But as always happens in the NFL, injuries marred the start to the year with Jordan Love, Puka Nacua and a surprise inactive from most league’s No.1 draft choice Christian McCaffrey an hour before game-time on Monday night.

Byes – None Until Week 5

Truths

“The truth may not lead you to where you thought you were going, but it will always lead you somewhere better. – Unknown

1) Rookie pass-catchers had a better day than rookie quarterbacks.

It wasn’t a particularly great day for either group, but in general, I liked the workload of the first-year receivers over the passing production of the rookie quarterbacks. No quarterback threw for even 200 yards, including Bo Nix who threw the ball 42 times! Jayden Daniels’ fantasy production was saved by two late touchdown runs, while Caleb Williams’ claim to fame in his debut will be he didn’t lose the game for the Bears and let his defense win it for him. For the pass-catchers, six saw at least a handful of targets and three scored. Pay particular attention to an otherwise ugly looking day for Adonai Mitchell who could easily have scored on two long pass attempts, but Anthony Richardson overthrew a wide open receiver. Also, Brian Thomas Jr. and Ladd McConkey are the real deal. So is Malik Nabers, but unfortunately his quarterback is Daniel Jones (for this year anyway).

2) NFL quarterbacks and receivers are not ready for the season

Why? Because the players association has continuously advocated reduced amount of practice and preseason game work. Offenses are usually behind defenses to begin the season, but it’s getting worse. For evidence I give you the last four years of Week 1 passing touchdowns.

3) You can sit Deshaun Watson.

Dead cap hits of $200.7M in 2024, $172.8M in 2025 and $99M in 2026 make Deshaun Watson untradeable and “uncuttable,” but it doesn’t mean you can’t sit him. It’s time to give Jameis Winston another chance, because Watson’s weak of character. Joe Flacco dominated with this same team (they should have kept him on the roster). It reminds me of how Carson Wentz mentally couldn’t handle Nick Foles’ success in Philadelphia with “his” team. He ended up destroying his career because he was always trying to prove himself even when the play should have been over.

4) After two “wasted” seasons, Jameson Williams has come to play.

Injury and a self-inflicted suspension ruined his first two seasons in Detroit (19 games and 30 total receptions), but if Week 1 is any indication, the third-year wideout is going to be a big-time help to fantasy owners. Game 1 saw a career high in targets (9), receptions (5) and yards (121). Teams must continue to pay the most attention to Amon-Ra St. Brown which will be a boon to Williams. It also doesn’t hurt Williams’ prospects that Josh Reynolds (40-608-5) is in Denver this season.

5) The New York Giants “throwback” uniforms in Week 1 might have been the worst ever.

Sort of a combination of a Montreal Canadians sweater and San Diego Padres tan pants. They certainly rival the Pittsburgh Steelers gold/black prison stripe jerseys, the Chicago Bears striped jerseys of 1925-27 and the Eagles blue and yellow jerseys of 1934.

Lies

The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie -- deliberate, contrived, and dishonest -- but the myth -- persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic. - President John F. Kennedy

1) Tyreek Hill is the Scottie Scheffler of the NFL.

False. There were a couple of big differences. Hill, a typical NFL diva wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins, expected to be treated like a superstar (which he is) and as a black man in the South ended up on the ground in handcuffs and manhandled. Hill’s attitude helped escalate a bad situation, but the officers’ attitude was worse. Scheffler, 2024 PGA Golfer of the Year and a white man in Louisville, KY, was more civil while still arguing and also ended up in handcuffs, but didn’t end up with a knee in his back. Unlike Scheffler, who shot an over par 73 after the arrest, the ordeal didn’t hurt Hill’s fantasy production against the Jaguars as he put up 7-130-1 on a team-high 12 targets.

2) Jordan Mason earned more prime time play with his 147-yard, one-touchdown rushing performance in Week 1.

Sorry, no. Christian McCaffrey is still the best running back in the league and when healthy will get all but a few touches in every game… at least until the game is out of reach. The injury to CMC, however, if it lingers, will likely get him a slightly earlier exit in those blowouts hurting his fantasy value a little bit. McCaffrey led the league in fourth-quarter rushing with his team up by 10 points or more (189 yards on 44 carries). That won’t happen this season.

3) The following starting quarterbacks are still useful despite their 2024 season debut: Justin Fields, Will Levis, Jacoby Brissett, Bryce Young and Daniel Jones.

False. I might be willing to give Young more time because he’s never had much talent surrounding him, but the rest, I’m sorry, no. If you tell me “but Fields has potential” I’m going to answer no, not after three full seasons. In 41 games (39 starts) he’s managed one 300-yard passing game and three games with at least three touchdown passes. Baker Mayfield, who has finally matured into an NFL quarterback and fantasy-worthy after six seasons, had six and seven, respectively, through 39 games. Will Levis’ panic-throw Pick-Six yesterday is a perfect example of how not to be an NFL quarterback. Brissett is a solid backup and bridge guy to Drake Maye. Here’s a statistic on Jones… since signing his huge $160m contract, he has thrown more Pick-Sixes to the other team than touchdown passes to his own guys.

4) Preseason hype in Seattle – Jaxon Smith-Njigba is on the rise and will take over for Tyler Lockett as No.2 behind DK Metcalf.

Nope. I was a believer in this theory and started “JSN” in Week 1, because of this and Lockett dealing with an ankle issue. Rumors of Lockett’s demise have apparently been greatly exaggerated. Lockett led the Seahawks with seven targets, six receptions and 77 yards. Not monster totals, but well ahead of both Metcalf and Smith-Njigba. Beware of the future, however, while Metcalf saw 59 of 67 offensive plays (88%) and JSN 53 (79%) plays, Lockett did his work in just 36 plays (54%). That level may preclude his continued production.

5) Gus Edwards is still the running back to have in the Chargers’ backfield after seeing one more rushing attempt than J.K. Dobbins.

False. When both were in Baltimore in 2020 (Dobbins last healthy season) they produced similar results, but last season Edwards was the very productive (198-810-13) and Dobbins was returning from yet another injury. Now, a year later, Dobbins is showing to be more explosive then “Gus the Bus” and should get the better of things in Los Angeles. Both could still be viable in Jim Harbaugh’s run-first offense which saw Justin Herbert throw the ball just 26 times and the team rush the ball 27 times. Note: In 68 career games, Herbert has only twice thrown fewer passes in a game in which he didn’t get injured.