, 3 Rec, 35 Yds, 1 FL
Bottom 5 Wide Receivers:
1. Santana Moss – 2 Rec, 6 Yds, 0 TDs
2. Anquan Boldin – 2 Rec, 19 Yds, 0 TDs – Would've been better off not playing.
3. Antonio Bryant – 2 Rec, 29 Yds, 0 TDs
4. Andre Johnson – 4 Rec, 35 Yds, 0 TDs – Outplayed by Darrelle Revis.
5. Braylon Edwards – 1 Rec, 12 Yds, 0 TDs
Bottom 5 Tight Ends:
1. Greg Olsen – 1 Rec, 8 Yds, 0 TDs
2. Donald Lee – 3 Rec, 8 Yds, 0 TDs
3. Anthony Fasano – 2 Rec, 10 Yds, 0 TDs, 2 FL – Can't get much worse than this.
4. Visanthe Shiancoe – 3 Rec, 26 Yds, 0 TDs
5. Dallas Clark – 4 Rec, 39 Yds, 0 TDs – On the list because he was expected to do
Football season is officially underway!
You have no idea how long I've been waiting to say – or write in this case – those five words, and let's just say that Week 1 was not a disappointment. There were some monster games from a few larger than life superstars that had some cheering like little kids and others throwing there remote controls at their televisions – my sympathies go out to those of you who had to face Drew Brees and Adrian Peterson. So, without further adieu, here are the top performers and under performers from a wild Week 1.
Top 5 Quarterbacks:
1. Drew Brees – 358 Pass Yds, 6 TDs, 1 INT – Talk about picking up where you left off. Brees had the Saints offense flying on Sunday, albeit against a fantasy player's best friend – the Detroit Lions. With that said, Brees managed to set an NFL record for the most touchdown passes in the first week of the season, and he might have another record on his radar if he keeps this up – Tom Brady better sleep with one eye open.
2. Tony Romo – 353 Pass Yds, 3 TDs, 0 INTs – No T.O., no problem. Romo spread the ball out to six different receivers, with Jason Witten, Roy Williams, and Patrick Crayton all going over 70-yards. Totaling three touchdown passes from over 40-yards out also wasn't too shabby for Mr. Romo and Co. For now – and I stress "for now" – questions have been answered about the offense in Big D.
3. Joe Flacco – 307 Pass Tds, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 18 Rush Yds – What happened to Baltimore's traditional conservative gameplan? They basically crumpled it up and threw it out, because when you chuck the ball up 43 times that's referred to as a "pass happy" offense. It looks like the Ravens have loosened the reins on the second year signal caller, and why not? Flacco is a matchup play as of right now, but don't be surprised if he turns into a borderline QB1 by the time this season is all said and done.
4. Matt Hasselbeck – 279 Pass Yds, 3 TDs, 2 INTs – It was encouraging to see a healthy Hasselbeck out on the field making plays again for a Seahawks offense that desperately needs him. Mr. Clean could end up putting up decent numbers because he plays in a division where there are no "lights out" defenses. He also has decent weapons around him, making him a sneaky play when the matchup is right.
5. Matt Ryan – 229 Pass Yds, 2 TDs, 0 INTs – Boy, is Matt Ryan happy that Tony Gonzalez is in town or what? He picked up Turner's struggles on the ground with a very serviceable fantasy performance, justifying why fantasy owners drafted him in the 5th or sixth round. Look for more days like this out of Ryan, as he and Rowdy Roddy White look to get back on the same page.
Top 5 Running Backs:
1. Adrian Peterson – 180 Rush Yds, 3 TDs, 1 Rec, 18 Yds – I'm pretty much speechless on this one. "All Day" looked like a man amongst boys on Sunday, as his 64-yard score looked like it should be in a video game, hitting the "highlight stick" all the way down the field. Brett Favre may be the household name, but AP looks poised to take his game to the next level this year – I didn't think that was possible – and solidify why owners made him the first overall pick this year.
2. Thomas Jones – 107 Rush Yds, 2 TDs – It didn't start off pretty for TJ, but he somehow managed to total over 100-yards in the second half, while finishing with a head scratching 5.4 yards-per-carry average. Give the Jets some credit, as they stuck with the run even when it wasn't working at all. If Sanchez continues to prove himself, defenses will begin to back off, creating more running room for the Jets backs.
3. Willis McGahee – 44 Rush Yds, 1 TD, 4 Rec, 31 Yds, 1 TD – So it begins. Ray Rice managed to go over the 100-yard mark, but McGahee was a goal line vulture that stole the show. His value may have been somewhat resurrected, but make no mistake because Rice had nineteen carries to McGahee's ten.
4. Julius Jones – 117 Rush Yds, 1 TD, 2 Rec, 19 Yds – I guess anyone can look good against the Rams. Like his brother above, Julius managed to eclipse the 100-yard plateau, while showing some burst on his 62-yard score. As long as he stays healthy – a big "IF" – there is no one in the way of Jones getting every down touches, making him a borderline RB2 in most weeks.
5. Maurice Jones-Drew – 97 Rush Yds, 1 TD, 5 Rec, 26 Yds – The third Jones to make the list, MJD was all over the field on Sunday. The human bowling ball was heavily involved in both the running and passing games – as expected – because the Jaguars don't have many other weapons. Look for a lot more weeks like this from MJD, as the Jags look to get him the ball early and often.
