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Week 1 of the NFL brought plenty of drama, whether it was to the casual football fan or the die-hard fan in eight different fantasy leagues. We got to see QBs (and players across the board) settle into their new homes, rookies make their debuts and veterans continue to impress. This weekend, the NFL had a little bit of everything, including a Friday night international game and a Chiefs loss – two things that are rare at best. 

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Week 1 Overreactions

Week 1 of the NFL is in the books, and it didn’t disappoint. Whether you were glued to your favorite team or sweating out your fantasy matchups, nobody could’ve predicted what happened this weekend. That’s the beauty (and chaos) of opening weekend. Stars stayed silent, no-names stole the spotlight and favorites fell flat. Just ask Ravens fans… they’re probably still reeling from SNF.

Naturally, the rollercoaster has both fans and fantasy managers firing off hot takes left and right. Season-long predictions are being rewritten after just four quarters of football, while fantasy lineups are getting flipped upside down. But before we crown new MVPs or bury playoff hopes, let’s slow down and separate real trends from classic Week 1 overreactions.

Ashton Jeanty can’t cut it in the NFL — Overreaction

If you’re an Ashton Jeanty fantasy manager, I know it seems like it’s time to hit the panic button and bench him. But don’t do it…at least not yet. It’s easy to chalk up his college dominance to the Mountain West and assume the NFL is too big a jump. But there’s a reason he was drafted No. 6 overall by people who never thought twice about his potential in the NFL.

Jeanty accumulated 38 yards off 19 rushing attempts, averaging only 2 yards per attempt. Obviously, that debut wasn’t pretty (minus his first NFL touchdown in his first game). But do you know who had even fewer yards on the ground this weekend? Bucky Irving, who had only 37 yards off 14 attempts. Nobody’s writing him off, so why are we so quick to do it to Jeanty? Let’s give the rookie some runway. 

If he’s still putting up these numbers four weeks from now, then it’s fair to worry. But one rough outing, especially an NFL debut, isn’t enough to abandon ship. Stick with him, because there’s still plenty of upside.

It’s Caleb Williams Time — Prediction

Caleb Williams has been quietly fine-tuning his game for months, and it all came together on Monday night. After a rookie season that featured a 20:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio – the best ever for a No. 1 overall pick during his rookie season – Williams proved he could protect the football while still adding nearly 500 rushing yards to showcase his versatility.

On Monday, Williams showed a much-improved football IQ. He started the game with a perfect 9-for-9 for 54 yards in the air. His passing game was quick, decisive and accurate. On the ground, he scrambled to avoid a sack and rushed for a 9-yard touchdown in the process – and this was all on the first drive. As the night went on, Williams was able to hold steady, throwing for nearly 200 yards and tacking on a passing touchdown.

Now that Williams has some NFL experience under his belt, it seems like his time to shine in Chicago. My only concern is his lack of offensive weapons. I don’t love the receiving corps in Chicago, but then again, Josh Allen makes the best of a similar situation in Buffalo. Who’s to say Caleb Williams can’t do the same?

The Chiefs Dynasty is Dead — Overreaction

Maybe it’s the shock of seeing a red “L” next to Kansas City, maybe it’s dynasty fatigue or maybe it’s a combination of both. But you’d think the Chiefs’ entire roster got wiped out the way people are talking right now. Critics are already declaring the dynasty is dead. But why?

For one thing, Kansas City is in last place in the AFC West for the first time since Week 5 of the 2021 season. The Chiefs were the only team in the division that failed to win their Week 1 matchup. The loss of Xavier Worthy on one of the first plays of the game didn’t help their chances. Neither did Isiah Pacheco’s quiet day. But Patrick Mahomes looked sharper than ever – even without two of his best receivers. Aside from Kelce, Mahomes lacked familiar offensive weapons in that game. Somehow, the Chiefs still managed to bring the game down to the wire.

That’s not a sign of decline: It’s a sign of resilience. The offense was able to score even without key players, and the defense was able to keep the game tight. What’s even better? Reinforcements are on the way. Worthy’s injury isn’t season-ending, and it looks like he’ll be back sooner rather than later. Meanwhile, Rashee Rice is coming back Week 7 after a 6-game suspension to start the season. Before getting injured last season, Rice accumulated 288 receiving yards and two touchdowns in just four games. If the Chiefs can tread water until their weapons return, Mahomes can likely hold down the fort. Dynasty over? Please. This team hasn’t even hit full strength yet. 

The Tua Era is Over — Prediction

Sorry, Miami fans, but the Tua Tagovailoa experiment has run its course. He’s had more than enough time to prove himself, and while he once promised he was keeping “receipts” of his doubters, those receipts have only piled up against him. I wanted to believe he’d silence the criticism. Instead, his latest performance only confirmed it: 114 passing yards, one touchdown, two interceptions and a fumble in an embarrassing 33–8 blowout loss to the Colts.

It’s officially time for Miami to stop clinging to hope that died a long time ago and start a full-on teardown. With that being said, I’d like to see what Quinn Ewers can do before we write off this team entirely. But he’s playing behind both Tua and Zach Wilson, so I doubt we’ll get that chance. At this point, it’s time to cash in trade value for Tyreek Hill, De’Von Achane and Jaylen Waddle. That will put the Dolphins in the same spot they were in when they drafted Tua in 2020. It may be painful, but admitting you made a mistake is much more admirable than doubling down on it. The harsh reality? Miami’s future can’t start until it closes the book on Tua.

Joe Burrow Isn’t the Same QB as Last Year — Overreaction

I remember writing Week 1 overreactions last season, and I’ve learned that people love to freak out about Joe Burrow’s slow starts. Burrow fantasy owners panic, Bengals fans panic and the narrative quickly writes itself as, “Something is wrong in Cincinnati.” Last season, the Bengals lost to the Patriots to open the season. This year, they barely hung on versus the Browns to win their first season opener since 2021. Let’s just call it what it is: The Bengals struggle Week 1 and figure it out down the stretch. It’s not unheard of, and it’s certainly not a reason to panic.

Burrow’s stat line (113 yards, one touchdown) was ugly, no question. Those are Tua numbers – minus the turnovers. But we’ve seen this before. He struggled out of the gate last season, and then quietly became one of the best fantasy quarterbacks in football, leading the league in nearly every major statistical category by the end of the season.

The same goes for Ja’Marr Chase. As the unanimous No. 1 fantasy pick, his slow start had managers in meltdown mode. But his production has always been tied to Burrow’s rhythm. If the quarterback is off, so is his receiver. That doesn’t plummet Chase’s value. Bottom line: the Bengals have a Week 1 problem, not a talent problem. Expect them to shake off the jitters and settle into their usual rhythm, just as they always do.