The first two weeks of the NFL season is proof once again why drafting quarterbacks early in the fantasy football draft is not a wise decision.
Ryan Fitzpatrick is still available on many waiver wires in fantasy football and he’s leading all players in fantasy scoring with more than 70 points in the first two weeks. Patrick Mahomes, the player second on that list, is just five points behind him.
Both of those players were either late draft picks or not picked at all. With Mahomes, I see some serious long-term value with him at the quarterback position. I’m not as optimistic with Fitzpatrick.
Both of those players will get plenty of looks in week 3. For the questionable starts and sits, here’s the week 3 fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em guide for quarterbacks.
Start
Jimmy Garoppolo vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Garoppolo in week 2 looked like the quarterback we saw toward the end of the 2017 season. He delivered crisp passes and steered clear of the turnovers.
I would like to see his yardage total increased, but with such a solid running game in week 2, it’s difficult to blame him for throwing for only 206 yards in week 2.
Garoppolo will draw another leaky secondary in week 3 against Kansas City. For all the hype surrounding Kansas City so far this season, it has been less-than-stellar on the defensive side of the ball, especially in the secondary.
The Chiefs are allowing 7.7 yards per pass attempt, good enough for 23rd in the NFL, and they’re allowing the most fantasy points per game against quarterbacks. The first two assignments have been difficult chores, going against Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers.
However, with such a high-powered offense, I expect teams to be playing catch-up for most of the season. That’s a good thing for fantasy football owners with Kansas City’s offensive skill positions. But it’s bad for anyone backing that defense.
Ben Roethlisberger vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Don’t sell your Steelers stock just yet. Pittsburgh has had a rough start to the season, but with all the distractions circulating around Pittsburgh, it shouldn’t be surprising.
Turnovers have been a major problem and they haven’t put together a full game just yet. Despite the problems, there have been some encouraging signs, especially in the passing game (minus the turnovers).
Roethlisberger has actually been one of the best in the passing yards department. He has 787 yards passing in the first two games, with one of those contests in a constant rain storm.
And now he gets a Tampa Bay team that is allowing 8.1 yards per pass attempt on the season. Even in a nice victory against Nick Foles and Philadelphia in week 2, the Buccaneers still allowed almost seven yards per pass attempt.
Injuries are hindering Tampa Bay and Roethlisberger should be trusted against this secondary. Don’t fret about the Steelers just yet.
Blake Bortles vs. Tennessee Titans
Bortles isn’t a consistently good fantasy football quarterback. In fact, he’ll drive you insane in multiple ways.
With Leonard Fournette dealing with injuries, it actually increases Bortles’ value as a streaming fantasy option. The one major issue for Bortles’ fantasy value in this game is all about usage. If the Jaguars trust him like they did in week 2, then this is a great streaming play.
The Titans have been consistently bad at stopping the opposition’s quarterbacks. Tennessee is giving up 8.5 yards per pass attempt, the third-worst mark in the NFL.
If Jacksonville can avoid its desire to run, run, pass, then Bortles can put up solid fantasy numbers. Trust that approach against a leaky Tennessee secondary.
Sit
Philip Rivers vs. Los Angeles Rams
Rivers has been really good this season, but he’s not a consistently usable fantasy option each week.
He has six touchdowns against just one interception. Most importantly, he’s been able to stay upright, which has been a major problem in his career. This week offers a far different challenge, though.
Los Angeles is allowing less than four fantasy points per game against quarterbacks. That’s the best number in the NFL.
This game offers a new challenge for the Rams, but you still shouldn’t trust Rivers. Los Angeles has a dynamic pass rush and Rivers has been slicing through bad defenses in the first two weeks. Kansas City and Buffalo are allowing the most and the fourth-most fantasy points per game against quarterbacks.
This isn’t the place to trust Rivers. There are other viable quarterbacks who have better matchups in week 3.
Dak Prescott vs. Seattle Seahawks
Prescott is likely on the cusp of QB1’s in fantasy football. He wasn’t terrible in week 2, but I’m still fading him in week 3.
The Dallas offense just doesn’t have the weapons to stretch the field. The running game is how Dallas will move the ball this season and that shouldn’t hold back this team that much overall. However, it does dampen Prescott’s fantasy value.
He only has 330 yards passing this season and his rushing total hasn’t been enough to make up for the lack of passing yardage. He has looked hesitant to run the football so far this season, so until he that disappears, and he gets comfortable running the football again, I’m keeping him on the bench.
Russell Wilson vs. Dallas Cowboys
I know you drafted Wilson high in fantasy football drafts.
But Wilson isn’t worth a start against a team capable of constantly harassing him.
The Cowboys have been one of the best NFL teams in terms of sacking the quarterback. The Seahawks have been one of the worst teams at stopping the opposition’s pass rush.
That’s a bad omen heading into week 3 for Seattle. It’s not just the offensive line play that has me concerned for the Seahawks. The weapons are non-existent in Seattle at the moment and it doesn’t appear like it’s getting better. The defense doesn’t create enough short fields anymore for Seattle either, and Wilson’s rushing ability has been limited in the early going.
There are better options available in week 3. Forget about the draft capital you spent on Wilson and consider other options in his place.
