Stars Week 1
QB: Peyton Manning: 27-42, 462 yards, 7 TDs
RB: LeSean McCoy: 31 carries, 184 yards, 1 TD
WR: AJ Green, 9 catches, 162 yards, 2 TDs
*Anquan Boldin: 13 catches, 208 yards, 1 TD
*Demaryius Thomas, 5 catches, 161 yards, 2 TDs
TE: Jared Cook, 7 catches, 141 yards, 2 TDs
*Julius Thomas, 5 catches, 110 yards, 2 TDs
If you had Peyton Manning as your quarterback and still lost your matchup, something’s not quite right with your team. On the rushing front, LeSean McCoy had the best performance in what was an otherwise mild rushing week in the NFL. AJ Green sits atop the perch for WRs this week, but as this is Week 1, we’re feeling a bit generous and will provide silver and bronze stars to Boldin and D. Thomas, respectively. Jared Cook reeled in top honors for TE of the week, but again in the spirit of giving, Julius Thomas deserves a mention as well.
Week 1 Takeaways – A Closer Look
Each week we’ll take a closer look at a handful of performances and sort out what it means going forward.
Colin Kaepernick: 27-39, 412 yards, 3 TDs
Analysis: For any lingering folks who considered Kaepernick a running quarterback, this is your final cue to get with the times. Kaepernick showed on Sunday versus the Packers that he’s ready to make the move into the very top echelon of QBs (real life and fantasy). Consider Kaepernick a top-5 fantasy QB going forward.
Terrelle Pryor:19-29, 217 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs (13 carries, 112 yards, 0 TDs)
Analysis: Pryor electrified Raider Nation and beyond with his performance against the Colts. While it’s only one game, Pryor showed enough promise to warrant fantasy attention. Pryor should be viewed as a QB2 – so feel free to start him in two-QB leagues or as a fill-in for bye weeks.
Shane Vereen: 14 carries, 101 yards, 0 TDs (7 catches, 58 yards, 0 TDs and one broken wrist)
Analysis: Vereen took charge of the Patriots\' RB duties after Ridley’s costly fumble against the Bills. Unfortunately, Vereen also suffered a broken wrist during the game and will be out for at least a month. If you drafted Vereen, sit tight until he returns. In the mean time, Stevan Ridley, briefly banished to Bill Belichik’s doghouse, receives a get-out-of-jail-free card and will resume lead back duties without opposition.
Lamar Miller: 10 carries, 3 yards, 0 TDs
Analysis: Considered by many managers to be a strong bust-out candidate this season, Miller has gotten off to a rotten start. The whispers started in the preseason, and the game against the Browns only heightened the concerns. While it’s only one game, Miller owners should be worried. Miller is likely to face a timeshare with Daniel Thomas in the near term, and will need to dig himself out of the doghouse. At the moment, Miller is no better than an RB3/flex play, but he has plenty of time to move back up to RB2 status.
David Wilson: 7 carries, 19 yard, 0 TDs, 2 fumbles lost
Analysis: Much of the analysis for Miller applies to Wilson, although losing two fumbles adds a second deck to the doghouse (with Coughlin as the landlord). If you drafted Wilson as an RB2, you have no choice but to wait things out. Do not drop Wilson at this time. Do try to find another RB to start in the interim and keep Wilson on the bench until further notice.
Anquan Boldin:13 catches, 208 yards, 1 TD
Analysis: Usually when WRs change teams, there’s a bit of an adjustment period between the new QB/WR tandem. If there’s any doubt about this, ask Mike Wallace. So Boldin rolls in and has a monster game against the Packers. The only thing to adjust here is Boldin’s ranking. We’ve seen enough – Boldin moves solidly into WR2 status going forward.
Mike Wallace: 1 catch, 15 yards, 0 TDs
Analysis: So yeah, an adjustment period for the Tannehill/Wallace tag team. Should managers who own Wallace be concerned? Yes, as Tannehill and Wallace don’t seem to be anywhere near the same page. Wallace looks more like a WR3/flex player at the moment, so Wallace owners need to be patient and realistic about the value Wallace will bring this season. He will fall short of the big numbers we’re used to seeing him post in Pittsburgh.
Julius Thomas: 5 catches, 110 yards, 2 TDs
Analysis: It took all of one game for Julius Thomas to emerge as a legit fantasy threat. Peyton Manning loves his TEs, and Thomas has a clear grasp on the TE position, and also possesses terrific athleticism. So if Peyton Manning likes Thomas, you should too. He is a low end TE1 going forward. If he’s available in your league, pick him up.
