Week 1 is in the books and I'm sure the week brought plenty of triumphs and headaches depending on how your team did (for me, it was even split between my 4 teams.) In the first of a weekly series, I'm going to run through my picks for the most valuable and least valuable player (a.k.a most disappointing player) from a Fantasy Football standpoint for each week of the season. Hope you enjoy and spread the word.
Quarterback:
MVP: Peyton Manning (Broncos)
Could not me a more obvious pick for this week. Manning's NFL record-tying 7 TD performance all but assured his fantasy owners victory this week
Honorable Mentions: Colin Kaepernick (49ers), Andrew Luck (Colts), Michael Vick (Eagles), Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
LVP: Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
Russell Wilson had the first 300-yard game of his career against the Panthers on Sunday, but his 1 TD-outing against an unproven secondary was very disappointing from a fantasy standpoint. I'm sure he will recover in upcoming weeks, but definitely not the start to his fantasy season that many had hoped for.
Dishonorable Mentions: Cam Newton (Panthers), Tom Brady (Patriots), Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers), Josh Freeman (Buccaneers)
Running Back:
MVP: LeSean McCoy (Eagles)
Chip Kelly may just be the genius he was advertised to be. LeSean McCoy had one of his most impressive performances of his career ripping off 184 yards on a heavy-workload of 31 carries against the Redskins in his 1st game with the highly-touted offensive guru at the helm. It's only 1 game, but this is a great indicator for McCoy's success this season in Kelly's uptempo offense.
Honorable Mentions: Reggie Bush (Lions), Adrian Peterson (Vikings), Jammal Charles (Chiefs), Shane Vereen (Patriots)
LVP: C.J. Spiller (Bills)
You could make a case that Lamar Miller's embarrassing 10 carry, 8-yard performance against the Browns or David Wilson's fumble frenzy against the Cowboys was the weakest of the week, but Miller and Wilson didn't have the expectations or experience that C.J. Spiller has. Spiller's first game as the uncontested starter was one to forget as the Patriots held him to a paltry 41 yards on 17 carries and an early fumble in his own end that lead to an easy Patriots touchdown. Spiller is going to continue the bulk of the touches in Bills offense, but based on this performance Spiller owners are probably wishing they spent their 1st round pick elsewhere (and by elsewhere, I mean LeSean McCoy.)
Dishonorable Mentions: Lamar Miller (Dolphins), Marshawn Lynch (Seahawks), Stevan Ridley (Patriots), David Wilson (Giants)
Wide Receiver:
MVP: Victor Cruz (Giants)
The Giants passing offense was dominant all game amidst all their turnovers and were a blessing for fantasy this week, but nobody shined brighter than Cruz, who looked hungry and well worth his contract extension with a 3 TD outing.
Honorable Mentions: A.J. Green (Bengals), Demaryius Thomas (Broncos), Anquan Boldin (49ers), Jordy Nelson (Packers)
LVP: James Jones (Packers)
The Packers touchdown vulture from last year opened the 2013 campaign by getting zero catches while the rest of his fellow receivers thrived. Jones looked sluggish and not even remotely worth his WR2 price tag.
Dishonorable mentions: Dez Bryant (Cowboys), Calvin Johnson (Lions), Mike Wallace (Dolphins), Roddy White (Falcons)
Tight End:
MVP: Jared Cook (Rams)
The start of the Jared Cook era in St.Louis was rather eventful with. Cook had an instant chemistry with quarterback Sam Bradford and torched the Cardinals defense throughout the game on his way to outperforming proven fantasy studs like Jason Witten, Vernon Davis and Tony Gonzalez. If Cook keeps it up, he will easily be a top-5 tight end at the end of the year.
Honorable Mentions: Vernon Davis (49ers), Jason Witten (Cowboys), Owen Daniels (Texans), Julius Thomas (Broncos)
LVP: Zach Sudfeld (Patriots)
Undrafted rookie Zach Sudfeld was supposed to be a huge sleeper pick for Fantasy and be the perfect short-term fill-in for Rob Gronkowski. After Sudfeld's performance on Sunday against the Bills, the Patriots (and everyone who has Tom Brady on their fantasy team) are going to pray Gronkowski comes back immediately. Sudfeld was a complete non-factor getting no catches and really did nothing of note besides giving the Bills a gift-wrapped interception after deflecting the one pass targeted to him. Sudfeld did not look like he could handle the speed of the NFL and unless a miracle happens, holds no fantasy value going forward.
Dishonorable Mentions: Kyle Rudolph (Vikings), Fred Davis (Redskins), Greg Olsen (Panthers), Antonio Gates (Chargers)
Defense
MVP: Dallas Cowboys
They allowed a ton of points, but 6 takeaways, 3 sacks and 2 defensive TD's made them a brilliant play for the few people that started them
Honorable Mentions: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans
LVP: Cincinnati Bengals
The immensely talented Bengals D blew it big time with 1 takeaway and no sacks against a Bears offense that is normally a turnover/sack gold mine.
Dishonorable Mentions: Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens
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