NFL Week 1 Roundup

Welcome back to the Weekly Roundup. As always, we will be highlighting this past week’s injury report, top performers, underperformers, and surprise producers. There was no shortage of stunning storylines during Opening Week of the 2023 NFL Season, so let’s recap the action.

Injury Roundup

Travis Kelce TE (KC) - Knee

• Kelce was unable to suit up for the Chiefs Week 1 matchup against the Lions and will continue to be monitored throughout next week’s training schedule.

Mark Andrews TE (BAL) - Quadricep

• Andrews could not clear the injury report leading up to the Ravens' season opener. Isaiah Likely will fill in for Andrews during any contests in which the veteran is sidelined.

Cooper Kupp WR (LAR) - Hamstring

• Kupp is dealing with a severe hamstring pull and will sit on the sidelines for the first four games of the 2023 season.

J.K. Dobbins RB (BAL) - Torn Achilles

• Dobbins' season is over after the promising Ravens running back suffered a worse-case-scenario injury this Sunday. Dobbins has missed nearly two full seasons after recovering from multiple ligament tears in his knee and will now face a long and improbable road to recovery.

Greg Dulcich TE (DEN) - Leg

• Dulcich exited the Broncos' 16-17 loss to the Raiders with an undisclosed lower leg injury. The hope is that Dulcich will be able to resume practice this week but further testing will be needed to determine the extent of the injury. Managers should remember that a similar situation caused Dulcich to miss seven games in 2022.

Christian Watson WR (GB) - Hamstring

• Watson was sidelined for Week 1 of the 2023 season with a hamstring injury. Romeo Doubs will continue to see increased work in Watson’s absence.

Aaron Jones RB (GB) - Hamstring

• Aaron Jones left the Packers game early in Week 1 with an apparent leg injury. Reports suggest that it was a minor injury and Jones should resume practice at some point this week. The Packers were dominating the Bears from the opening whistle to final possession so Jones’ extended absence could have been a result of the game script as opposed to a signal towards overall severity of said injury.

Jayden Reed WR (GB) - Knee

• Rookie wide receiver Jayden Reed was forced to exit the Packers Sunday contest against the Bears due to a knee injury. Reed will be evaluated further at a later time this week.

Jerry Jeudy WR (DEN) - Hamstring

• Jeudy’s injury woes continued as he was forced to sit out the Broncos home opener against the Raiders in Week 1.

Rashaad Penny RB (PHI) - Healthy Scratch

• Rashaad Penny’s NFL career may be coming to a close as the Eagles elected to sideline the veteran despite no injury designation.

Jeff Wilson Jr RB (MIA) - Knee

• Wilson will be sidelined for the first four games of the 2023 season as he tends to a knee injury that placed him on IR.

Anthony Richardson QB (IND) - Head/Shoulder

• Richardson missed the final snaps of the Colts Week 1 matchup but appears to be fine and will start again in Week 2, according to head coach Shane Steichen.

Jonathan Taylor RB (IND) - Ankle/Trade Fodder

• Taylor will be forced to miss the first four weeks of the season with an apparent ankle injury. The Colts also desperately want to trade their star running back for an exceedingly high cost so perhaps they just need to keep Taylor healthy while they await a desperate suitor.

Zach Moss RB (IND) - Forearm

• Moss continues to recover from a fractured forearm but could see immediate usage in Taylor’s lengthened absence.

Kendre Miller RB (NO) - Hamstring

• Miller will have to be patient in awaiting his rookie debut as the young running back recovers from a hamstring injury suffered in training camp/preseason.

Pat Freiermuth TE (PIT) - Chest

• Freiermuth was ruled out after taking a big hit in the Steelers' disastrous loss to the 49ers. There are no reports that indicate Freiermuth’s injury is long-term.

Diontae Johnson WR (PIT) - Hamstring

• Diontae Johnson came up lame while cutting on a route against the 49ers and is feared to have suffered a hamstring injury. Johnson’s availability in Week 2 is now in question.

