Joe’s Week 1 Notes & Observations

The Rutgers loss to UMass was shocking, and QB Dylan Lonergan looked terrible all night. How could AJ Surace not be the Week 2 starter? KJ Duff’s owners were treated to a ton of garbage fantasy points, but RB Antwan Raymond’s owners had a painful opening weekend after the junior back was limited to 42 rush yards on 14 attempts, the second-fewest attempts he’s had in a game dating back to the start of the 2025 season (10 vs. Illinois, 11/1/25).

Wake Forest QB Gio Lopez had a good opening weekend, passing for 350 yards and 3 TDs. The Demon Deacons had three receivers record at least 50 receiving yards and catch a TD pass, and the group was led by Carlos Hernandez (5-165-1).

Missouri RB Jamal Roberts did not get a lot of work in a game that was well in hand by halftime, as he finished with 47 yards and a TD on 13 rush attempts. QB Austin Simmons posted impressive passing numbers, though, finishing with 252 yards and 4 TDs. Simmons’ top target was Donovan Olugbode, who caught 8 passes for 116 yards and 2 TDs, and Cayden Lee posted 4 receptions for 80 yards and a TD.

Minnesota RB Darius Taylor had a modest workload (14 rush attempts) in the opener against Eastern Illinois, but he finished with 56 rush yards and scored 3 TDs. WR Javon Tracy had a monster night, catching 5 passes for 98 yards, and he returned two punts for touchdowns.

I do not think Massachusetts QB Pop Watson will be a popular waiver target, but we might just want to keep him on our watch list after he threw 3 TD passes and rushed for 40 yards against Rutgers.

A solid start to the 2026 season for Delaware QB Nick Minicucci and WR Sean Wilson (6-73-1). Minicucci passed for 323 yards and 2 TDs and added a rushing TD.

Freshman QB Cibastian Broughton got the start for the Zips against Wake Forest and finished with 111 pass yards and 87 rush yards (15 attempts), but it was freshman Steele Pizzella who led the Zips to a couple of late scores on 7-of-7 passing for 45 yards and 2 TDs.

Kennesaw State QB Rickie Collins had a solid season-opener against West Georgia, passing for 181 yards and a TD, and he added 51 yards and 2 TDs on the ground.