Week 2

BOOM! How you like dem apples? This is officially the first Notes From The Commissioner's Office on our brand new domain name www.notesfromcommissioner.com. This is a momentous occasion for us and we are super proud of this big accomplishment. Yes it took the DRACONIAN policies of Facebook (I am sure KRABS is behind it) of removing the "Create Doc" feature, but we aren't going to let that speed bump slow us down. We are going to keep right on trucking, good luck stopping us here at The Notes!

Week 2 was all about big performances, but none bigger than Derrick Henry, more on that below. But I thought I would spend a little time talking about some surprising performances so far through two weeks of the season:

• Marquise Brown: "Hollywood" has always been a tantalizing talent and with the Lamar Jackson and the Ravens he has been a consistent breakout pick for years. But it has never materialized with him yet to record a 1000 receiving yard season through his first 2 seasons. But the saying is that WR's always seem to breakout in Year 3 and could this be the big breakout for Brown finally? He is currently tied for 6th in WR points with two straight double digit point outings so perhaps this is the start of the long awaited breakout. Or maybe this is just a hot start to another "blah" season. With the way the season has started for Umphlett I am sure he is hoping "this is the year".

• Cordarelle Patterson: Just typing this one was really odd. I mean this is Patterson's 9th season in the NFL and he has consistently been a gadget/return/3rd WR type and now he is basically playing RB in the red zone and 2 minute drill. And scoring Fantasy Points. I guess it makes sense that something this odd would be on KRABS, but this can't possibly be a thing right? Can it? Can it?

• Rob Gronkwoski: You know I totally nailed Gronk coming back and being a dominant TE. I was just one year too late. Gronk is currently the #1 TE with two straight games of 15+ points and honestly, I wouldn't be shocked if he keeps this up. Brady is playing as well as he ever has, that offense is going to move the ball, and well he is Gronk. It sort of pisses me off this is happening, but he is one of the greatest TE's in NFL history, why couldn't he keep this up?

And speaking of Tight Ends, lets bring back one of my favorite traditions and check out this week's edition of Gridiron Heights! GO TEU!

Manager of the Weak

We were all extremely surprised at the bombshell of a overall #1 pick when Umphlett selected rookie Najee Harris out of Alabama. He clearly had studied and prepared for that pick for months having been totally ready on the exact moment he needed to draft, but while Najee scored on Sunday and is playing a ton, the rest of the team is a little bit of a work in progress. After two week s the franchise is averaging 72 points a week and currently finds themselves in last place. Can Umphlett's knack for picking diamonds out of the rough in defense turn his start around? Or is his name change to Andy's Face Shield going to doom him as he longs for better days of being named after a Belt Buckle. Only time will tell but one thing is for sure, he has alot riding on his pick of Mr. Harris in the first round.

Move of the Week

While it didn't work out for black is for sunday in Week 2, one of the most compelling story lines this season will be how Brent deploys his two top 10 QBs week to week. Lamar Jackson (his Louisville love child) has just not been able to flash the same greatness from his amazing 2019 season and while still great, Tom Brady has started the year on fire. With 9 TDs and only 2 INT he is currently the #2 QB in the league behind only Kyler Murray and is showing no signs of slowing down. Meanwhile Lamar Jackson is on tap to start Week 3 against the hapless Detroit Lions. Already dropping the first two matchups of the season, Brent is hoping to kick it into high gear in Week #3 against Dirty Mike and the Boys and for him to do that Lamar Jackson has to be the right call at QB.

But for the actual move of the week? How about Josh Downs? What a first quarter on Saturday Night!

MVP

Cooper Kupp, Derrick Henry, Rob Gronkowski, Christian McCaffery, Kyler Murray

Kyler Murray continues to impress, but Week 2 was all about the Big Dog Derrick Henry. He literally obliterated the Seahawks in Week 2 with 41 Fantasy Points with a whopping 35! carries for 182 rushing yards and 3 TDs. And even more surprising he caught 6 passes for another 55 yards. Combine that dominance with Patrick Mahomes and you have one of the most potent 1-2 punches in the entire league. There were a ton of questions about the Titans in the preseason (they were a big fade in the 2021 Football Outsiders Almanac) with Arthur Smith leaving the team, but Henry answered those questions big time in Week 2. He has had a ton of carries the past two years, but Henry is built differently and more MVP performances like Week 2 are going to lead to big things for the Kayak Pirates!

Manager of the Week

I figured with Travis shaving his beard and attending TEU why wouldn't we make him the poster image for the big breakout of the "This Is The Way" squad. I don't know exactly which way is the "way" but I know that right now whatever the "way" is it's working for this team. Dak Prescott looks like he is going to be regularly letting the rock fly, Elliott is going to do the bare minimum to stay a Top 20 RB, and Chase and Kupp are looking like absolute steals for where they were drafted. Oh and he has the single biggest difference maker in Fantasy Football in Travis Kelce. This roster is looking really solid right now and while there is zero depth at RB and Henderson being questionable is not a good thing, I think there is talent to keep this team going. They are off to a 2-0 start and not looking back. Except to pick up all the pieces of their house that they blew up to make their snazzy draft weekend video. I am still not sure the juice was worth the squeeze on that one. Congrats to Aaron and his team for winning Manager of the Week!

Well that is all I got for this week.

Until Week 3...

- The Commish