Quarterback
Biggest Winner: Josh Allen (Bills)
It was a magnificent evening for both QB's in the epic Bills/Ravens showdown on Sunday night, but it was the reigning MVP that ended up with the better performance (394 YDS/2 TD's through the air, 30 YDS/2 TD's on the ground) and the (unlikely) win. Allen could very well end up in this spot again in Week 2 as he's going up against a Jets group that just got carved up by AARP Aaron Rodgers.
Honorable Mentions: Justin Fields (Jets), Lamar Jackson (Ravens), Justin Herbert (Chargers)
Biggest Loser: Joe Burrow (Bengals)
Despite miraculously pulling out the win over the Browns, the Week 1 Bengals were in full effect once again as Burrow limped through what is a strong contender for the most nondescript performance of his career so far (113 YDS, TD, 3 Rushing YDS). Week 2 has famously also not been kind to Burrow historically, so don't bank on him taking advantage of what appears to be a good bounceback spot against an exploitable Jaguars defense.
Dishonorable Mentions: Bo Nix (Broncos), Dak Prescott (Cowboys), Jared Goff (Lions)
Running Back
Biggest Winner: Derrick Henry (Ravens)
Aside from the whole being the catalyst for the Bills improbable comeback by fumbling the ball on his own 30 with less than 4 minutes in the game thing, it was a good night for Henry against the Bills. The future Hall of Famer continued to look like an ageless wonder by turning his 18 carries into 169 YDS and 2 TD's. He also further bolstered his statline by adding a 13-YD reception on his lone target of the evening. Henry will square off against the Browns in Week 2.
Honorable Mentions: Bijan Robinson (Falcons), Javonte Williams (Cowboys), James Cook (Bills)
Biggest Loser: Kenneth Walker III (Seahawks)
It was a nightmarish start to the season for Walker owners as he not only got stuffed every time he touched the ball against the 49ers stout front (10 carries for 20 YDS, 3 receptions for 4 YDS) but got outplayed by Zach Charbonnet in what appears (for now at least) to be an even timeshare in the Seahawks backfield. Walker will be seeking redemption against a Steelers group on Sunday afternoon that had a hard time containing Breece Hall in Week 1.
Dishonorable Mentions: Isiah Pacheco (Chiefs), Tyrone Tracy Jr. (Giants). David Montgomery (Lions)
Wide Receiver
Biggest Winner: Zay Flowers (Ravens)
What transpired in the final 4 minutes of the game on Sunday has already and will continue to overshadow just how damn good Flowers was against the Bills. The 3rd year receiver was basically unguardable as his precise route-running/strong YAC ability had the Bills lackluster secondary on skates for 4 quarters, which allowed him to log a career-high 143 YDS and a TD on 7 receptions while adding another 8 YDS on his 2 backfield touches. Anybody who felt Flowers was in line for a true breakout campaign in 2025 has to feel great about what they saw on Sunday and we'll see if he can keep rolling against the Browns this week.
Honorable Mentions: Emeka Egbuka (Buccaneers), Deebo Samuel (Commanders), Garrett Wilson (Jets)
Biggest Loser: A.J. Brown (Eagles)
There were several times during the Eagles/Cowboys game last Thursday night where I was wondering if Brown was even on the field. Many people probably didn't even see Brown's lone catch/target of the night as it was an 8-YD grab on the Eagles final drive that helped ice this thunderstorm-delayed game for the defending champs. The good news for Brown is that save for a 51-YD bomb to Jahan Dotson in the 2nd quarter, the Eagles passing attack was very quiet (Jalen Hurts was an efficient 19/23 but only threw for 152 YDS on a night where the quick dump offs to Dallas Goedert and Saquon Barkley reigned supreme) and they should be in line for a better showing against a Chiefs team that is vulnerable to the pass.
Dishonorable Mentions: Ja'Marr Chase (Bengals), Nico Collins (Texans), Terry McLaurin (Commanders)
Tight End
Biggest Winner: Brock Bowers (Raiders)
The concerns that Bowers was in line for a reduced role in Chip Kelly's system got thrown out the window pretty quickly as the 2024 1st team All-Pro nabbed 5-of-8 targets for 103 against the Christian Gonzalez-less Patriots secondary last Sunday. Things probably would've been even better for Bowers if he didn't miss most of the 4th quarter with a mystery knee ailment that he's since downplayed the severity of. Assuming he's good to go, he'll be a top 3 TE1 option for the Raiders Week 2 tilt with the Chargers.
Honorable Mentions: Dalton Kincaid (Bills), Travis Kelce (Chiefs), Tyler Warren (Colts)
Biggest Loser: Mark Andrews (Ravens)
After what happened in the Divisional Round in January, part of Andrews had to be happy that his next trip to Buffalo ended up being a very quiet one. Still, it's inherently disappointing and a tad disconcerting that the Ravens starting tight end caught just 1-of-3 targets for 5 YDS on a night where Lamar Jackson was dialed in as a passer and his running mate Isiah Likely was inactive. Despite this slow start, Andrews will remain a TE1 play for this week's contest with the Browns.
Dishonorable Mentions: Colston Loveland (Bears), T.J. Hockenson (Vikings), Jake Ferguson (Cowboys)
Defense/Special Teams
Biggest Winner: Broncos
On a day where Bo Nix and the offense struggled mightily against a Titans defense that was projected to be among the worst in football coming into the year, the Broncos defense stepped up and saved them from suffering a stunning Week 1 upset on their home field by picking up 6 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries in a 20-12 win. This is the exact kind of performance you'd expect from the consensus #1 fantasy D/ST coming into this season and as long as they stay healthy, they should remain a high-end option all season long.
Honorable Mentions: Packers, Commanders, 49ers
Biggest Loser: Ravens
Zach Orr's group that finished as the top defense in football for the final two months of the 2024 season was nowhere to be found on Sunday as they surrendered a whopping 41 points to the Bills. A sack from Nnmadi Madubiuke was the sole positive contribution on the stat sheet they got all night as they struggled to put pressure on Josh Allen and couldn't convert on the couple solid attempts at picks they had on the handful of errant throws Allen had all game. Drawing the Browns lackluster offense who turned the ball over twice and surrendered a pair of sacks to the Bengals last week in Week 2 is a godsend that could do wonders for restoring their confidence after such a brutal start to the year.
Dishonorable Mentions: Bills, Lions, Steelers
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