Tyler Lockett WR (SEA) - Head (Concussion)

• Tyler Lockett was evaluated for a concussion during the Seahawks' surprising Week 1 loss to the Rams. He was cleared to enter the game.

Jakobi Meyers WR (LV) - Head (Concussion)

• Meyers was having a career game in Week 1 before being knocked out of the game with a brutal illegal hit from Broncos defender Kareem Jackson.

D.J. Chark WR (CAR) - Hamstring

• Chark will have to wait at least one more week before making his Panthers debut.

Mike Williams WR (LAC) - Head (Concussion)

• Williams was forced to exit the Chargers game to be evaluated for a concussion. Williams re-entered the game but recorded no stats after returning.

Aaron Rodgers QB (NYJ) - Achilles

• Aaron Rodgers is feared to have suffered a career-altering and season ending achilles tear after playing just three snaps for his new team. Rodgers leaves a hole that cannot be filled, forcing the Jets to put their Super Bowl aspirations on ice.

Weekly Weigh-In

Arizona Cardinals: Properly Tanking

• Joshua Dobbs may be able to put literal rockets into space as a former NASA intern but the Cardinals quarterback appeared to have the arm strength of a dollar store squirt gun on Sunday.

• The Cardinals will be hard-pressed to win even one game this season. The team put up a valiant defensive effort against the Commanders but managed just 210 yards of total offense on the opposite side of the ball.

Atlanta Falcons: Dirty Bird Depth Chart

• Despite having not one, not two, but three generational superstars (Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts) on offense, Arthur Smith elected to hand fourth-round/second-year running back Tyler Allgeier the keys to the offense in Week 1.

• Allgeier ran away with the opportunity (pun intended), scoring two touchdowns with 75 yards on 15 carries.

• Bijan Robinson found the end zone in his first game, leading the Falcons in receptions with six.

• Desmond Ridder was entirely average and unexciting in his first NFL start.

• The Falcons had no trouble dispatching division foes in Week 1 with a 24-10 win over the Panthers. The team defense overwhelmed rookie quarterback Bryce Young while the methodical run-first (and second, and third) offensive philosophy of Smith controlled the clock.

Baltimore Ravens: New Offense, Same Look?

• The Ravens were a high-talking point of excitement as a team to watch in Week 1. Although they came away with a resounding 25-9 victory over the Texans, new offensive coordinator Todd Munken ran a disappointingly similar offense to years past.

• The Ravens' streak of bad luck and injuries continued as J.K. Dobbins suffered a season-ending Achilles tear. It is hard to envision Dobbins making an NFL return after suffering multiple ligament tears in the last two seasons.

Buffalo Bills: Big Apple turnovers

• Josh Allen gifted the Jets a win at home after throwing three costly picks to Jets safety Jordan Woodhead.

• Stefon Diggs was a man amongst boys, leading all Bills players in every receiving category including three consecutive receptions to send the game into overtime.

• James Cook appears to be the clear leader of the backfield, although the second-year running back had difficulties gaining ground against a tough Jets defense.

Carolina Panthers: Rookie Woes

• The Panthers struggled to get their offense going against an impressively stout Falcons defense.

• Bryce Young found out just how fast NFL safeties can close in on a throw, forcing some costly turnovers.

• The 2023 first-overall pick will be thrown to the wolves again in Week 2 as the Panthers host a traveling Saints team anchored by All-Pros Marshon Lattimore, Cameron Jordan, and Demario Davis.

Chicago Bears: I’d Like to Order A Run Pass Option, Hold the Pass.

• The Bears coaching staff finally allowed Justin Fields to attempt more than 25 passes in a single game. Unfortunately, the results were less than ideal as the Bears franchise quarterback completed 24/37 attempts despite an aDOT below five yards.

• Rookie running back Roschon Johnson led the Bears with six receptions, most of which came from behind the line of scrimmage. Johnson also found the endzone on the ground in his first game.

