Every gameday during the regular season, theScore's fantasy editors recap the most important news and notes from around the league.
Hello Mr. Hyde
Anyone who didn't stay up to watch the late Monday night game may have missed the beginning of the Carlos Hyde era in San Francisco.
Everyone knew Hyde had the talent to succeed as a lead back, but with the 49ers' offseason exodus of players and coaches, it seemed like his situation might hold him back. We learned on Monday that nothing holds Hyde back, especially not Vikings defenders.
With backup Reggie Bush sidelined early in the game due to a calf injury, Hyde carried the ball 26 times, racking up 168 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also added two receptions for 14 yards.
The 49ers aren't always going to dominate game flow the way they did against Minnesota, but Hyde appears to be on the verge of breakout season and he isn't going to let anyone stand in his way.
Fools Rush In
DeMarco Murray, the reigning rushing champion, ended his first game in an Eagles' uniform with 9 rushing yards on eight carries, but salvaged his fantasy day with a pair of touchdowns.
It was a nightmare debut for Murray, who had -4 rushing yards at halftime, and finished with just 20 total yards on 12 touches. Concerns over his usage were well-founded, as he saw 50 percent of the teams carries.
Murray's direct backup, Ryan Mathews, had 28 yards on six touches, including a touchdown. However, it was Darren Sproles who led the Eagles' backfield with 50 rushing yards, as well as 76 receiving yards on seven catches.
Philadelphia is going to score often and Murray will be the primary goal-line back, but this could be a stressful situation for fantasy owners to deal with each week.
A Little Slice of Tevin
If you were waiting to find out whether one of Atlanta's running backs would be be able to separate himself, the answer came sooner than expected. Rookie Tevin Coleman collected 80 yards on 20 carries, outpacing and outplaying teammate Devonta Freeman.
While Coleman averaged 4 yards per carry, Freeman managed just 1.8 yards per rush, finishing with 18 yards. The veteran added three catches for 29 yards, but he was clearly the second best running back on the team.
We knew Kyle Shanahan's system was capable of producing a fantasy starter and after looking explosive and consistently grinding out yards against the Eagles, Coleman appears to be the beneficiary. You shouldn't drop Freeman, but you'll definitely need to adjust your expectations.
Notable Performances
Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings
10 carries, 31 yards, 3 receptions, 21 yards
It wasn't exactly the return fantasy owners were anticipating, especially when you consider AP went first overall in many drafts. The 30-year-old was rusty enough to create some doubt around his 2015 value. Better days are ahead… let's hope.
Sam Bradford, QB, Eagles
36-of-52, 336 yards, TD, 2 INTs
Bradford had a difficult first half, but found his rhythm over the final two quarters. The volume is always there in the Eagles' offense, which will keep Bradford in the low-end QB1 conversation.
Julio Jones, WR, Falcons
9 receptions, 141 yards, 2 TDs
Julio has a legitimate chance to finish as fantasy's No. 1 receiver in 2015.
Jordan Matthews, WR, Eagles
10 receptions, 102 yards
Matthews looks dialed in and has 100-catch potential as the top target in the Eagles' uptempo attack.
Roddy White, WR, Falcons
4 receptions, 84 yards
The veteran showed he is still fantasy relevant. With the amount of attention Julio Jones will draw, White should see easy matchups on a weekly basis, if he can stay healthy.
Charles Johnson, WR, Vikings
2 receptions, 27 yards
Johnson saw three targets, while seven passes were thrown to Mike Wallace, who led the team with six catches for 63 yards. A breakout is possible for Johnson, but both Vikings receivers should hang out on your bench until further notice.
Torrey Smith, WR, 49ers
1 receptions, 11 yards
After seeing the 49ers' offense, Smith's value takes a hit. He's even more of a boom-or-bust play than he was in Baltimore. If this continues even one more week, he should be sent to the waiver wire.
Kyle Rudolph, TE, Vikings
5 receptions, 53 yards
Not a terrible outing for Rudolph, whose value is normally dependent on touchdowns. Hopefully the Vikings' offense can spend a little more time in the red zone next week.
Vernon Davis, TE, 49ers
3 receptions, 37 yards
Coming off a forgettable campaign, Davis gave the fantasy community a small sign of hope, leading the team in targets Monday with six. He's still a TE2, but that's an improvement on last season.
Injury Ward
Sam Bradford, QB, Eagles
Bradford was taken for X-rays on an unspecified part of his body after the game, but said it was merely precautionary.
Reggie Bush, RB, 49ers
Bush suffered a calf injury that forced him from the opener. Head coach Jim Tomsula said the injury isn't beleived to be serious.
Waiver Wire
Darren Sproles, RB, Eagles
Sproles won't lead the team in rushing most weeks, but he's valuable enough to be rostered in all leagues.
Jerick McKinnon, RB, Vikings
McKinnon actually looked more explosive than Peterson on Monday night. He isn't going to take the job from AP, this is merely a handcuff or lottery ticket situation.
49ers DST
San Francisco's defense showed they are still a feisty unit, worth a look in good matchups.
