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

The 2022 NFL regular season is just hours away. Here are some key injuries, fantasy stars and projected upsets for the first week of the season.

Key Injuries

The New York Jets only won four games all of last season, and enter the 2022 National Football League regular season all banged up. Quarterback Zach Wilson is projected to miss the first month of the season with a knee injury, and now offensive tackle Duane Brown is being evaluated for a shoulder problem. Brown just signed a two-year deal worth $22 million with the Jets last month. Due to the injury to Wilson, the Jets are projected to start former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco in his place. But remember, Flacco is 37 years old, and expectations are simply not very high.

Fantasy Stars

The top rated quarterback of the week is Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers. He is coming off a superb 2021 NFL season where he had 5014 passing yards and will face the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1.

At wide receiver, the top two catchers of the week are Ja’Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals and Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp of the Rams. The Bengals will be playing the weakest Steelers team we have seen in years. Kupp meanwhile will be performing in prime time against the Bills on Thursday after leading the NFL last season in receptions (145), receiving yards (1947). and receiving touchdowns (16).

At running back, the top two backs are Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts and Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans. The AFC South Divisional opponents should feast on the Houston Texans and New York Giants respectively.

Projected Upsets

The four teams I like for upsets this week are the Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals. Remember, the Vikings, Cowboys, and Cardinals have great quarterbacks (Kirk Cousins, Dak Prescott and Kyler Murray) and have the luxury of playing at home. The Panthers, the opponent for the Browns in week one, meanwhile simply cannot be trusted at home or on the road.

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