• D.J. Moore had only two targets while Cole Kmet, Darnell Mooney, Khalil Herbert, and Roschon Johnson all saw five or more.

Cincinnati Bengals: Back to Bungles

• Game 1 in the Battle of Ohio goes to the Browns as the Bengals' offense looked like a befuddled unit with no cohesion.

• Joe Burrow mounted zero touchdown drives, completing just 14/31 pass attempts for 82 yards. Burrow targeted Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase nine times each. He completed five passes to Chase; zero to Higgins.

Cleveland Browns: Dawg Pound Rules the Jungle

• Deshaun Watson is still trying to find his rhythm as a passer but flashed his fantasy-friendly ceiling in Week 1, rushing five times for 45 yards and one touchdown.

• Elijah Moore tried to play without gloves and managed just three catches on seven targets.

• Nick Chubb plowed his way through a timid Bengals front, securing 106 yards on 18 rush attempts. Chubb also caught all four of his targets for 24 yards, adding an encouraging PPR boost to his stellar rushing performance.

• The Browns defense stonewalled the Bengals en route to an easy 24-3 win.

Dallas Cowboys: Pitching Shutouts

• The Cowboys smashed through their division rivals en route to a 40-0 shutout win over the Giants, marking the largest point deficit between the two teams in their storied history.

• The defensive unit was firing at full force for the Cowboys as they scored twice on defense/special teams while causing five fumbles (one recovered), seven sacks (47 Sack Yards), two interceptions, and one blocked field goal.

• Tony Pollard is the real deal and has RB1 Overall potential in sight. Pollard scored twice, rushing for 70 yards on 14 carries while maintaining a three-down workload until the game was well out of hand.

• Jake Ferguson surprisingly led the team in targets with seven, while CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks garnered four each.

• Lamb was much more efficient, catching all four of his targets for 77 yards.

Denver Broncos: No Week 1 Win for Sean Payton

• Sean Peyton opened up his tenure as Broncos head coach with his infamous ambush onside kick. Unfortunately, the special teams did not have the same luck as the Saints in Super Bowl XLIV as the Raiders scored on the opening drive.

• Denver looks no better than last year and will need to continue their developmental overhaul if they hope to reach the mile-high heights expected of them.

• Javonte Williams was available and active in Week 1, leading all Broncos running backs in opportunity and production.

• Samaje Perine was, however, still an effective weapon. Perine led the Broncos in receiving yards needing just 37 yards to accomplish the feat.

Detroit Lions: Lions Leave Arrowhead with Win

• The Lions gutted out a win on the road against the defending Super Bowl champions as the Chiefs hosted Thursday Night Football.

• First-round running back Jahmyr Gibbs was rarely utilized as the coaching staff heavily favored David Montgomery in the game plan.

• Rookie safety Brian Branch helped secure the win with a pick-six off of a dropped pass from Kadarius Toney.

• Amon-Ra St. Brown hauled in six catches for 71 yards and a score, helping to seal the Chiefs' fate.

Green Bay Packers: Love Connection

• Jordan Love looked wholly capable as an NFL starter, throwing for 245 yards and three touchdowns.

• Love made an immediate connection with Romeo Doubs, finding the second-year wideout for two of his three scores.

• Aaron Jones looked explosive as ever, taking a 51-yard reception to the house for six points.

• AJ Dillon was the favored rusher but managed just 19 yards on 13 carries.

Houston Texans: Growing Pains

• The Texans are amongst the youngest offensive teams in the league, with several young and unproven assets anchored by minimal veteran depth.

• As a whole, the team looked promising but was unable to find the end zone at any point in their 25-9 loss to the Ravens.

• Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud did well to avoid the unrelenting pressure of the Ravens defense, completing 28/44 attempts for 242 yards.

• Nico Collins and Robert Woods saw a fantasy-friendly share of targets, both receiving double-digit looks from their young quarterback.

