Tyrell Williams

Spencer Ware, A.J. Green and Andrew Luck pace fantasy football scoring in Week 1

Published Sep. 11, 2016 8:00 p.m. ET

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In case you forgot, Keenan Allen caught 15 passes on 17 targets during the Chargers’ 2015 Week 1 contest against the Lions. The performance set the pace for what could have been a historic season. Allen finished with 10+ receptions two more times in the first eight games before a lacerated kidney placed him on the shelf the second half of the season.

Fast-forward to the first week of the 2016 fantasy football season, and Allen is on the verge of missing San Diego’s final 15 games after a non-contact injury and a suspected ACL tear. Allen was on pace for 12+ receptions and 120+ receiving yards against the Chiefs before he hit the turf and the medical cart picked him up.

Remember, the Chargers are without Stevie Johnson for the season with a meniscus tear. The loss of Allen opens the door for Dontrelle Inman and Tyrell Williams. Both receivers should be in line for more targets, along with Travis Benjamin. The speedy receiver led the team with seven receptions, but finished with only 32 yards against the Chiefs. Williams finished with two receptions for 71 yards, while Inman had one six-yard catch.

Playing Above Their ADP (all points PPR)

Andy Reid is a tough nut to crack when it comes to Kansas City’s running back committee. Even with Jamaal Charles ruled out Week 1 against the Chargers, fantasy owners were nervous about Charcandrick West’s potential role within the offense. While West did earn nine touches, Ware blew away the field with 18 touches for 199 yards and a touchdown. Now, the concern circles back to what does this mean for Charles’ role within the offense the rest of the season. Sigh. Charles may still lead the charge, but his apprentice is on the clock.

Willie Snead – 38.6 fantasy points

In case you missed it, my colleague John Halpin picked Snead as a wide receiver bargain in later rounds of drafts. So far, so good. The second-year receiver out of Ball State (#MACtion) posted six games of six-or-more receptions last season. Against the Raiders in Week 1, Snead caught nine balls for 172 yards and a touchdown. The 172 receiving yards crushed his previous career-best.

C.J. Anderson – 29.9 fantasy points

Anderson inked the first line of his redemption song against the Panthers Thursday night. The Broncos’ running back left fantasy owners hanging for most of the 2015 season, but erupted for 139 yards and a touchdown to start this season. Anderson posted only two 100+-yard fantasy performances last season.

Matt Forte – 20.5 fantasy points

If you listened to reports out of Jets’ camp, Forte and Bilal Powell were about to enter a 50/50 time share this season. Well, the veteran running back touched the ball 27 times for 155 yards, while Powell – who could be a waiver-wire darling in 2016 – finished with six touches.

Jordan Matthews – 29.4 fantasy points

Let the Carson Wentz era begin!

*sees they played the Browns’ defense Week 1*

Maybe we should pump the brakes and let the fantasy football sample size breathe a little. Look, I’m stoked for Wentz and happy Matthews’ owners earned the seven receptions, 155 yards and a touchdown. However, Cleveland’s defense has to rank among the bottom three this year. The young Eagles’ offense couldn’t have asked for a softer Week 1 defense.

Well, maybe the Saints.

Jack Doyle – 18.5 fantasy points

The Colts’ TE2 led all at the position in fantasy points scored heading into the Sunday night game. Fighting for playing time last season, Doyle finished with 12 receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown in 2015. Against the Lions in Week 1, the fourth-year target caught three passes for 35 yards with two touchdowns.

Larry Fitzgerald - 28.1 fantasy points

Did you know Fitz finished with eight-or-more receptions in nine games last season (including playoffs)? He's one-for-one in 2016 after racking up 81 yards on eight receptions with two scores against the Patriots Sunday night.

The Usual Suspects

Drew Brees – 37 fantasy points

The Saints’ defense is atrocious. The only chance for New Orleans to win games is for Brees to chuck it all over the yard and win the track meet.

Andrew Luck – 40.5 fantasy points

He hit eight different receivers and had his best passing game in terms of yards since late-October 2014. The four touchdown passes were the most in a game since late-November 2014. Luck completed six passes each to T.Y. Hilton and Donte Moncrief and four more to Phillip Dorsett.

A.J. Green – 41 fantasy points

Green placed a lien on Revis Island in Week 1. It was his first 12-reception game since late-November 2014. The 180 receiving yards is Green’s third-best effort dating back to late-September 2012.

This Week in Lamar Miller

The Texans' running back touched the ball 32 times for 117 total yards and scored 20.7 fantasy points. Miller didn’t record his first 100-yard game until Week 5 of the 2015 season.

Note: fantasy football owners were often frustrated with the Dolphins use of their running back last year. This weekly section will highlight Miller’s usage as a member of the Houston Texans.

Playing Below Their ADP

Adrian Peterson – 3.1 fantasy points

This is probably part of the reason why the Vikings dealt some delicious draft picks to the Eagles for Sam Bradford. Opposing defenses can load up the box against Adrian Peterson when Shaun Hill is behind center. Adrian Peterson's 1.6 YPR on 19 rush attempts was his worst per rush average since 2008 in games where he carried the ball 15 times or more.

Devonta Freeman – 8.0 fantasy points

Freeman touched the ball 15 times, while running back committee member Tevin Coleman earned 13 touches. However, Coleman was much more effective in the passing game with five receptions (six targets) for 95 yards. There was talk about a RBBC this past summer and it looks like the Falcons coaching staff is holding true to their word.

Dez Bryant – 1.8 fantasy points

Dak Prescott failed to throw a touchdown pass against the Giants in his regular-season debut. What is more concerning is that the rookie quarterback only targeted his WR1 five times and connected once. Now, Bryant did fail to complete the process on a would-be touchdown catch, but the Giants secondary isn’t good enough to shut down Dez for an entire game. Prescott is going to have to eat this blame.

Golden Tate – 11.1 fantasy points

The PPR-friendly receiver held true to his reputation with seven receptions, but only picked up 41 yards. The six-yards-per-catch isn’t going to win fantasy owners games. Only Travis Benjamin’s seven receptions for 32 yards was a worse per-catch average among receivers who caught seven balls or more in Week 1.

Name your Week 1 best and worst fantasy football performers in the comments section below!