I’ve recently been taking part in my university’s effort to promote better mental health for students and faculty through their Mindful University initiative. Basically, the goal is to be living in the moment without the distractions of the past or worries of the future as much as possible. In such a state, we are more apt to take a deep breath and consider our response to new information rather than blindly and emotionally reacting to it. We build a reserve of patience and tolerance for things that are out of our direct control. In this way, we can avoid panicking when Week 1 drives our fantasy bus off the nearest cliff or excessively gloating as even our dimmest fantasy wishes came to pass.
Here’s an example: “Oh, wow, the Saints scored 47 points in Week 1, that’s so awesome. I’m really happy for Rashid Shaheed and Foster Moreau, good for those guys. Chris Olave? Oh, it’s ok, sure, it would have been nice to have four more fantasy points so I could have won my matchup with the person who consistently sniped me throughout the draft, but stuff happens. Namaste, everyone.”
Does that sound like you? Me neither. The great thing about mindfulness is that everyone tells you constantly that it is a practice. You don’t have to get it right the first or even fifteenth time, but just trying to adopt a more resilient and accepting attitude can help. Also, I’m not sure there is such a thing as excessive gloating to your fantasy leaguemates in Week 1. While I have gotten better at keeping my cool on the outside, some Week 1 performances do have me secretly nervous or quietly giddy on the inside.
It never hurts to take a deep breath and reassess. The hardest part of playing fantasy football is deciding when to trust what you see. What’s real and is it forever? Logically, we all know that some of what surprised us in Week 1 will continue — good or bad — and some we’ll eventually chalk up as fluky or matchup-based. It’s a practice and, like anything else worth doing, it can be maddening to strive for perfection and fall short. In this space, I’ll try to get us closer to right than wrong by highlighting some roster decisions you might tend to be overthinking to a fault, and some tweaks you could make that aren’t strictly necessary but satisfy the urge to rewrite the past week’s storylines.
Don’t Overthink
Terry McLaurin, WR, WAS
I generally liked what I saw from the Commanders, with one glaring exception. McLaurin, who we all celebrated getting to play with a potentially generational QB talent in Jayden Daniels, came out of Week 1 with two catches for 17 yards. Kudos to the Bucs defense, but this is something that has to improve for Washington. The good news is that McLaurin ran a route 88 percent of the time and accounted for 62 percent of the team’s air yards. Most of that went unrealized as Daniels overthrew him for a surefire 70-yard TD to open the second half. These two will continue to work on their chemistry but a Week 2 matchup with the hapless Giants is a great opportunity for McLaurin to bounce back.
Gus Edwards, RB, LAC
Edwards’ teammate J.K. Dobbins stole the show in Week 1, running 10 times for 135 yards and a score although Edwards led the backs with 11 carries (for a gross 26 yards). They said they’d play the hot hand and so they did with great success. Until we hear otherwise, Edwards will continue to get his chances and he can be just as shifty as Dobbins. The real source of optimism here is of course the matchup with Carolina. Last year’s best RB matchup is back, baby. If your league is deep enough to have started Edwards last week, do it again.
Drake London, WR, ATL
I picked on Olave above because the scenario I described is my real life, but it could have easily been London, who finished Week 1 with two catches on three targets for 15 yards. Out from under the thumb of Arthur Smith, getting improved QB play from Kirk Cousins – or not – London was supposed to take his talents to the moon for fantasy managers this year. Let’s all take that deep breath and rationalize this situation. The Steelers defense was excellent. Cousins was rusty. Week 2 brings a MNF game against the Eagles, one of the worst passing defenses in the league. Already in 2024, and continuing from 2023, Philly is the passing matchup we want our WRs to see. London should have a much better Week 2, something I can’t be as confident about for Olave in Dallas, sadly.
Trey McBride, TE, ARI
Often drafted, including by me, as the TE3-5, McBride was less than impressive against the Bills in Week 1 (5/30 yards). However, he led the team with nine targets, and only Isaiah Likely had a higher share of his team’s targets and air yards (30 and 39 percent for McBride). That’s elite usage, far better than Travis Kelce and Sam LaPorta. Marvin Harrison is the Cardinal to worry about if you must, but I’d start both of them against the Rams.
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Tinker With
Jameson Williams, WR, DET
In a nail-biter, David Montgomery and the Lions held off the Rams Sunday night, but it was Williams who stole the show for fantasy managers. There was plenty of off-season hype, but Williams’ age and injury history made him a deep draft value. If you need him, start him. With 94 percent route participation and 30 percent of the team’s targets (including half of the end zone targets) supporting his final line of 5/121/1, Williams does not look like a fluke.
Isaiah Likely, TE, BAL
Perhaps the most shocking Week 1 development was the dominance of Likely. Much has been said by now, but if you can get him, do it. And if you can start him, do that too.
Jerome Ford, RB, CLE
Ford was a Zero RB cornerstone, and drafters who went that route likely had to start him in Week 1. Despite a very challenging matchup and a QB who looked very out of his element, Ford came through for us with 18.9 PPR fantasy points. He saw seven targets, reeling in six for 25 yards and added 44 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Cleveland leaned on Ford almost exclusively and definitely in the rare goal line scenario. I still have zero faith in Deshaun Watson, but Ford should have another nice game vs. Jacksonville in Week 2.
Alexander Mattison, RB, LV
Just a note to keep an eye on Mattison, who dominated the Raiders backfield fantasy scoring thanks to an active role in the passing game (4/43/1 plus 19 yards rushing). Zamir White was given the lion’s share of rushing attempts (13, a lion cub’s share perhaps), but was generally underwhelming. I can’t see a scenario where anyone in a 12-team normal roster league would need to start either of them in Week 2, but Mattison wouldn’t be a bad stash in PPR leagues if you have the room.
(Top photo of Terry McLaurin: Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
