By SleepyJ
Football is back! With Week 1 of the 2020 NFL season officially in the books, we now have a ton of news, injuries and notes to dissect and analyze from Sunday's slate of games. Each week I will be highlighting my "Frauds and Gods" to let you know which players, coaches and units I'm buying, and which one's I'm selling, based off public reaction and overall sentiment in the market. These aren't necessarily related directly to bets for the following week, but they will serve as more of less a guide for you on which performances you shouldn't be overreacting to, and which ones you should be paying close attention to.
FRAUD – Mitchell Trubisky
Trubisky was the beneficiary of Detroit cluster injuries last week. Yes, it was great to see a QB who is on the verge of being benched come through in the 4th quarter to win a game. The problem is, however, that the Lions had played rather well before the injuries occurred. Lions led the game 20-6 and Trubisky did nothing more than workman-like dive efforts. We can’t buy into his 4th quarter heroics.
FRAUD – Vic Fangio
It’s clear Fangio missed the memo how to use timeouts in the National Football League. He did make up some "godly" excuses, however, on why he left his QB to hang out to dry. If you watched the sequence of events at the end of the Denver game last week, you will clearly agree that a timeout needed to be called. If your leader fails to lead and then lies to reporters, how far do you think this Denver Broncos team will eventually go?
FRAUD – Stephen Gostkowski
Gostkowski had tried everything to make a kick. He changed his cleats, socks and underwear (I think). It only took 3.5 quarters and a chip shot to get the ball to the back of the net and between the uprights. His demeanor on the sideline was totally noticeable, too. Gostkowski was visibly shook inside and out, and his stay in Tennessee won’t last for very long with his aging, off-the-target legs.
FRAUD – Ryan Fitzpatrick
Give Fitzpatrick credit for gobbling up contract after contract and job after job. Somehow he manages to keep getting starts in this league, and he is a great example for a young QB of what not to be like. Throwing the ball to the other team at the rate he does is liable to get any young player behind bagging groceries in no time. Although the Miami Dolphins stadium is empty as a beer can, you can hear the fans chanting for Tua each and every down as Miami sinks deep into QB depression.
FRAUD – Jason Peters
The Eagles offensive line is a mess right now and the biggest healthy liability might be Jason Peters. He’s converted from LT to RG, and back to LT. Peters, however, is better off on the couch. He is a false start machine and the Eagles should have moved past him two seasons ago. A true HOF player, as he was lights out in his prime, Peters' time has came went, and it's time for him to hang up the cleats. He misses blocks that he would never miss in the past, and he looks like the old janitor just riding clock, waiting for payday.
GOD - Russell Wilson
Wilson is ELITE, and that’s not even questionable. His talent moving within the pocket is #1 in the NFL. He makes less mistakes over a 5-year period than Ryan Fitzpatrick can make in a single game. Pete Carroll has one of the easiest jobs in the NFL, and it’s because of Wilson. Wilson in Week 1 did whatever he wanted against the Falcons defense. If you don’t have Russell in your top-3 quarterbacks in the year of 2020, you need your head checked. His first NFL MVP votes are coming, and maybe his first MVP award, too.
GOD – DeAndre Hopkins
What more can you say about this beast of a wide receiver. The Cardinals had a half-decent offense last year, but the addition of Hopkins now puts this Cardinals offense in the conversation for perhaps one of the best in the NFL. Hopkins secured 14 catches on 16 targets for 151 yards. Stats like that make any defense stay up at night. The 49ers have a good secondary, but it was no match for DeAndre with his new team. Let’s just say Kyler Murray got exactly what he needed to become a major success in this league. Murray is now counting down the days before he signs his mega contract. He should cut a percentage out for DeAndre for helping him get it. The chemistry they showed in Week 1, after a COVID-19 shortened offseason no less, was quite impressive to say the least. Expect more of the same for the 2020 season.
GOD - Sean McDermott
Mask or no mask, Sean McDermott is climbing up the ladder of the best NFL head coaches. McDermott has seemingly got every ounce of talent out of his players over the years in Buffalo. You see very little mistakes coming from McDermott in-game as well. He doesn’t ask his players to do things they struggle at. He’s tough on players, referees and himself. He has this Buffalo team headed in the right direction.
GOD – Washington Defensive Line
This group is going to make noise for years to come. It’s going to take a very talented offense to keep their quarterback clean and alive against Washington's front. Chase Young and Ryan Kerrigan are like a Mike Tyson combo punch. They are in the backfield before the ball carrier even knows what direction he wants to go. QB's are going to fear this Washington Football Team, just like they did many years ago.
GOD – Janoris Jenkins
You won’t find a defensive player who had a better week than Janoris. Nine total tackles and a pick 6. Jenkins was causing all kinds of issues on the football field for Tom Brady's Buccaneers debut. He rarely misses a tackle and never misses his assignments. Clearly one of the better defensive players in the league right now who deserves some people putting some respect on his name is Janoris Jenkins.