On the first weekend of NFL football, some of the biggest stars in the game looked bad and struggled to play a factor. This fight over control ignited inquiries into their performance and the performance of their teams. Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals faced early adversity but brought home a gritty road victory in Cleveland against the Browns. At the same time, other stud stars, namely A.J. Brown and Cooper Kupp went God awful.
Perceived as an offensive mastermind prior to the game, the Bengals’ passing attack fell apart with Burrow completing just 15 of 25 passes for 181 yards and two interceptions. He did average a promising 14.9 points, but the calf injury he suffered during pre-season limited his impact. That became evident when he averaged just 3.2 points on FantasyPros against an elite Browns D. Meanwhile, Brown’s contributions were minimal in the Philadelphia Eagles’ Thursday night victory, catching just one pass with under two minutes remaining in the game.
Struggles of Key Players
Burrow’s performance has been a focal point for analysts following the Bengals’ season opener. With an accuracy rate below 60 percent, he was unable to get in sync with his most talented and explosive unit of receivers. This fragmented performance does not inspire confidence about the state of the Bengals’ passing offense in the near future.
His struggles can be explained by the effects of a season-opening calf injury he suffered during the preseason. Given Burrow’s history, the team will have to keep a watchful eye on the QB’s health while planning for future contests. That means Cincinnati has to cover up for it by having an elite passing game. It’s more than critical for increasing their offensive production and extending drives.
Similarly, A.J. Brown not being used at all in a Week 4 game raises alarms about how he’s being utilized in this Eagles’ offense. And with just one late-game pressure catch under duress, he did little to make an impact as a go-to playmaker for the staff. The Eagles’ strategy may need adjustment to better utilize Brown alongside other talented receivers like Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta.
Another big name to keep an eye on is wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who showed his first signs of a drop-off in his most recent outing. Then Kupp can return for the Week 2 game at the Pittsburgh Steelers. I would consider him for deeper leagues, as he’s had a hard time replicating his high level of play. In a loss against the San Francisco 49ers, Kupp managed only two receptions for 15 yards, showcasing reduced lower-body quickness and separation speed that could lead to contested throws.
Still, watching Kupp’s drop off makes you worry about Kupp’s long-term health and ability to continue producing as a difference maker receiver. Fantasy football coaches and NFL coaches alike have to make a decision on whether he can get back to where he once was. They should be prepared to make tweaks to correct his expected step back in play.
Despite the poor overall performance of his fellow offensive linemen, Brian Thomas Jr.’s post season performance mostly stood out. With seven targets Thomas proved that he can be a reliable option for his team. His tireless pursuit to join each and every play really brought out his upside. The way he can shape the next opportunity is what will determine whether he’s more valuable to his side going forward.
Observations from Other Games
Across the other Week 1 matchups, a few breakout stars impressed. Miss under-appreciated home run-hitter J.K. Dobbins overcame some COVID-19 issues and rocked the Broncos for 18 touches, including a rushing TD to lead his squad. His return may be the biggest of all, as he played a pivotal role in pacing the Broncos to victory in their season-opener.
It wouldn’t be fair to judge Kaleb Johnson’s first action on defense from a brutal matchup with the New York Jets. He ended the game with a single carry for negative-two yards. Even with this lack of production, some players are on the cusp of breaking through to find a footing in their offensive systems.
Not to mention the fact that Kenneth Gainwell split backfield duties with fellow rookie Jaylen Warren in another game where they walloped the Jets. This committee approach would make things more difficult for both players as they compete against each other for touches and yardage.
Seattle quarterback Geno Smith had a statement performance with 362 passing yards. That shows the kind of deep ball accuracy needed for any quarterback to successfully drive the ball downfield. His continued performance would hopefully be a signal of the overall organization having a better start to the season and give hope to fans and analysts everywhere.
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