That was fun! The NFL is back, and we got 13 games over a full day of action on Sunday. We still have one more game to go in Week 1 as the Jets travel to battle the 49ers. I’ll preview the game below, but first let’s look at three takeaways from a wild Week 1.

There’s a Learning Curve for Rookie QBs

We had three rookies start on Sunday, going 1-2. But while Caleb Williams and the Bears got the victory, it wasn’t thanks to the prowess of the rookie quarterback. Williams completed less than 50 percent of his passes for 93 yards, rushing for 15 on five carries. But the Bears’ defense was stout, getting the win. Bo Nix threw for 138 yards and two inceptions as the Broncos lost 26-20 in Seattle. He did run for a touchdown, but he struggled mightily with accuracy at times. In Tampa Bay, Jayden Daniels was a wonder on the ground, rushing for two touchdowns and 88 yards. But his team lost by 17 in a game that wasn’t really that close. There will be better days to come for the rookies.

We Wrote the Patriots Off Too Soon

The Patriots came out and won 16-10 in Cincinnati on Sunday. Many had the Bengals making the playoffs. Some had the Bengals in the Super Bowl. No one had the Patriots winning more than a handful of games. And yet, behind a strong defense, stout rushing from Rhamondre Stevenson, and the veteran Jacoby Brissett, the Patriots gave Jerrod Mayo a win in his first game as Head Coach.

The Panthers are Still Really Bad

The Panthers were the worst team in football in 2023, though they had traded the No. 1 overall pick away. They changed coaches and brought in new players, but the Panthers are still a work-in-progress at best. The team was blown out in New Orleans, 47-10. And second-year quarterback Bryce Young still looks lost. He threw an interception on his first pass of the season. He finished the day with 161 yards and two interceptions. He did add a rushing touchdown, but it wasn’t a good day. It could well be a long season for Panthers fans.

And now, on to Monday Night Football!

New York Jets at San Francisco 49ers

The final game of the first week sees the Jets, and a returning Aaron Rodgers, in San Francisco to battle the defending NFC Champions. There is plenty of pressure—and plenty of expectations—for both teams. That includes on the fantasy-rich offenses they possess. But both teams have strong defenses, too.

For the Jets, I like Rodgers as a low-end QB2 in his return. We will need to see a few games to judge his mobility and return from the Achilles injury. I like Breece Hall in the backfield. It’s not a great matchup, but he’s still an RB1 for me this week. I like Garrett Wilson as a low-end WR1, too. He’s Rodgers’ top target. Mike Williams is an iffy flex option, but Tyler Conklin has some appeal to me as low-end TE option.

For the 49ers, Christian McCaffrey is playing and he’s an RB1 for me. In the passing game, I like Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel and tight end George Kittle all as starts. The Jets have a good secondary, but those guys will all be involved. I also like quarterback Brock Purdy as a QB2.

I’m taking the 49ers in this one. Enjoy the game!

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.