You only start one quarterback so you better make it count. Quality and upside are important here while securing a solid floor. I know that sounds like a lot so let’s try and keep it simple. Look for a good matchup, a quarterback who has been performing well with a strong supporting cast, a defense that will be favorable to opposing signal callers, and a game script that supports success. For the most part, the quarterbacks at the top of the salary list speak for themselves as elite options, but here we dig deeper. Now that we got that out of the way, who fits that criteria for this week?
For those who have yet to subscribe, what are you waiting for? Until then you will get one free pick to whet your appetite. Earlier in the season taking this stance would have been unfathomable but Kirk Cousins ($6,400 DK, $7,300 FD) has become a viable DFS option. Last week, even without Adam Thielen, Cousins threw for 307 yards and three touchdowns as he continued his recent success. Over his last four games Cousins has thrown for 11 touchdowns as he has found his groove thanks in part to the support of a strong running game and the emergence of rookie receiving threat Justin Jefferson. For the season Cousins is at 2,768 passing yards and 23 touchdowns with 11 touchdowns and this week he gets to take advantage of one the weaker defenses in the league in Jacksonville.
Subscribers can now expect to get six more picks as we take a closer look at some more quarterbacks at varying price points who deserve our attention this week along with a few from whom we should keep our distance. And not all will break the back either which will leave plenty of room for help at running back and wide receiver. So, keep on going and take a look at what we have to offer.
By no means is this an exciting pick but Jared Goff ($5,800 DK, $7,200 FD) is worth your attention this week as a budget friendly option. Goff has a great match-up against an Arizona team that is in the top-five of points allowed to opposing quarterbacks and he does have some strong receiving options. While he does move the ball through the air (3,021) yards it would be nice to see Goff throw for more than 16 touchdowns. Based on the options this week I don’t feel comfortable going any lower from a salary perspective and how you feel about Goff really depends on your lineup build.
Justin Herbert ($6,900 DK, $7,900 FD) did eclipse the 300-yard mark once again last week (316 yards) but this week things came a little harder for the rookie with the majority of the production coming in garbage time. Before we go any further though we have to give Herbert a little credit though as he had to contend with a tough Buffalo secondary in throwing for just one late game touchdown. Herbert did benefit from the return of Austin Ekeler as a dump-off option underneath as now that just gives him one more weapon at his disposal. Last week was the first time since Week 7 that Herbert threw for less than two touchdowns and he is one of the more reliable options out there. The ceiling is there but with it comes a pretty solid floor as Herbert has yet to put up less than 19.7 Draft Kings points in a week. This week Herbert should rebound as he faces a New England defense that is not what it used to be.
It doesn’t get any more efficient than what we saw from Aaron Rodgers ($6,800 DK, $8,500 FD) last week as he completed 21 of his 28 pass attempts for 211 yards and four touchdowns. Rodgers has thrown for at least two touchdowns in all but one game so far this season and even then that accounted for just two more games. It shouldn’t be that surprising as Rodgers is at 33 touchdowns for the season compared to just four interceptions. His success isn’t the product of just a few explosive performances as Rodgers has also yet to throw for more than four touchdowns in a game while passing for 3,100 yards in total. While you don’t get much on the ground from Rodgers, it’s hard to argue with his performance through the air and it’s hard not to feel comfortable with the Green Bay quarterback in a solid match-up against the Eagles.
Russell Wilson ($7,700 DK, $9,000 FD) is the most expensive quarterback on the slate this week, for obvious reasons, and while I’m not running to roster Wilson it’s also hard to argue with his performance this season. Seattle is facing the Giants at home this week and New York is actually a tougher opponent on paper than one would think. That shouldn’t necessarily scare you off of Wilson as he is one of the few quarterbacks that is predictable and match-up proof and that counts for something. Well as long as he can fit in your lineup that is. A closer look reveals Wilson is coming off a sub-par three game stretch in which he failed to throw for more than 248 yards and has three touchdowns in total. For the season Wilson does have 31 touchdowns and 3,216 passing yards so you are forgiven if he catches your eye but there is also a substantial salary commitment here as well. This can go in either direction as I’ll never fully go against Wilson, but if I were to, this would be the week. However if you have a strong feeling in favor of Wilson and can fit him into your lineup than I can’t fully criticize it even if he’s not on my radar.
Another top option who I feel can go either way this week based on lack of options but is someone who I won’t be rostering is Deshaun Watson ($7,500 DK, $8,200 FD). I would resist the urge to overrate Watson based on his 318 passing yards and four touchdowns from last week as they came against a reeling Detroit team. Watson is now without his best receiver in a suspended Will Fullerand he steps up in weight class this week against Indianapolis.
After starting out non-committal on Wilson but leaning against him, and then becoming less enthusiastic on Watson I am truly keeping my distance from Kyler Murray ($7,600 DK, $8,700 FD). Murray is dealing with a shoulder injury and it showed last week as he threw for just 170 yards along with an interception. Overall Murray has 2,814 passing yards and 19 touchdowns but his true value has come on the ground with 650 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. While he is as good as it gets from that perspective it is not something I like to rely on and he only rushed for 31 yards last week against a mediocre New England team. This week things should get a lot more difficult for Murray against a tough Rams defense so you are best served looking elsewhere.
