After an off-season of waiting, it’s finally time to set your dynasty rosters. Although roster construction is great, we just had our first opportunity to see which players actually put up points for your team and have the potential to shoot up in value. Let’s dive into the top ten dynasty takeaways from Week 1 of Fantasy Football.
Takeaway #1: Tua Tagovailoa Is a Top 10 Dynasty Quarterback
After a rough end to the 2022 season, Tagovailoa reminded everyone why he’s an elite quarterback. In a shootout against the Chargers, Tagovailoa went 28/45 with 466 yards and three touchdowns. This was good for 27.14 points in a massive week one performance.
TUA AND TYREEK ARE DIALED IN.
— NFL (@NFL) September 10, 2023
📺: #MIAvsLAC on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/G4uoYVOqQn pic.twitter.com/XtaJZDwKhA
Although there’s concern about Tagovailoa and his concussion history, this shouldn’t drop him outside the top 10 quarterbacks. While it’s true that Tagovailoa is at a big risk of never playing again if he gets another concussion, this isn’t something you can predict.
Concussions are a freak injury, and this isn’t something you should be betting on. The bottom line is that Tagovailoa is back and needs to be ranked as a top-10 quarterback in dynasty.
#2: Rhamondre Stevenson Is Not a Long-Term Dynasty Asset
Stevenson had a fine game on the surface with 14.9 PPG, but he split time with 28-year-old Ezekiel Elliott. I’m fine having Stevenson if you’re a contender this year, but this shows that the Patriots won’t commit to him in the long term.
Stevenson had a rough game on the ground with 2.1 YPC, but I expect him to break out as Elliott starts to fade away this season. My concern is that the Patriots will replace Elliott with a much better back this off-season, killing Stevenson’s value.
#3: Chris Olave Is Elite
Olave solidified himself as an elite dynasty asset with a solid start to the 2023 season. Olave led the Saints in targets with ten and caught eight passes for 112 yards. This adds up to 19.2 points for Olave in week one.
If you’re a contender, you feel good with Olave for 2023; if not, he’s only 23 with room to grow. Michael Thomas had a solid game with eight targets, but at age 30, he’s not in the Saints’ long-term plans. I’m all in on Olave in the future.
#4: Drake London Isn’t Viable for a Contending Team
We had this same conversion last year, but it remains true. London is a great talent, but his situation is horrible. Desmond Ridder wasn’t impressive at all, and London finished the week with zero points.
It looked like London would improve this year, but if you’re a contender, you can’t roster him. It would be best if you sold London to someone who believes in him for the long term and will give you a productive player this year. Arthur Smith is going to continue to pound the rock with Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier.
#5: Brandon Aiyuk Is Skyrocketing in Value
Aiyuk has always looked like the traditional WR1 for the 49ers, but in week one, he proved it. He went off with 32.9 points on an 8-129-2 stat line.
Aiyuk led the 49ers in targets with eight and was the most efficient receiver. At only 25 years old, it’s clear that Aiyuk’s dynasty value is on the rise after this performance.
Brock Purdy finds Brandon Aiyuk for Sunday's first touchdown! pic.twitter.com/MY10ceSbtH
— Ian Valentino (@NFLDraftStudy) September 10, 2023
#6: Zay Flowers Can Contribute in 2023
Of all the receivers in this 2023 rookie class, Flowers was the first to flash with 17.7 points. Even though Lamar Jackson had a rough game, it’s clear that Flowers is the WR1 for the Ravens. Flowers dominated the team in targets with 10.
Even though the Ravens still run the ball at a high clip, it’s great to see Flowers getting involved early. This shows that Jackson and the Ravens believe in Flowers in the future.
#7: Puka Nacua Was a Dynasty Draft Steal
With Cooper Kupp going on the IR, Nacua got an opportunity to shine in a weak Rams wide receiver room. That’s exactly what he did, scoring 21.9 points in his first game. Coming out of BYU, Nacua was overlooked and fell to the fifth round of the NFL Draft.
Even when Kupp returns, Nacua is on the path to becoming the wide receiver once Kupp is gone. It would be best if you weren’t overpaying for Nacua right now, but he’s proven he has the potential to be a solid dynasty asset in the future.
#8: Bijan Robinson Is the Truth
This shouldn’t surprise anyone, but Robinson is elite. The consensus RB1 in dynasty put up 20.3 points in his first NFL game. Despite splitting carries with Tyler Allgeier, Robinson showed he can get it done on the ground and through the air.
Bijan Robinson’s first NFL touchdown: pic.twitter.com/uKbSplNzCc
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 10, 2023
You shouldn’t be concerned that Allgeier had more carries than Robinson in week one. As the season goes on, Robinson will turn into the lead back and become the bell-cow by 2024.
#9: J.K. Dobbins Is Finished
Seeing Dobbins go down in a game where he was set up for success was extremely painful. It was later reported that Dobbins was done for the year with an Achilles injury.
It hurts to say that this is the end for Dobbins. He’s suffered too many injuries since coming into the NFL, and an Achilles is the worst-case scenario. If you have Dobbins, get out on him for whatever you can now.
#10: Anthony Richardson Shows Promise
Many weren’t sure what to expect from Richardson in his first NFL game. It’s known that Richardson needs time to develop, but he looked very solid in week one. Richardson completed 24/37 passes for 223 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.
ANTHONY RICHARDSON TAKES IT HIMSELF.
— NFL (@NFL) September 10, 2023
📺: #JAXvsIND on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/G4uoYVOqQn pic.twitter.com/2awLV5mL5o
More importantly, it was great to see the rushing production. Richardson picked up 40 yards on the ground, along with a touchdown. This helped propel him to a 20.92-point performance. It’s still early, but seeing Richardson produce based on rushing production should confirm to dynasty managers that his ceiling is through the roof.
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