How can an NFL story overshadow Thursday Night Football? When the #1 fantasy QB is lost for the year on a fluke play in practice.
Deshaun Watson did in six starts what top-point-scorer Alex Smith has done in eight starts. And if you remove Watson's somewhat shaky debut performance, you're looking at 19 TDs in five games--a pace that over a 16-game season would have eclipsed Peyton Manning's record. In total, Watson was on pace for 48 touchdowns, which would have obliterated Russell Wilson's rookie record of 29. He ends the season as the league leader in QB rushing yards, averaging an incredible 7.5 yards per carry. And the accolades could go on and on. . . .
His loss is on par with Aaron Rodgers', and a good case could be made that it's even more impactful. Both QBs are largely defense-proof, and both teams have two receivers capable of producing WR1 numbers. So let's not kid ourselves: DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller--quite possibly fantasy's two highest scoring WRs these past four weeks--will be knocked down several pegs. Hopkins will be a WR3 with short-term upside (they're playing the Colts this weekend), while the scarcely used Fuller (three catches a games to go with an incredible two TDs per game) could be a WR4 or worse after this week.
Am I being a bit too dramatic? No. Look how Brett Hundley managed the Packers' offense two weeks ago. Understand that when a bottom-5 QB steps in, there's generally room for no more than one meaningful contributor. Green Bay's leading receiver was Martellus Bennett (two catches for 17 yards and no scores). In Houston, Watson will be replaced by Tom Savage, who last year was atrocious from a fantasy perspective: zero TDs in nearly three games.
This is a red-alert situation. I'm not sure what anyone will give you for Hopkins or Fuller. But with Week 15/16 games against the Jags and Steelers, it would be wrong to expect either of those receivers being startable when the season matters most.
Deshaun Watson did in six starts what top-point-scorer Alex Smith has done in eight starts. And if you remove Watson's somewhat shaky debut performance, you're looking at 19 TDs in five games--a pace that over a 16-game season would have eclipsed Peyton Manning's record. In total, Watson was on pace for 48 touchdowns, which would have obliterated Russell Wilson's rookie record of 29. He ends the season as the league leader in QB rushing yards, averaging an incredible 7.5 yards per carry. And the accolades could go on and on. . . .
His loss is on par with Aaron Rodgers', and a good case could be made that it's even more impactful. Both QBs are largely defense-proof, and both teams have two receivers capable of producing WR1 numbers. So let's not kid ourselves: DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller--quite possibly fantasy's two highest scoring WRs these past four weeks--will be knocked down several pegs. Hopkins will be a WR3 with short-term upside (they're playing the Colts this weekend), while the scarcely used Fuller (three catches a games to go with an incredible two TDs per game) could be a WR4 or worse after this week.
Am I being a bit too dramatic? No. Look how Brett Hundley managed the Packers' offense two weeks ago. Understand that when a bottom-5 QB steps in, there's generally room for no more than one meaningful contributor. Green Bay's leading receiver was Martellus Bennett (two catches for 17 yards and no scores). In Houston, Watson will be replaced by Tom Savage, who last year was atrocious from a fantasy perspective: zero TDs in nearly three games.
This is a red-alert situation. I'm not sure what anyone will give you for Hopkins or Fuller. But with Week 15/16 games against the Jags and Steelers, it would be wrong to expect either of those receivers being startable when the season matters most.