Here is a review of your options to start at QB that you may be able to find available in your leagues. For this article, I am looking at options that are rostered in less than 50% of either ESPN and Yahoo leagues**. 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 matchup specific notes worth taking into consideration. As the season progresses, we’ll compare our points per game (combining the stats of our ‘Weekly QB of Record) to that of other QBs to see where you could stack up by just punting the position on draft day!
** Ownership and odds gathered 10/1/2021
Darnold put up a great performance as expected on Thursday night. He did a lot of his damage with 2 rushing TDs, but the points all count. His 25.26 points bring us up to QB14 on the season, and we'll look to continue climbing the ranks as the weeks continue. If you picked up Darnold, he looks like a prime candidate to continue producing, so I may ride him the rest of the way (or at least until the matchups get more difficult).
2021 Points Per Game: 20.37 (QB14)
Stream of the Week (Weekly QB of record):
Taylor Heinicke @ ATL (ESPN 8.6%; Yahoo 9%; Sleeper 18.9%)
-1.5 // 48 (Implied totals: W 24.75 – 23.25)
Heinicke has put up over 20 points per game in his 2 starts, and he now gets the Falcons defense that have given up 32 points to the Eagles & 48 to the Bucs (we’ll ignore the 17-14 win over the Giants, as their WR corps was decimated in the game). You can expect 250 passing yards, with 2+ TDs from the newly minted Bud Light spokesperson (you snooze, you lose, Heineken). With Curtis Samuel set to make his season debut, and Antonio Gibson a little banged up (expected to play through a shin contusion), I’d expect that Washington will try to protect their young running back and take advantage of Atlanta’s struggling defense.
Alternative Options:
Jameis Winston vs NYG (ESPN 30.4%; Yahoo 41%, Sleeper 46.4%)
-7 // 42 (Implied totals: W 24.5 – 17.5)
Winston has been all over the place this year, with a fantastic performance in Week 1 when the Saints obliterated the Packers along with a dud against the Panthers. This feels like a stronger spot, though, as the Giants have allowed at least 243 yards through the air and 2 passing TDs in each of their games, thus far. I think Jameis is able to get things going again, as the Saints defense will have the opportunity to put the offense in good spots while the Giants are missing 2 of their top 3 WRs.
Sam Darnold @ DAL (ESPN 17.4%; Yahoo 35%; Sleeper 42.5%)
+4.5 // 51.5 (Implied totals: L 23.5 – 28)
Sam Darnold is in one of the better game environments of the week. He heads to Dallas, which has given up over 300 yards and 2 TDs per game (while also missing players along their defensive line). In addition, the Panthers are missing All-World RB Christian McCaffrey who is healing up from a hamstring injury. Expect them to lean on Darnold’s arm more than usual given the adjusted personnel. While I would expect D.J. Moore to get shadowed (I’m not sitting him, but I doubt he has a ceiling game), Darnold will be able to spread the ball around to Robby Anderson, Terrace Marshall, and rookie Tommy Tremble for another solid outing.
Other Options for Deeper Leagues:
Carson Wentz @ MIA (ESPN 5.3%; Yahoo 12%; Sleeper 20.5%)
Jimmy Garoppolo vs SEA (ESPN 4.5%; Yahoo 12%; Sleeper 17.7%)
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