Week 1 NFL Advanced Analytics Superstars

Tight End: Tyler Eifert

Tyler Eifert, TE, Cincinnati Bengals
9 Receptions, 104 Yards, 12 Targets, 2 Touchdowns
NEP: +16.41

An offseason fantasy draft darling of many (including us), Tyler Eifert came on like gangbusters in his Week 1 debut as the Bengals starting tight end following Jermaine Gresham's departure.

Playing against the Oakland Raiders, he was able to torch their defense to the tune of 9 receptions for 104 yards on 12 targets. Andy Dalton found Eifert repeatedly as he was a mismatch against the Oakland linebackers and secondary.

Dalton was also able to hook up with Eifert on two scoring plays. The big 6'6", 250-pound Notre Dame product was able to be a mismatch on the outside as his two scoring plays came when he was split out wide in the slot. A red zone mismatch, Eifert picked up scores from 13- and 8-yards out as he connected with Dalton extending their lead on an Raiders team that struggled following Derek Carr's early-game injury.

Trailing only Gronk in fantasy PPR points, Eifert accumulated 31.4 as he just missed finishing as both the most efficient and highest scoring tight end (Gronk had 32.4 PPR fantasy points but his +11.2 NEP ranked fourth among tight ends). After spending nearly all of last year on injured reserve, we may have finally seen a glimpse of just how dangerous an offensive weapon the former first round draft pick can become.

Honorable Mention
Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
5 Receptions, 110 Yards, 7 Targets, 2 Touchdowns
NEP: +14.86