During the first week of the NFL football season, one can always expect the unexpected and this year’s Week 1 wasn’t any different. For instance, players who were thought to be a lock to put a team over the top fell short of expectations. However, every year some players show up and shock the world with their talent. They prove to be players that should be plucked off the waiver wire and added to every fantasy roster.
To follow are three players that could make tremendous impacts for any fantasy football team:
WR Terry McLaurin (Washington Redskins)
Former Ohio State wideout, Terry McLaurin, could be the featured offensive option for Washington. McLaurin had a strong showing at the Senior Bowl and shined in all aspects during the North team’s first practice at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.
His performance in the bowl game generated buzz and, in the Redskins first game of the regular season, he showed why that attention was warranted. The rookie had five receptions for 125 yards and a touchdown. With his tremendous route-running skills and speed, the former Buckeye has a good chance of seeing the ball consistently.
TE T.J. Hockenson (Detroit Lions)
While starting for two years at Iowa, Hockenson put significant pressure on defenses averaging 14.8 yards per catch. He recorded nine scores in 26 games while splitting tight end targets with teammate Noah Fant.
Fast forward to his first game in the NFL and the former Hawkeye didn’t disappoint. Hockenson caught six of nine passes for 131 yards and a touchdown during Sunday’s 27-27 tie with the Arizona Cardinals.
The 2019 first-round draft pick had the highest receiving total by any tight end in his first career game since the 1970 merger (topping the 103 yards that the Seattle Seahawks’ Will Dissly collected last season). Hockenson will look to keep it up in Week 2 against a San Diego Chargers team that won’t have safety, Derwin James.
QB Gardner Minshew II (Jacksonville Jaguars)
A sixth-round draft pick in the 2019 NFL draft by the Jaguars, Minshew is a solid quarterback and, given his draft spot, could be considered a steal. The former Washington State product might not have all the desired traits but he has very good intangibles and accuracy. On Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, he put his skills on display, completing 22 of 25 passes for 275 yards, logging two touchdowns and one interception.
With starting QB Nick Foles (clavicle) on IR, Minshew should remain the team’s starter for the foreseeable future as long as his play doesn’t regress in the coming weeks.