Week One has come and gone. We must focus on the top takeaways now that we have film and statistics to study. No longer can we rest on our offseason takes of who will succeed and who will fail. We now have an entire week of NFL football to study. The fantasy season will move quickly, and in a dynasty, it is essential to acquire players before they break out or unload players before they falter. We can lead our team to a fantasy football title by focusing on weekly top takeaways!
Cam Akers Concerns
The entire football world was tuned in for the opening game of the 2022 NFL season. The one thing they didn’t see was Akers. The third-year player was not on the field that much. Twelve snaps, to be exact. He was given three carries for no yards on these twelve snaps and at least one blown pass-protecting assignment. Darrel Henderson saw most of the work and left fantasy managers scratching their heads. Is Akers not entirely healthy, or has he simply lost the confidence of the coaching staff? Week Two will provide more answers, but for now, the job belongs to Henderson.
Another Season Of 49ers Running Backs
Death, taxes, and a rotation of 49ers running backs. These are the constants in life, and 2022 is no different. This year we start the cycle as early as Week One! Elijah Mitchell suffered a sprained MCL in Week One against the Chicago Bears. He is headed to IR and expected to miss about eight weeks. This absence is enough time to make him largely irrelevant for the fantasy football season. Jeff Wilson Jr. is the next man up, but he has had a history of injuries. The best way to handle this backfield is to constantly acquire the cheapest man in the rotation, which is currently Jordan Mason. Check your waivers in shallower leagues and send out some thirds in deeper leagues.
Geno Looking Good
In a shocking turn of events to conclude Week One, the Seattle Seahawks upset the Denver Broncos. This game was Russell Wilson’s homecoming after being traded to Denver in the offseason. Russ received a chorus of boos, and the fans did not let up all night. The Denver offense was underprepared, getting to the line late and suffering numerous false start/delay game penalties. What did look good was the Seattle offense with Geno Smith in charge. He had an efficient game and made multiple plays outside the pocket to extend drives. Week One overreaction or the expectation for the year? Either way, Geno has solidified himself worthy of starting as a QB2 in Superflex leagues.
Troubles In The Desert
Trading a first-round pick for your quarterback’s college teammate is a strategy deployed by the Raiders and the Cardinals this offseason. Neither of those teams looks very good leaving Week One. For the Cardinals, you can add that they signed Kyler Murray to an extension this offseason. Funnily enough, an extension had a clause requiring the fourth-year quarterback to commit to a minimum number of hours of film study each week. That is not something you want to hear about a potential franchise player. Not many good things can gleam from Sunday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, and we may be in for a rough season for the Cardinals. We can only hope things improve once DeAndre Hopkins returns from suspension.
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I hope you enjoyed this piece in our Winning With Vegas series. For more content like this, follow me on Twitter @DanT_NFL. DMs are always open for any questions, comments, or craft beer recommendations!