Week 1 is in the books after a long offseason of waiting for fantasy football. Early in the season is a great time to find value in dynasty leagues due to some fantasy managers overreacting. Use that to your advantage if you can! Here are some players whose values have either risen or fallen after their Week 1 performance.
Fantasy Football Risers
Justin Fields – QB, New York Jets
Justin Fields did his best to play spoiler to Aaron Rodgers in his return to MetLife Stadium. Fields had one of his best performances as a starter in his Jets debut, passing for 218 yards and a touchdown and adding 48 rushing yards and two more rushing touchdowns to finish with 29.52 fantasy points.
The Jets‘ offense looked more balanced on Sunday than it has in a long time. The offensive line was able to open running lanes for Breece Hall, and first-year OC Tanner Engstrand was able to scheme plays to maximize the talents on the offense, especially Fields.
Fields is only 26 years old and is under contract for another year after this, but if he plays consistently, he could be in line for a massive contract before the season is over. Fields should continue to deliver a safe, high-floor, and upside to be the QB1 on any given week.
Keon Coleman – WR, Buffalo Bills
Keon Coleman had a somewhat disappointing rookie season, where he only had 29 receptions for 556 yards and 4 touchdowns. With so many rookies thriving early in their NFL careers (Look at Brian Thomas Jr., Malik Nabers, Brock Bowers, etc.) Coleman’s value dropped.
Coleman was one of my favorite post-hype sleepers this season, given his valuation. After a strong Week 1, Coleman showed the improvements and trust needed to solidify himself as the clear WR1 for this Bills offense.
Coleman finished with a team high in targets, receptions, and yards. (11 targets- 8 receptions- 112 yards – 1 TD) Coleman also led the Bills’ skill players in snaps, playing 88% of the offensive snaps on Sunday night.
Coleman is 22 years old and might have just solidified himself as the reigning MVP Josh Allen’s favorite target in this explosive Bills offense.
Harold Fannin – TE, Cleveland Browns
Harold Fannin was a nice surprise for Browns fans as well as fantasy managers who happened to snag him in later rounds of their rookie drafts. Fannin was the most productive tight end in the NCAA last season. Fannin recorded a position leading 117 receptions and 1,555 yards, and 10 touchdowns.
Fannin was viewed as a future asset and not an immediate contributor for fantasy managers. That might not be the case after Week 1. Fannin led the Browns in targets (9) and receiving yards (63) in his debut and played 72% of offensive snaps. Fannin finished with 13.60 PPR fantasy points, which is good for TE6 on the week.
Fannin was used in multiple different roles, such as inline blocker, fullback, slot, wide receiver, and even getting a carry in the Wildcat formation. It’s clear that Fannin has earned the coaching staff’s trust, which could lead to consistent production from the rookie out of Bowling Green.
Fantasy Football Fallers
Tua Tagovailoa – QB, Miami Dolphins
Week 1 was a straight-up disaster for the Miami Dolphins. It all starts with how poorly quarterback Tua Tagovailoa played on Sunday in the team’s loss to the Colts. Tagovailoa threw for just 114 yards and turned the ball over three times. (2 Interceptions and 1 fumble)
Tagovailoa looked lost while he was pressured on Sunday (passer rating of 51.7) and seemed to panic, leading to the two interceptions. Tagovailoa was eventually benched for backup quarterback Zach Wilson towards the end of the game.
With concerns about team chemistry all offseason, getting blown out by a mediocre Colts defense does not strike confidence in the Dolphins’ offense for fantasy managers. Pair that with Tagovailoa’s lingering concussion history, and things are looking bleak for the former first-round pick.
Cooper Kupp – WR, Seattle Seahawks
The glory days of Cooper Kupp in fantasy football are long gone, but so might his days of being a reliable fantasy contributor. Kupp departed from the Rams this offseason and signed with the division rival Seahawks.
Kupp was on the field for 88% of the Seahawks’ offensive snaps, which is great, but he only managed to receive 3 targets which he caught two for 15 yards. Much like his time last season in Los Angeles, Kupp was overshadowed by young star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who caught 9 balls on 13 targets for 124 yards.
Kupp, now 32 years old, has an extensive injury history in his career, especially since his historic 2021 season. Pairing his age, injury concerns, and declining statistics every year, Kupp’s value is at an all-time low.
Bryce Young – QB, Carolina Panthers
There was real hope that Bryce Young started to figure things out towards the end of last season, where he averaged 26.82 fantasy points per game (last 3 games).
The Panthers went out and got more weapons to surround Young with. They drafted Tetairoa McMillian in the first round. In Week 1 however, it looked like Young’s struggles creeped back in. The former first overall pick, completed 18 of 35 passes for 154 yards and one late touchdown. Young also threw two interceptions and lost a fumble.
Accuracy was a huge issue for Young in Week 1, which was a pre-draft strength of his. Two passes should have led to scores for the Panthers, but Young underthrew Hunter Renfrow on a surefire touchdown, and then later missed an opportunity to the rookie McMillian.
With a large sample size of poor play for Bryce Young and such a small sample size of fantasy success, it might be time for fantasy managers to trade Young while they still have the chance.
