Week One NFL Recap: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not?

While we still have Monday Night Football to get through, I just couldn’t wait any longer to talk about the action we saw in Week One of the 2022/23 NFL season. We saw numerous upsets, several game-winning field goals, and even a TIE–and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. For every outstanding game, we had three outstanding individual performances from players all around the league, and that’s exactly what I’ll be highlighting in this story here.

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Quarterbacks

Who’s Hot?

Patrick Mahomes: 30/39, 360 yards, 5 TD

Surprise, surprise. Patrick Mahomes had a fantastic game. A lot of people were predicting a Chiefs/Mahomes regression this season, but I never drank that Kool-Aid. Mahomes made the Cardinals' defense look like the New Rochelle High School’s JV team (a little hyper-local joke for all you lower New Yorkers). Mahomes will be traveling into LA to take on the Chargers next week, who allowed 295 yards and 2 TDs to Derek Carr in Week One, but intercepted him three times as well. You should still feel confident backing Mahomes in Week Two.

Who’s Not?

Tom Brady: 18/27, 212 Yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

A pretty mediocre game from the GOAT, that’s why he finds himself as a “Not” this week, regardless of how good-looking you may think he is. At the end of the day, he won the game–that’s really all that matters. But still, if you had Brady in your fantasy lineup or on your bet slip, you’re not very happy with the 45-year-old future hall of famer. Brady was sacked twice on big third downs deep into Dallas’ territory on Sunday night, so he’s clearly missing his offensive line. However, we should get a better glimpse as to what this season will really look like next week, when he travels into New Orleans to take on the Saints.

Running Backs

Who’s Hot?

Cordarrelle Patterson: 22 Att, 120 Yards, 1 TD, 5 Trg, 3 Rec, 16 Rec Yards

I’m slowly being convinced that Cordarrelle Patterson is the most athletic man in the NFL. The dude is an absolute monster, and has become one of the best all-around skill players in the game. What makes Patterson stick out to me over all the other great RB performances in Week One (shout out to Saquon, Jonathan Taylor, and D’Andre Swift) is how much he was utilized in the Falcons' Week One loss to the Saints. Not only did they hand it off to him 22 times, but Mariota looked to him five times–he could be totaling 30 total carries/receptions in Week Two EASILY.

Who’s Not?

Christian McCaffrey: 10 Att, 33 Yards, 1 TD, 4 Trg, 4 Rec, 24 Yards

McCaffrey got saved by a TD in week one. If it wasn’t for that TD, the alarms would be sounding–unlucky for McCaffrey is that I can see through game-saving touchdowns, and know when a player is truly in trouble. McCaffrey just didn’t have it in week one, but could have a nice rebound game in Week two against the Giants (who gave up 82 yards to Derrick Henry in Week One).

Wide Receivers

Who’s Hot?

Justin Jefferson: 9 Rec, 184 Yards, 2 TDs

We knew Jefferson was going to be good but…did we know it was going to be like this? Jefferson looked incredible in the Vikings week one game over the Packers, and was the focal point of Kevin O’Connell’s passing offense. The strong start bodes well for Jefferson, who could be usurping Cooper Kupp as the best receiver in the league in a matter of weeks.

Who’s Not?

CeeDee Lamb: 2 Rec, 29 yards

Lamb was targeted ELEVEN TIMES, and only managed to snag two balls. Add on the fact that he’ll be without Da Prescott for 6-8 weeks, and Lamb (and really all other Cowboys receivers) are in trouble. Lamb is a “not” this week, but it’s not entirely his fault.