Each week, I’ll make the observations and you can draw the conclusions with your own team.
Trends will highlight the things that could shape your SuperCoach decisions. Trades will put the more obvious advice in front of you when injuries, roles or other circumstances force the issue.
Brock Bowers was ruled out ahead of Week 1 after a meniscus trim on his knee, putting him out for up to two games, but potentially longer. If you have chosen to hold Bowers, fingers crossed he can get back sooner rather than later and your bench cover did enough that his absence won’t become a sore point.
TRENDS
Can I really call one game a trend? Maybe these are more “Watchlist” items for now.
NFL Kickoff: Seahawks/Patriots
Jadarian Price shared the backfield with George Holani at the Seahawks, but Price was far more efficient, recording 52 yards from 10 carries.
Sam Darnold is expected to miss up to a month after exiting against the Patriots with a glute injury. Positively, Drew Lock had no issue looking the way of Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Drake Maye threw three interceptions against a proactive Seahawks defence, and he’ll badly want to clean that up. His game wasn’t helped by Romeo Doubs, who dropped two very gettable passes after AJ Brown was forced out of the game.
Melbourne Game: Rams/49ers
Christian McCaffrey and Kaelon Black operated in a genuine timeshare, with McCaffrey playing 55% of the offensive snaps to Black’s 45%.
Mike Evans quickly became a get-out option for Brock Purdy, who regularly looked his way when the 49ers needed to move the chains.
Kyren Williams played 64% of the Rams’ offensive snaps, but the rushing workload was almost evenly split with Blake Corum. Williams had 11 carries for 41 yards and a touchdown, while Corum recorded 54 yards from 10 carries.
EARLY SUNDAY SLATE
Colston Loveland had only the two targets for the entire game. Don’t panic yet, but in a game where the Bears put up 59 points, it’s a disappointing outcome
Zay Flowers is the clear WR1 in Baltimore, putting up 150 yards and a TD before exiting the game with a hamstring complaint.
Ja’Marr Chase had only four targets for two receptions and 12 yards. Again, don’t panic, he’ll be fine.
The Falcons’ offence looked subpar, with only five receivers involved for the entire game against the Steelers. Bijan Robinson still produced 83 rushing yards, 90 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Bhayshul Tuten outcarried Chris Rodriguez, Jr. in the Jaguars’ backfield, but the snap count was fairly even.
Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown powered the Detroit offence as expected. St. Brown saw 14 targets and scored twice, while Gibbs also found the end zone twice and finished with almost 200 scrimmage yards.
Tyler Shough recovered from a slow start to force overtime against the Lions, with Chris Olave catching 10 of 13 targets for more than 180 yards.
Devaughn Vele and Juwan Johnson were also heavily involved in the Saints’ offensive push, seeing nine and seven targets respectively and each finding the end zone.
Browns’ rookies Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion combined for nine targets and 102 receiving yards.
DJ Moore led the Bills with eight targets against the Texans, while Dalton Kincaid re-emerged as a trusted option for Josh Allen. Allen also once again stole goal-line work from James Cook, recording two rushing touchdowns to Cook’s zero.
LATE SUNDAY SLATE
The Dolphins’ offence may not be perfect, but it won’t be as bad as predicted. Caleb Douglas emerged as an early favourite for Malik Willis, catching all five of his targets for 94 yards.
Christian Watson looks in for a big season, with more than 100 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the first half against the Vikings, while Tucker Kraft picked up where he left off.
The Packers’ offensive line struggled to protect the quarterback late in the game, leaving Jordan Love with little opportunity to push the ball downfield in the final quarter.
Kyler Murray exited against the Packers with a concussion, but Carson Wentz taking over at quarterback didn’t affect Justin Jefferson’s production.
Jack Bech and Jailen Nailor were well fed by new Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins in the absence of Brock Bowers, while Ashton Jeanty looks like he’ll put his modest rookie season behind him.
Ladd McConkey looks set for a bounceback season in the new Mike McDaniel offence, while Omarion Hampton also impressed out of the backfield. Both will be dangerous when given space.
Jeremiyah Love and Tyler Allgeier shared the Cardinals’ backfield and both produced, with Allgeier finishing with more rushing yards while Love found the end zone.
Stefon Diggs saw the most targets against the Eagles, while Terry McLaurin was held without a reception from just two targets. That target distribution is worth watching.
Dontayvion Wicks will settle in as the Eagles’ WR2 just fine, recording two receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, rookie Makai Lemon struggled to get going in his first outing, recording -5 receiving yards from three receptions.
SNF: Giants/Cowboys
Jaxson Dart isn’t afraid to throw the football, with Malik Nabers and Isaiah Likely already looking like his 1A and 1B receiving options.
Cam Skattebo and Devin Singletary split the workload in the Giants’ backfield, which is worth monitoring before putting too much faith in either.
Dak Prescott still likes to air it out, with CeeDee Lamb leading the Cowboys in targets and finding the end zone. Javonte Williams also scored twice, but was inefficient with his opportunities.
MNF: Chiefs/Broncos
Patrick Mahomes hasn't lost his willingness to use his legs following the ACL injury, running in the Chiefs' first touchdown of the season.
Kenneth Walker looks set to be a centrepiece of this Chiefs offence, being fed the ball often on the ground and in the air to come away with two scores and over 150 scrimmage yards.
Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle were well covered by the Chiefs, with Bo Nix instead finding production through Pat Bryant and Evan Engram.
TRADES
The Patriots have placed AJ Brown on injured reserve due to the high ankle sprain suffered against the Seahawks, ruling him out for at least the next four games. The options around his price to replace him include Christian Watson (5 receptions/148 yds/2 TDs for 55 SuperCoach points), Nico Collins (7/75/1 for 35 SC), DJ Moore (5/100/1 for 37 SC) and Ladd McConkey (5/82/1 for 33 SC).
Popular rookie De'Zhaun Stribling is expected to miss at least a month after suffering an ankle injury against the Rams. At his price, there’s no urgency to trade him until we know how the other rookie receivers shape up.
Zay Flowers did not see the field again for the Ravens against the Colts after half-time owing to a hamstring injury. He has not been ruled out of Week 2 yet and is considered day-to-day.
Ladd McConkey is considered day-to-day with sore ribs after exiting against the Cardinals. Keep an eye on his practice participation this week, but don’t put him in trade plans just yet.
Beyond those, there’s nothing else that should force your hand this early in the season.