FOOTBALL. IS. BACK. With it so is fantasy football. Each week this column will analyze a player at each position rostered in 50 percent of Yahoo leagues or less. This group of players is basically a dream stream team. For reference, the threshold used for Wins and Losses in this article will be if the quarterbacks can score at least 17 points, if the tight ends can score at least eight PPR points, and if the rest can score at least 10 PPR points. Here is the stream team for week one.
Zach Wilson, Jakobi Meyers Highlight Week 1 Stream Team
Week 1 Stream Team
Quarterback – Zach Wilson (NYJ – 18%) @ CAR
There were plenty of questions back during the NFL Draft when the New York Jets passed on both Trey Lance and Justin Fields in favor of Zach Wilson. Those questions still remain and will for years to come, however, Wilson has looked incredible so far. Granted it’s just practices and preseason but he’s looked great. Even Tony Romo is singing his praises saying that he “has the ability to get in the stratosphere of Patrick Mahomes.” Wilson will get his first test against the Carolina Panthers in Week 1. The Panthers aren’t a defense to be scared of. This game could end up as a bit of a fast-paced shootout. Wilson is sneaky athletic too so he could pitch in on the ground too.
Zach Wilson’s preseason recap:
🗽 85.7 PFF Grade
🗽 15/20
🗽 191 yards
🗽 147.3 clean pocket passer rating pic.twitter.com/3kdgr5GBap— PFF (@PFF) August 30, 2021
Honorable Mentions – Jimmy Garoppolo (SF – 9%) @ DET, Jameis Winston (NO – 43%) v GB
Running Back – Giovani Bernard (TB – 32%) v DAL
Giovani Bernard left Cincinnati this offseason (and left his glorious stache there as well) in favor of greener pastures with Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He should slide right in and become what James White was for Brady for many years. The Bucs running backs were atrocious in the passing game last season so Bernard’s role as the pass-catching back should be pretty secure. That’s valuable in a Tom Brady offense. This week is also a beautiful matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Last year Dallas was the fastest-paced offense in the NFL and their defense couldn’t stop anyone. This is a true recipe for fantasy success and should be expected until they show anything different in 2021.
Honorable Mentions – Tevin Coleman (NYJ – 26%) @ CAR, Ty’Son Williams (BAL – 25%) @ LV
Wide Receiver – Jakobi Meyers (NE – 48%) v MIA
Not too many players have seen their stock rise as much as Jakobi Meyers has this preseason. Just a few weeks ago he was going after pick 140 and now he’s approaching pick 100. One factor is that he’s been great in the preseason. The other factor has been Mac Jones winning the starting quarterback job. This should help Meyers as the offense will probably be more pass-heavy with Jones than had Cam Newton won the starting job. Meyers was actually very good in 2020 and his yards per route run (2.37) ranked eighth in the NFL. This week’s matchup isn’t anything special but might be one of the last times he’s available in most leagues.
Jakobi Meyers finished with a 72.6% success rate vs. man coverage last year, placing him at the 80th percentile. Solid scores against man and zone as well. Really underrated separator that #ReceptionPerception has ranked higher than consensus.
Profile:https://t.co/JBLDAFnu7e pic.twitter.com/sf3zhNvzrA
— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) August 20, 2021
Honorable Mentions – Russell Gage (ATL – 30%) v PHI, Christian Kirk (ARI – 13%) @ TEN
Tight End – Austin Hooper (CLE – 48%) @ KC
Austin Hooper went from a fantasy football stud to an afterthought within a year. That will happen when you go from one of the most pass-heavy offenses to one of the least. Hooper has been a very good tight end in real life but the Cleveland Browns just aren’t going to throw enough for him to be a high-end option like he was in Atlanta. Luckily this week could be a good chance to take advantage and play the matchup. The Kansas City Chiefs are a decent defense but the intrigue here is that the Browns are likely to be trailing and throwing more often than usual. They are six-point underdogs currently against the reigning AFC champs. If the Browns can’t establish the run early, they may find themselves playing catch-up. If this is the case, Hooper has a chance to be a solid option in Week 1.
Honorable Mentions – Zach Ertz (PHI – 27%) @ ATL, Blake Jarwin (DAL – 17%) @ TB
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Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
