How The West Is Won – NFL Week One

Sep 8, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals defensive end Tommy Kelly (95) and teammates celebrate after stopping the San Diego Chargers on 4th down during the second half at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Arizona Cardinals

We had the honor, along with San Diego, of rounding out Week One, and our week was not without drama.  We already have had season ending injuries to the likes of Darnell Dockett and our LB core group, and Andre Ellington went down with a foot injury.  Fantasy owners were alarmed as big things are expected of Ellington, (see our previous article on Ellington), if the game had been Sunday he may not have played.

The Chargers are many a pundit’s dark horse pick in the AFC, much like us in the NFC in that regard. The Chargers showed “why” early on, but Carson Palmer kept his composure and racked up his share of fantasy points for those who read our earlier article on him and picked him up in their drafts, hitting rookie receiver John Brown for the winning score and ensuring we too start out 1-0.

In the days afterwards it looks like John Abraham suffered a concussion which seems likely to end his career as he is reported to have told Bruce Arians that he no longer has the heart for the game.  A sad way for what was the highest current player on the all time sack list to bow out.  Abraham going does leave a bigger hole on a stretched defensive lineup, and will put more pressure on Palmer and the offense to rack up the points both in reality and fantasy.  Quick tip, if you can get him Michael Floyd could be worth his weight in fantasy value going forward.