Fantasy Football Player Notes
Week 1 Rankings
3.
Austin Ekeler
RB - (vs . ARI)
The expectation is that in 2023, Austin Ekeler won't see the same insane volume he's had over the last two years, while he's scored more touchdowns than everyone else. With everyone healthy in the offense for Week 1, he probably won't be seeing an insane target share. But he's still the lead back on the Bolts' offense with the third-highest implied team total on the Week 1 slate. Chances are he is going to find the end zone on Sunday versus Vic Fangio's defense. In Ekeler's last three contests versus Fangio's Broncos, he has averaged over 17 fantasy points per game in half-PPR scoring, catching no fewer than three balls to go along with at least one TD score. Top-5 RB play in Week 1.
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32.
Brian Robinson Jr.
RB - (vs . ARI)
I haven't been high on Brian Robinson during the fantasy football draft process, with his profile as an early-down grinder on a team that will likely be trailing in contests. But Week 1's matchup versus the bottom-dwelling Cardinals is the exact matchup where Robinson can thrive for the Commanders run game. They are favorites at home, so I expect Robinson to see a healthy amount of rushing volume even while splitting snaps with Antonio Gibson. From Week 6 onward last season, B-Rob averaged 9.4 fantasy points per game (RB34). But the points per game hardly depict Robinson's rookie campaign because he was getting pumped with volume. He ranked fourth in carries (17.8 per game) and averaged over 70 rushing yards per game as PFF's ninth-highest-graded running back (82.1). Start him versus the Cardinals in one of the few plus-matchups he will get all season.
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54.
Jahan Dotson
WR - (vs . ARI)
Without McLaurin (or even a potentially limited one) the target floodgates will open for Jahan Dotson to absolutely feast versus an extremely suspect defense. Dotson had more WR1 finishes than Terry McLaurin in 2022, who played in 5 more games than Dotson. Factor in Dotson's strong finish after his injury from Weeks 13-18, and he's a no-brainer breakout candidate for Week 1. Over that span, he led the Commanders with a 24% target share averaging 2.2 yards per route run (tied with McLaurin). And during the preseason, it was clear he was Sam Howell's favorite target. He played 100% of the snaps with Howell during the NFL preseason. And after McLaurin got hurt, Dotson caught 5-of-7 targets for 76 yards. The former Penn State star recorded all 76 of his yards in the second quarter (28% target share).
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67.
Terry McLaurin
WR - (vs . ARI)
Terry McLaurin is currently dealing with a turf toe injury that he suffered in the team's final preseason game. Listed as day-to-day, he will suit up Week 1 but will be less than 100%. The matchup is too good versus the Cardinals to pass. View him as a fantasy WR3 for Week 1. Not an auto-start.
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213.
Chris Rodriguez Jr.
RB - (vs . ARI)
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230.
Zach Ertz
TE - (vs . ARI)
Remains to be seen whether Ertz will be available in Week 1 coming off a major knee injury suffered during the half-point of the 2022 season. He's not on the PUP, but Ertz has remained non-committal on his Week 1 status. Regardless, he will be 33 in November. That combined with his return from a knee injury is a recipe for disaster.
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233.
Cole Turner
TE - (vs . ARI)
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258.
Dyami Brown
WR - (vs . ARI)
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327.
John Bates
TE - (vs . ARI)
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348.
Jamison Crowder
WR - (vs . ARI)
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376.
Byron Pringle
WR - (vs . ARI)
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449.
Derrick Gore
RB - (vs . ARI)
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483.
Kazmeir Allen
WR - (vs . ARI)
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