It is Week 1 of the 2022 NFL Season, Bruno Boys Nation and I know where you are going to be huddled around this weekend. You’ll either be in the stadium, in front of the television, or your phone, enjoying some NFL action on the Red Zone Channel, while checking the score of your fantasy football games.
The first week of the season is always a tricky one. You’re going off of your fuzzy memories of 2021. You faintly remember what defensive upgrades teams have made during the NFL draft and free agency. Maybe it slipped your mind that there was a coaching change. And of course, preseason tells you little because the starters barely played. Don’t worry, we’ll get through it together and remember when Tuesday morning comes, it’s just one week in a 15-18 week grind.
Now, you’re ready… to bench your Rams defense. Sorry folks, that’s one bad matchup out of the gate. And here at Bruno Boys, we like to look at those tougher decisions on who to start and who to sit. For instance those pesky flex situations, that third receiver, or circling tough or optimal matchups. In no particular order, we’ve picked out the best for Week 1.
12. Rashod Bateman, WR, Baltimore Ravens at New York Jets
We all know that the Ravens like to run but Lamar Jackson will need to pass more since J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards are returning from torn ACLs. There has never been a surprise as to who he’ll pass to each week. In 2021, Mark Andrews received 153 targets and Marquise Brown got 146 targets. Well, Brown is gone, and Bateman was third with 68 targets. Someone is getting a massive bump up in looks.
As for the Jets, they’re coming in as the reigning worst defense in the league. They did add veterans Jordan Whitehead (Tampa) D.J. Reed (Seattle), and some swagger to the secondary with rookie Sauce Gardner. Â This will be a good test for both sides, but Bateman will win enough to make him worth the flex start.
