Fantasy Football: Studs and Duds from NFL Week 1

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Week 1 of the National Football League is the books—as is the opening week of fantasy football.

Scores have been counted, teams have been graded and players are starting to be assessed as potential pickups for the second week of the NFL.

Let's take a look at who impressed in the opening week of the NFL (let's call them studs) as well as those who didn't impress as much (let's call those guys duds).

Disclaimer: This is not a guide as to who to add and who to drop. I am not to be held accountable for your fantasy team tanking, though feel to praise me if it wins.

Stud: Robert Griffin III

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Position: Quarterback

Fantasy score: 25.00

Starting in his NFL debut away from home against the New Orleans Saints, Robert Griffin III showed why he will be a fantastic fantasy prospect this year—chalking up two touchdowns and 320 yards as the Redskins stunned the Saints at home.

Griffin was 19-of-26 passing—connecting with eight different receivers throughout the game—and also added 42 rushing yards on 10 carries. Fantasy owners who decided to start the No. 2 draft pick will be beaming, with Griffin poised to have a very strong year in the NFL.

Dud: Wes Welker

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Position: Wide receiver

Score: 1.40

One of the better performing wide receivers in the history of fantasy football, Wes Welker was largely ineffective against the Tennessee Titans, with the Patriots choosing several other targets ahead of Welker, who was on the field for 43 of the Patriots' 67 offensive snaps.

Brandon Lloyd and Julian Edelman were both on the field for more snaps, and were targeted by Tom Brady more times than Welker was, who caught just three passes for 14 yards. Definitely one to watch out for—particularly if the Pats continue to reduce his significance this year.

Stud: Matt Ryan

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Position: Quarterback

Score: 32.46

No player in the National Football League had a better opening week than Ryan, who led the Atlanta Falcons to a big score against the Kansas City Chiefs, who were missing some key pieces on defense—allowing Ryan to carve them up.

The Falcons quarterback completed 23-of-31 passes for 299 yards and three touchdowns. He also picked up a rushing touchdown and 25 yards on the ground. Whether he can perform this well against some of the better defenses in the NFL obviously still remains to be seen, but it was still an incredible opening week by Ryan.

Dud: Tim Tebow

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Position: Quarterback

Score: 1.10

Tim Tebow was never going to be the greatest fantasy option this year, and Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills simply confirmed that fact even more.

Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez was unstoppable in attack—seemingly booking the starting spot ahead of the former Broncos phenom—and when Tebow did take the field, he didn't attempt a single pass and had just five rushes for 11 yards.

To the 10.8 percent of fantasy owners that own Tebow, maybe it's time to reconsider that decision.

Stud: C.J. Spiller

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Position: Running back

Score: 23.40

Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller was superb—picking up 169 rushing yards, 194 yards in total as well as a touchdown in a loss. 

With Fred Jackson likely to miss three to four weeks (per NFL.com), Spiller will see plenty of action in the near future and could cement his position in the Bills lineup for the season ahead.

There's still 10.2 percent of leagues where Spiller isn't owned; if that's you, then I'd be looking at adding him as soon as possible.

Dud: LeGarette Blount

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Position: Running back

Score: 1.00

LeGarrette Blount had just ten total yards on three carries and a catch against the Carolina Panthers, but with injury and Doug Martin both prevalent, Blount could turn out to be a fantasy dud through the first few weeks.

Bucs coach Greg Schiano stated that Blount's knee injury wasn't serious and that he could have entered the game after going off in the second quarter—leaving many to believe that the running back simply isn't the go-to guy at Tampa Bay anymore.

With Martin picking up 24 carries and 95 yards, that belief is largely justified and completely accurate.

Stud: Stevan Ridley

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Position: Running back

Score: 21.20

Due to the injury of Shane Vereen, Stevan Ridley led the New England Patriots' backfield against the Tennessee Titans—chalking up 125 rushing yards on 21 carries and picked up a touchdown as well.

The longevity of Ridley's high output may depend on the performances of players like Danny Woodhead and whether or not Ridley can maintain the power and cutting ability that he displayed against the Titans, but through the opening week of the NFL, he was very, very strong.

Dud: Beanie Wells

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Position: Running back

Score: 1.40

Beanie Wells, along with Ryan Williams, had a terrible day on the ground for the Arizona Cardinals in the opening week of the NFL and is looming as a player to avoid this year.

Wells had just 14 yards on seven carries, and with the running back likely to split carries with Williams throughout the season, barring injury of course, he will struggle to get the output that many were expecting him to achieve this season. 

Wells is currently owned in 98.8 percent of all fantasy leagues.

Stud: Kevin Ogletree

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Position: Wide receiver

Score: 23.40

Kevin Ogletree had a career-best game on Wednesday Night Football, and if his 11 targets are any indication of the attention he's likely to receive this season, he could be an excellent fantasy pickup.

Ogletree had eight catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns. Currently owned in just 3.3 percent of fantasy leagues, could be an excellent point of difference for the year ahead.

Dud: Peyton Hillis

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Position: Running back

Score: 2.40

Peyton Hillis had just seven carries and three catches on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons—picking up just 16 yards on the ground and eight yards in the air through those touches.

Alarmingly, Jamaal Charles received double the running touches that Hillis received and on a goal-line situation, Hillis was snubbed for Shaun Draughn—who picked up the touchdown. Owned by 95.5 percent of fantasy owners, Hillis is an interesting dilemma to figure out, but an obvious dud from the opening week of the NFL.