Fantasy Football: Week one dudes, duds, and deceivers
Dalvin Cook, Running Back, Minnesota Vikings
Talent and potential have never been the question with Dalvin Cook. The question is durability. Can he stay healthy enough to sustain his week one performance? Who knows. But Cook got off to a great start on Sunday.
Cook handled 21 carries racking up 111 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. With Jerrick McKinnon and Latavius Murray out of his hair, Cook should have a chance to prove himself as a true top fantasy back. Cook should have a chance to prove his versatility as a receiver out of the backfield as well, catching two of just eight completed passes by the Vikings this week.
Minnesota got up pretty big early against the Falcons on the back of their defense and the run game, so they continued to feed Cook throughout the rest of the game. Cook made the most of his carries in week one and should be the focal point of the Vikings offense going forward.
I liked Cook as an end of the first-round pick in fantasy drafts this year and week one certainly hasn’t changed my mind. When healthy, Cook is one of the best running backs in fantasy. He may be due for a completely healthy season, and if so, I definitely want him on my team.
Evan Engram, Tight End, New York Giants
Evan Engram’s performance shouldn’t come as a surprise. He is undoubtedly the number one receiving option on a team that is likely to find themselves behind in most games. That was exactly the scenario for Engram and the Giants against the Cowboys on Sunday. They found themselves down big early, and Engram was a go-to target to try to get them back in the game.
With 14 targets from Eli Manning, Engram totaled 11 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown. No one else on the team had more than eight targets, so Engram is clearly getting the bulk of the volume in the Giants passing game.
T.Y. Hilton, Wide Receiver, Indianapolis Colts
Andrew Luck who? Okay, maybe that’s a little much but Hilton seemed to be just fine with Jacoby Brissett at the helm this week. In the Colts overtime loss to the Chargers, Hilton caught eight passes for 87 yards and found the end zone two times.
Brissett threw for just 190 yards and no other Colt had more than four receptions and five targets, so Hilton is clearly a go-to for the new quarterback. Hilton had this level of production against a very good Chargers defense and should continue to improve as Brissett gets more comfortable and settled in as the starting quarterback.
Many people dropped Hilton greatly in their rankings after word of Luck’s retirement, but Hilton should still be a decent WR1 on your roster if that is where you drafted him. I expect Hilton to be Brissett’s number one target all year, and in a season that he dedicated to Andrew Luck, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Hilton put up very good numbers all season long.
Deshaun Watson/DeAndre Hopkins, Quarterback/Wide Receiver, Houston Texans
The top receiver and the second-ranked quarterback coming into the season backed up their rankings with a big game one on Monday night against the Saints. The duo tried to keep the Texans right there with New Orleans but they ultimately fell just short despite their stellar performances.
Watson showed what he is capable of when his offensive line gives him enough time throwing for 268 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for another touchdown and 40 yards. Hopkins caught eight passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns. The duo combined to score over 60 fantasy points.
As Dennis Green once said, and most recently Delanie Walker after the Titans victory over the Browns, it seems like these guys “are who we thought they were.” These players were at the top of their respective positions for a reason, and I expect them to continue this level of production all season. If you were able to stack both Watson and Hopkins in your draft, I hope your running backs come through for you, but you should be excited.