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Several NFL players underwhelmed in Week 1 of the 2022 fantasy football season. Andersen identifies busts at each position, and whether they'll bounce back.
The first NFL Sunday of the 2022 season has come and gone. Hopefully, you woke up on Monday morning feeling very good about how your week went. However, this week's slate of games were certainly stress-inducing for many fantasy football managers.
Part of that stress was caused by a group of players who drastically underachieved in Week 1. These players simply did not meet fantasy expectations, and it cost their managers in a big way. Let's take a look at the biggest busts from Week 1, as well as whether or not we can still have some trust in these players moving forward.
All point totals are based on the PPR scoring system.
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Fantasy Football Quarterback Busts
Aaron Rodgers, 1.7 FPTS
Rodgers and the Packers couldn't get much going during their season-opening loss at the hands of the Vikings. Green Bay's veteran signal-caller completed 22 passes for 195 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception. We're already getting a glimpse into what happens when Rodgers is pressured heavily and doesn't have a security blanket like Davante Adams at his disposal.
He could fare better against the Bears next week, especially if Allen Lazard (ankle) is healthy, but then he turns around and plays the stingy Buccaneers and Patriots defenses in back-to-back weeks.
Matthew Stafford, 5.8 FPTS
The Super Bowl hangover appears to be a real thing. Stafford struggled against the Bills on Thursday, tossing three interceptions and being sacked a whopping seven times. He added just 29 completions, 240 yards, and one touchdown. His lingering elbow injury didn't seem to play a major role in his struggles, but he definitely lacked chemistry with new wide receiver Allen Robinson.
Outside of a strong connection with Cooper Kupp, not much went right for Stafford and the Rams' offense. Fortunately, he has favorable matchups against the Falcons and Cardinals coming up, meaning he remains in the low-end QB1 tier for the time being.
Fantasy Football Running Back Busts
Alvin Kamara, 7.6 FPTS
Kamara was quiet in Week 1, rushing just nine times for 39 yards. He also produced three receptions for just seven receiving yards. Between playing from behind and allowing Taysom Hill to accrue 81 rushing yards, the Saints didn't have too much motivation to feed Kamara the football play after play.
New Orleans surely hopes to get him more involved going forward, but he might not find much success in Week 2 against the Buccaneers. Kamara falls to the RB2 tier for next week's contest.
Cam Akers, 0.0 FPTS
Akers isn't the first Ram on this list and (spoiler alert) he won't be the last. The 23-year-old registered just three touches on Thursday night, totaling zero yards. He was on the field for just 18 percent of offensive snaps, in part because he looked completely lost in pass protection. Head coach Sean McVay said that Akers needs to maximize his opportunities going forward, and rightfully so.
With all the concern surrounding Akers' usage over the next few weeks, fantasy managers should find someone else to start in his place against the Falcons on Sunday.
Dameon Pierce, 4.9 FPTS
Pierce generated plenty of hype in the preseason but only mustered 33 rushing yards and six receiving yards against the Colts in Week 1. It's not like the rookie didn't have many opportunities, either. The Texans held the lead for a good portion of the game and, as a result, Pierce tallied 12 total touches.
With that said, he was playing against a stingy Indianapolis front, so perhaps there's a clear path to improvement. At the same time, his Week 2 matchup against the Broncos is less than favorable. He'll rank as an RB3 heading into next Sunday's game.
Mike Davis, 1.1 FPTS
Davis rushed two times for 11 yards against the Jets in Week 1, and he didn't factor into the passing game. The 29-year-old seemed like a candidate to lead Baltimore's backfield with J.K. Dobbins (knee) sidelined, but Kenyan Drake ultimately out-touched him, 12 to two.
Even if Dobbins can't suit up next week, Davis has done nothing to prove he's worth starting in fantasy football. He should be left on waivers in all leagues, and it's very possible that the Ravens consider releasing him in the near future.
Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Busts
Mike Williams, 3.0 FPTS
Williams hauled in two of four targets for 10 yards against the Raiders in Week 1. Even after Keenan Allen was ruled out with a hamstring injury, Williams produced a rather disappointing stat line. However, the 27-year-old has a history of being inconsistent, so he could certainly bounce back with a handful of favorable matchups coming up.
He's still worth starting in fantasy football going forward. Looking ahead, Williams will face the Chiefs in Week 2. It remains to be seen whether Allen will suit up for the contest.
Allen Robinson, 2.2 FPTS
Not one, not two, but three Rams appear on this list. Allen Robinson shared in Los Angeles' struggles, catching just one of two targets for 12 yards in the season opener. This comes after he finished as the WR81 in fantasy football following a disappointing season with the Bears in 2021.
Robinson should be benched in fantasy football until he can prove himself and earn Stafford's trust. His next opportunity to do so will come in Week 2 against the Falcons. For the time being, Kupp is the only Rams receiver who should be started in all leagues.
DeVonta Smith, 0.0 FPTS
Smith was targeted four times against the Lions in Week 1, but he finished with a big ol' goose egg in the receptions and yards columns. Smith was an afterthought in the offense thanks to strong performances from Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, Miles Sanders, Kenneth Gainwell, and Boston Scott.
There are a lot of mouths to feed in Philadelphia and Smith failed to assert himself as a top option on Sunday. His next opportunity to bounce back will come in Week 2 against a Vikings secondary that just held Packers receivers to 120 yards.
Darnell Mooney, 1.0 FPTS
The Bears may have come out ahead following Sunday's slippery clash with the 49ers, but Mooney failed to meet expectations. The third-year wideout totaled just three targets, one catch, and eight yards in the loss to San Francisco. Heavy rain certainly impacted the passing game, so we can give Mooney the benefit of the doubt and have some optimism that he can bounce back in Week 2 against the Packers.
Still, he totaled just six catches, 64 yards, and one touchdown through two games against Green Bay in 2021. Mooney should be viewed as a WR3 next week.
Fantasy Football Tight End Busts
Kyle Pitts, 3.9 FPTS
Pitts was targeted seven times against the Saints on Sunday, but he logged just two receptions for 19 yards. Evidently, his underwhelming outing wasn't a product of limited opportunity but rather came as a result of his woeful 28.6 percent reception rate.
The Falcons looked quite intent to run the football, but there's no denying that they wish to continue incorporating both Pitts and Drake London (five catches, 74 yards) going forward. Pitts still ranks as a mid-range TE1 heading into next week's clash with the Rams.
Mike Gesicki, 1.1 FPTS
Gesicki posted a grand total of one target, one reception, and one yard during Sunday's win over the Patriots. He was certainly outperformed by the strong wide receiver duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, but it's fair to suggest that the Patriots' dominant safety room also hindered Gesicki.
The Dolphins play the Ravens next week, meaning that Hill and Waddle could be held in check by Baltimore's talented cornerbacks. As a result, the opportunity exists for Gesicki to bounce back and play a big role in the passing game. He should be viewed as a low-end TE1 in Week 2.
Dawson Knox, 1.0 FPTS
The Bills' offense clicked on Thursday night, but Knox was not a major benefactor. The 25-year-old, whose nine touchdowns allowed him to finish as the TE8 in 2021, caught just one pass for five yards in Week 1. Although he logged an impressive 86 percent snap share, Knox faces steep competition from the Bills' talented group of wide receivers.
There are plenty of mouths to feed in the Buffalo passing game, not to mention the rushing upside of players like Josh Allen and Devin Singletary. Knox has a tough matchup against the Titans on tap and should be left on your bench in Week 2.
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