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. Before anyone thinks I have gone mad, although that is still very possible, Russell Wilson and Dak Prescott speak for themselves this week as options so we aren’t going to give them any further attention. But given their status atop the salary chart it’s not something that we really need to go in depth on as it comes down to roster construction. One option on the money saving path is Mitch Trubisky ($5,700 DK, $7,500 FD). After the first half last week against the Giants it appeared Trubisky was on his way towards having himself a solid day but things slowed down for him in the second half. Ultimately he finished the day by going 18 of 28 passing for 190 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. That gave Trubisky five touchdowns through the first two weeks of the season and that is a total that should grow this week. Through the first two weeks of the season we have seen the boost that the Atlanta defense has given to opposing quarterbacks and we can expect more of the same this week. Now no one is saying that Trubisky’s performance will equate with Prescott’s or Wilson’s success but the groundwork for a solid week is there as we can expect a lot of offense.
Behind the paywall, we will continue to take a closer look at some more quarterbacks who deserve our attention this week along with a few from whom we should keep our distance. Not all will break the bank 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.
After throwing for 311 yards and two touchdowns we only saw Ben Roethlisberger’s ($6,400 DK, $7,500 FD) price increase by $100 on Draft Kings and that earns him a mention here for the second straight week. Over the first two weeks of the season Roethlisberger has five touchdown passes and he is growing increasingly comfortable with his assortment of weapons. Nine Steelers’ had receptions on Sunday and, perhaps even more importantly, we saw Roethlisberger looking down field with ease as the highlight of the day was an 84-yard touchdown reception by rookie Chase Claypool. That gives Roethlisberger four receivers who are capable of making that connection and he should continue his success this week at home against Houston.
Jared Goff ($5,600 DK, $7,200 FD) is in an interesting position as the Rams have come out of the gates this season focused on the running game. While it is all we have to go off of to form an opinion, two games don’t necessarily make a trend. After all we have certainly seen what the Rams and Goff are capable of when they focus on putting the ball in the air down the field so we know that the ability is there. Despite that focus last week we still saw Goff throw for 267 yards and three touchdown passes in Philadelphia, so for the price it’s hard to argue with that return. This week Goff faces the Bills and with the Jets as one of Buffalo’s two opponents it’s hard to form much of a judgement on their defense. We know the expectations and talent are there but Miami did have success passing the ball against them and Goff should be able to do the same this week.
Perhaps my favorite pick of the week based on price and production is Derek Carr ($5,400 DK, $6,800 FD). With Josh Jacobs the Raiders have a strong running game so that helps to take some of the focus off Carr and he hasn’t struggled to find targets to throw to either. As he threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns last week against the Saints, Carr connected with 11 different receivers. This week Carr faces off against the Patriots who thus far have been favorable to opposing quarterbacks with a lot of that success coming at the hands of Wilson. The fact that Carr doesn’t run does limit some of his upside but as the game went on last week we saw the Las Vegas quarterback get more and more locked in.
We can’t bring up running as a quarterback without jumping to my other favorite option for the week in Kyler Murray ($6,800 DK, $8,400 FD). Now things do get more expensive with Murray but he is almost two players in one. If we took his production as a runner in the first two weeks of the season (13 carries for 91 yards and a touchdown to start the season followed by eight carries for 67 yards and two touchdowns last week) we would have a solid running back. Then factor in Murray’s 286 passing yards along with a third touchdown as a passer and we are looking at a valuable commodity who should continue his success this week against the Lions. Murray completed two passes of greater than 40 yards last week as it is apparent he has a multitude of weapons at his disposal.
We can’t argue with Josh Allen’s ($6,900 DK, $8,100 FD) success to start the season but maybe we should take a step back this week. So far this season the Rams have shut down both Prescott and Carson Wentz and Allen should struggle as he faces his toughest opponent so far this season as no one is scared of the Jets’ or Dolphins’ defense. Allen does have 729 passing yards and six touchdowns through the first two weeks of the season and he has looked surprisingly sharp but he should face more resistance this week. After his success in the first two weeks of the season Allen is now the third most expensive option on Draft Kings and he is simply not worth the investment.
Entering last week I was optimistic on Philip Rivers ($6,000 DK, $7,000 FD) as he was in a favorable situation facing Minnesota. Instead Rivers completed just 19 passes for 214 yards and one touchdown in what was a blowout victory for the Colts. As he faces the Jets this week you would expect him to have success but based on how he performed against the Vikings, I’m not sure that is the case if the game will follow a similar script. And with Rivers not running a quarterback option his upside is limited.
