I could go on and on about Patrick Mahomes being by far the most consistent fantasy football quarterback on a consistent basis, but I just can’t get over the top-10 quarterbacks from week 6.
Specifically, Brock Osweiler.
Osweiler finished week 6 with the sixth-most fantasy points among quarterbacks, making it even more apparent that quarterbacks can be found in fantasy football from the depths of the waiver wire. You just have to pick the right one.
And it wasn’t only Osweiler who dotted the top-10 that is a regular waiver wire contributor. Dak Prescott, Jameis Winston and Mitchell Trubisky were all top-10 options in week 6. Especially with bye weeks upon us, finding the right matchup, and in some cases getting lucky, can propel your team to better fantasy football totals.
There’s four teams on bye this week, so here’s the week 7 fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em guide for quarterbacks.
Start
Eli Manning vs. Atlanta Falcons
At this point, it’s imperative to start whoever is quarterbacking against Atlanta.
The Falcons are consistently terrible on the defensive side of the ball and that’s not changing anytime soon. In the last four games, the Falcons are giving up almost 30 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, the most in the NFL.
In the last three weeks, the Falcons are giving up 8.5 yards per pass attempt, the fourth-worst mark in the NFL.
So even though I’m not jazzed about Manning or the Giants, Manning is going to be a QB1, especially with the bye weeks happening. Manning still has a lot of talent around him. He can spread around the ball to multiple options and the Giants should move the chains on a consistent basis against a Falcons defense still reeling from all the injuries.
Baker Mayfield vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
If there’s any team worse than Atlanta on the defensive side of the ball, it may be Tampa Bay.
The Bucs are giving up the second-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks in the last four weeks, just two points shy of the Falcons. Even more problematic, though, is that Tampa Bay’s terrible pass defense may actually be getting worse. It’s allowing 9.8 yards per pass attempt in the last three weeks, up from its season average of 9, which is the worst in the NFL.
Mayfield is going to have some ups and downs, and week 6 was a good reminder of that. He’s still being trusted to chuck it around the field plenty and the Buccaneers won’t rush the quarterback like Los Angeles did in week 6. I’d put faith in Mayfield in week 7.
Andy Dalton vs. Kansas City Chiefs
It’s like a broken record, but it’s worth repeating. Dalton hasn’t been bad this season.
Even in a game where he had his lowest passing output of the season in a week 6, rain-filled game, he was close to QB1 level. He tossed two touchdowns, giving him multiple touchdowns in five of six weeks.
Kansas City’s defense is definitely the team’s weakness and with the injuries piling up, it’s become more noticeable.
Kansas City ranks 27th in yards per pass attempt allowed in the NFL and they’re giving up the fourth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks in the last four weeks. Dalton is needed to deliver against Kansas City and he should have enough trust to put up some volume.
Sit
Jameis Winston vs. Cleveland Browns
That was a nice week 6 performance by Winston, but don’t trust that again in week 7.
The Buccaneers are having major troubles and despite Winston’s top fantasy output in week 6, that won’t be the case against the Browns. Cleveland is actually pretty good on the defensive side of the ball, notwithstanding what we witnessed in week 6.
The Browns rank eighth in yards per pass attempt allowed and are giving up the eighth-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks in the last four weeks.
This is a case where you can’t count on the results from the previous week. Winston will crash back to earth, while Cleveland will return to its better defensive effort.
Joe Flacco vs. New Orleans Saints
At one point this season, Flacco was turning in some nice fantasy totals. That may continue for the majority of the season, but I don’t like this matchup.
New Orleans started slow, but they’ve started to find their groove on both sides of the ball.
On the season, New Orleans is giving up 8.6 yards per pass attempt, ranking 30th in the NFL. In the last three weeks, though, the Saints are allowing 7.3 yards per pass attempt, ranking closer to the middle of the pack. In fantasy scoring, they’re in the top-10 in fewest fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks in the last two games.
The Ravens don’t necessarily need Flacco to be competitive. That should be the case against the Saints, too.
Kirk Cousins vs. New York Jets
I have Cousins on my borderline for QB1/2.
He’s had a successful year, but there’s just something missing. He’s turning the ball over at too high of a rate, with at least one fumble in each of the last four games.
He also doesn’t generally make up for that with touchdowns, with just one touchdown pass in three of the last four weeks.
If he’s not putting up major yardage totals, his fantasy production has been limited. The Jets are good against the pass, and they’re opportunistic. This has the makings of being a more low-scoring affair, so I’m siding with the running games in this contest, and fading Cousins.
