NFL Weekly Preview Week 1 2024: Key Injuries, Difference Makers & Projected Upsets

Lamar Jackson (Darron Cummings, Google Images)

The 2024 National Football League regular season starts on Thursday with an intriguing battle of AFC powerhouses–the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens, the NFL franchise who had the best record in the regular season in 2023.

Key Injuries

Among the players who are confirmed out so far are Baltimore Ravens linebacker Isaac Adisa of Brooklyn, New York (hamstring), Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown of Hollywood, Florida (shoulder), Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire of Baton Rouge, Louisiana (mental illness), and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Devin White of Springhill, Louisiana (ankle).

Of the four aforementioned players, the player with the most significance is Brown. The Chiefs are rather thin at wide receiver after Rashee Rice. It is just a good thing they have an elite tight end in Travis Kelce on their roster.

Fantasy Stars

The top rated quarterback is Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills. The native of Firebaugh, California is projected to get 254 passing yards, 35 rushing yards and two touchdowns against the Arizona Cardinals. The top rated running back is Breece Hall of the New York Jets. The native of Omaha, Nebraska is projected to get 69 rushing yards, 24 receiving yards and one touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers. (It should be noted that 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey is questionable with a calf injury). The top rated wide receiver is Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill of Pearson, Georgia, who is projected to get seven catches for 99 yards and one touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars in an all-Florida battle.

Projected Upsets

There are four underdogs I like this week. They are Baltimore (more offensive depth than Kansas City), the New York Giants (Minnesota will lose Kirk Cousins’s presence), Indianapolis (presence of Jonathan Taylor against Houston cannot be underestimated) and Dallas (Cowboys have a better receiving group).

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