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 or 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 10/29/2020**
Results – Week 7: 1-0
Wins: Teddy Bridgewater
Losses: None
Through Week 7: 10-9
Streaming QB: 21.56 FPPG (QB9) from the top option each week* (This is based upon FPPG to account for players with byes)
*Including Fitzpatrick Week 4 and Bridgewater Week 5
Best Bets
Teddy Bridgewater (CAR) vs ATL (ESPN: 38.4%, Yahoo: 57%)
-1.5 // Total: 51.5 (Implied Totals: W 26.5 – 25)
Bridgewater gets another juicy matchup this week against a terrible Falcons' defense. With Christian McCaffery missing the game again, expect Bridgewater to be productive in a shootout. I’d expect nearly 300 yards and multiple touchdowns from Bridgewater, who will likely also add a few points via his legs.
Jimmy Garoppolo (SF) at SEA (ESPN: 24.5%, Yahoo: 36%)
+3 // Total: 54 (Implied Totals: L 25.5 – 28)
Garoppolo faces a Seattle secondary that has been torched all year as teams try to keep up with the Seahawks’ offense. While Garoppolo has been up and down this year, with Mostert, Coleman, and Jeff Wilson Jr. on injured reserve, that leaves only UDFA JaMycal Hasty and receiving back Jerick McKinnon left to support their run game. I would expect Shanahan to devise some extra pass attempts for Garoppolo whether or not they are needed to keep up with Seattle given the personnel available this week. Bank on 20 fantasy points from Garoppolo, with the chance for more if they are forced to abandon the run due to game script.
If you’re desperate, Baker Mayfield should have plenty of time against the Raiders to find his targets, although the Browns do run a low volume passing attack. Jared Goff is always a threat for 250 yards and two scores, although the matchup against the Dolphins isn’t ideal. Derek Carr has also quietly been a solid option this year, and gets a Cleveland defense that was just carved up by Joe Burrow and the Bengals.