Never ignore Week 1 usage. Say it again: never ignore Week 1 usage.
We don't want to overreact to Week 1 production, and we certainly don't want to overpay for it. But that other thing—you know, the usage we keep mentioning—is a signal: snaps, routes run, all the good stuff.
We finally have a data dump after months of speculation. Some of the information can be a false flag, but a lot will stick in the weeks ahead.
This is not a great week to sit things out. It's a week to churn the back end of your roster, especially in deeper formats like the FFPC and NFFC. We may not have a massive push-the-chips-in type of player like we've seen in previous Week 1s with Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams or Elijah Mitchell, but we do have a number of players who should be rostered.
Happy hunting. And bidding.
We are so back.
Quarterbacks
No Brainer Shallow League Adds: Tyler Shough 
This is a make-or-break season for Young, and despite the losing effort, he put up fantastic production against a limited Bears secondary. He showed an extreme comfort level in the Dave Canales offense, finishing with 361 passing yards and three TDs while adding a rushing TD — good for QB3.
I will be looking to add him everywhere I need a QB2. He has a strong set of WRs, a functional pass catcher at TE and a talented RB combination of Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon
Never ignore Week 1 usage. Say it again: never ignore Week 1 usage.
We don't want to overreact to Week 1 production, and we certainly don't want to overpay for it. But that other thing—you know, the usage we keep mentioning—is a signal: snaps, routes run, all the good stuff.
We finally have a data dump after months of speculation. Some of the information can be a false flag, but a lot will stick in the weeks ahead.
This is not a great week to sit things out. It's a week to churn the back end of your roster, especially in deeper formats like the FFPC and NFFC. We may not have a massive push-the-chips-in type of player like we've seen in previous Week 1s with Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams or Elijah Mitchell, but we do have a number of players who should be rostered.
Happy hunting. And bidding.
We are so back.
Quarterbacks
No Brainer Shallow League Adds: Tyler Shough
This is a make-or-break season for Young, and despite the losing effort, he put up fantastic production against a limited Bears secondary. He showed an extreme comfort level in the Dave Canales offense, finishing with 361 passing yards and three TDs while adding a rushing TD — good for QB3.
I will be looking to add him everywhere I need a QB2. He has a strong set of WRs, a functional pass catcher at TE and a talented RB combination of Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks.
Brissett finished as QB15 and picked up a big road win. Arizona looked much better than expected, and Brissett was extremely fantasy-friendly last season. His connection with Trey McBride remains a major positive. The next two weeks — Seattle and at San Francisco — will tell us a lot.
Stroud completed passes to 11 different players and passed for two touchdowns with no interceptions. This was a positive start to the season despite the losing effort.
Lock is on the Superflex radar and will be a viable starter for every game Sam Darnold misses. It certainly helps that he has that JSN guy to throw to.
Wentz will be on the Superflex starter radar if Kyler Murray misses this week due to concussion symptoms. The connection with Justin Jefferson was there, and Minnesota came back to defeat the Packers. This week, Wentz faces the same Chicago secondary that was shredded by Bryce Young and the Panthers.
Running Backs
No Brainer Shallow League Adds: Kaelon Black 
, Tyler Allgeier 
, Tyjae Spears 
Kendre Miller
Miller is the clear handcuff in New Orleans with some floor play value if this role holds up. He had the same number of carries as Travis Etienne (nine) and scored a TD.
George Holani 
Holani has the handcuff job locked up and also provides value in the passing game. He played about 40 percent of snaps and was on the field in third and fourth-down situations.
Emari Demercado 
Malik Davis is on IR, and Demercado now has one of the most valuable handcuff roles in football.
Chris Brooks 
Brooks mixed in with MarShawn Lloyd, finishing with seven carries to Lloyd's 13. Meanwhile, Kaleb Johnson had zero.
Justice Hill 
Hill is in a valuable direct handcuff role and should be rostered in deeper formats. The Ravens look awesome.
Samaje Perine 
Perine is also in a valuable handcuff role and should be rostered in deeper formats after getting three catches last week as well.
Braelon Allen 
Allen could have some low-end standalone value after finishing with 10 carries for 40 yards. He also had a TD called back. Direct handcuff role behind Breece Hall.
Ray Davis 
Davis remains in a valuable handcuff role and should be rostered in deeper formats; he's one James Cook injury away from being super valuable.
Devin Singletary 
Najee Harris was inactive and Tyrone Tracy had a costly fumble. Meanwhile, Singletary looked very effective with four catches and a touchdown. He looks like the handcuff running back in New York with a role in the passing game.
Raheim Sanders 
Dylan Sampson suffered a knee injury, potentially opening the door for Sanders, who also finished with three catches last week.
Seth McGowan 
McGowan has a valuable direct handcuff role behind Jonathan Taylor. DJ Giddens was inactive.
Wide Receivers
No Brainer Shallow League Adds: Deebo Samuel , Caleb Douglas 
Vele is my favorite target in deeper formats like the NFFC and FFPC this week. He is rostered in some leagues, but combing through my leagues, I see him available in several.
