Week 1 of the 2024 fantasy football season featured big surprises. Who were the big winners and losers? Which players received “A” and “F” grades?

Matt Bowen and Tristan H. Cockcroft offer their analysis, and Seth Walder provides his grades. We also asked NFL Nation reporters to answer questions about what happened in the Thursday, Saturday and Sunday games.

Jump to a topic:
Ranking winners | Ranking losers
Who got an A | Who got an F
Biggest injuries and what’s next
Top questions from Week 1

Ranking fantasy winners of Week 1

1. Anthony Richardson, QB, Indianapolis Colts

Richardson had 26.08 points on Sunday versus the Texans, using his physical tools and arm talent to create explosive plays, while also adding rushing production. Yes, Richardson had some misses, completing just 9 of 19 passes, but he posted two touchdowns of 50-plus yards, highlighted by the 60-yard score to Alec Pierce, one that he delivered from an unstable platform. Big-time throw there. Richardson rushed for 56 yards on six carries, and he found the end zone here too, pushing through contact on a low red zone carry late in the game. We need to see more consistent location from Richardson as a thrower, but his big-play ability and dual-threat skills keep him in the mix as a top-five play in Week 2 versus the Packers at Lambeau Field. — Bowen

2. Joe Mixon, RB, Houston Texans

I loved the fit for him in Houston, and in his Texans debut, Mixon played his part to near perfection. With his Texans playing a tightly fought contest they’d win in the end, the 28-year-old turned 30 rushing attempts and three targets (all caught) into 26.8 PPR fantasy points, a running back-best score from the 1 p.m. ET games, while playing 71% of the offensive snaps. He had four runs of 10-plus yards and had both of the team’s rushing attempts within three yards of the goal line, which included an early fourth-quarter touchdown. With this kind of usage, Mixon would offer a heck of a lot of value for his fantasy managers who picked him 39th overall, and 15th among running backs. — Cockcroft

3. Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

In his debut with the Eagles on Friday night, Barkley dropped 33.2 points on the Packers’ defense. Barkley rushed for 109 yards and two scores on 24 carries, plus he added another touchdown on a schemed throw from Jalen Hurts in the high red zone. Remember, Barkley will see more clean run surfaces behind the Philly offensive front, and he adds an explosive element to the game plan. With the rushing volume and his pass game deployment under new coordinator Kellen Moore, Barkley should be locked in as a top-three back for the Week 2 matchup against the Falcons. — Bowen

4. Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots

Among the Week 1 shockers was the Patriots upsetting the Cincinnati Bengals, 16-10, in Cincinnati, which tilted things heavily in Stevenson’s favor in terms of game flow. Garnering 80% of the team’s offensive snaps and 25 of the team’s 39 rushing attempts (seven of which went to quarterback Jacoby Brissett), Stevenson delivered his managers 21.6 PPR fantasy points, behind four runs of 10-plus yards and 22 rushing yards above expectation (per NFL Next Gen Stats). From a team perspective, this kind of performance shouldn’t be considered the norm, though Stevenson will have his moments when his team is competitive in games. That could remain the case in Week 2 back home against the Seattle Seahawks. — Cockcroft

5. Isaiah Likely, TE, Baltimore Ravens

A popular fantasy sleeper who has played in Mark Andrews‘ shadow the past two seasons, Likely burst onto the scene in a widely watched, prime-time game this past Thursday, making him one of the upcoming week’s surefire top pickups. Likely caught 9 of his 12 targets for a career-high 26.1 PPR fantasy points, but much more importantly, he did it with Andrews present, seemingly emerging as Lamar Jackson‘s preferred positional target as the game progressed. Now, one game does not necessarily a star make, nor does it guarantee a changing of the guard in Baltimore. But Likely’s performance will earn him a larger role going forward, and he’s deserving of a pickup everywhere. He has, after all, shown top-10 positional capability when given the opportunity in the past. — Cockcroft

6. Tony Pollard, RB, Tennessee Titans

After one week, it certainly appears that the primary running back role in Tennessee belongs to free agent signee Pollard, not the incumbent Tyjae Spears. Pollard played 62.3% of the offensive snaps with a 61.5% rushing share, compared to Spears’ 44.3%/15.4%, and Pollard did more with what he was given, including a trio of 10-plus-yard runs and 14 rushing yards over expected (per Next Gen Stats). Tuck that away for your fantasy planning, especially with favorable matchups for running backs (NYJ, GB) the next two weeks. — Cockcroft

7. Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

Worthy logged 20.8 points — on just three touches — in the Thursday night win over the Ravens. The rookie found the end zone in the first quarter on a manufactured touch, taking a reverse for a 21-yard touchdown. And we saw the 4.2 speed here, as Worthy plays at a different clip when he can get north-south with the ball. Worthy also added a 35-yard touchdown reception from Patrick Mahomes on a blown coverage in the second half, working up the boundary with no safety over the top. Worthy’s big-play speed keeps him in the Flex/WR3 range for the Chiefs’ Week 2 game versus the Bengals, and the ceiling is very high for the rookie given how he can be deployed in Andy Reid’s offense. — Bowen

8. Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders

Daniels scored 28.16 points in his first pro start versus Tampa, posting the third highest Week 1 total at the quarterback position. Daniels rushed for 88 yards and two touchdowns, using his running ability on designed carries and scramble attempts, while throwing for 184 yards on 17-of-24 passing. If Washington can create more explosive plays in the pass game with Daniels, while scheming more opportunities for wide receiver Terry McLaurin (two receptions, 17 yards), the rookie quarterback has the dual-threat traits to produce weekly QB1 numbers. — Bowen

9. J.K. Dobbins, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

The first game of the Jim Harbaugh era in L.A. resulted in a 27/26 rush/pass split, and, yes, a relatively even division of the rushing chores between Dobbins and Gus Edwards. The former, however, had the far superior performance — 22.9 PPR fantasy points on 59% offensive snaps, 10 rushing attempts and 13 total touches, driven by a whopping 98 rushing yards above expectation (per NFL Next Gen Stats). Dobbins’ upside is immense, and the fit brilliant for a player with his skill set, and if he can stay healthy, he has a very real chance at a RB2 valuation. He’ll probably still share the carries with Edwards for the foreseeable future and perhaps all year, in order to keep him healthy, but even in that role he’s a viable flex play for Week 3 against the Panthers. — Cockcroft

10. Baker Mayfield, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Apparently, Mayfield’s 2023 breakthrough was no mirage, and former offensive coordinator Dave Canales’ move to Carolina didn’t result in the quarterback’s regression. Mayfield scored 29.66 fantasy points, second-best at the position entering “Sunday Night Football,” picking apart the shoddy Washington Commanders secondary in the process. He has another solid matchup ahead of him in Week 2 at Detroit, and isn’t far off a top-10 ranking for that one. — Cockcroft

Ranking fantasy losers of Week 1

1. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals

After all the excitement surrounding this Ohio State star and son of the NFL Hall of Famer, Harrison’s 1.4 PPR fantasy point score in his debut was supremely disappointing. He was the No. 20 overall pick, and 10th wide receiver, selected on average in ESPN leagues, and in many places offsite garnered an even heftier price. Harrison was out there for 90% of the team’s offensive snaps and ran 33 routes, both tops among Cardinals receivers, but he could find no open space against Buffalo Bills cornerbacks Rasul Douglas and Christian Benford. Nevertheless, there’s no reason to panic, as Harrison is due a good stretch of upcoming matchups (LAR, DET, WSH in Weeks 2-4). — Cockcroft

2. Joe Burrow, QB, and Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

Burrow entered Week 1 in tougher-than-normal circumstances, with Tee Higgins (hamstring) inactive and Chase having scarcely practiced due to his contract squabbles and an illness, but the oddsmakers had these Bengals more heavily favored than any other Week 1 team. It didn’t play out that way, as the quarterback’s historical September struggles continued, Burrow’s record dropping to 6-8-1 in the month following his 8.06 fantasy point performance, that his fifth worst in any of 53 career starts. Chase, meanwhile, played only 83% of the offensive snaps, ran 28 routes — both of those paling in comparison to Andrei Iosivas (100% and 32) — and scored 12.2 PPR fantasy points. Again, Burrow — and to a lesser extent the Bengals as a team — does have a history of early-season struggles, and he should have a deeper, healthier set of receivers in short time, meaning fantasy managers must not panic about this offense. Burrow will probably be tasked with playing a big role in the team’s Week 2 game in Kansas City. — Cockcroft

3. Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears

Williams scored just 7.22 points in his first pro start, managing a Bears pass game that looked disjointed from the jump, lacking any explosive play ability. Williams never got into a rhythm as a thrower, completing 14 of 29 passing, finishing with only 93 yards on the day. Yes, Keenan Allen dropped a low red zone pass that should have gone for a touchdown, and the Titans’ defense made Williams work post-snap by changing the picture for the rookie quarterback. However, given his ability to create and the receiving talent in Chicago, that was a rough start for Williams as a pro. He’ll look to rebound next Sunday night versus the Texans, where I’ll have him ranked as a QB2. — Bowen

4. Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints

In a game where the Saints rolled over the Panthers, Olave saw just two targets, finishing with only 3.1 points. Brutal. Sure, quarterback Derek Carr played like a point guard in this one, efficiently distributing the ball to multiple targets at all three levels of the field. However, this was a matchup I expected Olave to exploit as a perimeter target. Stretch the field, work the intermediate zones. And I’m sure fantasy managers did, too. Let’s see if Olave can get back on track as a volume target for Carr in Week 2 against the Cowboys, where I’ll have him slotted as a high-end WR2. — Bowen

5. Kirk Cousins, QB, and Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons

In his first start with the Falcons, Cousins never looked settled in the pocket versus the Steelers’ pass rush, posting 6.2 points and throwing two interceptions. Cousins completed just 16 passes on the day, with London securing only two receptions — for 15 yards — on three targets. Given his overall ADP (33), and the expectations around him as a potential breakout candidate in this Atlanta offense, London was a bust in Week 1. Both will look to bounce back in Week 2 versus the Eagles’ defense, where I’ll have Cousins down in the QB2 ranks and London as a midtier WR2. — Bowen

