The first week of the NFL is in the books! What a week it was…upsets and injuries all over the place. While I caution heavily against over-reacting to any single week, especially week one, passive redraft league owners rarely win championships, and dynasty owners never do. We should always be watching and learning every week. With that in mind here is a look at what we learned and what we think we learned from week one:
   
What we learned:Randall Cobb’s skill set looks a lot like Percy Harvin and the Pack is wasting no time incorporating him into their offense. While he might pay off some spotty dividends this year, he looks like the perfect compliment to Greg Jennings down the road.  If you were counting on any individual Packers’ or Saints’ running back as your #2 RB you are out of luck. RBBC is in full effect.
 
What we think we learned: If you are picking one RB though, it looks like James Starks over Ryan Grant. James Jones made a mistake re-signing with Green Bay. You did too, if you drafted him.  While an average of 1,000 yards and 7 TDs is a nice year, Marques Colston will never be the 1200 and 10+ we thought he was in ’07.
   
What we learned:  Tim Hightower is a legitimate RB2. Mike Shanahan has been much maligned for his constant rotation of running backs, but the truth is that when he finds a horse he rides it (at least for a season). Hightower looks like his horse. If you are a Giants pass-catcher and your name isn't Hakeem Nicks or Mario Manningham, you have no business being on a fantasy roster this year. The Giants defense has heart, but they don’t have players right now. Until they get some bodies back, feel free to drop them.
 
What we think we learned: If you’re a top-heavy team, Fred Davis should be on your squad.  I'm not saying he looks like the starter, but the Chris Cooley torch is passing over to Davis. The Eli Manning doubters may have been under-stating the situation.  In the current fantasy QB landscape, Eli is Just A Guy (JAG, for future reference).  To be honest I’m not much of an IDP fan, but Jason Pierre-Paul is a stud in the making.
  What we learned:  They aren’t sexy, but the Bills offense was not a fluke. They aren’t going to drop 40 points each week, but there is still some serious value on that offense. In particular Stevie Johnson was undervalued again in the draft and is going to make a lot of fantasy owners who snatched him up very happy.  The cat is still not out of the bag, if you find an owner who will trade you Johnson for a bigger “name” player, grab him. While the Bills offense looked good, it was more the case of an awful Chiefs defense. Many saw the Chiefs D/ST (cough, cough, meekly raising my hand) as a fantasy sleeper this year. After that performance, and with Berry out for the season, I'm already dropping them.
 
What we think we learned: Jamaal Charles could be in for a much rougher season than we thought. He's got a friendly schedule, but the Chiefs passing offense seems lost, and NFL defenses are to be able to shut down one player, no mater how good he is. Ryan Fitzpatrick can be a real nice QB2 and I’ll bet this isn’t the only week he goes off.  The Bills will give Spiller his looks, but this is Fred Jackson’s rushing offense.
   
What we learned: Owening Michael Vick is the most exhilarating and exhausting experience a fantasy owner can have. Every play you have no idea whether he’ll do something you’ve never seen before, or end his career in a tragic injury. Vick, DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy are really, really fast. Oh, you knew that already? My bad. If Steve Jackson misses time, Carnell Williams is a player you can plug in to get you through. He’s a must have hand-cuff for Jackson owners.
 
What we think we learned: The Rams are rising, but they are not there yet. DeSean and LeSean are fun names to write back to back.
   
What we learned:This is the perfect example of what I mean when I preach patience early in the season. The Falcons will fly high this year, but it's going take them some time. The demise of the Bears has been greatly exaggerated. Start that defense with confidence. If you are looking for a lead receiver in Chicago, you have an answer - his name is Matt Forte.
 
What we think we learned:Matt Ryan and the Falcons look like the preseason expectations are weighing on them. Teams tend to reflect to personality of their quarterback. After this game and the play-off loss to the Packers, perhaps Matty Ice is too calm under pressure. Michael Turner is still valuable piece, but he's definitely on the other side of the mountain. Expect him to have a solid season, but it doesn't look like greatness is in him anymore.
   
What we learned: If Stafford stays healthy, if Stafford stays healthy, if Stafford stays healthy…the Lions can be an exceptional offense.  If Calvin Johnson wasn’t the top WR in your rankings, he should be now. Take note - Josh Freeman can have an average day and still be a useful fantasy quarterback, the sign of a fantasy starter. This game featured two of the best young quarterbacks in the game.
 
What we think we learned:  Jahvid Best had a remarkable start to his career, and he’s a nice player, but those first few games in 2010 look like they might have been his peak. Last year’s much-hyped RB Rookie crop is looking more and more average by the day. LeGarratte Blount is nowhere near the type of back who can carry a team, and folks that reached for the two-down back are regretting that decision today.  
What we learned:Kenny Britt is the most talented wide receiver veteran Matt Hasselback has ever played with. His enormous talent and maddening behavior, make him the single biggest boom or bust wide receiver in the NFL this season. Maurice Jones-Drew is just fine.  Ride him till the wheels come off.
 
