Week One of the NFL is in the books. The best part of week one in fantasy football might be the overreactions to player performances. Savvy players know not to jump on no-name players who have a big week. It is a long season, and many times it pays off to hold off on making waiver wire claims to preserve that priority. But, there are always players like Alexander Mattison to add to watch lists that could be worth burning that waiver priority in the coming weeks. Here are some that could be worth claiming soon.
Week Two Fantasy Football Watch List Featuring Alexander Mattison
Alexander Mattison
2019 saw a ton of running backs getting a ton of hype this offseason. The rookie crop brought many names like David Montgomery, Devin Singletary, and Miles Sanders. In smaller circles, Alexander Mattison also had some whispers around him. The real difference between Mattison and the other backs mentioned is that Dalvin Cook plays on the same team as Mattison.
However, if week one was any indication, Mattison could still have value season-long. Cook paced the team with 21 carries for 111 yards and two touchdowns. But Mattison got in on the action with nine carries of his own, which he turned into 49 yards. This was a game where Kirk Cousins only had to attempt ten passes, but it shows a newfound commitment to the run.
Mattison lacks top-end speed but had more burst than many expected when he saw live game action. Still, he is a powerful back, who can also catch out of the backfield. Mattison had 60 catches for 511 yards during his time with Boise State.
Even though the Minnesota Vikings want to run the ball a ton, they also want to keep Cook healthy, as he has missed a ton of games in his short career. With Mattison’s versatility, he should see his role grow throughout the season.
It may not be time to pull the trigger on Mattison on the waiver wire, but watch him closely in the next week or so.
Preston Williams
The Miami Dolphins might be the laughingstock of the NFL this season. After trading away key players Laremy Tunsil and Kenny Stills, it was obvious that the team was in tank mode for 2019. But not many would have predicted that would have gotten absolutely shredded through the air by the Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson. It’s going to be a long season for the team, but it doesn’t mean they will be completely devoid of fantasy football talent.
Williams has been getting hype all offseason for the Dolphins for his nifty moves and great hands. Check out how burns a poor Tampa Bay Buccaneers not once, but twice on one route:
👀 @Thresort 👀#FinsUp pic.twitter.com/ozkoaIXNiZ
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) August 13, 2019
In his preseason debut, Williams continued to build on his hype. He caught four passes for 97 yards. Williams had a relatively quiet week one, pulling in three receptions for 24 yards. But he did get five targets, and catch the team’s only touchdown of the day. The Dolphins will be hard to watch this season, but Williams is someone worth keeping an eye on.
Case Keenum and Terry McLaurin
The other team that many thought would start the season already competing for the number one overall pick was the Washington Redskins. And, although they lost week one to the Philadelphia Eagles, they looked much better than many expected. They even went into halftime up 20-7. They ended up losing the game, but not before new starting quarterback Case Keenum threw for 380 yards and three touchdowns.
Keenum has traveled around the league for the past few years, playing on the Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos before landing with the Redskins. He doesn’t have the best arm, but is smart, and fits well into this offense. He already made scatback Chris Thompson his favorite target, giving him ten looks. He also seemed to love the elder statesman at tight end, Vernon Davis.
He also helped a guy who was unknown before yesterday gets some attention in wider receiver Terry McLaurin. McLaurin led the team in yards with 125 on five catches, one of which was a touchdown. Apparently, McLaurin wasn’t a complete unknown before the game though, at least for the Redskins. Head coach Jay Gruden admitted that he was surprised at just how good Mclaurin was throughout camp.
Keenum and McLaurin could fizzle out, but they should be put on every fantasy team owner’s watch list.
Redux: D.K. Metcalf
The return of the redux! Each week a player from watch lists of old will check back in if they are deemed worthy. This week, last week’s top watch list candidate is back, D.K. Metcalf. The big-bodied wideout had a surprisingly big role week one against the Cincinnati Bengals.
There were questions on not only what role Metcalf would paly as a rookie for the Seahawks, but if he would even play week one. But play he did. And while running back Chris Carson led the team in targets with seven, Metcalf was right behind him with six. He turned those into 89 yards, looking like every bit of the athlete they drafted him to be.
What was even more interesting was that projected number one wide receiver Tyler Lockett only got two targets on the day. Maybe it won’t be Lockett sliding into the newly retired Doug Baldwin’s role. Maybe it will be Metcalf. All signs are looking towards Metcalf having a huge role in this Seattle offense. For teams who have space for a wide receiver, they might want to go after Metcalf this week.
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