So you went through your fantasy football draft. You made a trade or two, picked up a guy off the waiver wire. But then before everything went live ... something didn't feel right. Maybe you had a player who was a game-time decision. Or there was a matchup that wasn't in your favor. Whatever the reason, you decided it was time to make a bold choice. You know what they say ... No Guts, No Glory. So this column is for you. Every week here, we'll salute the outside-the-box thinking that was rewarded with big fantasy production. Fortune favors the bold, so here's to you.
With so much depth at quarterback, it was truly gutsy to go with a rookie. But boy, did Mariota ever produce. Heading into Monday night's games, Mariota was the third-highest scoring quarterback behind only Tom Brady and Carson Palmer. But Mariota wasn't the only rookie to bring unexpected glory in Week 1.
Not everyone gets credit for kick and punt return yardage. But if you do, Tyler Lockett was a stellar play for you this week. The Kansas State product wowed by taking a punt 57 yards to the house. The four catches and 34 yards he added as a receiver was an added bonus. Yet, it wasn't all about the rookies this week.
"All-Time Raider"? Whoa! Slow down, Turbo. Jones isn't likely to be remembered in the pantheon of great Raiders, but he'll be remembered fondly by anyone who took advantage of his two touchdown catches in Week 1. Speaking of being remembered ... look who returned from the fantasy dead!
You're telling me more than one person started Bishop Sankey this week? What are you doing playing fantasy football? We need you out there doing important work -- like predicting if Episode VII will be more like Empire Strikes Back or Attack of the Clones (we're hoping for the former). While it was a good day for Sankey, he wasn't the only Washington Husky to play big in Week 1.
Big tight end working with a young quarterback ... maybe we should have expected big things out of Austin Seferian-Jenkins this week. Even though his points came in garbage time -- admittedly, garbage time started early in that game -- you were still thrilled to have them if you had the guts to put ASJ in your lineup. Finally, there was this ...
This reeks of all kinds of humblebragging. I dig it. If you paired Dion Lewis with Rob Gronkowski, you should brush some dirt off your shoulder. Nice work, everyone. Here's to more gutsy plays in Week 2!
Marcas Grant is a fantasy editor for NFL.com and a man who has a fondness for coffee, beer and fantasy picks -- and he likes them all bold. Follow him on Twitter @MarcasG.
