Image credit: Getty images / Nuccio DiNuzzo 

Summary: It’s easy to make sweeping judgements following the build up (and often let down) of week one performances. We’ll go through our top pickups of the week, along with suggested FAAB bids. Generally, we take a conservative approach following the first week with modest bids that will conserve FAAB for future pickups where we have more data & tape to identify the difference makers.

• Elijah Mitchell (3.8% rostered in ESPN leagues)- The obvious top pickup of the week given his week one performance (19 attempts, 104 yards and a TD) + seeming opportunity with the Raheem Mostert injury. We’re limiting ourselves to ~20% of total FAAB budget, meaning we will likely miss on Mitchell as most sites are suggesting anywhere from 40%-70%. We’ve seen the revolving door that the SF backfield has been over the years - with the low draft capital SF invested in Mitchell + willingness to change RBs week-to-week, we’re not willing to invest what it will take to acquire him.

• Bryan Edwards (18.1% rostered in ESPN leagues) - Edwards was a sleeper choice by many given his size/speed combination, reports from training camp and opportunity in the Las Vegas offense. It’s worth noting that Edwards didn’t have a catch until 2 minutes remaining in regulation - but after that, we saw the talent and potential connection with Carr. The modest production in week one (4 catches, 81 yards, no TDs) makes it so that there’s a good opportunity to buy low. We’re willing to make a modest 5% - 7% bid and try to steal Edwards before he stands out.

• Tony Jones Jr (18.7% rostered in ESPN leagues) - With the recent release of Latavius Murray, Jones appears to have settled into the #2 RB role in New Orleans. He received 12 touches in week one. While this isn’t a player you’ll want to immediately flex, we’ve seen plenty of weeks where Murray has been a viable fill in during a bye week or injury depending on the matchup. Similar to Edwards, a modest 4% - 6% of FAAB bid can get you a player on a discount that you can stash for later.

• Justin Fields (52.1% rostered in ESPN leagues) - While Fields is owned in many leagues, the talent stood out all preseason and continued in the very limited snaps we saw in week one. Andy Dalton looked like the same QB we’ve seen in Cincinnati and Dallas - a bottom 25% QB in the NFL - and with coach Matt Nagy’s job on the line, it’s only a matter of time before Fields gets the opportunity. If Fields is available in your league and you had a questionable week one performance at QB (Tannehill, Wentz, Lawrence), consider spending 10% - 15% of FAAB.

• Larry Rountree (1% rostered in ESPN leagues) - Rountree surprised as the RB2 in LA over Justin Jackson, receiving 8 carries in a pass heavy game for the Chargers. Austin Eckler missed 6 games last season in his first opportunity as lead back in LA, and his general durability leaves reason to believe that Rountree will either realize starts or continued work. Spending 4% - 6% of FAAB budget in anticipation of Rountree’s opportunity seems worthwhile.

• Staying away from - Christian Kirk (we’ve been here before, and there’s many mouthes to feed in this offense), Sammy Watkins (enough said) and Gerald Everett (low pass volume, multiple TEs and simply better WRs).