NFL Week 1 of the 2021-22 season is nearly in the books! It was a wild NFL Sunday, filled with overtime games, missed field goals and even monsoon-like conditions in the SF-CHI game. There were some monster fantasy football performances from your usual performers, but some new and unfamiliar names appeared among the top.
Let’s check out the top fantasy football performances from NFL Week 1 across all positions. This week’s notable performers include regulars like Patrick Mahomes, Justin Jefferson and Jonathan Taylor, but even players such as Carson Wentz and O.J. Howard.
Top Week 1 Fantasy Football QBs
Patrick Mahomes Fantasy Stats
Stats: 76.9% completion percentage, 360 yards, 5 TDs
Fantasy Points: 34.9 (QB1)
Well, it’s time to dismiss the “Mahomes won’t be good without Tyreek Hill” narrative, because the Patrick Mahomes fantasy football performance looked unstoppable on Sunday. Arizona’s defense isn’t exactly great, but I don’t think it would’ve mattered who they were playing. Mahomes was on fire and was barely missing, completing over 75 percent of his passes. He will enter Week 2 as the league’s passing yard and touchdown leader.
Carson Wentz Fantasy Stats
Stats: 65.9% completion percentage, 313 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs
Fantasy Points: 29.7 (QB3)
I know, it’s unbelievable that Carson Wentz finished as the QB3, but come on, they faced the Jaguars. We all know Wentz won’t be putting up 25+ fantasy points a week, but it is clear the Commanders have some sneaky weapons for him to utilize. I wouldn’t think he’ll automatically jump up 20 percent ownership, but he’ll certainly be chosen over some of the other disappointing options. His inconsistencies will be a pure annoyance for fantasy owners but one can hope.
Top Week 1 Fantasy Football RBs
Saquon Barkley Fantasy Stats
Stats: 18 carries, 164 yards, 1 TD, 6 receptions, 30 receiving yards
PPR Fantasy Points: 33.4 (RB1)
What else is there to say? He’s back. Saquon Barkley absolutely exploded for fantasy football against the Titans, leaving him as the RB1 in fantasy football after one week. It is only one week, so we’ll see how long Barkley can last without an injury but if he plays like this consistently, he’s going to look a lot like his old self.
Jonathan Taylor Fantasy Stats
Stats: 31 carries, 161 yards, 1 TD, 4 receptions, 14 receiving yards
PPR Fantasy Points: 27.5 (RB2)
No surprise here whatsoever; Jonathan Taylor dominates in fantasy. He’ll be included in this weekly article many times over the course of the season, and rightfully so. The former Wisconsin Badger has been virtually unstoppable since entering the league and is surrounded by a very talented supporting cast, especially his offensive line. Jonathan Taylor fantasy football owners should be grinning.
Top Week 1 Fantasy Football WRs
Justin Jefferson Fantasy Stats
Stats: 9 receptions, 184 yards, 2 TDs
PPR Fantasy Points: 39.4 (WR1: highest overall scorer)
Rightfully so, Justin Jefferson finishes as the WR1 and top overall fantasy scorer in Week 1. Jefferson was dominant and the Packers couldn’t do anything to slow him down. With a new look at the offensive scheme in Minnesota, Jefferson is going to thrive and in return score a lot of fantasy points. It’s unlikely he posts 40 points every week, but if he even posts half of that, Justin Jefferson fantasy football owners have a good chance to end up in the championship.
Michael Thomas Fantasy Stats
Stats: 5 receptions, 57 yards, 2 TDs
PPR Fantasy Points: 22.7 (WR8)
Much like Saquon Barkley: he’s back. Michael Thomas has been dealing with injuries for a while now, but he looked quite dominant in the second half against the Falcons. With Jameis Winston behind the helm, he’ll eventually latch onto one main receiver he trusts and that will most certainly be Thomas. As long as he stays healthy, he has a good chance to compete with Barkley for comeback player of the year.
Top Week 1 Fantasy Football TEs
Travis Kelce Fantasy Stats
Stats: 8 receptions, 121 yards, 1 TD
PPR Fantasy Points: 26.1 (TE1)
That narrative I mentioned about Patrick Mahomes needing Hill to thrive and win? Yeah, he needs Travis Kelce, not Hill. Kelce has always been the most dependable option for Mahomes since he first started playing in the NFL. Kelce is a matchup nightmare and he will easily finish the season as TE1. There’s no other tight end that will even come close to his consistent weekly volume.
O.J. Howard Fantasy Stats
Stats: 2 receptions, 38 yards, 2 TDs
Fantasy Points: 17.8 (TE2)
Quite a surprising game for O.J Howard, who was cut right before the season started by the Buffalo Bills, but he made an immediate impact. He caught both of his targets for touchdowns, which turned out to be Houston’s only scores aside from two field goals. It’s shocking how underutilized tight ends were this week for Howard to finish as the TE2 because I don’t see Howard having much value moving forward.
Top Week 1 Fantasy Football D/ST and K
Pittsburgh Steelers DEF
Stats: 7 sacks, 4 INTs, Fum Rec, Blk Kick, 1 TD
Fantasy Points: 26.0
Younghoe Koo Fantasy Stats
Stats: 2 PAT Made, 4 FG Made, FG Miss
Fantasy Points: 19.0
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