Week 1 of the 2023 fantasy football season featured some big surprises. Who were the big winners and losers? Which players received 'A' and 'F' grades? Matt Bowen and Tristan H. Cockcroft offer their analysis, and Seth Walder provides his grades.
Jump to a topic:
Ranking winners | Ranking losers
Who got an 'A' | Who got an 'F'
Biggest injuries and what's next
Top questions from Week 1
Ranking fantasy winners of Week 1
1. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, and Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins
Tagovailoa, who led all QBs on Sunday with 27.14 fantasy points, was dialed in, throwing with location, timing and anticipation -- and that Chargers defense had no answer for Hill. The Dolphins wide receiver cooked LA's man-coverage looks, and Mike McDaniel schemed-up zone shells to get Hill loose in open voids. He finished with 44.5 PPR points, catching 11 receptions (on 15 targets) for 215 and two scores. That was a pass game clinic today from Tua and Tyreek, who will now see Bill Belichick and the Patriots defense in Week 2. -- Bowen
2. Calvin Ridley, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Rust, schmust. It had been 686 days since Ridley had last participated in a regular-season game, and he looked as though he didn't skip a beat. Ridley totaled 24.1 PPR fantasy points, second most among wide receivers from the 1 p.m. ET games, but much more importantly, he absorbed a 34% target share and saw a pair of red zone targets, signaling a probable role as the alpha in this passing offense. Yes, the favorable matchup helped, but then his entire September schedule is peppered with cozy matchups. -- Cockcroft
3. Brock Purdy, QB, and Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Boy, was this offense rolling during the opening week, which could hark back to Purdy's having gotten a decent share of preseason reps as he worked his way back from a UCL internal brace repair. Purdy delivered a plenty respectable 16.8 fantasy points, and perhaps more notably, heavily relied upon Aiyuk in the passing game. Aiyuk easily led the fantasy scoring from the 1 p.m. ET games, scoring 32.9 in PPR formats, while catching all eight of his targets and leading the team with a 29% target share. Their 2.5% and 24.8% start rates in ESPN leagues need to seriously rise for a favorable Week 2 matchup against the Rams. -- Cockcroft
4. Anthony Richardson, QB, Indianapolis Colts
Richardson logged 20.9 fantasy points versus the Jaguars, and we saw how his dual-threat traits can be utilized. There's a blueprint that features the QB run game with defined passing concepts. Richardson totaled 223 yards passing, with one touchdown throw and a shaky interception late, but he added a rushing score in the low red zone. And his ability as a runner will continue to create fantasy upside. Richardson will be a fringe QB1 in Week 2 versus Houston. -- Bowen
5. Jordan Love, QB, and Romeo Doubs, WR, Green Bay Packers: In only his second career start, Love issued an Aaron Rodgers-like performance in the Packers' 38-20 victory. Love's 23.0 fantasy points were second-most among quarterbacks through the 4 p.m. ET games, and he connected with Doubs for two touchdowns and a 18.6 PPR point day for the wide receiver. Yes, Love was a little-used (1.9% start rate) and widely available in ESPN leagues (84.2% available) quarterback, but his performance was plenty relevant for those of us in superflex and two-quarterback leagues. Additionally, what if he is capable of mid-to-high-end QB2 numbers or more? For now, the best "pro"-Love case is that he'll face the Falcons (Week 2), Lions (Week 4) and Raiders (Week 5) in the next four weeks, with a handful of other appealing matchups. -- Cockcroft
6. Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens
This is exactly what you want with Flowers in terms of offensive deployment and volume. He's a motion/movement player who will see pass-game targets and manufactured touches. In the win over Houston, Flowers caught seven of eight targets for 87 yards, in addition to logging two carries for 9 yards. He has ball-carrier vision and quicks. He plays with juice. The rookie finished with 17.7 PPR points and should enter the WR3 discussion for the Week 2 matchup against Cincinnati. -- Bowen
7. Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams
We'll all certainly learn his name now! Nacua, one of my preseason deep sleepers who found his way onto rosters in only 2.3% of ESPN leagues this week, stepped up in a big way with Cooper Kupp sidelined, scoring 16.9 PPR fantasy points. Nacua saw 15 targets -- that's a 41% target share -- and dominated the short-and-intermediate game plan for the Rams, surely placing himself among the most popular Week 2 pickups. -- Cockcroft