Rapid Fire Pickups
One suggested free agent pickup at each position (in each case a player available in most leagues):
QB: Terrelle Pryor
RB: Joique Bell
WR: Julian Edelman
TE: Julius Thomas
Week 2 Rankings
Quarterbacks
1. Aaron Rodgers, Packers (WAS)
2. Drew Brees, Saints (at TB)
3. Peyton Manning, Broncos (at NYG)
4. Cam Newton, Panthers (at BUF)
5. Tom Brady, Patriots (NYJ)
6. Matt Ryan, Falcons (STL)
7. Michael Vick, Eagles (SD)
8. Colin Kaepernick, 49ers (at SEA)
9. Robert Griffin III, Redskins (at GB)
10. Matthew Stafford, Lions (at ARI)
11. Eli Manning, Giants (DEN)
12. Andrew Luck, Colts (MIA)
13. Russell Wilson, Seahawks (SF)
14. Jay Cutler, Bears (MIN)
15. Tony Romo, Cowboys (at KC)
16. Terrelle Pryor, Raiders (JAC)
17. Carson Palmer, Cardinals (DET)
18. Joe Flacco, Ravens (CLE)
19. Sam Bradford, Rams (at ATL)
20. Andy Dalton, Bengals (PIT)
Running Backs
1. Adrian Peterson, Vikings (at CHI)
2. LeSean McCoy, Eagles (SD)
3. Doug Martin, Buccaneers (NO)
4. Ray Rice, Ravens (CLE)
5. Jamaal Charles, Chiefs (DAL)
6. Arian Foster, Texans (TEN)
7. Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks (SF)
8. Matt Forte, Bears (MIN)
9. C.J. Spiller, Bills (CAR)
10. Reggie Bush, Lions (at ARI)
11. Alfred Morris, WAS (at GB)
12. Eddie Lacy, Packers (WAS)
13. Stevan Ridley, Patriots (NYJ)
14. Steven Jackson, Falcons (STL)
15. DeMarco Murray, Cowboys (at KC)
16. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars (at OAK)
17. Lamar Miller, Dolphins (at IND)
18. Darren Sproles, Saints (at TB)
19. Darren McFadden, Raiders (JAC)
20. Chris Johnson, Titans (at HOU)
21. David Wilson, Giants (DEN)
22. Daryl Richardson, Rams (at ATL)
23. Frank Gore, 49ers (at SEA)
24. Ryan Mathews, Chargers (at PHI)
25. Rashard Mendenhall, Cardinals (DET)
26. DeAngelo Williams, Panthers (at BUF)
27. Vick Ballard, Colts (MIA)
28. Knowshon Moreno, Broncos (at NYG)
29. Joique Bell, Lions (at ARI)
30. Isaac Redman, Steelers (at CIN)
Wide Receivers
1. A.J. Green, Bengals (PIT)
2. DeMaryius Thomas, Broncos (at NYG)
3. Calvin Johnson, Lions (at ARI)
4. Brandon Marshall, Bears (MIN)
5. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals (DET)
6. Victor Cruz, Giants (DEN)
7. Julio Jones, Falcons (STL)
8. Vincent Jackson, Buccaneers (NO)
9. Randall Cobb, Packers (WAS)
10. Andre Johnson, Texans (HOU)
11. Jordy Nelson, Packers (WAS)
12. Marques Colston, Sinats (at TB)
13. DeSean Jackson, Eagles (SD)
14. Dez Bryant, Cowboys (at KC)
15. Wes Welker, Broncos (at NYG)
16. Reggie Wayne, Colts (MIA)
17. Pierre Garcon, Redskins (at GB)
18. Hakeem Nicks, Giants (DEN)
19. Julian Edelman, NE (NYJ)
20. Steve Smith, Panthers (at BUF)
21. Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs (DAL)
22. Mike Williams, Buccaneers (NO)
23. Anquan Boldin, 49ers (at SEA)
24. Eric Decker, Broncos (at NYG)
25. Torrey Smith, Ravens (CLE)
26. Cecil Shorts, Jaguars (at OAK)
27. Antonio Brown, Steelers (at CIN)
28. Steve Johnson, Bills (CAR)
29. Mike Wallace, Dolphins (at IND)
30. Roddy White, Falcons (STL)
Tight Ends
1. Jimmy Graham, Saints (at TB)
2. Tony Gonzalez, Falcons (STL)
3. Jason Witten, Cowboys (at KC)
4. Jared Cook, Rams (at ATL)
5. Vernon Davis, 49ers (at SEA)
6. Greg Olsen, Panthers (at BUF)
7. Owen Daniels, Texans (TEN)
8. Jermichael Finley, Packers (WAS)
9. Julius Thomas, Broncos (at NYG)
10. Jordan Cameron, Browns (at BAL)
11. Brandon Myers, Giants (DEN)
12. Martellus Bennett, Bears (MIN)
13. Brent Celek, Eagles (SD)
14. Kyle Rudolph, Vikings (at CHI)
15. Dallas Clark, Ravens (CLE)
- Neema Hodjat is RealGM\'s fantasy sportswriter and he is available to answer your sit/start questions on Twitter.