The WR2 role looks very strong here. Tyler Shough had a career high in passing yards, and Vele was still able to earn nine targets when Chris Olave had 180 receiving yards. Vele finished with seven catches for 69 yards and a TD.
Dating back to last season, this is his third game in his last four with at least 11.7 fantasy points.
Baltimore — and Lamar Jackson — are rolling. Rookie WR Ja'Kobi Lane suffered a wrist injury, and Zay Flowers is also dealing with a hamstring injury, although it doesn't appear to be serious.
Bateman should have a full-time role in an ascending Ravens offense.
Douglas has the safest floor of any of the New England wide receivers this week with A.J. Brown now on IR. He led New England in route percentage and has plenty of experience playing with Drake Maye.
Douglas benefits from the increased opportunity and should have a solid target share.
Hollins will fill in on the outside for Brown. He should see some deep targets and potentially some end-zone opportunities.
Hollins had some usable weeks last season, and the Brown injury has given him a window of opportunity.
Keep an eye on Doubs if he was cut in your league. I want to see how this looks before we throw in the towel. The vibes were very strong this offseason, and New England gave him a huge contract.
Washington led the Dolphins in targets with a 29.2 percent target share, and he stayed on the field in two-WR sets.
Douglas is more exciting, but Washington's usage is strong enough that he should be rostered in all formats.
Bell is well behind Douglas and Washington, but this could very well be a ramp-up situation. With Bell coming off a major injury and missing time this preseason, stash him if you have the space.
Robinson stepped into the De'Zhaun Stribling role. With Stribling now set to miss some time, expect Robinson to have a fantasy-friendly role with plenty of downfield targets and touchdown opportunities. He caught a TD and had another end-zone target last week.
Raymond's reunion with Ben Johnson, his former OC in Detroit, could not have gone much better, leading Chicago with eight catches for 84 yards on nine targets.
He should be rostered in all deep formats. This is one of the league's best offenses, and Raymond has a solid role in it. There is also contingency upside if Luther Burden or Rome Odunze were to miss time. We want access to this offense.
Much like Raymond, Bourne will have a number of analysts completely dismissing his production, but I am not one of them. He led Arizona in targets and catches, and the Cardinals won an important game. Add him for cheap and see where this goes.
Are you an ageist with no interest in players like Raymond or Bourne? Well, how about an exciting rookie? Williams had a disappointing snap share (37 percent) but very promising production, finishing with four catches for a team-high 64 yards and a TD. The Washington WR room is crowded, but Williams's strong play has most likely earned him a larger role.
Wicks had a 90 percent snap share and caught a TD pass, finishing with two catches for 73 yards. He should be rostered.
Mitchell finished with three catches for 60 yards. His role looks strong, and his usage should increase with Omar Cooper now dealing with an ankle injury.
Harris would see a huge boost if Ladd McConkey misses time.
Tight Ends
Freiermuth looks like he has a valuable role in the Pittsburgh offense. We've seen him provide fantasy value in previous seasons, and he looks poised to potentially return to it this year. He had a very solid start to the season, finishing with five catches for 46 yards and a touchdown. Consider him a high-end TE2 moving forward.
Henry should benefit from a strong role as a preferred target with A.J. Brown now on IR. He should provide a solid weekly floor and is worth rostering for fantasy managers looking for help at the position.
Gesicki had a very strong opening game, leading the Bengals with five catches for 78 yards and a touchdown. He played only 32.8 percent of the snaps but was heavily involved in the passing game when he was on the field. This is not a situation I will bid aggressively on, but Gesicki should be rostered in TE-premium formats like the FFPC. He faces a Texans defense that was shredded by Dalton Kincaid in Week 1.
Engram led Denver with four catches for 43 yards and a touchdown. He was a huge disappointment last season, making this start particularly noteworthy. He is worth adding for fantasy managers looking for immediate help at tight end.
Njoku led all Chargers tight ends in snaps, catches and receiving yards. It is difficult to project how the weekly usage will shake out in this tight end room, but this was a positive step and an encouraging start to the season for the veteran.
Sadiq scored a rushing touchdown and caught all three of his targets for 21 yards. The Jets offense showed signs of being functional, which only helps his outlook. Sadiq is a great stash for fantasy managers who are already in good shape at the position and want an upside play whose usage could increase as the season progresses.
Add if he was cut.
Parkinson led all Rams TEs in snaps.
Priority Target Rankings
1. Devaughn Vele, WR
2. Caleb Douglas, WR
3. Bryce Young, QB
4. Antonio Williams, WR
5. Kalif Raymond, WR
6. Pat Freiermuth, TE
7. Kendre Miller, RB
8. Dontayvion Wicks, WR
9. Demarcus Robinson, WR
10. George Holani, RB
10. DeMario Douglas, WR
10. Hunter Henry, TE
NOTE: Upgrade Tre' Harris if Ladd McConkey misses time.
