A critical threshold was passed this year in my household: my oldest daughter's first fantasy team.
Few things can match the joy of seeing your kids show an interest in your passions. She has been interested in football for a couple of seasons, largely thanks to Taylor Swift. The Miami Dolphins became her favorite team, naturally, as they are the favorite team for preteen girls everywhere. She has started to collect mini helmets.
It was time.
Of course, she is getting thrown in the deep end. My office is doing a Guillotine league. We do not have 18, so we opened it to friends and family. Multiple people are playing in their first fantasy league. It was a natural introduction.
Naturally, she was able to lean on a Footballguy to help her draft. Unfortunately, Joey and Dave were traveling to Las Vegas that night, so she was stuck with Dad's help.
She gave two "must-draft": Travis Kelce and Jaylen Waddle. She pulled pick 13 in a 15-manager draft. I explained working the room. We did not need to take Kelce and Waddle with her first two picks. Instead, she started Malik Nabers and De'Von Achane. Quarterbacks went off quickly in the format, and she grabbed Patrick Mahomes II in round 3.
Then, the biggest sweat of my fantasy life. 24 picks before we would hit the clock again. Kelce and Waddle would not be the top players in ADP when we got back on the clock, but they would not be far from it. The wait was agonizing.
It worked. She got her guys.
Once that stress was over, she learned about projected points and roster needs, deciding it was time to take control. With her personal draft dominator, she built a solid team, taking Jakobi Meyers, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Rashid Shaheed, and Romeo Doubs.
When she finished, she looked at me and said, "That was fun, is that what you are doing with your friends?"
"Yep, kid, that's pretty much it."
"I get it now."
Priceless.
Week 2 brings a full slate of 16 games, and the Packers continued their strong start by dominating the Commanders; 15 games remain. Time to touch them all.
Number Watch
-
1 Passing Touchdowns - QB Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh - Rodgers is 5th in career touchdowns at 507. Brett Favre is 4th with 508. Rodgers threw four touchdown passes in consecutive games for the fourth time in his career. Peyton Manning holds the record, doing it in five straight games in 2004. Manning also holds the record with seven occurrences of consecutive four-touchdown games. Rodgers is the only player in NFL history to have a consecutive 4-touchdown game streak playing for two different teams.
-
2 Rushing Touchdowns - RB Derrick Henry, Baltimore - Henry sits two touchdowns behind Walter Payton for 5th on the all-time rushing touchdown list. Henry has 2 rushing touchdowns in consecutive games, hitting the mark in Week 18 of 2024. His 2-touchdown performance broke a tie with LaDainian Tomlinson for the most back-to-back two-touchdown games. Henry has hit two touchdowns in three straight or more twice in his career. Priest Holmes is the only player in NFL history to have three streaks of 3+ games.
-
2 Passing Touchdowns - QB Jared Goff, Detroit - Goff would move into a tie with Bobby Layne for the second most passing touchdowns in Lions franchise history with two touchdown passes against the Bears.
-
3 Passing Touchdowns - QB Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams - Stafford is 10th in career passing touchdowns, three away from catching Matt Ryan.
-
3 Passing Touchdowns - QB Josh Allen, Buffalo - Allen is three touchdowns away from 200 all-time. By hitting the mark, he would move up to 52nd on the career list.
-
4 Passing Touchdowns - QB Patrick Mahomes II, Kansas City - Mahomes needs four touchdown passes to become the 28th player in NFL history with 250 career touchdowns. He would pass Boomer Esiason and Tony Romo on the all-time list on the way to hitting the mark.
-
1 Reception - TE Evan Engram, Denver - Engram can become the 20th tight end to hit 500 career receptions, needing one catch against Indianapolis. Justin Jefferson is also sitting on 499 career receptions.
-
13 Consecutive Wins - QB Dak Prescott, Dallas - Prescott has won 13 straight games against the Giants, tying Tom Brady for the second most all-time by a QB against an opponent. Bob Greise holds the record, winning 17 straight against the Bills.
-
316 Passing Yards - QB Joe Flacco, Cleveland - QB Russell Wilson. Flacco trails Wilson by 316 career yards, sitting 15th and 18th on the respective list. Considering the whispers have started already about Jaxson Dart replacing Wilson, Flacco could pass Wilson and create some distance between the two. Flacco returns to Baltimore for the first time since leaving as the Ravens' franchise QB seven years ago. He needs 246 yards to reach Vinny Testaverde's career mark and 260 for Carson Palmer, the two players between Wilson and Flacco.
Revenge!
We are back! No, Immaculate Grid has not sponsored us yet, but hope remains. Who is playing for a little extra this week?
- WR DK Metcalf, Pittsburgh vs. Seattle
- RB David Montgomery, Detroit vs. Chicago
- RB D'Andre Swift, Chicago vs. Detroit
- QB Joe Flacco, Cleveland vs. Baltimore
- QB Geno Smith, Las Vegas vs. LA Chargers
- WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, San Francisco vs. New Orleans
- RB Ty Johnson, Buffalo vs. NY Jets
- WR Elijah Moore, Buffalo vs. NY Jets
- QB Kirk Cousins, Atlanta vs. Minnesota
- RB Dare Ogunbowale, Houston vs. Tampa Bay
- WR Mack Hollins, New England vs. Miami
- WR Justin Watson, Houston vs. Tampa Bay
- QB Tyrod Taylor, NY Jets vs. Buffalo
Last Week
- QB Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh vs. NY Jets - Won 34-32, 244 passing yards, four passing touchdowns.
- QB Justin Fields, NY Jets vs. Pittsburgh - Lost 32-34, 218 passing yards, one touchdown, 48 rushing yards.
- QB Sam Darnold, Seattle vs. San Francisco - Lost 17-13, 150 passing yards, 14 rushing yards.
- WR Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas vs. New England - Won 20-13, 8 receptions, 97 yards.
- WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, San Francisco vs. Seattle, Won 17-13, no receptions.
- WR Mack Hollins, New England vs. Las Vegas, Lost 13-20, one reception, three yards.
- TE Austin Hooper, New England vs. Las Vegas, Lost 13-20, one reception, ten yards.
- RB Miles Sanders, Dallas vs. Philadelphia - Lost on Thursday, 24-20, four rushes, 53 yards, one reception, -3 yards, one costly fumble.