What we think we learned:Josh Scobee is the second most valuable weapon the Jaguars have. That’s not a Josh Scobee compliment. Even Chris Johnson, as gifted of a running back  he is, could've used training camp
  What we learned: Dynasty players put Andy Dalton on your watch-list. Redraft players can ignore him this year, but we won’t be able to say that for long. Greg Little is talented, but like most rookie wide receivers he is going to need time
 
What we think we learned:While the Browns are still the Browns, perhaps a Bengal can change its stripes. AJ Green’s touchdown was more the result of blown coverage but the guy looks like he can play. He just has “it”
   
What we learned:  In a heated division rivalry anything can happen. Nobody saw this coming. You want to know the difference between a high first-round draft pick and a low first-round draft pick: It is the difference between Ray Rice and Rashard Mendenhall. It’s about explosive upside, Rice has it, Mendenhall does not. Congrats to folks who got Anquan Boldin in middle rounds. You got WR2 value at a WR3 price. Joe Flacco and Boldin came to play this year. Preseason Antonio Brown is not regular season Antonio Brown.
 
What we think we learned:The Steelers offensive line is just not very good and this isn’t the only poor outing Big Ben will have this year. Other than Mike Wallace, the Steelers’ wide receiver situation is going to take a bit of time to sort itself out. Emmanuel Sanders missed a lot of time and still looks like the favorite for the number two WR slot for the Steelers in the long run.
   
What we learned:Yes, Peyton Manning means that much. Remember what I said about not over-reacting to Week 1? Yeah, well ignore that. Kerry Collins should not be owned. In a redraft league, other than Reggie Wayne, there isn’t a Colt’s player that I would be comfortable with starting for a fantasy squad. Yes, I'm including Dallas Clark. This concludes my thoughts on the Colts. Indianapolis, you have my condolences.
 
What we think we learned: Now, pay attention, because this is going to give many of you pause - The most important thing we think we learned this week in fantasy football is that the Houston Texans can run the ball with or without Arian Foster. I’m not suggesting Foster isn’t a fantastic back, he is, I man-crush on him hard. That said, folks who took Foster within the top five picks of the draft could be in trouble here. With the ease that the Texans had running the ball, I wouldn't be surprised if even when he returns healthy, they limit Foster's carries a bit to get more work for Ben Tate and the crew and keep Foster fresh. If you've got a spot to stash Ben Tate do it, now.
   
What we learned: OK, look no one has ever started a career the way Cam Newton just did, but let's not think Newton is now a top 10 NFL quarterback already. However, the guy belongs. He's not intimidated at all by playing with the big boys, and the Panthers are not going to baby him. Wise choice. In a redraft league, the bigger news here is the return of Steve Smith who looked absolutely re-vitalized by his young QB. A focused and engaged Steve Smith is a very good thing for the Panthers and a scary thought for CBs everywhere.  On the flipside, Patrick Peterson is a great athlete, and his return skills were on full display. However, he is not ready to be the Cardinals top CB. He’s not even close.
 
What we think we learned:  Lost in the Newton show was the fact that Kevin Kolb looks like he can be a solid contributor to your fantasy roster. The Panthers rushing offense will not be this bad all season, but the memory that we have of a couple years ago, with two stud backs rushing for over 1000 yards… that's what it is, just a memory.  
What we learned: Not much, other than that you don't really want a lot of 49ers or Seahawks on the roster.
 
What we think we learned: Uhm, that Tavaris Jackson is slightly more valuable than Alex Smith? In related news, JaMarcus Russell and Ryan Leaf were both NFL QB’s once. *Sigh* Let's just move on.  
What we learned: The Cowboys are dedicated to Felix Jones (who clearly hit the weights this off-season) as their feature back, and while the stout Jets defense contained him, he has bigger weeks in front of him. Dez Bryant is simply a beast and he's coming on real fast. If injuries don't slow him down you'll be hard-pressed to find WRs that go ahead of him in next year’s draft. The Jets cornerback pair is impressive, and if matched up versus number 1 and 2 WRs, they can shut a pair down. However if, like the Cowboys, you got a true 1 and a 1A at the WR spot, Antonio Cromartie just can't keep up. If you've got a stud wide receiver matched up against the Jets, start them. You are already starting your studs anyway right?
 
What we think we learned: Jason Garrett clearly hid real playbook from Wade Phillips. Don’t panic yet, but I think it's OK to be a little worried about Shonn Greene. He was generally unimpressive and LaDanian Tomlinson still looks like he’s got a little gas left in the tank. It’s going to be a fun year to own just about every main Cowboy offensive weapon. Mark Sanchez might just have the experience and the weapons around him to make the leap.  
What we learned- Mike Tolbert was the most undervalued fantasy pick in your draft. As long as he's healthy, Ryan Mathews is nice RB3, no more. You can go ahead and drop Donovan McNabb right now. No, I mean like right now. It’s OK, I'll wait for you. Back? Good. Let’s continue.
 
What we think we learned– Percy Harvin is an exciting and dynamic player, but he’s not a true #1 WR. He looks like he might have a Santana Moss type of career. Some weeks he’ll have fantasy god numbers, often he’ll turn in a real stinker. OK, this last point has nothing to do with fantasy but maybe, just maybe, the Chargers have learned to have the poise to win.
 
 
 
 

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