Quarterback is so important this year. The best have been great (except for Lamar Jackson) and there have been some breakouts! Chances are that if you drafted or scooped up a rookie QB off of the waiver wire, you’re pretty happy right now. It’s kind of rare that the top 3 quarterbacks taken in an NFL draft are so fantasy relevant in their rookie season. It’s even more surprising because just one rookie quarterback began the year as the starter under center.
But it’s not just rookies that are shining. Kyler Murray had a good rookie year and has made his second year campaign an even bigger deal. Many of us expected this with the addition of DeAndre Hopkins, but there was clearly still value in his draft price. Josh Allen hadn’t had a 300 yard passing game in his first two seasons coming into this year, but yesterday, he threw for over 300 yards in the first half against Seattle. I have four names to get to this week. Let’s get started.
Stealin’
Tua Tagovailoa
Tua played second fiddle to Joe Burrow when it came to the NFL draft process and I don’t think many people would have expected that coming into the 2019 college season. Just because Joe Burrow is great, doesn’t mean Tua can’t be as well. After all, Joe Burrow had the greatest college quarterback season of all time in 2019. Miami was the perfect landing spot for Tua. Brian Flores is the real deal. And I don’t buy that crap about the rest of this season being a test run for Tua to see if they should draft another QB in the 2021 draft outside of trying to motivate Tagovailoa.
Tagovailoa’s first start against the Rams was shaky at best, and Sunday was much better. Tua was even able to rush for 35 yards this time around on top of throwing two touchdown passes. Preston Williams was carted off, but to this point, tests have come back negative so this is great news. The Dolphins have a soft schedule against pass defenders the rest of the way. There will be struggles in between, but you’re grabbing Tua for the playoff run, which includes the Pats, Chiefs, and Raiders. By the time this part of the competitive Dolphins’ schedule comes around, Tagovailoa should be running and passing on all cylinders.
Drew Lock
Drew Lock might be entering his final audition to be the long term quarterback. As dire of a proposition as that seems, he’s been pretty damn good for fantasy the last couple of weeks. Last week Lock led a 4th quarter comeback for the ages against the unluckiest team in the history of the NFL, the Chargers. On Sunday, Lock came up short against Atlanta, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying. Lock had 3 total touchdowns for the 2nd week in a row and one was on the ground. He even added in 47 yards on the ground. I don’t hate this Denver offense! Jerry Jeudy seems to be coming into his own, a personal favorite KJ Hamler is seeing the field more, and I like Noah Fant when he is healthy. Denver won’t be a playoff team, but they definitely won’t quit trying to put up points as the season pushes on. The Broncos have the Panthers, Bills, and Chargers on the fantasy playoff schedule.
Dealin’
Josh Allen
Josh Allen’s stock will never be higher. He’s coming off of the game of his career in unseasonably warm Buffalo temperatures against a team traveling across the country. It’s only going to get colder in Buffalo and before last week, Allen was regressing quite a bit. Down the stretch in make-it-break-it weeks 13 and 14, Buffalo travels across the country to San Francisco and then back home to host the Steelers. Getting a couple of nice pieces for Allen could be very beneficial down the stretch.
Ben Roethlisberger
Thankfully, Ben had a good final stat line on Sunday because I had him in the start column for week 9. But his arm looks absolutely cooked. This isn’t a good thing heading into the cold winter Sundays of the Northeast. Ravens and WFT are on the schedule late in the season and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Steelers take the ball out of Big Ben’s hands as often as possible down the stretch to feed Conner if they grow their lead for the 1 seed.
