Late-round quarterback drafter? Had an injury to your starter? In need of a bye-week replacement? This is the place to find your weekly quarterback choices. In this article, which is new to Footballguys this season, I'll highlight a couple of quarterback options likely available in most leagues (we'll use players rostered in fewer than 60% of Yahoo leagues) who could provide some punch at the quarterback position.
Unless most teams in your league carry a backup quarterback, there should be plenty of starting NFL quarterbacks on your waiver wire each week. Instead of starting a low-end QB1 facing an elite secondary, look to the waiver wire and play the matchups. Ideally, a player who appears in this space gets hot for multiple weeks and becomes an every-week starter. But if not, throw him back to the wire and come back here next week. Quarterback is one of the most predictable positions in fantasy football. Simply by using matchups, fantasy GMs can start a mid-to-high QB1 every week by using the waiver wire.
This column will typically be written on Monday evenings. Should any relevant events occur on Monday Night Football that do not make it into the article, it will be edited after publish. Any post-publication edits will be noted.
Week 6 Results
Let's take a look at how last week's recommendations fared.
Jameis Winston - at Atlanta
Last week's column said that having Winston available here felt like cheating, so it was nice that it worked out so well. Winston threw for 395 yards and 4 touchdowns while adding 31 rushing yards. His 36.85 fantasy points made him the overall QB1.
Baker Mayfield - vs. L.A. Chargers
Determining whether the Chargers were a defense to target or to avoid was one of the most difficult tasks over the first month of the season. They are finding their groove and beginning to stifle opposing passers. Mayfield is included in that, passing for only 238 yards and a single touchdown. He also threw two interceptions. Heading into Monday night's game, Mayfield is the QB20 on the week.
Joe Flacco - at Tennessee
Last week, we talked about Flacco not having a high ceiling but having a "he-won't-kill-you" floor. What hurts both the floor and the ceiling for Flacco is Baltimore's stifling defense. Tennessee only gained 106 yards on just 40 offensive plays. Baltimore's offense didn't have to put the pedal to the floor, resulting in just one touchdown for Flacco on a mediocre 238 passing yards. Alex Collins contributed both other scores for Baltimore via the ground. Flacco is the QB19 on the week heading into Monday night.
Week 7 Candidates
Here are the players available in at least 40% of typical leagues who could provide QB1 production this week.
As of this writing, Winston is rostered in 59% of Yahoo leagues. Technically, he should be available to use in this exercise. But once Week 7 waivers clear, he'll be rostered in far too many leagues. If available, though, Winston would be the top option above the players listed below.
Baker Mayfield - at Tampa Bay
Last week, we discussed Mayfield's tasty upcoming schedule. This matchup is so mouth-watering that Tampa just fired their defensive coordinator. While the shake-up could provide short-term gains, assuming so would be more #NarrativeStreet than anything concrete. Tampa's offense, on the other hand, is a unit on fire. Only once this season have the Buccaneers failed to score 27 points, suggesting they will encourage Cleveland's offense to play an open style and force them to score to keep up.
The one factor limiting Mayfield's upside is the lack of health of his weapons. Rashard Higgins has an MCL sprain and is unlikely to play. Derek Willies broke his collarbone in a practice last week, landing him on injured reserve. They did finally get Duke Johnson Jr involved in the passing game in Week 6, though. And David Njoku and Jarvis Landry are useful players as well. Tampa Bay's defense is one to attack in almost any situation. This one isn't dire enough to be an exception.
Joe Flacco - vs. New Orleans
Just when we thought we should quit Flacco, we're coming back again. Unlike his Week 6 opponent, Flacco faces an opposing offense who should force Baltimore to continue passing throughout the game. New Orleans is averaging 36.0 points per game. That figure is sure to come down due to being on the road and facing Baltimore's fearsome defense. But they should score enough that Baltimore 8-15-6-8
Deep Leagues Only
These selections are best saved for deeper leagues and/or 2QB/Superflex leagues.
- Blake Bortles - vs. Houston
Looking Ahead
Week 8 is looking rough for Rent-a-Quarterback. Ideally, you've picked up Mayfield or Winston based on last week and this week's articles. Perhaps you have Andy Dalton based on the recommendation from the Week 4 column. If not, though, here are the leading candidates at this point.
- Baker Mayfield - at Pittsburgh
- Case Keenum - at Kansas City
Questions, comments, suggestions, and other feedback on this piece are always welcome via e-mail hester@footballguys.com
