Unwrapping the Presents
In the famous poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clarke Moore, we find a tranquil scene in a family’s home on Christmas Eve as they peacefully slumber. Children are nestled in their beds, dreams of sugar plums dancing in their heads. Similarly, fantasy football gamers eagerly awaited the NFL season’s start after months of preparation, research, mock drafts, and heated debates. Yet, as the NFL season commenced, many were jolted from their dream world, where “sugar plums cease to dance.” It was a moment of awakening, a shift from anticipation to reality, as they unwrapped their metaphorical gifts. It’s the fantasy football equivalent of Christmas Day, and it’s time again to delve into the realm of crucial fantasy football statistics that can guide you through Week 2 and beyond, ensuring optimal performance for your fantasy football team.
#1 – Zay Flowers earned 47.6-percent of targets and 6.3-percent of rushes for the Baltimore Ravens in his NFL debut
Granted, Mark Andrews was out for the first game, but there’s no doubt Zay Flowers commands the required targets and schemed touches to be an immediate producer in fantasy gamers’ starting lineups. Only six wide receivers earned more than a 47.6-percent Target Share in a single game in 2022: Garrett Wilson, DeAndre Hopkins, Drake London, CeeDee Lamb, Davante Adams, and Chris Olave. Not only did Flowers earn an astronomical target share, he also led all wide receivers in missed-tackles-forced and was fourth in Yards After Catch in his debut. Continue to start Flowers as a high-floor WR2, even if Andrews plays.
#2 – Breece Hall averaged 13.1 yards after contact per attempt in his first game back off the ACL tear
That’s the highest single-game average among RBs with 5-plus carries in a game since…Breece Hall in Week 7 (15.5 YAC/Att) of 2022. Even though Dalvin Cook earned more carries, played more snaps, and ran more routes in the first game, it’s clear that Hall is the more dynamic back. Aaron Rodgers is out for the season with an achilles tear, but Hall dominated with Zach Wilson at QB last season. Hall averaged 19.2 fantasy points per game on only a 55.4-percent Snap Snare in Wilson-led games in 2022. Dalvin Cook or not, Hall is inevitable. Even coming off an ACL injury, Hall proved he’s still an RB1 right out of the gate.
#3 – Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier combined for a 52.9-percent target share
To the chagrin of Drake London and Kyle Pitts fantasy managers, Arthur Smith does not care about WR and TE targets. Of the 39 offensive touches by Atlanta Falcons skill players, Robinson and Allgeier hogged 34 (87-percent). Don’t expect the game plan to change, as the only confirmation Smith needs to continue his conservative game planning resides in the fact that the Falcons won their first matchup versus the Panthers. Expect Desmond Ridder to continue to throw for fewer than 25 attempts moving forward, leaning on the two talented running backs – to the detriment of Pitts and London. The two top-ten NFL Draft picks are desperation starts moving forward, while Allgeier profiles as a high-end RB3.
Wake Up Call
As we journey through the early weeks of this fantasy football season, it’s clear that our anticipation and preparation have started to pay off. Just as the children in Clement Clarke Moore’s poem eventually woke up to their Christmas Day surprises, we too have unveiled some intriguing fantasy football revelations. Players like Flowers, Hall, Robinson, and Allgeier have emerged as key figures on their respective teams, offering us valuable insights into potential fantasy success. Keep an eye on these week-winning statistics and use them to your advantage as we head into Week 2 and beyond. We will ensure you make informed roster decisions and ensure optimal performance for your fantasy football team throughout the season.
