What a topsy-turvy week one captured across the time zones in week one of NFL! Fantasy football owners across the landscapes are experiencing the spectrum of emotions, from elation to head blown emojis following Monday Night Football!
Takeaways from the first week of September NFL action:
Shockers-
For the first time in my fantasy tenure, I actually decided to take a risk on Aaron Rodgers’ off season move to the J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, JETS! And take him as my QB1 in one of my two fantasy football leagues. In less than five minutes into the Monday night game, all Aaron Rodgers owners had our jaws on the floor and pretty much shat our pants in the same moment. Here was an anticipated 25-30 points to win our fantasy game shut down. I was actually surprised I still won that fantasy match up in that league EVEN WITH Rodgers accumulating a big fat zero! (thank you Jared Goff flex, Pittman and Jones!)
The home squad (my home squad, Niners Baby!!!) laid down a statement of their own in Steel Town USA, when the San Francisco walked out onto Three Rivers Stadium and dismantled all hope for every fan waving those terrible towels, limiting the offense to one score in the first half! Swooping in the last hour, San Francisco made 2022 DPOY Nick Bosa the highest paid defensive player in the NFL. Although he had some rushes and assistance in tackling, I am sure the intimidation he thwarted on the defensive line, helped his fellow teammates kick some Pittsburgh booty all game long. Another secure (not-any-surprise to Bay Area Niner fans) performance was by San Francisco’s QB1 coming off elbow ligament surgery, Brock Purdy. Experts have ranked him as the 24th best quarterback in the league?! 24th??? Really? Well, Shanahan’s game plan, and Purdy’s calm cool demeanor had something to say about that diss. San Francisco walked off the gridiron sending a statement to the rest of the league: with a 30-7 dredging of the Pittsburgh Steelers; we’re coming to make a mark, and win.
Another shocker that arose this past Monday night, was the rare lackluster performance by Josh Allen, throwing three interceptions to the same Jets Safety, Jordan Whitehead, coincidentally wearing #3 (Possibly a Damar Hamlin nod). There were two grabs I felt Stefon Diggs could have batted away… I know Allen is rumored to be dating a hottie (Hailey Stanfield), and not sure if that’s been possibly a distraction? Of course, I am sure he’s the consummate professional compartmentalizing those things when walking into the locker room, and trotting onto the field. Just curious myself, and the eye-opening-eek performance coming out of the preseason. To see Zac Wilson take over for Aaron Rodgers, along with a stingy Jets defense/special teams performance and win the game in an OT touchdown was incredibly entertaining, and I’m sure there was a collective sigh and J-E-T-S jubilation breathing potential hope for the upcoming season. The expectations of ‘Super Bowl or Bust!’ have definitely been deflated to, ‘Let’s try and make it to the postseason’!
The opening game between Detroit and Kansas City was a twister! The Lions came to play! No one, NO ONE had Detroit pegged to win that game! Things just got real in motor city, and they're definitely not rolling over for anyone. Their power ranking rating should rise if they continue to lay out upcoming opponents.
Sunday night football with Dallas walking into New York (Okay, okay, Jersey…) versus the Giants- we thought we would be watching a balanced competitive game between two foes. Nothing could be closer from that happening. The New York Giants offense looked flatter than a day-old pitcher of beer. On top of that, the Giants defense had zero answers for what Dallas threw, ran their way. If there were a mercy rule in football, I believe New York may have requested not to play the remaining minutes of the fourth quarter, with Dallas stringing up a 40-0 spot on the supposed more competitive of the two New York teams in the past several years.
Many football enthusiasts were looking forward to seeing if Seattle would continue their rise with the second coming of Geno Smith and the plethora of offensive options between receivers and running backs. Their opponent, the Los Angeles Rams, had rising concerns with their main pro-receiver, Cooper Kupp being out, and if Matthew Stafford would find some of his Super Bowl pizzazz that was proficiently displayed two years ago. Well, well, well… Lookie here ladies and gentlemen! Seattle was taking too many steps in the wrong direction, while Stafford hooked up with some unknown receivers lighting up the field and scoreboard! The waiver wires in many leagues I am sure were busy with claims from every team in the league attempting to out bid one another for either Tutu Atwell or Puka Nacua! (I mean I attempted to claim both! And, actually acquired Atwell!). Between Cam Akers and the receivers, Stafford and the LA Rams sent Seattle twelfth man fans into a tantrum rant and left Lumen Field in a tizzy fit.
Last but not least, were the performances of certain traded quarterbacks, and the expected performance of one Miami team. Jimmy Garropolo and Derek Carr landed wins in their new towns and team colors. It was nice to see Jimmy G and Carr do well in their new locker rooms and teams. The other team (and quarterback, after all the concussions from the previous season) many of us were piqued to watch were the Miami Dolphins and how Tua Tagovailoa would rebound from such a tumultuous 2022-2023 season. The San Diego Chargers led by one of the talented quarterbacks in the league, Justin Herbert were definitely favored to win in many football minds. Little did we know how ready head coach Mike McDaniel and the offense plan would unravel, stunning the Chargers with outsourcing them as the last seconds ticked off the clock. Tua did a phenomenal job spreading the ball out between the two highlight reel receivers Tyreek HIll and Waddle, as well as newcomers Barrios and Cracraft, mixed in with a strong running game headed by Raheem Mostert.
We all walk into the NFL season with our heads held high, thinking we know it all… Even the paid experts miss the mark on their evaluations and predictions. Of course, we can definitely have our overreaction moments, considering it's week one of eighteen! After all of our ‘Hmph!’ and adjusting moves, we all look forward to seeing what week two will bring!!! Buckle up buttercups (and superstars!), we may continue to experience some turbulence heading into the Fall! Best of luck to all my fellow fantasy football fanatics (okay, all except my opponents… I would like to kick some A this weekend, uh-hum…)
#FTTB
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