ONE down, 16 to go. The first weekend of football was welcomed with open arms by fans around the world. Some fantasy coaches were left with a sour taste in their mouth, especially those who owned the likes of *insert fantasy player who ruined your weekend here*. By now, it’s unlikely that you can still find Phillip Lindsey, James Conner and George Kittle on your waivers, but there are still diamonds in the rough out there waiting to be found. Here’s one target at each position to keep your eye on.

All numbers/stats provided are based on ESPN fantasy leagues

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Brandon Marshall, Seahawks, WR

WHILE Tyler Lockett is the name generating a lot of buzz, Brandon Marshall might be the better option. Due to Doug Baldwin suffering a knee injury in Week 1 there are a bunch more targets up for grabs, with both Lockett and Marshall set for a workload increase. Marshall led Seattle in targets against the Broncos last Sunday, finding the end zone for the first time since late November of 2016 when he was a New York Jet. Don’t expect the same drought between his last TD catch and his next, with Marshall set to feature on the field for a lot more snaps moving forward.

Case Keenum, Broncos, QB

CASE Keenum is being disrespected slightly in a golden age of fantasy QB’s. With plenty of new young gunslinger’s in the spotlight, Keenum laid down a fine performance against the Seahawks in his first starts as a Bronco. He had the same number of touchdowns and he did turnovers (3), but he still threw for over 300 yards, connecting with old heads Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas a bunch. There are certainly worse options out there and after going up against a pesky defense a week ago, don’t be surprised if Keenum puts up hefty numbers without the picks against Oakland.

Image from denverpost.com

Bears D/ST

THIS isn’t a shock to tell you Chicago are going to play better in 2018. It is worth pointing out, the more time an offense spends on the field scoring points, the more time defensive units get to rest. The Bears are also planning to unleash Khalil Mack with no restrictions (perhaps as as soon as this week), which only boosts the chances this unit can overachieve and be a solid fantasy scoring unit. With just over 50% ownership, don’t miss the boat on this emerging defense that has the talent to be a top-10 fantasy unit.

Javorius Allen, Ravens, RB

THIS one is kind of cheating with the Ravens having already played their Week 2 fixture on Thursday night. We were able to see Javorius Allen take on a similar workload in consecutive matches, with the fourth-year pro featuring in both the running and passing game. While six carries for eight yards doesn’t exactly scream fantasy upside, if you play in a PPR league then Buck is a must-add. With five catches in consecutive games, Allen looms as solid scorer and could help plug a hole during your byes or if injury strikes.

Ian Thomas, Panthers, TE

SPEAKING of injury the absence of Greg Olsen in Carolina creates a huge opportunity for Ian Thomas. The former Indiana Hoosier wouldn’t have expected such a hefty role in the team’s success this early in his NFL career, but the rookie is being thrust into the lineup with Olsen eyeing significant time on the sidelines. It’s still unclear at this time how big of a role Thomas will play as the Panthers new passing game takes shape. One thing is for sure, Thomas has the chance to establish himself as a fixture in Carolina’s offense and in turn as a quality fantasy tight end.

Adam Vinatieri, Colts, K

FINALLY, the ageless wonder that is Adam Vinatieri is somehow only in 49.6% of teams. Yes, I understand that at 45 he is due to decline sooner rather than later, but it still surprises me that he isn’t on more squads. With Andrew Luck back under center this year the Colts will undoubtedly be better than a season ago on offense and score a lot more points. In turn, that means that Vinatieri will likely get more chances to add to his own scores and make himself a stable in successful teams this fantasy season.

Peace ✌

Banner from panthers.com