Each week, we at NFL fantasy like to bestow #KABOOM awards on the top players at each position that deliver monster performances for their fantasy owners. Week 1 had no shortage of star performers and surprises, but there were a few players in particular who earned the #Kaboom awards for Week 1: Matt Ryan, Le'Veon Bell, Allen Hurns and Julius Thomas.
It's hard not to give matt Ryan a #KABOOM, as he set two franchise records while beating the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. The first was that Matt Ryan is now the franchise leader in touchdown passes for the Atlanta Falcons, after he found Levine Toilolo for a third-quarter score. But Ryan wasn't done there.
Ryan finished the day with 448 passing yards (a new franchise single-game record), three touchdowns and no interceptions for a grand total of 31.42 fantasy points -- the top mark for the day. Oh, and he got the win over his division rivals, too.
Many fantasy owners questioned whether Le'Veon Bell would be the same guy who dominated on the field late last season after an off-field incident and the arrival of touchdown vulture LeGarrette Blount. And while Blount did vulture a touchdown, Bell found the end zone himself, while accumulating 197 scrimmage yards. All told, he netted fantasy owners 25.70 fantasy points and netted himself a Week 1 #KABOOM award.
The surprise of the afternoon was Jacksonville Jaguars undrafted rookie wide receiver Allen Hurns. Hurns earned himself the #ThatHelpsNoOne award as well as he hauled in four receptions for 110 yards and two touchdowns. Not a bad debut at all.
No to be outdone, Julius Thomas decided Sunday night was the ideal time to put together a career night. Peyton Manning found Thomas three times in the end zone, and Thomas also racked up 104 receiving yards on the night (the third-highest total of his career).
Thomas' 28.4 fantasy points were not only by far the top mark for tight ends in Week 1, but they were the most by any fantasy pass-catcher. That is worthy of a #KABOOM.
Be sure to join in the conversation during Week 2 by using #KABOOM on Twitter if one of your players, or your opponent's players, makes a splash.
-- Follow Alex on Twitter @AlexGelhar
