Players to watch in NFL Week 1

Week one is upon us football fans. We have done enough to appease the football gods this off season and we have been rewarded with a new season. With that said, there are a few players to specifically keep your eye on in week one. Whether it’s a match up that they take advantage of, or a defense that doesn’t see them coming, there are always players who have huge days on the first Sunday. With some teams still being mysteries, you never know who will put up huge numbers in week one. But I do have some guesses. Here are the names to keep and eye on:

Julio Jones (Atlanta vs. New Orleans)

Jones is back and healthy and gets to face a New Orleans Saints defense that lost Malcolm Jenkins and Roman Harper this off season. They also released Champ Bailey, who they hoped would be somewhat of a reclamation project for their depleted secondary. Jones gets to go against that patchwork group of defensive backs in week one and his fantasy owners all just smiled across the country. Add in the fact that Roddy White is also finally healthy and the Saints have their collective hands more than full with the Atlanta recovering core. White could also have a big day but I think Julio will be looking to prove he is back better than ever and he may blow the top off of that defense a few times on Sunday. It will be up to Matt Ryan to get him the ball and I think he will deliver.

Fred Jackson (Buffalo vs. Chicago)

This Bears team is far from being the monsters of the midway, and while everyone assumes Chicago will have a menacing defense based on reputation, in reality they were dead last in the NFL last season when it comes to run defense. Jackson will be the star of the Buffalo offense this year as long as he stays healthy, because let’s face it, CJ Spiller has been one hell of a disappointment. While I do think Sammy Watkins could end up being a star, his quarterback will hold him back. EJ Manuel has struggled this preseason and the Bills will be run heavy on offense already. They will be especially run heavy against this Bears defense. Don’t believe the hype. The Bears defense is pretty terrible, especially when trying to stop the run, and Fred Jackson will have a big day on week one.

Rob Gronkowski (New England vs. Miami)

Gronk is finally healthy and while he may not hold up the whole year, I think he will make it through week one in tact. Not to mention, the Dolphins might have the play 15 defenders to have a shot at stopping Gronk on Sunday. The secondary for Miami is extremely undersized and they have allowed tight ends to have big days against them in the past, including Gronkowski. Miami’s only hope to slow down the Patriots’ passing game will be a strong pass rush but I just don’t see that happening. Brady will have a field day against the Dolphins and his favorite target is sure to have a huge game. I’m saying over a hundred yards and two scores for Gronk.

Dez Bryant (Dallas vs. San Francisco)

For as much as we dog on Tony Romo, he is a very good QB and has some great weapons at his disposal, the best one of those weapons being Bryant. Bryant might not be the Megatron clone we thought he would be coming out of college but he is DAMN good. Against a depleted San Francisco defense, he has the potential to bust a big play at anytime and while the Dallas defense might give up 50 points, if it turns into a shoot out Bryant will be the one to benefit the most. He has become Romo’s favorite target as of late and there’s no reason that will change now. Tight end Jason Witten and running back Demarco Murray will draw the respect of the defense, but Bryant is who they will have to contain and I think they will fail miserably. Bryant can stretch a defense as good as anyone and while people never acknowledge it, he has become one if the best red zone targets in the league. Bryant will drive 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh bonkers in the first game of the year.

Reggie Nelson (Cincinnati vs. Baltimore)

There may not be a quarterback that seems to love throwing interceptions more than Joe Flacco. (Okay maybe Eli Manning) Flacco gained respect with the Super Bowl ring but underneath it all, he is still just an average quarterback and in week one he faces one of the best defense in the league, the Cincinnati Bengals. Flacco loves his deep throws and especially his deep throws to Torrey Smith. Last year Flacco targeted Smith 22 times against Cincinnati and only completed 8 of those passes. Nelson is a ball hawk for the Bengals’ defense and will be waiting when Flacco goes full gunslinger on Sunday. When Flacco tries to push the ball up the field, keep and eye on Nelson playing center field.