We are back for the 2023 edition of Fact or Fiction! Each week, two of our contributors, Erika Brown and Dustin Brown (no relation), will bring you the most interesting topics surrounding the NFL and Fantasy Football. As we are the experts, We will definitively tell you whether these are true or false. Welcome to Fact or Fiction – Week 1!
Fact or Fiction – Week 1
Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers will have a losing record this season.
Dustin: Fiction
The Pittsburgh Steelers schedule provides a great opportunity to keep the winning-record streak alive, and I project they go 9-8 this season. This takes into account projecting them being swept by both the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals, while sweeping the Cleveland Browns. There is some wiggle room for them to have a better record, as they could pull off a win against either the Ravens or Bengals. However, I don’t know that quarterback Kenny Pickett will play well enough against either of those opponents to pull off a victory.
Erika: Fiction
After the Steeler’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1, I’m not sure they have the offensive power to sustain a winning season. Kenny Pickett will need to turnaround from the loss to a stout defense and get back to his pre-season form. He had 46 pass attempts in this game, and there were only 10 rushing attempts. This offensive scheme needs to change and change quickly if Tomlin wants to keep the streak alive.
Jahmyr Gibbs will be a Top-12 fantasy running back by the end of the season.
Dustin: Fiction
This is a tough one, as expectations going into the season were that Jahmyr Gibbs would take advantage of a small backfield. Gibbs is really only competing against running back David Montgomery. However, it is clear that at this point of the season, Montgomery will be the goal line back – at least for now. We are only one game in, but it is a concern that Gibbs was outgained in goal line opportunities against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Erika: Fiction
The first game wasn’t the best showing for the rookie running back, but coaches will get him more involved in the offense moving forward. I just don’t believe it will be a top-12 fantasy finish. The Detroit Lions showed how they want to use David Montgomery, and he looked great in Week 1. Gibbs would need to be a true RB1 the rest of the season. I think Montgomery will steal more touches to make Gibbs first fantasy season lackluster.
The Detroit Lions will make the playoffs.
Dustin: Fact
The Lions shocked the world on Thursday night by beating the Chiefs 21-20 in Kansas City. Sure, there were many drops by the Chiefs’ wide receivers that could have led to more points. However, the Lions played with heart and never gave up. The only team I see getting in the Lions way are the Minnesota Vikings, although they are without running back Dalvin Cook now. I have the Lions going 10-7 and sneaking into the playoffs as a Wild Card.
Erika: Fact
I have to admit, I love the Lions. Maybe it was the Hard Knocks bump last season, but I want to see this team succeed. Detroit looked every bit the part on Thursday night against the 2022 Super Bowl champs. The defense kept Mahomes to a 53.8 completion percentage, although something could be said for the Chiefs’ wide receivers. Amon-Ra St. Brown showed his skills too, reeling in 6 receptions and a touchdown. He could be the key to this team making the playoffs – and possibly further.
Jordan Love will have more fantasy points than Aaron Rodgers in Week 1.
Dustin: Fiction
Aaron Rodgers tends to suffer solid statistics when facing the Buffalo Bills defense. They have had his number recently, but he is in a new place with a much better defense behind him. Rodgers should put up more fantasy points against the Bills than Jordan Love did yesterday against the Chicago Bears. However, it will be closer than people might think.
Erika: Fact
With Aaron Rodgers set to play Monday night, we only know how well Love played. And boy, did he play well. He went 15/27 and 3 touchdowns against a Bears team that should have been more improved on defense this season. Right now the Green Bay Packers have the 11th easiest strength of schedule, and if Love can continue spreading the ball around to his sure-handed receivers, I think he could overtake Rodgers in fantasy points this season.
The Buffalo Bills will win the AFC East for the fourth straight season.
Dustin: Fiction
The Bills face a brutal stretch of games at the end of the season. Starting in November, this is the Bills schedule: at Bengals, vs. Broncos, vs. Jets, at Eagles, at Chiefs, vs. Cowboys, at Chargers, vs. Patriots, and at Dolphins. While the start of the season is a fairly light schedule on paper, they do face a resurgent New York Jets team in the opener and square off against the Dolphins and Giants as well. Last season, they struggled with injuries and inconsistent red zone offense and were still able to win the AFC East. However, every team in the AFC East loaded up their rosters this past offseason in preparation for an all-out war in the East in 2023.
Erika: Fiction
Speaking of strength of schedules, the Bills have the 7th hardest this season, and have an extra hard schedule the second half of the season. With a committee running back room, and no true receiving threat aside from Stefon Diggs, I don’t believe this team has what it takes to surge through a tough defensive division. I think the Jets and the Dolphins both have what it takes to take the AFC East, so everything could be up in the air this year.
Erika Brown
Erika Brown is a fantasy football writer for The League Winners. A journalism graduate from Oklahoma State University, she enjoys watching OkState football games and writing about college football.