1. Expect the unexpected
This season started off with a bang with several upsets that have changed the perception on teams and players all over the league. Kam Chancellor being absent from the Legion of Boom is a huge detriment to the Seahawks. His replacement failed to help solidify this secondary causing the Seahawks to give up a lot of points. The shock came when the Rams actually were able to defeat the Seahawks in overtime. The Broncos and Ravens were thought to hold a couple of fantasy darlings but these were two of the most disappointing offensive performances all weekend. Flacco throwing for no touchdowns and 2 picks while Peyton just had an overall mediocre game. Demaryius Thomas left with an injury and so did CJ Anderson which made fantasy owners cringe. The Bills and the Colts was supposed to be the NFL's greatest offense against one of the best defenses. This game however turned into a showcase for the Bills. The Colts routinely ended up with their drives stalling and not being able to get anything going offensively. The Bills winning this game was shocking to say the least.
2. Injuries are becoming a problem
Terrell Suggs left Sunday's game with a season ending Achilles tear. TY Hilton suffered a bruised knee, Dez Bryant broke a bone in his foot and the list goes on and on and on. The injury bug that had hit NFL teams in the preseason has continued on into the regular season and this does not bode well for teams heading into week 2.
3. Tight ends are the fantasy heroes of the future?
Rob Gronkowski, Jason Witten, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, are just a few of the talented tight ends in the league however them and a handful of others came away with the most fantasy points for any position. Tight ends this year just seem more athletic than years prior and they are creating bigger and bigger mismatches near the end zone. Look for tight ends to be the main weapon in the fight for a fantasy football championship.
4. It takes time for bad teams to develop..
Yes the Raiders, Buccaneers, and Bears all have shiny new toys to play with, whether it be a new head coach or a new superstar there is some reason for these franchises failures in the past. Last year those teams along with a couple of others had some of the worst stats in football and that does not look like that is about to change any time soon.
5. The Bills defense is legit
The Bills defense just stomped the Colts with a few caveats. (One) the Colts offensive line is mediocre at best and (two) the Colts do not have a good defense of their own which makes their offense have to be constantly on the field. No matter how you look at it, the Bills beat up on the Colts and it never got better and considering the weapons they have it is pretty safe to say that the Bills defense have put the NFL on notice.
6. Jay Cutler is just about out of time in Chicago
Cutler could not get anything going on Sunday. The Packers were constantly scoring and pushing the pace while the Bears floundered. It was a tall task to ask Cutler to have an aerial showdown with Aaron Rodgers but I am sure John Fox was not thrilled with how his starting quarterback performed.
7. Ameer Abdullah is a star
Abdullah blasted the Chargers defense, running for 50 yards and a touchdown; he also caught 4 passes for 44 yards and a touchdown. Abdullah clearly had the lead in snap count as well as production to the incumbent starter Joique Bell. Abdullah should be the number 1 running back for the Lions from now on.
8. Marcus Mariota is a force
Mariota finished Sunday's game with four touchdowns, as a rookie that's almost impossible. Could it have been that the Buccaneers defense with McCoy and Lavonte David was really that bad or that Mariota is really that good? It could be a combination of both but clearly the Titans have something going on offensively that is infinitely more positive than anything else they have accomplished in quite a while.
9.#9 is clutch
Tony Romo has spent years hearing from his critics how he gives games away and cannot be trusted however that is just not the truth. Romo proved that he was once again clutch on Sunday when he took the Dallas Cowboys offense devoid of Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray, and led the game winning touchdown drive with only seconds left. No other quarterback has more fourth quarter comebacks than Tony Romo in the last two years.
