What We Saw: Week 1

Patriots @ Bengals

Final Score: Patriots 16, Bengals 10

Writer: Darian Hudock (@DarianQB_List)

Led by RB Rhamondre Stevenson, DE Keion White, and the entire Patriots’ defense, New England delivered a shocking performance on the road to produce the upset of the week. Maybe losing WR Tee Higgins for the week due to injury and having WR Ja’marr Chase miss training camp led to some Week 1 cobwebs for the heavily favored Bengals. Their offensive line was shaky at best, and the defensive line made Rhamondre look like a prime AP. When the coaches play the tape back, the Bengals will have a lot of regrets about losing this game to start the year.

Three Up

• Rhamondre Stevenson – Dominant, used in both the run and pass game.
• Zach Moss – Almost doubled Chase Brown’s touches, got the goal line work.
• Patriots DST – Completely dismantled a “top offense” in week one.

Two Down

• Patriots WRs – WRs only received 13/23 total targets on Sunday.
• Joe Burrow – Still has no protection, wasn’t able to move the ball.

New England Patriots

Quarterback

Jacoby Brissett: 15/24, 121 Yards | 7 Rushes, 32 Yards

Jacoby played the game the Patriots needed him to play. He got through his progressions and got the ball out of his hands quickly. He managed to win the game but nothing more.

Notes

• Managed the game well.
• Multiple 3rd down strikes.
• Showed decent running ability.

Running Back

Rhamondre Stevenson: 25 Rushes, 125 Yards, 1 TD | 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 6 Yards

If Rhamondre can run like this all year, the Patriots are a team you should look out for. Not so much for fantasy football, but any player receiving 28 touches in a game deserves to be on your radar. He looked fast, strong, and utterly dominant. Multiple times Rhamondre showed tremendous touch, avoiding defenders to extend plays and earn more yards than given.

Notes

• Turned multiple negative plays into positives.
• Showed power & Agility.

Missed Opportunities

• Lost the ball on a fumble ultimately recovered by the Patriots.

Antonio Gibson: 7 Rushes, 18 Yards

Didn’t do much besides offer Rhamondre a breather. The lack of pass-catching opportunities is concerning.

Notes

• Got the work, but didn’t produce anything.

Missed Opportunities

• Not targeted once in the passing game.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Hunter Henry: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 18 Yards

Playing a high number of snaps did not translate to production for Henry. While one of the highest-producing pass catchers on the team, 2 catches for 18 yards isn’t going to excite fantasy managers.

Notes

• Was used as a blocker for a large portion of the game.
• Out-targeted by teammate Austin Hooper.

Austin Hooper: 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 31 Yards

Hooper was the only Patriots pass-catcher to appear open downfield consistently.

Notes

• 2nd-most targets on the team.

Demario Douglas: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 12 Yards

Demario “Pop” Douglas was on the field for a lot of the Patriots’ offensive snaps, but that didn’t translate to production. Those hoping for a second-year breakout will need to wait another week, as the offense struggled to produce this week.

Missed Opportunities

• Played too many snaps for such little production.
• Had plays where he was open but wasn’t targeted.

Tyquan Thornton: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 27 Yards

Notes

• Frequently looked to as a deep threat by Jacoby Brissett.

Missed Opportunities

• Limited route tree makes him unusable in fantasy outside of the deepest leagues.

KJ Osborn: 6 Targets, 3 Receptions, 21 Yards

Osborn played a high number of snaps and was rewarded with the highest target share on the team, however only produced 20 yards with his looks.

Notes

• Looks to be QB Jacoby Brissett’s go-to target.

Missed Opportunities

• Couldn’t break out of any tackles to extend plays.

Cincinnati Bengals

Quarterback

Joe Burrow: 21/29, 164 yards | 4 Rushes, 15 Yards

A very shaky game for Burrow. His offensive line was actively trying to end his career, and his pass-catching options looked like they’d been paid off by the Mob. Burrow did what he could but the entire Bengals offense let him down.

Notes

• Under constant pressure from the Patriots’ front.
• was forced to throw into tight windows most of the game.

Missed Opportunities

• Threw an easy TD that was fumbled at the goal line.

Running Back

Zack Moss: 9 Rushes, 41 Yards, 1 TD | 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 17 Yards

Moss appears to be Cincinnati’s main back, logging most of their goal-line touches and the bulk of the run share. He ran the ball well, even against a strong Patriots front. More targets than teammate Chase Brown bodes well for his fantasy outlook.

Notes

• Strong rushing against a heavy rush.
• Took almost 100% of the Bengals goal-line snaps.

Chase Brown: 3 Rushes, 11 Yards | 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 12 Yards

Brown was a clear backup to Zack Moss but was still used enough in the passing game to show promise in deeper fantasy leagues. The entire offense struggled, so in a better game script in future weeks, expect Brown to perform better.

Notes

• Was absent on goal-to-go snaps.
• Showed promise in pass protection, one of the biggest concerns surrounding him this offseason.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Ja’marr Chase: 6 Targets, 6 Receptions, 62 Yards

Chase once again slotted in as Joe Burrow’s favorite target. His production was limited, in part due to Burrow having no time to throw against a stifling pass rush.

Notes

• Consistent yet not spectacular. If this is a bad game for Chase, expect fireworks later this season.

Andre “Yoshi” Iosivas: 6 Targets, 3 Receptions, 26 Yards

With the opportunity dumped in his lap, Yoshi struggled to find space against a stingy Patriots defense. With his targets sometimes looking forced, you have to wonder how productive he can be moving forward.

Missed Opportunities

• Wasn’t able to make defenders miss to create additional yards.

Mike Gesicki: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 18 Yards

Much like the rest of the Bengals’ offense, Gesicki struggled to get going against the Patriots’ strong defense. He caught what appeared to be a touchdown on a corner route, but failed to hold on and it was overturned to an incompletion upon review.

Notes

• Started hot, and showed an ability to get open.
• Ultimately flatlined like the rest of the offense.

Tanner Hudson: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 18 Yards

An uneventful afternoon, highlighted by a sure-fire touchdown stripped out of his hands at the goal line. Hudson will surely be looking to redeem himself next week.

Trenton Irwin: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 6 Yards

While Irwin provided a flex position fill-in at points in 2023, his limited usage in the 2024 opener should have him off fantasy radars for the foreseeable future.