NFL Week 1 Surprises & Disappointments: Darnold, Dobbins, & Jameson Williams Among Breakout Performers

NFL Week 1 Surprises & Disappointments have our attention before Week 2 of the NFL season begins.

Week 1 of the NFL is in the books, as is Week 1 of fantasy football. It was a wild week in the NFL, with upsets and blowout wins. Some players lived up to their preseason fantasy hype, some exceeded expectations, and some were flat-out missing in action on Sunday.

So, who were Week 1’s biggest surprises and fantasy disappointments?

Week 1 Fantasy Surprises

J.K. Dobbins, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

J.K. Dobbins was one of Week 1’s standout stories. After battling through devastating lower-body injuries in recent years, Dobbins didn’t just stay healthy—he excelled.

Dobbins racked up 135 yards on ten carries, including a rushing touchdown. He also caught all three of his targets for only four yards. His explosive performance against the Raiders featured runs of 12, 46, and 61 yards.

Dobbins is well worth a top waiver claim and a significant FAAB investment in leagues where he’s available. With a favorable Week 2 matchup against the Panthers, he’s already a solid RB2 and could soon become a weekly must-start if he continues to impress.

Category Stat

Carries 10

Rushing Yards 135

Rushing Touchdowns 1

Targets 3

Receptions 3

Receiving Yards 4

Longest Runs 12, 46, 61 yards

Sam Darnold, QB, Minnesota Vikings

Sam Darnold looks poised for a breakout season, which goes beyond his impressive 13-of-14 first-half performance on Sunday. It’s about where he’s been and where he is now. Yes, his start against the Giants was outstanding—throwing for 151 yards and a touchdown before halftime as he helped lead his team to a commanding 28–6 victory.

But the 113.2 passer rating in his old home stadium feels like the beginning. Playing under Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and alongside weapons like Justin Jefferson puts Darnold in a prime position to thrive.

Category Stat

Completions/Attempts 19/24

Completion Percentage 79.2%

Passing Yards 208

Touchdowns 2

Interceptions 1

Final Score 28-6 (Vikings win)

Jameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions

After a tough start to his career, Jameson Williams had much to prove in his third year after being a first-round pick.

His rookie season was disrupted by a torn ACL suffered in college, and a suspension sidelined him at the start of 2023. Even after returning, he struggled to make an impact. But in Week 1 of 2024, Williams showed why he was a first-round selection. He led all Lions receivers with 121 yards, highlighted by big plays of 36, 52, and 28 yards, including a 52-yard touchdown.

Williams made his presence known in more ways than one. In addition to his deep-threat ability, he caught three passes working across the formation, showing his knack for gaining extra yards after the catch. This was the same target-earning skillset he flashed in college—mixing grit with his world-class speed. He also contributed on the ground, taking a carry for 13 yards. His receiving yards and total yards from scrimmage were both career highs, and the touchdown was the fourth of his NFL career.

Category Stat

Receptions 5

Receiving Yards 121

Yards Per Reception 24.2

Receiving Touchdowns 1

Carries 1

Rushing Yards 13

Rushing Touchdowns 0

Longest Receptions 36, 52, 28 yards (52-yard TD)

Joe Mixon, RB, Houston Texans

Many believed Houston was a good fit for Mixon, but not many thought he’d get off to this torrid start. Mixon erupted on Sunday in the team’s 29-27 season-opening win over the Indianapolis Colts.

Mixon racked up nearly 160 rushing yards, a pace that would put him over 2,700 yards on the season—though it’s unlikely he maintains those numbers weekly. Still, he’s well on his way to joining an elite group of Texans running backs who have eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark.

In the franchise’s 22-year history, only five players have reached that milestone. Arian Foster did it four times, Domanick Williams twice, while Steve Slaton, Lamar Miller, and Carlos Hyde each managed it once.

Category Stat

Carries 30

Rushing Yards 159

Rushing Touchdowns 1

Targets 3

Receptions 3

PPR Fantasy Points 26.8

Snap Percentage 71%

Rushing Leader (Week 1) Yes

Week 1 Fantasy Disappointments

Top-12 ADP Tight Ends

Despite the tight end position being as deep as ever in fantasy, several top players struggled to produce in Week 1. Of the top-12 ADP tight ends in the NFL, only one scored a week one touchdown. Fantasy managers who spent early-round picks on Sam LaPorta, Mark Andrews, or Trey McBride are likely frustrated.

However, Brock Bowers was the only one to exceed 50 receiving yards, and while the overall numbers were disappointing, there’s no need to panic. Most of the top tight ends had solid route participation, and aside from the injuries to Jake Ferguson and David Njoku, there’s reason to expect improvement moving forward.

Player (Team) Routes Targets Receptions Receiving Yards Touchdowns

Travis Kelce (KC) 26 4 3 34 0

Sam LaPorta (DET) 27 5 4 45 0

Trey McBride (ARI) 34 9 5 30 0

Mark Andrews (BAL) 38 2 2 14 0

Dalton Kincaid (BUF) 25 2 1 11 0

George Kittle (SF) 27 5 4 40 0

Kyle Pitts (ATL) 28 3 3 26 1

Evan Engram (JAC) 19 4 1 5 0

Jake Ferguson (DAL) 24 5 3 15 0

Brock Bowers (LV) 31 8 6 58 0

David Njoku (CLE) 20 5 4 44 0

Dallas Goedert (PHI) 30 5 4 31 0

Kirk Cousins, QB, Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons made a bold statement by signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal, hoping to rejuvenate their offense. But in his debut on Sunday, the results fell short. Many believed Cousins would help the Falcon’s weapons achieve heights they’ve struggled to reach. It’s only one week, but it was a bad week.

Despite holding a 10-9 lead at halftime, the Falcons stumbled in the second half, losing 18-10 while managing just three first downs and 51 total yards after the break. In his first game back since tearing his Achilles with the Vikings last season, Cousins completed 16-of-26 passes for 155 yards, throwing one touchdown and two interceptions. The 36-year-old had skipped preseason action, and the rust showed.

Category Stat

Completions/Attempts 16/26

Completion Percentage 61.5%

Passing Yards 155

Touchdowns 1

Interceptions 2

Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals selected Marvin Harrison Jr. with the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, banking on his immediate impact. Regarded as a top-20 player on most fantasy draft boards, Harrison’s Week 1 performance, however, left much to be desired.

In the Cardinals’ 34-28 loss to the Buffalo Bills, Harrison was targeted just three times by Kyler Murray, managing only one catch for four yards. That translated to a mere 1.4 fantasy points in PPR formats—a shock for a player with a 96% start rate on Sleeper Fantasy.

His quiet debut has sparked concern for fantasy managers who invested heavily in the rookie. While Harrison’s upside remains sky-high, Week 1 showed he might need more time to find his footing in the NFL.

Category Stat

Week 1 Opponent Buffalo Bills

Targets 3

Receptions 1

Receiving Yards 4

PPR Fantasy Points 1.4

Start Rate in Fantasy 96%