Last week’s predictions grade out as a 1.5/3. I completely missed on the Ryan Tannehill call and was a Chip Kelly challenge away from nailing my Jordan Matthews prediction. In addition, I was on the money predicting two touchdowns for Jeremy Hill. Tannehill’s combination of starting off slow and losing a possession due to a Jarvis Landry punt return touchdown capped his potential in Week 1.
From a reality standpoint, Tannehill delivered. He completed 65% of his passes and tossed a touchdown in the closing moments of the first half. Tannehill protected the ball all game long and committed zero turnovers. Hill did find pay dirt twice but lost work to Giovani Bernard in a game that was never close. On Monday Night Football, Matthews erupted for 10 catches and my prediction of 108 receiving yards was six yards greedy. Matthews appeared to have snuck the ball across inside the pylon late in the fourth quarter, but Chip Kelly didn’t challenge the ruling, and Ryan Mathews‘ one-yard touchdown run ensued. Overall, it was an okay start to the bold prediction column. Now on to Week 2.
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Quarterback
Eli Manning – NYG vs. ATL
193 passing yards coupled with zero touchdown passes was not the stat line fantasy owners were hoping for from Eli Manning in Week 1. However, I encourage fantasy owners to roll with the Giants’ quarterback in a home matchup hosting the Atlanta Falcons. I expect Peyton’s younger brother to bounce back in a big way, to the tune of 300 passing yards and three touchdowns. I am going to go on record as predicting Manning to grade out as a top-five quarterback option this week, following his abysmal stat line against the Cowboys.
Prediction: Eli Manning finishes the week as a top-five quarterback
Running Back
Ronnie Hillman – DEN at KC
This may seem crazy, but my gut tells me C.J. Anderson tries to play hurt this week and ends up hurting his own prospects. We saw Ronnie Hillman outplay Anderson against the Baltimore Ravens this past Sunday. I think we see Hillman outplay Anderson again on Thursday Night Football and enter a world where Ronnie Hillman is owned in every fantasy format by Week 3. I won’t predict Hillman to blow up just yet, but his time is coming. Grab him now while you can.
Prediction: Ronnie Hillman outplays C.J. Anderson again and becomes owned in every fantasy format.
Wide Receiver
Brandin Cooks – NO vs. TB
Fantasy owners were expecting more than four catches for 49 yards from Saints receiver Brandin Cooks in his 2015 debut. However, this was partially due to his matchup. Owners must temper their expectations for a wideout going against Patrick Peterson. I fully expect a big bounce back game from Cooks, especially with a tasty matchup against a weak Tampa Bay secondary that just saw Marcus Mariota throw four touchdown passes. Cooks will produce for fantasy teams this week.
Prediction: 150 total yards, 1 TD
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Daniel Oppenheimer is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Daniel, follow him @DanOpp31.