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. Justin Herbert ($6,600 DK, $8,000 FD) continues to move the ball downfield for the Chargers through the air and he is coming off his fourth 300-plus yard passing game of the season but he is still reasonably priced. Herbert came very close to a third touchdown pass and leading the Chargers to victory last week but despite falling just short it’s hard to find much fault in the rookie’s performance as through seven game he has 17 touchdown passes against just five interceptions. It will likely be another shootout this week for Herbert against the Dolphins and it is an encouraging sign to see the chemistry developing between Herbert and both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.
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.
Call me boring and predictable but when I find something that I like and works for me, why deviate? When I can save money at the same time that becomes even more enticing. Drew Lock ($5,500 DK, $7,100 FD) is coming off his first 300-plus yard performance of the season with 313 yards and two touchdowns in Atlanta last week. Over his past two games Lock has five touchdown passes against just two interceptions while rushing for a touchdown in two of his last three games. Lock is healthy and the Denver passing game is rounding into form while Jerry Jeudy is coming off the best performance of his career. The Raiders allowed 326 passing yards to Herbert last week and there is no reason why Lock can’t duplicate that effort this week.
Why not take advantage of the defense that has allowed the most points to opposing quarterbacks so far this season? That would be the Seahawks and this week’s beneficiary is Jared Goff ($6,500 DK, $7,400 FD) and the Rams. Goff is coming off his bye week and while he has 2,145 passing yards through his first eight games of the season there hasn’t been too much about his performance that really jumps off the page. I know that sounds like more of a negative but he has eclipsed the 300-yard mark on three occasions so far this season and with Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods there are weapons for Goff to throw to. This is really more about targeting the Seahawks though as they allowed Josh Allen to carve up their defense for 415 yards through the air last week.
Let’s stick with a theme and target another defense that struggles against opposing quarterbacks in Buffalo. The Bills have allowed the second most points against the position so far this season so let’s jump to the top of salary list on Draft Kings with Kyler Murray ($8,000 DK, $8,800 FD). Based on Murray’s performance we would likely be targeting him regardless of the opponent but it certainly doesn’t hurt. Considering that only one other player eclipsed the century mark in rushing yards last week (106 and a touchdown), Murray might have value strictly as a running back. So far this season Murray is up to 543 rushing yards and eight touchdowns as he marches towards the 1,000-yard mark but he has been pretty good in his day job as well with 2,130 passing yards and 16 touchdowns. The most useful part of Murray’s production on the ground is that he has only gone one game without a rushing touchdown giving us some predictability.
After two weeks without a touchdown pass I was beginning to pump the brakes slightly on Josh Allen ($7,500 DK, $8,700 FD) as a natural reflex but he showed this past week that it was unwarranted. Granted Allen did face a Seattle team struggling against opposing quarterbacks but he was close to flawless with 415 passing yards (for the second time this season) and three touchdowns while running for a fourth. This week things should remain just as favorable against Arizona as Allen looks to build on his successful season. In five of his nine games this season Allen has surpassed the 300-yard mark and for the season he is at 2,589 yards with 19 touchdowns compared to just five interceptions while adding another five touchdowns on the ground.
Based on how he has been performing this season, and last week at that, it sounds odd to say we are fading Russell Wilson ($7,700 DK, $8,900 FD). It is not about performance as Wilson threw for 390 yards and two touchdowns last week (although most did come in garbage time with Seattle trailing) but instead about the opponent. The Rams have been incredibly stingy against opposing quarterbacks so far this season while holding the opposition to just 197 passing yards per game. Wilson has been consistently successful all season with 2,541 passing yards and 28 touchdowns but everyone is entitled to a speed bump game and that will likely come this week for him as we can do better for the price.
Another quarterback with a tough match-up this week is Joe Burrow ($5,700 DK, $7,200 FD) as he faces the Steelers. The rookie is coming off a solid performance last week with 249 passing yards and two touchdowns and he has done a solid job of moving the ball. For the Bengals there is nothing wrong with Burrow’s performance as this is the beginning of what they expect to be a long and successful relationship, but picking a DFS lineup is the complete opposite. While Burrow has thrown for 2,272 yards he has thrown for just 11 touchdowns so far this season with three games without a touchdown as that limits his upside.