6. Deshaun Watson, QB, Cleveland Browns

Negative game flow forced the Browns to go pass heavy on Sunday in the loss to the Cowboys, but Watson failed to deliver the ball with efficiency, throwing two interceptions and going just 24-of-45 passing for 169 yards. Watson’s eye level was poor in the pocket versus the Dallas pass rush, and he struggled under duress. At this point, Watson’s fantasy value is limited to deeper Superflex leagues. — Bowen

Injury impact

Jordan Addison, WR, Minnesota Vikings

What we know: He left Sunday’s game in the third quarter with an apparent aggravation of his previous ankle injury and did not return, though the Minneapolis Star Tribune noted shortly thereafter that the second-year wide receiver was able to walk out of the locker room following his departure.

What’s next: Addison, whose original injury suffered on Aug. 14 was deemed a high ankle sprain, is almost assuredly headed for more tests and a questionable listing on the Week 2 injury report. Jalen Nailor and Brandon Powell, neither of whom is fantasy relevant, saw more work after Addison’s departure. — Cockcroft

Jake Ferguson, TE, Dallas Cowboys

What we know: Ferguson left Sunday’s matchup against Cleveland with a knee injury, and he did not return. Before leaving the game, Ferguson caught three of five targets for 15 yards.

What’s next: If Ferguson were to miss time on the field, look for second-year pro Luke Schoonmaker to step in as the starting tight end. The Michigan product, who has potential streaming value, can work the underneath levels of the field as an outlet for quarterback Dak Prescott. — Bowen

David Njoku, TE, Cleveland Browns

What we know: Njoku suffered an ankle injury in the third quarter versus Dallas. Njoku, who caught four of five targets for 44 yards, did not return to the game.

What’s next: If Njoku is out for the Week 2 game at Jacksonville, backup tight end Jordan Akins would be in-line to start. Akins caught three of four targets for 27 yards in relief of Njoku. He can be targeted in deeper leagues as a streaming option. — Bowen

Who earned an A this weekend?

Trey Hendrickson, Edge, Cincinnati Bengals

It might get lost in the shuffle because the Bengals lost and Hendrickson didn’t record a sack, but the Cincinnati pass rush had a huge day with 8 pass rush wins, the second most of any player in the early window. Hendrickson dominated both Chukwuma Okorafor and Vederian Lowe, constantly putting pressure on Jacoby Brissett.

Jaylon Johnson, CB, Chicago Bears

Johnson allowed zero receptions for zero yards as the nearest defender, per NFL Next Gen Stats (Calvin Ridley had a 22-yard reception where Johnson was at least nearby, but it looked like that catch was on Kyler Gordon, anyway). Not only that, but Johnson secured the game-ending interception off Will Levis.

Who earned an F this weekend?

Raheem Mostert, RB, Miami Dolphins

He didn’t have many opportunities — but he also didn’t make the most of them. Mostert managed just 9 yards on the ground on six carries, and managed negative-18 rush yards over expectation, per NFL Next Gen Stats — meaning an average rusher would have been expected to get 27 rushing yards on those six carries. Mostert added only 10 in the receiving game, too.

Daniel Jones, QB, New York Giants

These are some rough numbers from NFL Next Gen Stats: -0.46 EPA and -17% completion percentage over expectation. In other words: Every time Jones dropped back to pass the Giants lost, on average, half an expected point in terms of the final scoring margin. A big part of that, of course, was the two picks he threw and five sacks he took. And while Jones completed just 52% of his passes, an average quarterback would have been expected to complete 70% of those same passes (rounding is why that looks like an 18-point difference).

Lingering questions from Week 1’s games

How big of a surprise is it that Tony Pollard got 16 carries to Tyjae Spears‘ four carries in the opener, and do you anticipate Pollard being the main option in the backfield in the near future?

Pollard’s 16-carry total was a bit of surprise given how much the Titans’ coaching staff emphasized having him and Spears share carries. But Pollard saw most of the first-team snaps during the preseason and in practice. Titans running backs coach Randy Jordan said they’d go with the hot hand when one of the backs gets into a groove. That’s exactly what happened with Pollard against the Bears in the first half, when he had 64 yards on nine carries including a 26-yard touchdown. Carries are only part of the equation because both Spears and Pollard will also get touches in the passing game. — Turron Davenport

Big debut for Sam Darnold in Minnesota. How much do you anticipate the change at QB this season impacting Justin Jefferson, who hauled in four of six targets and reached the end zone against the Giants?

Jefferson might not have had a monster day Sunday against the Giants, but there were indications that he and Darnold are forming a strong connection. The most obvious example was a 44-yard pass down the left sideline, one that Darnold launched against double-coverage from the shadow of his own goal line. “That’s going to be something we’re going to need throughout the season,” Jefferson said “so I’m just giving him that confidence, giving him that juice to throw me a ball whenever I’m doubled — because I was doubled on that play. Him throwing it to a spot and me going to get it. That’s going to happen a majority of the time this season. He’s got to understand, even when I’m doubled, I’m still open and I’m going to make that play.” — Kevin Seifert