8. Tyler Allgeier, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Despite all the preseason chatter about rookie Bijan Robinson's prospective fantasy impact, Allgeier played a much-larger-than-anticipated role in Week 1. Allgeier played a robust 54% of the offensive snaps, had 15 rushing attempts to Robinson's 10, and had the second-most PPR fantasy points (24.4) among running backs from the 1 p.m. ET games. Allgeier got the ball frequently as his Falcons took command of the game during the fourth quarter, a signal that his role could be weekly flex play-relevant -- at least in games against weaker defenses such as this one was. -- Cockcroft
Ranking fantasy losers of Week 1
1. Cincinnati Bengals' offense
The week's fifth-most-started quarterback, Joe Burrow (90.6% of ESPN leagues), and second- and 12th-most-started wide receivers, Ja'Marr Chase (99.8%) and Tee Higgins (94.2%), could not get anything done in Cleveland. Give the Browns' defense some kudos in holding Burrow to a career-worst 3.18 fantasy points and Chase to 9.1 PPR points (his fifth-worst total) while shutting out Higgins on the score sheet. But if you roster these three, there's also no reason to completely panic. Weather might've contributed, as might've Burrow's abbreviated preseason and limited reps due to his calf injury. That said, with the Ravens up next, it might be Week 3 (Rams) before this offense fully clicks. -- Cockcroft
2. Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles: While his Eagles traveled to Foxborough and scored a victory against the Patriots, Hurts' performance and fantasy numbers were nothing special. He scored 12.5 fantasy points, fewer than he had in 14 of his 15 games all of last year, and lost a fourth-quarter fumble that gave the Patriots a chance to steal the victory for themselves. Fortunately, Hurts and the Eagles face the Vikings' terrible secondary, so there's no reason to worry for now. -- Cockcroft
3. Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens
I expected much more from Jackson in his first start under new offensive coordinator Todd Monken. But despite efficient passing numbers (17-of-22) and 38 yards rushing, Jackson posted only 6.56 fantasy points. He turned the ball over twice (one interception, one fumble), we didn't see explosive plays in the pass game, and the Ravens opted to run the ball with Justice Hill in the low red zone for two touchdowns. Even with the rough start, Jackson will be a top-5 QB in Week 2 versus the Bengals. -- Bowen
4. Justin Fields, QB, Chicago Bears
Fields made some plays on the ground, rushing 59 yards on nine carries, finishing with 14.45 fantasy points. But this Bears pass game -- with the addition of DJ Moore -- was really stale. Moore saw just two targets, the Bears offensive front played sub-par football and there was a missing vertical element to the route tree. If Fields is going to make that jump, and become a Top 5 fantasy QB, we have to see more production and big moment plays from him in the pass game. -- Bowen
5. Antonio Gibson, RB, Washington Commanders
Consider it my "mea culpa" on Gibson, as he appeared flex-worthy facing a weak Cardinals defense. Instead, he fumbled on his third carry of the game midway through the second quarter, after which he garnered a mere target the remainder of the contest. Brian Robinson Jr. instead dominated the backfield, playing 58% of the offensive snaps to Gibson's 37% with a 68% rushing share, finishing with 13.6 PPR fantasy points. Expect a similar usage arrangement heading into Week 2. -- Cockcroft
6. Pittsburgh Steelers' offense
Tough Week 1 matchup against that 49ers defense. Sure. But we still gotta see more here. Kenny Pickett turned the ball over twice, and the early San Francisco lead erased the Steelers' run game, as Najee Harris totaled just 31 yards -- on six carries. The only Pittsburgh touchdown? A 3-yard Pickett throw to Pat Freiermuth. Pickett and this offense will look to bounce back in Week 2 in another tough matchup versus the Browns' defense, and they'll do that potentially without Diontae Johnson, who left the game with a hamstring injury. -- Bowen
Injury impact
J.K. Dobbins, RB, Baltimore Ravens
What we know: Dobbins suffered a torn Achilles tendon.
What's next: That's a season-ending injury for Dobbins, thrusting Justice Hill (99.7% available in ESPN leagues) into the fantasy spotlight after his two-touchdown game. Gus Edwards (68.2%) could join Hill in a committee arrangement and is an equally worthy pickup. -- Cockcroft
Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers
What we know: Jones left the game with a hamstring injury.
