Manic Monday: Week 1

What’s it like to be FullTime as a fantasy writer/analyst? Well, I think The Bangles sang it best back in ’86.

It’s just another manic Monday (Woah, woah)
I wish it was Sunday (Woah, woah)
‘Cause that’s my fun day (Woah, woah, woah, woah)
My I don’t have to run day (Woah, woah)
It’s just another manic Monday

Fun Fact: Prince actually wrote that song. Woah indeed.

But for our purposes, Manic Monday is my way of reviewing another wild week of NFL action and trying to decipher what we can learn as we move ahead into another fantasy season. Week 1 certainly had its fair share of highs and lows, so let’s see what it means as we move onto Week 2.

Quarterback Craziness

It stinks that Ryan Fitzpatrick got injured and will miss a few weeks but his play showed why I was lower on the journeyman than the consensus in season-long rankings. Fitzmagic is fun, but he’s also a very streaky player who tends to put coach’s jobs at risk. That’s why he wasn’t a good bet to start more than 12-13 games. There’s a legit chance Taylor Heinicke stays Washington’s starter moving forward.

I’m convinced that wasn’t Aaron Rodgers under center in Jacksonville. Perhaps Green Bay’s management signed Tom Wrigglesworth to mascarade as Rodgers to fool the shareholders? It certainly didn’t fool the Saints.

Speaking of New Orleans, Jameis Winston only threw for 148 yards but somehow managed to toss five touchdowns against Jaire Alexander and what looked to be a solid Green Bay secondary? Maybe Wrigglesworth plays defense too?

Classic Lions. Detroit was getting worked, down 38-10 to San Francisco before Kyle Shanahan called off the dogs. Meanwhile, Jared Goff compiles some hollow garbage time stats and ends up posting top-5 fantasy numbers with 338 passing yards and three TD tosses. Goff entered halftime targeting a wide receiver just four times and averaging a paltry 3.6 yards per target.

Speaking of poor starts, Zach Wilson looked like every other Jets quarterback of the past 50 years in the first half, then completed 14-of-21 for 174 yards and two scores in the second half. After watching Wilson’s first few drives, who would’ve thought he’d end up outscoring Josh Allen in Week 1? Fantasy really isn’t fair sometimes.

Brutal Beats

I get taking your foot off the pedal and protecting leads but getting a push in the San Francisco (-8) Detroit game is ridiculous. The 49ers were up by 28, Trey Lance had a touchdown. As Teddy KGB quipped, “should have paid me off on that.”

Also had Carolina (-5.5) only to see them open up a can of quit in the second half and lose by half a freaking point. There’s no way anybody else loses more bets by half a freaking point than I do.

Oh, like the Titans/Cardinals OVER. I moved early on this and got 51.5. We were sitting at 51 points at the end of the third quarter. I was all ready to take my winning over to KGB’s, but of course. Half a point, AGAIN!

Meme of the Week

Speaking of brutal beats, we go to the college ranks for my favorite troll of Week 1. Florida State, which used to be a national power, schedules a home “gimmie” against Jacksonville State thinking it would be a warmup win before that brutal ACC schedule. The Seminoles approached this game as if they’d already won, just ask this cheerleader as the Gamecocks tossed a walk-off Hail Mary.

Where We Were Right

FullTime’s Award-Winning projections pegged Kyler Murray as the week’s No. 2 signal-caller and were the highest in the industry on Jalen Hurts, who we had as a QB3.

We didn’t have Saquon Barkley or Najee Harris in our top-15 and also ranked all three Houston Texans’ running backs as top-40 fantasy options against the Jaguars.

DeVonta Smith was our WR16 and we were really cool on Jerry Jeudy (WR50.)

Where We Were Wrong

Laviska Shenault was ok but didn’t go gangbusters on Houston’s anemic secondary. We also, like almost everyone else, loved Brandon Aiyuk in Detroit but failed to realize it must’ve been his bye week.

Had the first half pegged, but D’Andre Swift sure outperformed our projections in that garbage second half. Thanks a lot, Kyle Shanahan.

Mike Gesicki didn’t exactly come through for us, but in an effort to end on a high note, we guarantee he won’t score fewer points next week.

Monday Night Preview

When you Google ‘Raiders Stadium’ the first ‘people also ask’ question that comes up is “Will new Raiders Stadium have a jail?”

This will be the first game at Allegiant Stadium with fans in attendance, as ‘The Death Star’ opened last year without spectators in attendance. Overall, Las Vegas went just 2-6 at home last season, which included 4-4 against the spread.

Baltimore was 7-3 on the road in 2020, including the playoffs. They were also 6-4 ATS on the road last season, with the under hitting on 7-of-10 games. The Ravens’ backfield has been decimated by injuries, which could alter the approach. More likely, RB Ty’Son Williams will get a healthy amount of touches to challenge a Vegas defense that surrendered the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2020.

The Raiders’ offensive personnel isn’t inspiring and Mike Mayock dispersed a solid offensive line this offseason. While Baltimore’s passing offense is still a question mark, QB Lamar Jackson remains a real threat as both a rusher and passer and John Harbaugh has gone 10-3 against the spread in Week 1.

My Pick: Baltimore -4

We’re on to Week 2! All FullTime Fantasy members get exclusive access to our 24/7 Chat Room on Discord!

All week, Senior Analyst Jody Smith and the rest of the FullTime staff will be standing by to answer all your crucial start/sit and keep you updated with all the latest news and injury updates.