With Week 1 over we have our first FAAB Thursday where budgets are being spent on players who had breakout Week 1 performances and players who have seen their value increased due to injuries. For this article I will base these prices off a $100 FAAB budget.
Quarterbacks
Marcus Mariota, TEN- Mariota will certainly be a popular pick up heading into Week 2 as his four touchdown performance against the Buccaneers quickly turned many into believers after so many doubted him heading into the draft. While I temper my expectations given how BAD the Buccaneers defense is this season Mariota was very accurate which can make him a valuable commodity in the fantasy world. Mariota faces off against the Browns in Week 2 who have a much better defense than the Buccaneers so I would not recommend starting Mariota over a majority of the QBs likely drafted but he is worthy of a stash in case he turns in another solid performance.
FAAB Bid- $15-$20
Alex Smith, KC- Smith still has not thrown a touchdown to a wide receiver dating back to the 2013 season but that did little to hinder his effectiveness against a Texans defense that was figured to rank among the best in the league. Tight End Travis Kelce is quickly proving 2014 was no fluke as he found the end zone twice on passes from Alex Smith. A Thursday matchup against another solid defense in the Denver Broncos awaits Smith in Week 2 but if he can continue to make accurate throws and develop chemistry with Jeremy Maclin there is certainly some fantasy appeal here in deeper leagues.
FAAB Bid- $10-$15
Running Backs
Chris Johnson, ARZ- Andre Ellington was limited in practice on Wednesday and is expected to miss the Cardinals Week 2 matchup against the Bears but could be ready to play in Week 3. Chris Johnson saw 10 carries in Week 1 and was the Cardinals featured running back after the Ellington injury. While rookie David Johnson certainly has the explosiveness it appears Bruce Arians is not yet ready to let him loose on the league. Johnson has stream value here with the potential that he gets two weeks worth of starts before Ellington is back.
FAAB Bid- $5-$10
Karlos Williams, BUF- The Bills drafted Williams in the 5th round of the NFL draft this last April but beat out the likes of Fred Jackson (released) Bryce Brown (released) and Anthony Dixon as LeSean McCoy’s primary handcuff. Williams saw just five carries in Week 1 but he rumbled over the Colts defense for 55 yards and a touchdown. McCoy figures to see the majority of the work in the Bills backfield but given his injury history Williams figures to be a great handcuff to own. In Week 2 the Bills face off against the Patriots who just allowed over 120 yards rushing to DeAngelo Williams in Week 1 and could present a good matchup for Williams even in a limited role.
FAAB Bid- $10-$15
Dion Lewis, NE- Though with the Patriots you never can predict exactly what running back will play a featured role in their offense it appears that Lewis at the very least has locked down his role as the Patriots third down back and could very well be used like Danny Woodhead and Shane Vereen have been used in years past. Lewis showed great quickness against the Steelers as he gained 69 yards rushing and 51 yards on four catches in the passing game. LeGarrette Blount is expected to be the Patriots lead back this season but if New England chooses to go with an up tempo style of offense then Lewis could very easily see more playing time.
FAAB Bid- $5-$10(non-PPR), $10-$15(PPR)
Wide Receivers
Donte Moncrief, IND- The news on T.Y. Hilton remains the same as the Colts No.1 wide receiver could miss anywhere from 1-to-3 weeks due to a bruised knee suffered in Week 1. This uncertain timetable makes spending big money on a player like Moncrief difficult to judge. Moncrief in Week 1 caught six passes on 11 targets for 46 yards and a touchdown. If Hilton misses an extended period of time he figures to be one a major factor in the Colts passing attack which increases his fantasy value. Even as the Colts current No.3 receiver behind Hilton and Andre Johnson there is still certainly fantasy appeal here but I personally am tempering my bidding given that Hilton could very well be back next week and diminishes Moncrief’s value.
FAAB Bid- $15-$20
James Jones, GB- Jones returned to Green Bay in a big way and for those who were able to grab him prior to Week 1 have to be ecstatic by his two touchdown performance against the Bears. Most fantasy players remember how well Jones played in the Green Bay offense with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback which includes an incredible 14 touchdown grabs in 2012. Jones is still the Packers No.3 receiver as both Randall Cobb and Davante Adams saw more targets but if Jones becomes Rodgers go to end zone threat there is definite WR 2 upside here.
FAAB Bid- $20-$25
Terrance Williams/Cole Beasley, DAL- Both Williams and Beasley will figure extensively in the Cowboys revamped passing attack without Dez Bryant for the next 6-to-8 weeks. In Week 1 Williams caught five of eight targets for 60 yards while Beasley caught four of six targets for 49 yards. Williams is a bigger downfield threat for Romo while Beasley plays more of the middle of the field and under routes. Both players will see a boost in fantasy value in both standard and PPR leagues going forward and should end up costing somewhere in the same vicinity. Williams might not be floating around the waiver wire depending on how deep your league is but he is the player to target of this duo if you had your pick.
FAAB Bid- $25-$30 (Williams), $10-$15 (Beasley)
Tight Ends
Tyler Eifert, CIN- Big athletic tight ends are making bigger and bigger impacts in the NFL these days as they are matchup nightmares for opposing linebackers and safeties. Eifert certainly fits that mold and after an injury plagued 2014 he entered Week 1 without any competition at the tight end position and Andy Dalton’s clear No.2 option next to A.J. Green. Eifert ate up the Raiders defense for a monster Week 1 debut which saw him catch nine of 12 targets for 104 yards and two touchdowns. This performance will likely make Eifert among the top adds in fantasy football this week. Given Eifert’s pedigree and ability I do not believe this performance to be a fluke and while he may not go for 100 yards and two touchdowns each week there is definite top 5 tight end potential here.
FAAB Bid- $15-$20
Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TB- Seferian-Jenkins turned in a monster performance in Week 1 as he used his size and athleticism to burn the Titans defense. Seferian-Jenkins caught five of seven targets for 110 yards and two touchdowns as he and Jameis Winston appeared to be on the same page all game. It should be noted that the Buccaneers were without Mike Evans in Week 1 which likely contributed to his seven targets which were second on the team to Vincent Jackson’s 11 but if Winston and Seferian-Jenkins can keep up this chemistry he should be in for a breakout season at tight end.
FAAB Bid- $5-$10