WTF Was That Guy: Week 1

This new segment will attempt each week, at least for the first eight to 10 weeks of the season, to take a look at outlier stat lines to see who might truly be a contributor to your fantasy football success and whose big weeks may be a mirage.

Buy – Quincy Enunwa:

NY Jets: It’s my intention to write this column every week, earlier in the week than Friday. So I’m cheating a bit on this one, since Enunwa has played two games already.

But I’m all in on him.

I was kind of a believer after week one, but I hadn’t actually seen him play. The guy is huge. Brandon Marshall was quoted saying he has the strongest hands on the team. And Ryan Fitzpatrick clearly likes him. The third year player out of Nebraska has caught 13 of 14 targets so far and has, in standard scoring, put up an 11 and a 9 so far.

He probably won’t be entirely consistent, as he is the number three WR behind Eric Decker and Marshall, but word is Decker requested the opportunity to line up outside more. That opens an opportunity for Enunwa to play the slot and there will be games where he is a mismatch for inside defensive backs.

Every week play? Maaaaybe not. Guy you can plug in and feel good about during byes and as depth? I think so. I’m buying.

Source: Pro Football Reference

Sell – Jalen Richard:

Richard is an undrafted free agent. He burst onto the scene last week with an 84-yard performance that included a 75-yard TD run that helped Oakland come back to beat the Saints.

He’s a great story and it was a fun homecoming for the Southern Miss rookie. But let’s not get carried away with this. He’s listed, according to Ourlad’s, as the Raiders’ fourth-string RB (also behind Taiwan Jones). And while nobody has been blown away by Latavius Murray just yet, Richard shares the line of those trying to unseat the veteran with the more highly sought after DeAndre Washington.

He’ll get some opportunities and he might be worth grabbing in a dynasty league. But remember – it was against the Saints, he’s undrafted and he was the underdog in the initial competition to act as Murray’s backup. This one three carry performance isn’t going to afford him a ton of playing time, at least just yet.

Bonus – Melvin Gordon – San Diego:

Melvin Gordon was a disaster as a rookie, averaging just 3.5 yards per carry and not toting the pig into the end zone all season.

He looks much improved so far, after an offseason working out with Adrian Peterson.

But despite a two TD performance in week one, I’m still not ready to buy into the former Wisconsin star.

He took just 14 handoffs in week one, mustered a pedestrian 57 yards, did not catch a pass in week one and still played less than half the snap count that Danny Woodhead did, even though the Chargers were ahead most of the game.

If that continues, that means Gordon will be relying on getting goal line carries to be a regular fantasy contributor. With Keenan Allen going down, Woodhead’s pass catching abilities become even more valuable. While they may get the two of them on the field together, with perhaps Woodhead spending some time in the slot, I’m still deeply entrenched in wait-and-see mode with Gordon and would rather have Woodhead on my roster.