Fantasy Football – First Quarter Fantasy Awards
Don’t look now but the fantasy football season is flying by. With the first quarter of the football season in the books, let’s hand out some fantasy awards.
The first four weeks of the fantasy season could be described as many things, predictable is not one of them. Surprise top-10 performances, unforeseen storylines, and big-time disappointments have headlined the first quarter of the season…welcome to fantasy football!
Although there is a lot of football to be played, let’s have some fun and hand out some first quarter fantasy football awards.
Fantasy Football MVP- Kareem Hunt
CAR: 68 YDS: 502 TTDS: 6 Fantasy PPG: 28.2
You never know when an opportunity will present itself. Hunt has taken full advantage of his opportunity in the first four weeks of his rookie campaign after.
The hype around Hunt didn’t’ take long to build after Spencer Ware (the then Chiefs starter) suffered a season-ending injury in Week 3 of the preseason. If you “reached” on Hunt in your fantasy draft, chances are you are content with your decision.
Although Hunt is being outscored by Rams running back Todd Gurley in PPR leagues, the more efficient running back in the league has been Hunt. After four weeks, Hunt has seen 25 fewer touches than Gurley yet has still managed to average 15 more total yards per game.
Hunt currently ranks 8th in attempts on the season but 1st in rushing yards. This can be attributed to his outrageous YPC average of 7.4. Of the 18 other running backs with 50+ carries, no one has a better YPC average than 4.9 and 12 are averaging under 4 yards per carry.
Just for perspective, let’s say Kareem Hunt wouldn’t have played in Week 4. He still would be leading the league in rushing yards.
Fantasy Football Rookie of the Quarter (not named K. Hunt)- Dalvin Cook
CAR: 74 YDS: 354 TTDS: 3 Fantasy PPG: 16.4
Obviously, this award is bitter-sweet that Cook will miss the remainder of the season after tearing his ACL in Week 4, but let’s not ignore what he was able to do this year.
After a draft process full of criticism, Dalvin Cook showed all of his doubters that spark scores and cone times can’t tell you to whether a player will succeed on the next level. Cook easily took over the starting job and flashed his potential to be one of the leagues best running backs.
Cook logged the 5th most carries and recorded the 3rd most rushing yards in the first quarter of the season, all while maintaining a 4.8 YPC which was the 3rd highest average from a RB with at least 50 attempts over that span. Cook also showed his ability to crack off big runs, logging the 2nd most runs of 20+ yards (4), ranking only behind Kareem Hunt (5).
Hopefully, the former FSU star can rebound from this setback and come back just as good, if not better than before.
Fantasy Football Comeback Player of the Quarter- DeAndre Hopkins
TAR: 49 REC: 31 YDS: 311 TDS: 2 Fantasy PPG: 18.5
Those that took the “risk” of drafting Hopkins after a disappointing 2016 season are very happy after four weeks of action. Not only does it appear that the Texans have found their answer at quarterback, but that QB really likes to target his No.1 wide receiver.
Hopkins has been a target monster, averaging just over 12 targets per game and currently leading the league with 49 targets overall. With that kind of volume, it should come as no surprise that he also leads the league with 31 receptions.
Although the 90 combined points over their last two games came against questionable defenses, I think we all can agree the Texans are trending in the right way. If the first quarter of the season has taught us anything about the Texans it’s that Deshaun Watson is going to target Hopkins as much as any QB/WR combination in the league.
Fantasy Football Bust of the Quarter- Amari Cooper
REC: 12 YDS: 110 TDS: 1 Fantasy PPG: 7.2
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86 players have more receptions than Amari Cooper. Let that sink in. On average, Cooper owners had to spend a second-round pick to get a player that is nearly un-startable until he shows otherwise.
Targets have not been the issue for Cooper. Only 17 players have been targeted more after four weeks.
The problem has been Cooper’s inability to make plays. He currently is logging a 38% catch percentage, only Browns WR Kenny Britt ranks lower in that category.
The chances of the former first-rounder turning it around took another hit when the news broke that Raiders quarterback Derek Carr could miss anywhere from 2-6 weeks. At this point hold onto Cooper and hope he can turn it around.
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