Much to the chagrin of fantasy football players, two of the NFL’s premier players were held in check in Week 1 of the regular season.
Adrian Peterson of the Vikings had just 10 carries for 31 yards. Meanwhile, Detroit’s Calvin “Megatron” Johnson finished his first game of the season with 2 catches for 39 yards – and he was targeted only four times.
Johnson told MLive.com that because the Chargers were providing double coverage on him with safety help over the top, he really wasn’t involved in the game.
“When the quarterback sees that,” Johnson said, “I’m not in the read process really.”
Detroit held an 18-point lead on the Chargers before blowing the lead. Johnson caught one pass on the opening drive and another on the final drive of the game, he was otherwise the “invisible man,” the Detroit Free Press explained.
“What the heck went wrong with the Detroit Lions’ offense on Sunday?
You know, when the Chargers were busy scoring 30 straight points?
Here’s an idea: Throw the ball to Calvin Johnson! No, let’s start with something even more basic. Just look at him, for goodness’ sake.”
I'm afraid we've seen the best of Calvin Johnson and he's on the way down. Just doesn't look as explosive anymore.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) September 16, 2015
Johnson, for a time, was easily the most explosive and dangerous receiver in the NFL, but his numbers started to decline last season after he finished with 71 receptions for just over 1,000 yards and 8 touchdowns.
He had nearly 1,500 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2013 and just shy of 2,000 yards in 2012.
Peterson flashed his dominating power on a reception out of the backfield against San Francisco, but other than that the Vikings offense was so bad that Peterson was barely on the field for much of the game.
.@AdrianPeterson takes four @49ers on a 10-yard ride..
Because All Day. #MINvsSF http://t.co/N7k50CL5a4
— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2015
Week 2 will feature both players, who will undoubtedly try to carry their to a victory. The loser will be 0-2 and at the bottom of the NFC North standings.
FOX Sports North adds that Stafford targeted receiver Golden Tate a team high eight times against San Diego. Tate was targeted a combined 19 times in two games against the Vikings last season.
