In standard scoring leagues, no position lights up the fantasy scoreboard like QBs. In 2014, for example, the top six point scorers--and 12 of the top 14--were QBs. It's why after losing Ben Roethlisberger four weeks ago to a multi-game injury, I traded for the then-19th highest scoring QB, Philip Rivers. Rivers was on the verge of an eight-game stretch facing middling-to-awful pass defenses. If I hadn't secured Rivers, I probably would have been 4-3 in that league instead of 6-1.
My biggest QB target last week was the benchable Kirk Cousins (4 TDs). The week before that it was the nearly benchable Matthew Stafford (4 TDs). This is how titles are won.
With that in mind, here are some middling QBs I like this week:
#1 on the list is Brian Hoyer, who's ranked a surprising 20th among Fantasy Pros' composite of 128 experts. Hoyer as a 10-2 TD-INT ratio in his past four contests. With Arian Foster out for the year, Hoyer will be more likely to throw in the red zone. I'm projecting 3+ TDs, at least two of which will go to the league's arguably #1 receiver, DeAndre Hopkins.
For the desperate, Matt Cassel has a pretty low floor. The 28th ranked Week 8 QB will finish in the top 20 this week. Dez Bryant's expected return couldn't come at a better time. Don't expect miracles against a tough Seattle D. But there's no way Cassel should be the lowest ranked fantasy QB (remember: four teams are on bye, so only 28 are playing). He'll be good for 11-15 points--a nice find in 2-QB leagues.
18+ points for Teddy Bridgewater? Book it. Stefon Diggs and, yes, Mike Wallace will have good days against a just-plain-bad Chicago defense. Bridgewater was a trendy low-end QB1 in many drafts and hasn't come close to meeting expectations. But he has the talent around him to be a nearly automatic starter against bottom-10 defenses.
And Joe Flacco (17th ranked Week 8 QB) will need to keep up with Rivers & company. Justin Forsett won't be enough. Expect 2+ scores for Flacco and a solid 20+ points.
My biggest QB target last week was the benchable Kirk Cousins (4 TDs). The week before that it was the nearly benchable Matthew Stafford (4 TDs). This is how titles are won.
With that in mind, here are some middling QBs I like this week:
#1 on the list is Brian Hoyer, who's ranked a surprising 20th among Fantasy Pros' composite of 128 experts. Hoyer as a 10-2 TD-INT ratio in his past four contests. With Arian Foster out for the year, Hoyer will be more likely to throw in the red zone. I'm projecting 3+ TDs, at least two of which will go to the league's arguably #1 receiver, DeAndre Hopkins.
For the desperate, Matt Cassel has a pretty low floor. The 28th ranked Week 8 QB will finish in the top 20 this week. Dez Bryant's expected return couldn't come at a better time. Don't expect miracles against a tough Seattle D. But there's no way Cassel should be the lowest ranked fantasy QB (remember: four teams are on bye, so only 28 are playing). He'll be good for 11-15 points--a nice find in 2-QB leagues.
18+ points for Teddy Bridgewater? Book it. Stefon Diggs and, yes, Mike Wallace will have good days against a just-plain-bad Chicago defense. Bridgewater was a trendy low-end QB1 in many drafts and hasn't come close to meeting expectations. But he has the talent around him to be a nearly automatic starter against bottom-10 defenses.
And Joe Flacco (17th ranked Week 8 QB) will need to keep up with Rivers & company. Justin Forsett won't be enough. Expect 2+ scores for Flacco and a solid 20+ points.