Indianapolis Colts: The Shoe Fits

• Anthony Richardson looked every bit as advertised in his first game: A terrifyingly raw passer with poor processing mixed with an unstoppable athletic prowess as a rusher.

• Richardson finished the week as a top-6 fantasy quarterback, compiling 223 passing yards, 40 rushing yards, and two touchdowns.

• Deon Jackson led the unit in rush attempts sans Jonathan Taylor but managed just 14 yards on 13 carries.

• Richardson led the team in rushing with 40.

• Michael Pittman Jr. is the clear alpha on the offense, catching eight of his team-high 11 targets for 97 yards and one touchdown.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Pitch and Catch-Of-The-Year Candidate

• Trevor Lawrence has officially arrived as one of the league’s best young quarterbacks. Lawrence made several pin-point perfect throws in the Jaguars' first win of the 2023 season.

• Calvin Ridley is all the way back. Ridley caught eight of 11 targets for 101 yards and Lawrence’s first touchdown of the day.

• Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby proved to be a formidable and complimentary duo, with Etienne taking the lead as the do-it-all utility man and Bigsby cleaning up leftovers as a highly productive short-yardage thumper.

• Zay Jones, you are ridiculous. Jones will be on the shortlist as an early-season catch-of-the-year candidate.

Kansas City Chiefs: No Kelce, Big Problem.

• The Chiefs' offense suffered through several miscues without their top receiving weapon.

• Kadarius Toney had several costly drops throughout the game, one of which cost the Chiefs seven points as rookie safety Brian Branch returned the blunder for a touchdown.

• Mahomes' pick-six marked just the third of his career.

• The Chiefs quarterback completed 21/39 attempts for 226 yards while also leading the team with 45 rushing yards on six attempts.

• Mahomes completed two touchdown passes. One to Rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice and another to practice squad call-up tight end Blake Bell.

Las Vegas Raiders: AFC West Leaders

• The Raiders were the only team in the AFC West to escape Week 1 with a win as the Chiefs, Chargers, and Broncos all posted losses.

• The Raiders new-look offense led by Jimmy Garapollo appeared to be a dulled-down version of their 2022 roster.

• Jimmy G had an uncharacteristic nine rush attempts. He managed just 11 yards, showcasing why he does not run the ball often.

• Jakobi Meyers was sporting a career game with nine receptions for 81 yards and two touchdowns on a team-high 10 targets. Unfortunately, Meyers was knocked out of the game with an illegal hit and should be considered questionable for Week 2.

Los Angeles Chargers: Coffee's For Closers

• The Chargers still cannot figure out how to close out games and hold onto a lead. 

• Their 2022 season ended with a monumental collapse against the Jaguars in the playoffs.

• 2023 started with much of the same as the team squandered a second-half 10-point lead to the Dolphins in Week 1.

• Austin Ekeler stole the show, posting 117 rushing yards and one touchdown on 16 attempts while adding four receptions for 47 yards.

• Josh Kelley made a major impact as a rusher in Week 1, securing one touchdown with 91 yards on 16 attempts.

• Donald Parham caught Herbert’s lone touchdown pass.

Los Angeles Rams: Rams Run Through Seahawks

• One of several unsuspecting underdogs to secure an upset win in Week 1, the Rams seemingly had no issues dispatching the Seahawks despite the loss of Cooper Kupp.

• Second-year undersized running back Kyren Williams found paydirt twice, leading the Rams offense with 15 rush attempts for 52 yards and two touchdowns.

• Cam Akers managed just 29 yards on 22 rush attempts for an average of 1.3 yards per carry.

• Rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua made a massive impact, catching 10 of 15 targets for 119 yards.

• Second-year wideout Tutu Atwell exploded in Week 1 with 119 yards and six receptions.

• Stafford appears healthy and lethal as the Rams' leading man. He failed to find the end zone but managed to complete 24/38 attempts for 334 yards.

Miami Dolphins: ‘Phins Up, Chargers Down

• Tua Tagovailoa had a near-perfect performance despite two fumbles (one lost) and an interception.

