EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsWeek 1 results in the NFL can create overreactions and poor decisions by fantasy football managers. We don't want to do that here after just one week of matchups. No need to sound the alarm (just yet).There were some really positive things that stood out. The Bears' offense looked like the 1999 Rams -- The Greatest Show on Turf -- and 12 players scored 30 or more fantasy points. That's a fantasy record for Week 1.But ... we also had some duds. Big-name players posting zeros. QB1s playing subpar football (and throwing picks). Running backs struggling to produce double-digit totals. And my favorite breakout candidate of the summer failing to answer the Week 1 bell, despite a prime matchup.So, are we looking at a handful of bad games? (Hey, it happens in this league!) Or are we seeing some early-season signs that point to a level of trouble? While nothing is absolute after just one football game, let's take a closer look at 11 players and a team's backfield who disappointed in the opening week of the season.Bad gameColston Loveland, TE, Chicago BearsLoveland, who was the 37th player off the board in ESPN drafts (and the third tight end), posted a zero in Week 1 on a day when the Chicago offense dropped 59 points on Carolina. I was disappointing for Loveland managers; however, he ran 25 routes in the game -- up from his average of 22.9 as a rookie -- and saw an end zone target. The ball just went elsewhere for most of the afternoon, which can happen in coach Ben Johnson's system.But even with the rough start, Loveland remains a top-five TE play in Week 2 versus Minnesota. He has the talent and route versatility to bounce back in a big-time Bears offense. He should be a priority target for quarterback Caleb Williams versus the blitz-heavy Vikings defense.Drake Maye, QB, New England PatriotsThe Patriots' Week 1 pass script against Seattle seemed conservative early, and Maye (9.82 points) made some reckless decisions in the fourth quarter (three interceptions). Plus, A.J. Brown is now on IR (for at least four weeks) because of an ankle injury. But I'm not ready to bury Maye, or this Pats offense, after one tough road matchup against the Seahawks.Remember, Maye can boost your lineup with his rushing ability (47 yards in Week 1). And I believe the Pats can create a play sheet -- without Brown -- to elevate the offense, because we saw it last season when Maye scored 20.7 fantasy points per game. Yes, the Patriots need more out of Romeo Doubs. But the throws were there, and Maye has the dual-threat ability to create enough production to stay in the lower-tier QB1 mix this Sunday versus the Steelers.Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas CowboysPrescott had 14.4 points in a Week 1 loss to the Giants, so there isn't major concern here. Yes, he threw a pick, but he finished with two touchdown passes and added 14 yards on the ground. But that game also showed us what needs to improve in the Dallas offense, as Prescott totaled just 175 yards passing and the vertical concepts didn't hit.On Sunday night, Prescott completed only one of six passes of 15 or more air yards. Fantasy managers need those explosive plays to George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb, like we saw last season when Prescott averaged 5.6 fantasy points per game on vertical throws (15-plus air yards). Was it just a subpar game here? Yes. And Prescott gets a solid matchup in Week 2 versus the Commanders' defense. He's a midtier QB1 in that one.Omarion Hampton, RB, Los Angeles ChargersI was all-in on Hampton this summer. He was a breakout candidate in coordinator Mike McDaniel's new offensive system. And my opinion isn't going to change after Hampton scored 8.3 points in the Week 1 loss to the Cardinals. That Chargers offense was a tough watch, and negative game flow impacted Hampton's touches late, as he finished with 43 yards rushing and a touchdown on 12 carries.Yes, the volume needs to increase, especially his pass-game usage (zero targets, seven routes run in Week 1). But as the No. 1 back in a run game that will cater to his physical, north-south traits, Hampton has the fantasy profile of a top back in this league. It was a bad game this past Sunday, but I'm expecting adjustments in L.A. for Sunday's matchup against the Raiders. Keep Hampton in the RB1 mix.Drake London, WR, and Kyle Pitts Sr., TE, Atlanta FalconsLondon saw just two targets (catching both for 29 yards) in the Week 1 loss to the