What's next: Jones left the game after his second touchdown of the day. If he were to miss the upcoming Week 2 matchup versus the Falcons, AJ Dillon would vault into the RB2 mix as the lead back for the Packers. -- Bowen
Diontae Johnson, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
What we know: Johnson left the game against the 49ers with a hamstring injury.
What's next: Johnson caught three of six targets for 48 yards before leaving the game early in the second half with an announced hamstring injury. While we wait for an estimated timetable on his return to game action, veteran Allen Robinson II (1.7% rostered) elevates in the Steelers' route tree. The veteran caught five of eight targets for 64 yards in the Week 1 loss to the 49ers. -- Bowen
Jakobi Meyers, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
What we know: Meyers is being evaluated for a concussion following Sunday's game.
What's next: Meyers, who scored 29.1 PPR fantasy points before the injury, will need to clear the league's concussion protocol to be eligible for Week 2, so monitor his status over the next few days. Tre Tucker might need to be activated if Meyers can't play, but a Meyers absence would likely just spread targets across the team's other receivers. -- Cockcroft
Evan Hull, RB, Indianapolis Colts
What we know: Hull left the game with a knee injury.
What's next: Deon Jackson was heftily used on Sunday, playing 72% of the offensive snaps and handling 13 of the team's 16 running back carries, though his rushing numbers left plenty to be desired (14 yards). If Hull misses additional time, Jackson would presumably start with Jake Funk as his backup, though remember that Jonathan Taylor comes eligible for activation in Week 5. -- Cockcroft
Who earned an 'A' from the weekend?
Cleveland Browns' secondary
Sure, Joe Burrow might have been a little rusty after missing so much preseason practice with a calf injury. But the Browns were still facing one of the best QBs in the league and marking Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd. Check out the nearest defender numbers for the Browns' corners: Denzel Ward allowed 23 yards on 32 coverage snaps; Greg Newsome allowed 18 yards on 31 coverage snaps; Martin Emerson allowed 6 yards on 33 coverage snaps -- Walder
Who earned an 'F' from the weekend?
Rachaad White, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers running back managed a staggering negative-38 rush yards over expectation, per NFL Next Gen Stats. In other words: White ran for 39 yards on 17 carries, but based on the positioning of every player at the time of his handoffs, he should have earned 77 yards on those same plays. Yikes. Minus-37 RYOE would have been tied for the fourth-worst game in all of last season. -- Walder
Lingering questions from Sunday's games
What's the mood around the Ravens after J.K. Dobbins' season-ending injury, and who's in line to replace him?
The Ravens players did not hide their disappointment for Dobbins. "You can't replace a J.K.," guard Kevin Zeitler said. "So, an absolute gut-punch and heartbreaking." Dobbins, who was 100% healthy for the first time in three years, was Baltimore's most explosive back. Now, the Ravens are going to split carries in the backfield between Gus Edwards and Justice Hill. After Dobbins was injured, Hill received 13 snaps and Edwards lined up for 12 plays. The big difference was in the red zone, where Hill had all six of the snaps after Dobbins left the game and scored two touchdowns. The loss of Dobbins might shift the offensive philosophy even farther. With more weapons at wide receiver than the backfield, the Ravens could opt to throw the ball even more. -- Jamison Hensley
Should fantasy managers who drafted Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins be worried after their rough Week 1?
There should be some slight concern for fantasy managers. Sure, the weather was a factor in the 24-3 loss to the Browns. But the bigger issue was Joe Burrow's health status. He said his calf felt "good enough" against Cleveland. It's unclear what kind of role that played in one of his worst performances in his career. Better weather will give Burrow the chance to see how the calf feels. Higgins took some of the blame for Sunday's woes. He had no catches on eight targets. Chase averaged 7.8 yards per catch as Burrow failed to have one completion of 10-plus air yards for the first time in his career. -- Ben Baby
What should we make of the Eagles' running back usage from the win over New England?
The biggest takeaway here is that Kenneth Gainwell is a big part of their running back plans. He earned their trust down the stretch last season, and that trust was rewarded with 18 touches in Week 1. That said, look for D'Andre Swift's role to grow, starting as early as Thursday against the Vikings. Two touches is way too few for a playmaker like him, and the Philadelphia coaches surely know it. Rashaad Penny, meanwhile, was inactive Sunday following a quiet training camp. He'll have to show more in practice to work his way into the rotation. For now, Boston Scott is ahead of him as RB3. -- Tim McManus