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.
Week 1 Stream Team: Mike Davis, Evan Engram, and More!
Week 1 Stream Team
Quarterback – Jameis Winston (NO – 46%) @ ATL
The New Orleans Saints and fantasy managers hope Jameis Winston picks up where he left off in 2021 before getting hurt. Before tearing his ACL and MCL in Week 8 last season, Winston was averaging 17.2 fantasy points per game. That would have put him as the QB14. He did that last year with Marquez Callaway and Deonte Harris as his top receiving options. This year Winston should get a massive boost in that department.
The Saints used the 11th overall pick in this year’s draft on Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave. They also signed Jarvis Landry in the offseason. Perhaps the biggest boost would be the healthy return of Michael Thomas who has been dealing with ankle issues for years now but is not far removed from posting some of the best seasons from any wide receiver. With a boost in weapons like that, there’s no reason to think Winston can’t match or exceed the 17.2 fantasy points per game from last year. He gets a soft landing in the opening week against the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons were one of the worst defenses in the league last year and expectations haven’t changed much. This game will also be played in a dome, which should also give another boost.
Honorable Mentions – Daniel Jones (NYG – 27%) @ TEN, Matt Ryan (IND – 45%) @ HOU
Running Back – Mike Davis (BAL – 29%) @ NYJ
In a plot twist that would make M. Night Shyamalan’s jaw drop, Mike Davis might be the Baltimore Ravens’ lead running back this week. Davis was awesome as Christian McCaffrey’s backup in 2020. He was equally awful last year for the Atlanta Falcons before being phased out completely and released this offseason.
He signed with the Ravens a week later as a depth piece and now a few months later, could be playing a crucial role to begin the year. J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards are, unsurprisingly, not completely healthy yet after coming off major knee injuries. Edwards is starting the year on the PUP list and Dobbins, while insistent that he’s healthy, will likely be eased back in, early in the season as the Ravens have no reason to rush him. The Ravens play the New York Jets in Week 1 and currently have the sixth-highest implied team total on the week. If Davis can manage to see double-digit touches in this offensive environment, he could have a great shot at falling into the endzone and paying off as a great Week 1 Stream Team candidate.
RB:
Still a chance that J.K. Dobbins isn’t ready for Week 1.
Add Mike Davis (28% rostered) if you need a RB2 or drafted Dobbins.
Remember…https://t.co/u9N6DfU5Rv
Would prefer Kenyan Drake as a better long-term stash if you don’t need to start Davis in Week 1.
— Andrew Erickson™ (@AndrewErickson_) September 4, 2022
Honorable Mentions – J.D. McKissic (WAS – 32%) v JAX, Rex Burkhead (HOU – 5%) v IND
Wide Receiver – Jakobi Meyers (NE – 40%) @ MIA
Jakobi Meyers is quickly turning into one of the most underrated wide receivers in the NFL. Despite finishing as the WR35 with 11 fantasy points per game last year, he’s currently being drafted as the WR58 according to FantasyPros. In 2021 Meyers saw 126 targets and caught 83 of them for 867 yards and two touchdowns.
The New England Patriots acquired DeVante Parker in the offseason so Meyers might have a bit more target competition in town. However, if Mac Jones can take a step forward, as many expect, there’s no reason to think that Meyers’ numbers can’t go up, especially in the touchdown department. That all could start in Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins have a much-improved offense of their own so the Patriots will likely need to throw often to keep up. Meyers is a good bet to see a good target share once again and makes an excellent option for the Week 1 Stream Team.
Honorable Mentions – Isaiah McKenzie (BUF – 50%) @ LAR, Rondale Moore (ARI – 30%) v KC
Tight End – Evan Engram (JAX – 25%) @ WAS
It wasn’t too long ago that Evan Engram was highly regarded as one of the best young tight ends in the NFL. During his rookie season in 2017, Engram finished as the TE4 and averaged 11.6 fantasy points per game. He followed that up with 11.3 and 13.7 fantasy points per game in the next two years, finishing as the TE7 in points per game both seasons. It has been downhill ever since.
The New York Giants offense as a whole has been a complete disaster. This year, Engram gets a fresh start with the Jacksonville Jaguars. They paid him a good amount and have an ambiguous wide receiver room with no real alpha. Engram should play a huge role in the passing game right away and be a big weapon for Trevor Lawrence. That should be apparent right away when the Jaguars take on the Washington Commanders in Week 1. Engram is being drafted as the TE22 currently but it wouldn’t be surprising at all if he becomes a near must-start every week soon enough. His roster percentage should skyrocket before the end of the month, but until then he’ll be a great option for the Week 1 Stream Team.
Evan Engram is the same age, right now, that Travis Kelce was when he had his first 1,000 yard season
— Andrew Cooper (@CoopAFiasco) July 15, 2022
Honorable Mentions – Gerald Everett (LAC – 23%) v LV, Austin Hooper (TEN – 40%) v NYG