Steelers, while Pitts didn't see a single target despite running 19 routes. But I'm not putting this on London or Pitts, because the level of QB play wasn't up to NFL standards. Cooper Rush, the Falcons' No. 3, started the game because of injuries to Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr., completing just 54% of his passes, and he threw two interceptions.Now, we don't yet know the status of Tagovailoa (oblique) and Penix (knee) for this week against Carolina, but are you really keeping London and Pitts out of your lineup if Rush gets another start? I can't do it (and I roster London in multiple leagues). The Panthers present a much friendlier matchup, too. And Rush is getting more practice reps with the No. 1 offense. Ride it out until the Falcons can get more stability under center.James Cook III, RB, Buffalo BillsThis is a quick one for me. Sure, Cook scored only 9.9 fantasy points in the Bills' Week 1 win over the Texans. But that is a nasty defensive front to run against, plus Houston controlled time of possession. Cook did average 4.4 yards on 13 carries and caught three passes for 12 yards. It wasn't an explosive day, but I'm not worried at all about his future production. He's too dynamic, and the big-play juice is there in one of the league's best offenses. Cook will remain an RB1 for the Bills' Thursday night home opener versus the Lions.Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington CommandersMcLaurin (and the Washington pass game) really struggled against the Philly defense in the Week 1 loss. Rookie offensive coordinator, road environment, Vic Fangio's scheme. Not ideal. And we saw the results with McLaurin (catching 2 of 4 targets for 14 yards), who had to match up against Eagles corners Quinyon Mitchell and Riq Woolen. Time to panic? Not yet. Washington gets a much more positive matchup in Week 2 against the Cowboys. Let's see this play out. McLaurin stays in that WR2/flex range.Bad signTravis Etienne Jr., RB, New Orleans SaintsEtienne finished with 14.8 fantasy points in the Week 1 overtime loss to the Lions, and that works in the RB2 slot. Etienne also had seven receptions for 32 yards as the Saints had to go pass heavy after falling behind 21-0. But I'm more concerned about the rushing totals and the backfield rotation.Etienne split carries with Kendre Miller (nine carries each), and it was Miller who saw action in the low red zone, scoring on an 8-yard run. Etienne will remain in the RB2/flex range because of his dual-threat ability, but his ceiling might be lowered depending on how the Saints split touches in the backfield moving forward.Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles RamsThe Rams' pass game looked really flat in the Week 1 loss to the 49ers in Australia. Travel plans aside, Stafford completed 15 of 25 passes for only 155 yards and a pick (4.1 fantasy points). Rough numbers.Yes, Sean McVay will make the proper corrections ahead of the Monday night game versus the Giants, but Stafford's lower body looked tight when he was asked to move in the pocket or get to the edges on boot, and he offers basically no rushing value. Does that mean Stafford can't produce QB1 weeks? Of course not. However, I think we need to manage expectations with Stafford this season after he threw a career-best 46 touchdowns in 2025.Quinshon Judkins, RB, Cleveland BrownsJudkins is a volume grinder, a back who can live between the tackles given his short-area speed and ability to push the pile. But can we trust Judkins to see the necessary volume on a weekly basis in this Browns offense?In the blowout loss to the Jaguars, Judkins had 12 carries for 33 yards and two catches for 17 yards (7.0 fantasy points). The way I see it, Judkins needs to be around the 20-touch mark to boost your lineup, wearing down defenses late. But that's hard to do in negative game flow situations, which could become a trend in Cleveland. As of now, I have Judkins in the flex range for Sunday's game in Tampa.Green Bay Packers backfieldWith Josh Jacobs on the commissioner exempt list, the Packers featured MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks in the backfield during the Week 1 loss to Minnesota. Lloyd rushed for 37 yards on 13 carries, while Brooks managed 29 yards on seven carries, and neither caught a pass (one target each). Lloyd has fantasy value as a flex play in Week 2 against the Jets, but I see a Green Bay offense that could become more pass heavy because of the lack of difference-making talent in the backfield.
