Week 1 Wayback Machine

Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers

Did we take a time machine? Is it 2018? Did Harry and Megan just get hitched? Apparently, Aaron Rodgers thinks so.

Rodgers responded to the much maligned Green Bay 2020 draft and his #17 week 1 ranking at Fantasy in Frames with, “Thanks U, Next.” Against the Vikings, he went 32 of 44 for 364 yards (8.3 yards per completion) and 4 TDs. That’s a far cry from the 2019 Green Bay Packers that pounded the rock with Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams. The Packers held a lead the entire game and kept slinging the rock. Perhaps head coach Matt LeFleur has decided to ride with Rodgers in 2020.

Next week, Rodgers faces a Detroit Lions secondary that just gave up 242 passing yards and 3 TDs to Mitch Trubisky. If you waited on QB and snagged Rodgers late, you’re looking good for at least one more week.

Running Back: Nyheim Hines

A whole off-season of debate: Mack, Taylor, Mack, Taylor. We have our answer…Hines?! Well, not exactly. Traditionally a pass-catching specialist, Nyheim Hines stole the show today with 15 total touches (7 rushes, 8 receptions) for 73 total yards (28 rushing, 45 receiving) and 2 TDs (1 rushing, 1 receiving).

Very sadly, Marlon Mack injured his Achilles and is done for the season. But with sadness comes more opportunity for Hines. Will he become the lead back in Indy? Almost certainly not. That’s clearly Jonathan Taylor’s job to lose. Taylor also saw 15 touches (9 rushes, 6 receptions) for 89 total yards and no TDs. But Rivers and head coach Frank Reich clearly trust Hines. Inside the 10-yard line, Hines saw 2 rushes and 1 target; Taylor saw 1 rushing attempt.

Odds are you had Hines sitting on your bench, even with a projected great match-up against the Jaguars. With Mack sidelined for the season, it may be worth starting Hines in your flex spot against the Vikings next weekend.

Wide Receiver: Jamison Crowder

Jamison knows it. I wrote about it. Jorge wrote about it. Todd wrote about it. Mr. Crowder is a target MACHINE!

Against a very talented Bills secondary, Crowder caught 7 receptions for 115 yards on 13 targets. 13 targets! But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Crowder took a screen pass 69 yards to the house, causing four Bills defenders to miss tackles in his wake. It was impressive, but that means Crowder averaged 3.83 yards per target on his other 12 targets. That number is bound to go up as his career average is 7.9 yards per target. And the volume is there for Crowder. He saw nearly double the number of targets as any other Jets pass catcher (tight end Chris Herndon with 7 targets).

Should you bank on a 60+ yard screen pass every week from Crowder? Short answer: bwahahahaha…no. Should you count on Crowder seeing double-digit targets each week? Abso-freaking-lutely! 

Tight End: T.J. Hockenson

Defensive Lineman: Ryan Kerrigan

You’re not as excited as Ryan Kerrigan is about anything right now. Two sacks, two tackles (both for losses) and a fumble recovery. He absolutely demolished Philly’s banged-up offensive line.

Nate called it this off-season with Kerrigan being an IDP bounce-back candidate. Also, defenses are going to have a hard time doubling Kerrigan. Opposite him is sophomore phenom Chase Young, who sacked Wentz and forced the fumble that Kerrigan recovered. Oh, and Young added another 4 tackles (2 solo, 2 assisted). The Washington Football Team’s defensive line looks primed to make a huge impact in the NFC East and beyond. (As an Eagles fan, every word of this burned my soul.)

Defensive Back: Marcus Maye

As expected, Jets starting strong safety Jamaal…wait. My apologies to Mr. Marcus Maye, who had 10 tackles (7 solo, 3 assisted and 2 for losses), 2 sacks, 2 passes defended and 1 forced fumble in week 1. Maye stepped in the shoes of ex-Jet Jamaal Adams and, boy, do the shoes fit! 

Now in his fourth year, Maye is a veteran of the Jets defensive scheme. Aside from a season-ending shoulder injury causing him to miss 10 games in 2018, Maye has started every game of his NFL career as a Jet. Now, he gets to use that experience in the much more IDP-relevant position of starting safety. Mayes should be a waiver wire darling this week.

Linebacker: Myles Jack

While Marcus Maye moved to a “better” IDP position, Myles Jack moved to the “worse” IDP position of outside linebacker. The arrival of Joe Schobert from Cleveland pushed Jack from inside to outside linebacker. Yet, Jack may prove that freakish talent equals IDP goodness anywhere on the field. 

Jack posted a formidable week 1 line of 11 tackles (8 solo, 3 assisted and 1 for loss) and 1 sack. Last year, he had only 0.5 sacks the entire season. Perhaps defensive coordinator Todd Walsh plans to use Jack in more blitz packages with Schobert handling the #tacklemachine duties. Generally, it’s hard to get 10+ tackles consistently from an outside linebacker. Jack might be an exception to the rule.

Hope you enjoyed our 24-hour (or less) time machine! With week 1 in the books, be sure to come back tomorrow for our 4-EYED WAIVER CLAIMS!