• The Dolphins quarterback tossed 466 yards and three touchdowns, connecting with Tyreek Hill on 11 receptions for 215 yards and two touchdowns.

• The Dolphins' run game is seemingly non-existent with the husk of 31-year-old Raheem Mostert leading the charge.

• The Dolphins squeaked by the Chargers in a tight shootout with a last-minute touchdown.

Minnesota Vikings: Vikings Struggle With Ball Security

• Kirk Cousins and the Vikings coughed the ball up three times while allowing a putrid Buccaneers offense to control the clock and squeak out a 20-17 win.

• Justin Jefferson remains an unstoppable machine of elite target-earning production. Jefferson caught nine of 12 for 150 yards but it was the rookie wide receiver who made a splash in the end zone.

• Jordan Addison caught a 39-yard bomb for his first career NFL touchdown, finishing with four receptions for 61 yards and one touchdown in Week 1.

• Alexander Mattison was the clear lead back but the Vikings appear content to pass on nearly every down leaving Mattison as an afterthought in the gameplan.

New England Patriots: The New Patriot Way

• The Patriots' offense was playing at a surprisingly up-tempo pace in Week 1, attempting 54 total passes to just 22 rush attempts.

• Mac Jones looked comfortable against a stout Eagles defense, completing 35/54 attempts for 316 yards and three touchdowns.

• Kendrick Bourne shocked everyone as the Patriots leading receiver, hauling in six of his team-high 11 targets for 64 yards and two touchdowns.

• Six Patriots players saw six or more targets.

• Hunter Henry appears miles ahead of Mike Gesicki in the tight end pecking order.

New Orleans Saints: Week 1, Week Won

• The Saints barely scraped by the Titans, walking away with a 16-15 victory in the season opener.

• Newcomer quarterback Derek Carr struggled to find his rhythm in the first half but eventually got it rolling in the second frame. Carr completed 23/33 attempts for 305 yards and one touchdown.

• Chris Olave is proving to be an unstoppable deep threat in the NFL. Olave secured eight receptions for 112 yards.

• Rasheed Shaheed was the hero on offense in Week 1, watching a 41-yard deep pass to keep the Saints drive while securing the team’s only touchdown.

New York Giants: Shutout at Home

• The Giants had by far the worst performance of any team in Week 1 as they got shutout at home with a 40-point deficit against division rivals.

• Darren Waller was able to play despite a late injury designation leading up to the contest. He appears poised for a big season but managers will need to remain patient.

• There are few positive takeaways from the Giants' opening game.

New York Jets: Rodgers Done For Season

• The Aaron Rodgers era may be over before it ever began. Rodgers is feared to have suffered a torn achilles in his first drive as a membe of the Jets, playing just three snaps for the team.

• Breece Hall is an unstoppable force with the ball in his hands. In the second-year stars first game back from a torn ACL he produced 127 yards on just 10 carries with a long 20-yard reception as well.

• Dalvin Cook saw more rush attempts than Hall, touting 13 carries for a sloppy 33 yards. Cook caught all three of his pass attempts for 26 yards.

Philadelphia Eagles: A Backfield of Outcasts

• The biggest takeaway from the Eagles' narrow 25-20 victory over the Patriots is Kenny Gainwell’s apparent usage and role as the favored running back.

• D’Andre Swift and Rashaad Penny (healthy scratch) appear to be nothing more than depth pieces at the early juncture of the 2023 season.

• Gainwell led the trio in carries and receptions, securing 74 scrimmage yards on 18 touches.

• A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith are Sympatico as the Eagles’ WR1(A) and WR1(B). Deciding who is the A and who is the B is irrelevant as both wideouts continue to produce at elite levels.

• Brown and Smith earned 10 targets apiece, both securing seven receptions. Brown led the way with 79 receiving yards while Smith proved to be the more productive option for fantasy, recording 47 receiving yards and one touchdown.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Steelers Overwhelmed by 49ers Defense

• The Steelers' offense managed just 273 yards of total offense while Kenny Pickett threw two costly interceptions to the 49ers defense.

