Here is a review of your options to start at quarterback that you may be able to find available in your leagues. For this article, I am looking at options that are owned in less than 50-percent of either ESPN and Yahoo leagues, and what you may be able to expect from them. I’ll be looking for games with high implied point totals, ideally for a team that is supposed to win, but also looking at past trends to see if there are any match-up specific notes worth taking into consideration.
**Ownership and odds gathered 9/23/2020**
Results – Week 2
Wins: Jared Goff, Ryan Tannehill and Gardner Minshew
Losses: Philip Rivers, Jimmy Garoppolo (Ankle) and Mitch Trubisky
**Tyrod Taylor (Chest) excluded, but Justin Herbert would have been a win in his stead
Through Week 2: 7-6
Streaming QB: 21.65 FPPG (QB12) from the top option each week
Week 2 Review
What should have been a banner week (very close to 6-2) instead ends in a 4-3 record due to multiple injuries. Garoppolo was well on his way to a big fantasy day, tallying over 150 yards and 2 TDs before missing the entire 2nd half due to an ankle injury. Additionally, Tyrod Taylor was scratched due to complications from a pregame injection and Justin Herbert proceeded to play well in his stead – suffice it to say, it was a good spot to invest. Rivers and Trubisky were the only disappointments in the group and if you’ve taken my top option thus far, you’re “streaming QB” is averaging over 20 points-per-game and sitting at QB12 (right behind Lamar Jackson), so we’ll look to learn and move onto Week 3.
Best Bets
Ryan Tannehill (TEN) vs. MIN (ESPN: 44.2%, Yahoo: 53%)
-2.5 // Total: 49 (Implied Totals: W 25.75 – 23.25)
Tannehill shouldn’t be available in your league, but if he is, just fire him up. You may end up starting him the rest of the way, as teams focus on stopping Derrick Henry, leaving plenty of space for Tannehill to pick them apart in play action.
Gardner Minshew (JAX) vs. MIA (ESPN: 42%, Yahoo: 50%)
-3 // Total: 48 (Implied Totals: W 25.5 – 22.5) Minshew has impressed the first two weeks of the season. As previously discussed, he’s playing for his job as he looks to take Jacksonville out of contention for a top draft pick where the team could select his replacement. If he keeps playing as well as he has, he will certainly give the team options, and in the meantime, you should not be afraid to play him any time he has a decent matchup.
Philip Rivers (IND) vs. NYJ (ESPN: 15.1%, Yahoo: 25%) -11 // Total: 44 (Implied Totals: W 27.5 – 16.5) The Jets are going to get picked on every week that the opposing quarterback qualifies. This week, it is Philip Rivers, who disappointed against Minnesota, but has a good chance to rebound this week. Be willing to fire him back up against a team that got the Josh Allen MVP tour on track in Week 1, and had Garoppolo looking solid (160+ yards, 2 TDs) through the first half of Week 2 before exiting due to injury.
Mitchell Trubisky (CHI) at ATL (ESPN: 11.6%, Yahoo: 9%) +3 // Total: 47.5 (Implied Totals: L 22.25 – 25.25) Mitch came up a little shy of expectations last week, but he did still get the win and threw multiple touchdowns. Atlanta has allowed Seattle and Dallas to score at will in the first few weeks, and while Chicago’s offense is not on that level, expect them to be able to put up points. Mitch should be fine for another week as he shows that he did actually win the starting job in the Bears’ quarterback competition.
Daniel Jones (NYG) vs. SF (ESPN: 41.5%, Yahoo: 49%) +4 // Total: 41.5 (Implied Totals: L 18.75 – 22.75) While Daniel Jones has made some mistakes, he has also delivered some solid quarterback play. While the 49ers have a reputation as being a strong defense, they’ve been decimated by injuries, most recently losing Nick Bosa to a season ending knee injury. Add to that Richard Sherman, their top cover corner going on IR; and all of a sudden, this defense isn’t as daunting as it once looked. Jones is a risky play, because the 49ers still have some talent, and the Giants may struggle to find an identity after losing Saquon Barkley for the year, however that may just push them to rely solely on the arm of Daniel Jones – not great for real football, but fantastic for fantasy!
Ryan Fitzpatrick (MIA) at JAX (ESPN: 3.4%, Yahoo: 5%) +3 // Total: 48 (Implied Totals: L 22.5 – 25.5) Fitzpatrick put up 24.3 fantasy points against a stout Buffalo defense. Jacksonville isn’t nearly as intimidating, and on a short week of preparation, I would expect that he’ll be able to connect with DeVante Parker, Preston Williams and Mike Gesicki for multiple scores again this week.
Kirk Cousins (MIN) vs. TEN (ESPN: 17.8%, Yahoo: 30%) +2.5 // Total: 49 (Implied Totals: L 23.25 – 25.75) Kirk Cousins was bad in Week 2. There’s no way around it. However, it is clear that this defense isn’t good, so they’re going to have to throw more than they would like. Cousins will certainly be volatile, but remember that in Week 1, he delivered a solid 22.8 point effort against a solid Packers' defense. You could certainly do worse this week.
Justin Herbert (LAC) vs CAR (ESPN: 6.8%, Yahoo: 14%) -6.5 // Total: 43.5 (Implied Totals: W 25 – 18.5) Whether it was destiny, luck, or sabotage; Herbert received his first start when Tyrod Taylor was ruled out prior to kickoff after complications from a pregame injection. He should get another start this week as Taylor continues to recover, and gets the perfect matchup in Carolina. I expect the Chargers to run the ball a lot in this one, but don’t be surprised if they dial up some easy throws to get Herbert going early after he has a full week to practice. This kid just took Patrick Mahomes to overtime, so the future looks bright. Don’t be scared to fire him up in this one, but don’t expect to see fireworks as Los Angeles looks to control this one and ease their rookie QB into the league.
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