7 Fantasy Football Studs Who Started Slow in Week 1: Will They Rebound?

Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions

While some would argue that bracket coverage had to do with Calvin Johnson's disappearing act on Sunday (just 2 receptions for 39 yards), that type of defensive attention has rarely stopped Megatron in the past. Truly elite receivers will be double and triple covered, and the ability of the offense to scheme around that as well as the ability of the player to overcome that separates the good from the truly special.

From a NEP perspective, Johnson was perfectly fine, posting above average scores in most categories. But the problem wasn't efficiency: it was volume. With only four targets directed his way, Johnson simply didn't have the chance to prove his worth.

After watching the game again, it simply appeared that the offensive design was to work away from Johnson, using the attention he was drawing to free up other weapons such as Golden Tate (eight targets) and Eric Ebron (five targets). He simply wasn't an active part of the game plan.

It is worth pointing out that Matthew Stafford also may have been injured late in the second quarter, and he was much less effective in the second half after emerging with a sleeve on his arm after halftime. Or perhaps the lack of preseason playing time for Johnson just caused him to be a bit rusty and less of a must-target guy for Stafford.

Either way, there is no indication beyond the lack of volume that Johnson won't have an effective and even dominant season for the Lions in 2015 provided he and his quarterback remain healthy. He is a easy buy low candidate in redraft leagues moving forward. Better days are surely ahead.