Top 5 Wide Receivers:
1. Reggie Wayne – 10 Rec, 162 Yds, 1 TD – Out of all the QB-WR combos in the league, Manning to Wayne is as good as money in the bank. With the possibility of Anthony Gonzalez being out a few weeks, that only means more looks for Wayne, as he looks to build off a monster Week 1.
2. Santonio Holmes – 9 Rec, 131 Yds, 1 TD – Holmes was clearly Big Ben's go to guy on Thursday night. The Superbowl hero looks to build off that success and finally take that next step into fantasy football relevance. If this week was any indication, the Steelers showed that they are not shy about abandoning the running game and letting it fly on offense.
3. Patrick Crayton – 4 Rec, 135 Yds, 1 TD – Eighty of Crayton's 135-yards came on one play, but that's fantasy football. Either way, Romo will continue to look Crayton's way as the season progresses, because he is an explosive threat on the Boys' offense.
4. Greg Jennings – 6 Rec, 106 Yds, 1 TD, 1 2-pt conversion – He exploded late in the game for a 50-yard bomb, but that's the type of ability that Jennings has. Don't be surprised if he finishes the season as the top fantasy wideout, because the chemistry between him and Rodgers is scary good.
5. Devery Henderson –5 Rec, 103 Yds, 1 TD – Henderson lives and dies by the big play, and Sunday was no different as he notched a 58-yard score. He always seems to make a few appearances every year in the Top 5, but his inconsistency has him in the Bottom 5 more often than not.
Top 5 Tight Ends:
1. John Carlson – 6 Rec, 95 Yds, 2 TDs – This kid is for real, and he looks poised to take a giant leap in '09. He has quickly emerged as Hasselbeck's favorite target in the redzone, and will be a very serviceable TE1 throughout the season.
2. Jeremy Shockey – 4 Rec, 31 Yds, 2 TDs – Not many yards, but Shock got the job done with his two scores. On such a potent offense, don't look for Shockey to put up gaudy numbers each week but, as Drew Brees has shown, he's not shy about spreading the wealth.
3. Todd Heap – 5 Rec, 74 Yds, 1 TD – Take a picture, because we have a Todd Heap sighting. He was so often on the stinker list last season that I'm shocked to see his name as a top performer. Who knows, maybe you're one who's willing to forgive and forget about last year – I know, I'm not.
4. Tony Gonzalez – 5 Rec, 73 Yds, 1 TD – No surprise here. Tony G has made a living as the most consistent tight end on the planet that he can pretty much have a weekly reservation as a Top 5 finisher. He'll be Ryan's safety blanket all season long, as there is nothing to worry about on this front.
5. Chris Cooley – 7 Rec, 68 Yds, 1 TD – Cooley totaled his touchdown output from all of last season on Sunday, as Jason Campbell gave him a lot of looks over the middle. Last year's low touchdown showing was an anomaly, and look for him to have a major bounce back.
Bottom 5 Quarterbacks:
1. Jake Delhomme – 73 Pass Yds, 0 TDs, 4 INTs, 1 FL – A no brainer here. Daylight come and Jake should've stayed home.
2. Matt Schaub – 166 Pass Yds, 0 TDs, 1 INT
3. David Garrard – 122 Yds, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, 14 Rush Yds – His poor preseason carried into the regular season.
4. Marc Bulger – 191 Yds, 0 TDs, 0 INTs
5. Jay Cutler – 277 Yds, 1 TD, 4 INTs, 16 Rush Yds – His debut couldn't have gone any better – insert joke here.
Bottom 5 Running Backs:
1. Michael Turner – 65 Rush Yds, 0 TDs – 3.0 ypc nothing to write home about.
2. Brandon Jacobs – 46 Rush Yds, 0 TDs, 2 Rec, 17 Yds
3. Willie Parker – 19 Rush Yds, 0 TDs, 1 Rec, 5 Yds
4. LenDale White – 28 Rush Yds, 0 TDs, 1 Rec, 5 Yds – Giving up tequila didn't help much this week.
5. Steve Slaton – 17 Rush Yds, 0 TDs, 3 Rec, 35 Yds, 1 FL
Bottom 5 Wide Receivers:
1. Santana Moss – 2 Rec, 6 Yds, 0 TDs
2. Anquan Boldin – 2 Rec, 19 Yds, 0 TDs – Would've been better off not playing.
3. Antonio Bryant – 2 Rec, 29 Yds, 0 TDs
4. Andre Johnson – 4 Rec, 35 Yds, 0 TDs – Outplayed by Darrelle Revis.
5. Braylon Edwards – 1 Rec, 12 Yds, 0 TDs
Bottom 5 Tight Ends:
1. Greg Olsen – 1 Rec, 8 Yds, 0 TDs
2. Donald Lee – 3 Rec, 8 Yds, 0 TDs
3. Anthony Fasano – 2 Rec, 10 Yds, 0 TDs, 2 FL – Can't get much worse than this.
4. Visanthe Shiancoe – 3 Rec, 26 Yds, 0 TDs
5. Dallas Clark – 4 Rec, 39 Yds, 0 TDs – On the list because he was expected to do
