Calvin Ridley And 9 Other Fantasy Studs Not To Be Worried About After Disappointing Week 1 Performances
Week 1 of the NFL season has passed, and with it came a plethora of notable performances from some of the league’s top players. Still, this early in the season, others could take a few games to find their footing, but will likely bounce back in coming weeks. For fantasy owners, some could be looking to sell one some big-name players who disappointed in Week 1. Let’s look at 10 disappointing Week 1 performances that shouldn’t raise concerns from fantasy football GMs.
De’Von Achane - Miami Dolphins
There’s an argument for nearly every Miami Dolphins player in fantasy to be on this list. Star running back De’Von Achane makes the best case to not raise concern. Miami was playing from behind since the first quarter and was forced to throw the ball, operating with a significant deficit. In a better game environment against the New England Patriots in Week 2, Achane should post a solid bounce-back performance to alleviate the worry of fantasy GMs.
Nick Chubb - Houston Texans
Nick Chubb’s fantasy stock made a slight rise following Joe Mixon’s injury, elevating optimism for a rebound year for the Houston Texans. In Week 1, Chubb struggled behind a subpar Texans offensive line. Though he was limited to just 60 yards, Chubb emerged as the feature back in Mixon’s absence, totaling a team-high 13 carries. The four-time Pro Bowler could easily turn in a breakout performance versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2.
Calvin Ridley - Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans’ offense predictably struggled in Cam Ward’s debut, versus one of the top defenses in the league in the Denver Broncos. Veteran wideout Calvin Ridley notched just four catches for 27 yards, matched up against the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Pat Surtain. Despite a down performance in Week 1, there’s plenty of room for optimism. Ridley saw a team-high eight targets from Ward and is slated to see consistent volume to such a degree going forward as the team’s top wideout with a familiar connection with his rookie quarterback.
Amon-Ra St. Brown - Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions’ offense was forced out of its element by a Green Bay Packers defense led by recent trade acquisition Micah Parsons. All-Pro receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown didn’t post the production his fantasy owners expected, grabbing four passes for 45 yards. Fans should remain bullish on St. Brown going forward. The star wideout has eclipsed 1,100 yards with 140 or more targets in each of his last three seasons. Expect a breakout performance versus the Chicago Bears this week.
George Pickens - Dallas Cowboys
George Pickens struggled in his Dallas Cowboys debut. To the dismay of his fantasy owners, Pickens caught just two passes for 30 yards on four targets, while CeeDee Lamb saw 11 targets. Pickens will continue to find his footing as the No. 2 wideout and should enjoy a significant bounce-back performance versus a lowly New York Giants squad in Week 2.
Brian Thomas Jr. - Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars secured a 26-10 win over the Carolina Panthers in their season opener behind a notable performance on the ground from Travis Etienne Jr. Jacksonville’s passing attack struggled to find consistency in a game that featured an hour-long weather delay. Second-year wideout Brian Thomas Jr. struggled, posting one catch for 11 yards. Thomas projects to post a breakout performance versus a lowly Bengals defense on Sunday.
James Conner - Arizona Cardinals
Veteran running back James Conner found himself in a slightly reduced role for the Arizona Cardinals in their season opener. Conner recorded 12 carries for 39 yards, but mustered a receiving touchdown with four receptions on the day. While the dip in volume is worth noting, Conner still projects to be a weekly starter as he finds his stride with greater efficiency in the run game. Expect a significant jump from his 3.3-yard per carry mark from Week 1 to Week 2.
Terry McLaurin - Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels built on a Stellar rookie campaign with 300 total yards and a touchdown in the Washington Commanders’ season opener. While Daniels showed out, his No. 1 wideout, Terry McLaurin, struggled. New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll drew up an efficient scheme to limit McLaurin to two receptions for 27 yards despite a 21-6 loss. Still, there’s plenty of reason to uphold faith in the two-time Pro Bowler. McLaurin should bounce back in a big way versus the Green Bay Packers this weekend.
Bucky Irving - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Despite getting just a 260-yard performance from their offense, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers pulled out a 23-20 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Running back Bucky Irving was limited to just 39 total yards on 15 touches. Luckily for fantasy owners, Irving’s volume presents a safe floor despite a tough matchup against the Houston Texans on Monday night. Irving’s explosiveness behind a solid offensive line in Tampa Bay gives reason to believe in a rebound effort on Monday night.
Davante Adams - Los Angeles Rams
In an unsurprisingly low-scoring contest, the Los Angeles Rams managed to topple the Houston Texans 14-9 on Sunday afternoon. In his first game as a Ram, Davante Adams posted just four catches, picking up 51 yards. Though many hoped for greater production, Adams’ eight targets present reason for optimism going forward. The six-time Pro Bowler will continue to build chemistry with Matt Stafford and capitalize on what should be a consistent target share as the season rolls on.
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Ethen Hutton is a MLB, WNBA, College, and Fantasy contributor at On SI. Previously, he's covered the NBA, WNBA and NFL for Sportskeeda. Hutton is also a passionate fantasy football player and an immense music lover.