Week 1 Recap: Carter’s Bold Draft Choice Pays Off

Carter made headlines on draft night by going against the grain and selecting Bijan Robinson with the very first pick. One week in, that gamble looks sharp. Robinson anchored Carter’s squad with a dominant performance, and the payoff was immediate: a 126.16–100.20 victory over Kirtan.

Robinson looked every bit the workhorse, piling up yards on the ground and through the air on his way to 24.4 points, the top running back score of the week. He was complemented by Josh Allen at quarterback, who erupted for nearly 39 points and gave Carter two elite-level performances at the top of his lineup. Together, they provided more than half his team’s output.

Kirtan’s side wasn’t without highlights. Derrick Henry was his bell cow, rushing for 169 yards and two touchdowns to deliver 29.2 points of his own — the best score on either roster. Unfortunately for Kirtan, the rest of his lineup lagged behind. A handful of single-digit outputs kept him from keeping pace, and by Sunday night the gap was too wide to close.

Turning Point: Allen’s 394 passing yards and two total touchdowns proved to be the difference-maker. Even Henry’s monster day for Kirtan couldn’t overcome the combination of Allen and Robinson.

What It Means

• Carter validates his draft strategy early. If Robinson continues to look like the centerpiece of Atlanta’s offense, Carter has the foundation of a title run.

• Kirtan falls to 0–1 but has reason for optimism. With Henry still bulldozing defenses, one or two stronger performances from his supporting cast could swing future matchups his way.

For now, though, Carter’s bold move has him riding high. Week 1 goes in the books as a statement win — and a reminder that fortune favors the bold.