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. Last week we saw Dak Prescott ($6,800 DK, $8,300 FD) in primetime against the Rams and he came up short. We can debate the offensive pass interference, or lack thereof, against Michael Gallup at the end of the game but either way, Prescott could have been better. Against a tough Los Angeles defense Prescott was a pedestrian 25 of 39 for 266 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 30 yards on three carries so it’s not like it was a total disaster. If the Gallup play went differently we would have seen Prescott hit the 300-yard mark so I feel comfortable looking his way this week in a bounce back effort. With five receptions for 59 yards CeeDee Lamb wasted no time adjusting to the NFL and giving Prescott another weapon to utilize. The season ending injury to Blake Jarwin will hurt, but only slightly as Dalton Schultz should be able to step in without issue. Things will get a lot easier for Prescott and the Cowboys this week as they have an implied point total of 29 at home against a Falcons team that allowed Russell Wilsonto pass for 322 yards and four touchdowns last week.
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.
It took Ben Roethlisberger ($6,300 DK, $7,500 FD) into the second quarter to find his groove last week and it is for good reason as he missed the majority of last season with an elbow injury. Once Roethlisberger got going he was able to handle a weak Giants defense with 21 completions for 229 yards and three touchdowns. We don’t have to worry about chemistry with his top receiving options or Roethlisberger’s health and the Steelers offense should be able to build on last week’s success against the Broncos on Sunday.
Philip Rivers’ ($5,900 DK, $7,100 FD) debut could have gone better as the Colts were upset in Jacksonville. If you ask fantasy owners though, the answer would be slightly different as Rivers did throw for 363 yards while completing 36 passes. The problem though is that Rivers threw two interceptions against just one touchdown pass and a lot of that production came in garbage time as Indianapolis was trailing. But do we really care how we get the production? You have to like Rivers’ price this week and his situation also improves. Sunday marks his home debut (in a dome) and the Colts get to face a Minnesota team that was abused by Aaron Rodgers’ and Green Bay’s passing offense last week for 300-plus yards and four touchdowns.
I’m going to stay further down on the price list this week and look at his opponent from last week in Gardner Minshew ($5,800 DK, $7,000). Just as game flow worked in Rivers’ favor it worked in the opposite direction for his counterpart. Minshew only attempted 20 passes but he did complete 19 of them for 173 yards. More importantly the Jacksonville quarterback showed chemistry with multiple receivers as he threw three touchdown passes while adding 19 rushing yards on five carries. With the Jaguars entering the week as nine-point underdogs Minshew should be in better position to have a greater role in the offense for Jacksonville as they will need him.
Saving money is the theme at the quarterback position this week and I like Ryan Tannehill ($5,900 DK, $7,000 FD) and his price this week. Tannehill is on the other side of Minshew in the Jacksonville game and he had a solid start to the season against Denver on Monday with 249 yards passing and two touchdowns. After seeing Rivers have success against the Jaguars defense last week, there is no reason why Tannehill shouldn’t be able to put up a similar performance on Sunday.
Even though Cam Newton ($6,400 DK, $7,800 FD) ran for two touchdowns while being victorious in his debut with the Patriots, I’m still not willing to invest. Following last Sunday’s game we saw Newton grabbing his hamstring, and while there doesn’t appear to be any true issues to be concerned about, it is something we have to keep in the back of our minds with the majority of his value tied to his legs. It did work last week but it’s simply not possible or prudent to expect Newton to carry the ball 15 times for 75 yards and two touchdowns every game. Newton was limited as a passer completing just 15 of 19 passes for 155 yards against Miami so it really would have been a lost day were it not for the rushing success.
There were few season debuts that looked worse than the Eagles and Carson Wentz ($6,000 DK, $7,300 FD) on Sunday. Philadelphia’s offensive line was practically non-existent as Washington sacked Wentz eight times while he threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. Wentz never really had a chance to establish much in the way of momentum or a comfort level in the pocket and there is no reason to expect him to this week against the Rams. In fact things might even be worse for Wentz this week as Los Angeles’ defense is even stronger than Washington’s.
