Week 1 Fantasy Football Recap
The first Sunday slate of week 1 games has come and gone, and with it came every twist and turn one could imagine. The Seahawks won despite relinquishing two safeties, the Bears took a game without an offensive touchdown or reaching 150 yards, and Baker Mayfield and Josh Allen posted near-career numbers. Here’s a quick recap of each Sunday game with its fantasy implications. The following point total refers to a 4-point passing TD, standard PPR format.
Bears 24 Titans 17
- The Bears lived up to their ‘Monsters of the Midway’ moniker, as their defense/special teams units scored a pair of touchdowns, forced three turnovers and put up 26.0 fantasy PTS. After falling behind 17-0, Chicago found a way to put up 24 unanswered points. This made 2024 no. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams (7.22 PTS) just the fourth rookie QB in NFL history to win in a week 1 debut. Tony Pollard looked like his 2022 self, logging 18.4 PTS with a game-high 84 yards on the ground.
Bills 34 Cardinals 28
- After jumping out to a 17-3 lead, the Cardinals almost delivered the shot heard around the league. Working with a brand-new receiving core, Josh Allen (31.18 PTS) managed to put up four touchdowns. James Conner (19.3 PTS) proved effective, logging 83 all-purpose yards on 19 touches for an efficient day. Kyler Murray (14.18 PTS) showed flashes, while rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. (1.4 PTS) hauled in just one of his three targets. Buffalo showed they can grind out a win, but their defense may have more holes than previous ones.
Patriots 16 Bengals 10
- Coming in as heavy underdogs, the Patriots capitalized against a Bengals squad notorious for having slow starts to the season. Joe Burrow (8.06 PTS) was sluggish, going 21-for-29 for just 164 yards through the air. Rhamondre Stevenson (21.6 PTS) served as the main offense supplier in New England head coach Jerod Mayo’s first win. The versatile back led all players with 28 touches. The split Cincinnati backfield of Zack Moss (14.1 PTS, 11 touches) and Chase Brown (5.3 PTS, 6 touches) will trek into week 2 with little answers.
Vikings 28 Giants 6
- ‘New quarterback, same offense’ is a phrase Vikings fans can wear on their chest through the first game of 2024. New signal caller Sam Darnold (14.6 PTS, 2 passing TD) looked the part, while Aaron Jones (18.9 PTS) looked as effective in the purple and yellow as he had with the green and gold in years past. Daniel Jones (4.94 PTS, 2 turnovers) struggled mightily in an offense that put up just 3.5 yards per play. First rounder Malik Nabers (11.6 PTS) led the big apple in receiving yards (66).
Saints 47 Panthers 10
- The Saints blew the doors off of their NFC South rivals and expelled any doubts about their potential on offense. Leading an offense that scored the most points of any squad in week 1, Derek Carr (21.3 PTS) looked flawless. The veteran quarterback tossed three touchdowns to no interceptions, one of which was to New Orleans’ swiss army knife in Rashid Shaheed (16.3 PTS) on a 59-yard bomb. Bryce Young led all Panthers fantasy scorers with 9.64 PTS, as Carolina will aim to gain their footing against the Chargers in week 2.
Steelers 18 Falcons 10
- Unlike the Falcons, who signed Kirk Cousins to be their quarterback in March, the Steelers didn’t know who their starter would be until this morning. Justin Fields took the place of an injured Russell Wilson, passing for 156 yards and rushing for 57 to put up 11.94 fantasy PTS. Cousins himself only managed to put up 6.2 PTS, tossing a pair of interceptions to the dismay of the Atlanta faithful. Bijan Robinson gave fantasy owners reprieve, putting up 16.1 PTS with a team-high five receptions.
Dolphins 20 Jaguars 17
- Miami wide receiver Tyreek Hill was detained outside of Hard Rock Stadium just hours ahead of game time, but that didn’t prevent him from putting up his usual dominant statline. The speedster racked in seven receptions for 130 yards and a score to give his fantasy owners 26.0 PTS. Hill led the charge in a run of 13 unanswered points for Miami to end the game. De’Von Achane (26.0 PTS) led all contributors out of the backfield and hauled in seven receptions.
Texans 29 Colts 27
- Two of the game’s young, superstar quarterbacks faced off in the opening week, and the showdown was as advertised. Anthony Richardson (26.08 PTS) and CJ Stroud (18.66 PTS) each tossed a pair of touchdowns, while Joe Mixon (26.8 PTS) touched the ball 33 times as the main back in Houston. The Texans’ electric offense pushed the pace consistently, logging 417 yards and a key win before facing the new-look Bears next week.
Chargers 22 Raiders 10
- Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers took down Antonio Pierce’s Raiders in a battle between a pair of first-year head coaches. JK Dobbins (22.9 PTS), who had played nine games in the last three seasons combined, looked more like the electric running back getting rave reviews out of Ohio State. Harbaugh’s pedigree of spearheading teams that run the ball well and play solid defense was in full effect.
Seahawks 26 Broncos 20
- The Super Bowl XLVIII rematch ended as a one-possession difference. The Seahawks fell victim to a pair of safeties, but the 12th man did more than enough to take down rookie quarterback Bo Nix and the Broncos. Leading back Kenneth Walker III (18.9 PTS) took a bulk of the work in the backfield, as quarterback Geno Smith (17.84 PTS) gained his footing following a tough first half.
Cowboys 33 Browns 17
- On the heels of becoming the highest paid quarterback in NFL history, Dak Prescott (11.46 PTS) led the Cowboys to an easy victory in Ohio. KeVontae Turpin’s 60-yard punt return TD in the third quarter made it a 27-3 ballgame, serving as the cherry on top of an electric win for America’s team. Ezekiel Elliott (12.9 PTS) and Brandin Cooks (14.5 PTS) also contributed for Dallas.
Buccaneers 37 Commanders 20
- Baker Mayfield (29.66 PTS) put up his fifth career game with at least four passing touchdowns en route to a week 1 victory over a young Commanders team. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels (28.16) gave his fantasy owners plenty of production, taking 16 rushes for 88 yards and a pair of scores. Daniels had more than Nix and Williams, the other two rookie signal callers, combined.
Lions 26 Rams 20
- The football gods saved the best for last, as the Lions took down the Rams in an overtime thriller. In a rematch of last year’s NFC Divisional Round matchup, Jameson Williams (24.4 PTS) shined the brightest. David Montgomery (16.3 PTS) led both backfields, taking 17 rushes for 91 yards along with the game-winning touchdown. With Puka Nacua going down in the first half, we got a glimpse of vintage Cooper Kupp (31.0 PTS), while Tyler Johnson (12.79 PTS) showed off the afterburners on a 63-yard catch and run as well.
With week 1 giving us our first taste of 2024 data, look out for patterns and new storylines that build during a new season. Some of the best performers of this season may even be a free agent in most leagues. Check out other week 1 articles, and stay tuned for our week 2 recap.
