Bad game or bad sign? A.J. Brown, Thomas Jr. and other Week 1 disappointments

Outside of a fewer games successful Week 1, I thought the shot was beauteous average. And the little fantasy football numbers -- from immoderate big-time players -- thin to bespeak that. I saw it successful my lineups, too. Rough.

But what does a atrocious crippled from 1 of your phantasy starters truly mean?

Sometimes, the anticipated measurement is there, but it was conscionable a down day. The matchup comes into play here, arsenic does crippled flow. The telephone expanse matters, too. We get that. On to the next.

However, Week 1 tin besides constituent to immoderate antagonistic trends. And those bash archer a story.

Below are 10 players who underperformed successful Week 1. We'll determine if it were simply a atrocious crippled oregon was it a atrocious motion that could interaction your lineup moving forward.

Bad games

A.J. Brown, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Brown was a nonfactor successful the Eagles' Thursday nighttime win, catching his lone people with nether 2 minutes to spell successful the game. One drawback for 8 yards (1.8 points). That's it. Now, Dallas did play portion sum connected 85.7% of Jalen Hurts' dropbacks, which forces the shot underneath. I saw defenders getting to extent and squeezing portion windows.

However, the Eagles tin strategy amended to make much unfastened voids for their No. 1 wide receiver. Think in-breaking concepts here. Sure, Week 1 was beauteous unsmooth if you rostered Brown, but I don't person large concerns aft 1 game. Look for the Eagles to flip the publication for Brown successful Week 2 astatine Kansas City, which means a bump successful measurement and third-level throws.

Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals

Burrow and the Bengals' passing discourtesy struggled successful the Week 1 roadworthy triumph implicit the Cleveland Browns. Burrow, who finished with 8.82 phantasy points, completed lone 14 of 23 passes for 113 yards and 1 touchdown, portion Ja'Marr Chase (4.6 points) and Tee Higgins (6.3 points) combined for 59 yards receiving connected 5 grabs.

The Browns defence has presented issues for Burrow before. Go backmost to Week 7 of past season, besides successful Cleveland. Burrow completed 15 of 25 throws for 181 yards and 2 scores (14.9 points). Not capable for phantasy managers. The play opener successful 2023? Another roadworthy crippled against the Browns, and Burrow had 3.2 points returning from a preseason calf injury.

However, for this week's location opener against the Jaguars, wherever the Bengals volition spot split-safety portion sum and affirmative perimeter matchups, Burrow is close backmost successful my ranks arsenic a top-five QB.

Omarion Hampton, RB, Las Angeles Chargers

Hampton's pro debut against the Kansas City Chiefs yielded 8.1 phantasy points, which didn't conscionable the summertime hype connected the rookie. It happens (a lot). But it's important to absorption connected his wide usage successful the Chargers backfield.

Hampton was intelligibly the pb runner successful this matchup, finishing with 17 touches, compared to lone 2 for seasoned Najee Harris. And portion Hampton averaged conscionable 3.2 YPC -- connected 15 rushing attempts -- I wou...