Hey Team 👋

Week 1 in the NFL is in the books, and the overreactions are already flooding fantasy leagues everywhere. From stars putting up duds to unexpected names breaking out, it’s a reminder not to panic too soon. Meanwhile, college football delivered a quieter slate on the field, but the AP poll made sure there was no shortage of drama off it. A few eyebrow-raising ballots, including one that somehow rewarded a team after a loss, have fans questioning the process yet again. Let’s break it all down.

Letter Rip!

< NFL >

Patience Vs. Panic

The Week 1 overreactions have been written. I’ve told you which players and teams deserve patience before we start cementing their futures, but I can already feel the panic in my fantasy leagues. Waiver wires are buzzing, and while making smart pickups is essential to fantasy success, cutting proven stars is the quickest way to sink your season. 

Last season, I played in a league where someone dropped Marvin Harrison Jr. after a bad Week 1 performance. Sure, Harrison didn’t end up being a league-winner, but that move was pure panic. At the very least, he could have held onto him for trade value. I’m trying to help you avoid those mistakes. I know Ja’Marr Chase, A.J. Brown and Isiah Pacheco all came up short this weekend, but it’s nowhere near time to hit the panic button. That said, not everyone deserves the same leash – some Week 1 duds are flashing real red flags.

Ja’Marr Chase – Patience

I shouldn’t even need to tell you this, but you’d be surprised how many people are worried about Ja’Marr Chase. In case you missed the Week 1 overreactions, let me remind you: The Bengals are not a Week 1 team. They haven’t been for years. Their narrow win over the Browns was actually their first Week 1 victory in four years. Just last year, they lost to the Patriots, where Joe Burrow and Chase both had lackluster outings. And we all know how that story ended. Chase and Burrow flipped the switch and both turned into fantasy monsters. So, relax. Chase isn’t going anywhere. He didn’t forget how to play football overnight. He’s still the guy with the same (insane) ceiling. But a receiver is only as good as his quarterback. As soon as Burrow turns a corner, Chase will hit his stride too.

Tyreek Hill – Panic

Miami became the punchline of the NFL after a pitiful performance against the Colts last weekend. Yes, those Colts – the Daniel Jones-led version that hadn’t won a season opener since 2013. As bad as the Dolphins’ defense played, the offense was equally concerning. Tua posted a 2.7 QBR – the worst in the league. As I said, a receiver is only as good as his quarterback. For Tyreek Hill owners, that’s a tough pill to swallow.

Then there’s another issue: Hill wants out of Miami, and who could blame him? As of right now, it appears his only chance for improvement is catching passes from somebody else. The problem? Options are scarce in South Beach. The “choices” are unproven Quinn Ewers or proven Zach Wilson. And let’s be real – nobody’s eager to see more of what Zach Wilson has already proven.

A.J. Brown – Patience

As an A.J. Brown fantasy owner myself, I empathize with your frustration. His lack of targets and 1.8 fantasy points were brutal to watch, but I’m not rushing to bench him just yet. Yes, he was only targeted in the final minutes of the game, but that’s unprecedented. Before Thursday, he logged at least four targets per game in every healthy outing of his career. 

It’s not like Devonta Smith stole the show either: He also finished with three receptions for only 16 yards. The Eagles leaned into a different game plan versus the Cowboys. With Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts both running the ball effectively, why risk a turnover through the air ? Still, Nick Sirianni vowed to feed both Brown and Smith going forward, stressing that their quiet night was never intentional. 

With Tank Bigsby coming into this offense, this offense could lean even heavier into the run, so I understand the concern. But let’s keep perspective: This is the same A.J. Brown who racked up four 100+ yard games last season and dipped below 50 yards only three times. Stars like him bounce back, and quickly.

Kenneth Walker III – Panic

If you’re a Zach Charbonnet owner, you’re probably over the moon right now. If you’re a Kenneth Walker III owner, my condolences. Walker entered Week 1 already banged up: He missed chunks of training camp with a foot injury and was limited in practice leading up to kickoff. That makes a slow start understandable… but it doesn’t explain everything.

Charbonnet had two more touches than Walker, marking his seventh game with 10+ carries. Clearly, his increased usage wasn’t a fluke – it’s something that’s been in the works for a while. What’s even worse for Walker fantasy managers? Charbonnet proved that his increased touches were well-deserved. With just two more touches, Charbonnet outrushed Walker by 27 yards, nearly doubled his yards per carry, and even found the endzone. Even if Walker rebounds, the writing’s on the wall. This backfield is shaping up as a split, which is exactly what Walker managers didn’t sign up for on draft day.

Nico Collins – Patience

Like A.J. Brown and Ja’Marr Chase, there’s no reason to panic over one bad week from a WR1. If the offense wants any chance in the passing game, the QB has no choice but to find these guys and feed them. That same logic applies to Nico Collins’ quiet Week 1, where he managed just three catches for 22 yards.

Also like A.J. Brown, Collins’ coach has spoken out in a way that should reassure fantasy managers. DeMeco Ryans emphasized the game plan going forward is to get the ball into Collins’ hands as frequently as possible. Sure, that’s easier said than done, but the track record backs it up. Last season, Collins had only two games with five or fewer targets. The first was against the Bills where he left early with an injury, and the second was the last regular-season game versus the Titans. In other words, Week 1 was the exception for Collins – not the rule.

< CFB >

Week 3 AP Poll

After a relatively quiet week in college football, the updated AP poll still managed to stir controversy. Rankings are always subjective, but this week featured a real head-scratcher. Voter Haley Sawyer is catching heat for bumping Florida up two spots after a loss at home to USF. The kicker? She left USF unranked.

Maybe it was a mistake, but in an era of college football where strength of schedule means everything, it’s tough to overlook. One questionable ballot might not swing the entire poll, but it does shine a spotlight on just how messy the ranking process can be. Regardless of how we got here, the rankings are in ahead of an SEC showdown in Knoxville.

AP Top 25

1. Ohio State (🟰)

2. Penn State (🟰)

3. LSU (🟰)

4. Oregon (⬆️2)

5. Miami (🟰)

6. Georgia (⬇️2)

7. Texas (🟰)

8. Notre Dame (⬆️1)

9. Illinois (⬆️2)

10. Florida State (⬆️4) 

11. South Carolina (⬇️1)

12. Clemson (⬇️4)

13. Oklahoma (⬆️5)

14. Iowa State (⬆️2)

15. Tennessee (⬆️7)

16. Texas A&M (⬆️3)

17. Ole Miss (⬆️3)

18. South Florida (previously unranked)

19. Alabama (⬆️2)

20. Utah (⬆️5)

21. Texas Tech (⬆️3)

22. Indiana (⬆️1)

23. Michigan (⬇️8)

24. Auburn (previously unranked)

25. Missouri (previously unranked)

Key Week 3 Matchups 

12 PM

Wisconsin at #19 Alabama (ABC)

#12 Clemson at Georgia Tech (ESPN)

3:30 PM

#6 Georgia at #15 Tennessee (ABC)

4:30 PM

#18 South Florida at #5 Miami (The CW)

7:30 PM

#16 Texas A&M at #8 Notre Dame (NBC)

Florida at #3 LSU (ABC)