• The entire Steelers offense had just 41 rushing yards on 10 attempts with Najee Harris leading the way with 31 yards on six attempts.

• Allen Robinson led the team in targets as Diontae Johnson was forced to exit.

• George Pickens is still not at the development stage that some would like you to believe.

• Jaylen Warren really is splitting snaps with Harris and was utilized much more than his teammate in passing scenarios.

San Francisco 49ers: Mr. Irrelevant is Mr. Consistent

• Brock Purdy became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for more than 200 yards and two touchdowns while going undefeated in each of their first six regular season starts.

• Purdy found an immediately exploitable matchup as Brandon Aiyuk cooked a hapless past-his-prime Patrick Peterson.

• Aiyuk caught all of his team-high eight targets, posting 129 yards and two touchdowns.

• Christian McCaffrey proved why he is perennially a league-winning fantasy asset, bursting for a 65-yard touchdown run. McCaffrey finished with 152 yards on 22 carries with one touchdown while adding three receptions for 17 yards.

Seattle Seahawks: Winless in Seattle

• The Seahawks offense failed to produce in Week 1, dropping a winnable game to the underdog Rams at home.

• Geno Smith managed just 112 yards passing with one touchdown.

• Kenneth Walker has a clear grasp on the RB1 role, handling 12 of the team’s 18 rush attempts while rookie Zach Charbonnet was primarily used as a pass-blocker.

• No member of the Seahawks secured more than three receptions.

• DK Metcalf topped the team in fantasy points with three catches for 47 yards and one touchdown.

• Tyler Lockett managed just two receptions for 10 yards before being evaluated for a concussion. Lockett was cleared to return but did not play another snap.

• Jaxon Smith-Njigba also managed three receptions but recorded just 13 yards with his opportunities.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Buccaneers Steal a Win

• The Buccaneers' defense wreaked Havoc on the Vikings, capitalizing on every mistake when possible.

• Baker Mayfield and company were able to control the clock for most of the contest, needing just 256 yards and two touchdowns on offense to secure a win against one of the NFL’s top-scoring teams.

• Mike Evans led the wideouts with 10 targets while Chris Godwin earned six.

• Rachaad White is the clear favorite to lead the Buccaneers' backfield this season but rookie running back Sean Tucker is not far behind if White fails to produce.

Tennessee Titans: Has “The King’s” Reign Come to an End?

• In the first game of the 2023 season, Derrick Henry was out-snapped by rookie Tyjae Spears despite the veteran heavily outproducing his younger counterpart on a per-touch basis throughout the contest.

• Spears handled 100% of the third down snaps for the Titans.

• DeAndre Hopkins returned to his target-hogging ways, earning a team-high 13 targets. Hopkins also led the Titans with seven receptions for 65 yards.

• The offense looked lethargic as a whole, posting zero touchdowns while kicker Nick Folk accounted for all of the team’s 15 points with five field goals.

Washington Commanders: A Win is a Win

• The Commanders had several opportunities to run away with a blowout win against a shoddy Cardinals team that appears poised to lose nearly every contest this season.

• Although it wasn’t a pretty win, the Commanders were able to walk away with a 20-16 victory.

• Sam Howell tallied one rushing and one passing touchdown, completing 19/31 pass attempts for 202 yards with veteran tight end Logan Thomas earning a team-high eight targets.

• Brian Robinson was the sole recipient of Howell’s passing touchdown.

• Robinson has usurped Antonio Gibson as the leading rusher and receiver out of the backfield for the Commanders.

• Gibson may find himself even further down the rotation after a costly fumble in Week 1.

Much respect, thank you for reading. If you have any continued thoughts and would like to share, I am always available for an open conversation on Twitter: @PsychWardFF or Instagram: @psychwardff.

You can find my other works as the Lead Writer and DOC at Broto Fantasy Football.

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By Matt Ward