Every week we will bring you our advice on which signal-callers have the potential to help your fantasy teams win. We will look at the previous weeks’ performances, the quarterbacks’ supporting cast, the matchup, and smart statistical insights to offer you the clearest picture of which QB to pick up from your waiver wire.
A solid 60 total fantasy points from our three streaming choices in Week 8 was a solid return. The big winner was Justin Fields (26.04 fantasy points in Yahoo! leagues), who made light work of a strong Cowboys defense to put up his best fantasy performance of the season. Fields has been electric over the past month and he showed his improvements as a passer to go along with his instincts as a runner to amass yardage and show why he has game-changing abilities.
We said we weren’t thrilled about including him but as we said last week the matchup was too good to ignore. So, if you did plump for Mr. Vanilla Jimmy Garoppolo, you would have been happy with his 21.70 fantasy points, buoyed by a fourth quarter defensive meltdown from the Rams. He served a purpose, let’s leave it at that.
It wasn’t the “prince-that-was-promised” performance we had hoped for from Daniel Jones (9.04 fantasy points) as the Seahawks defense played out of their skin and made it difficult for the Giants to lean on their running game. Jones struggled to move the ball through the air or on the ground and it didn’t help that the special teams unit coughed up two fumbles on punt returns. A day to forgot for Brian Daboll and his offense.
| QB | Matchup | % Rostered (Yahoo!) | Fantasy Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Jones, Giants | NYG at SEA | 40% | 9.04 |
| Justin Fields, Bears | CHI at DAL | 35% | 30.04 |
| Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers | SF at LAR | 54% | 21.70 |
Now, let’s look at the lay of the land for Week 9. Remember, the caveat is that our recommended players for streaming are less than 70% rostered in Yahoo! leagues.
The following teams are on bye this week – Dallas Cowboys (Dak Prescott), Denver Broncos (Russell Wilson), New York Giants (Daniel Jones), San Francisco 49ers (Jimmy Garoppolo), Cleveland Browns (Jacoby Brissett), Pittsburgh Steelers (Kenny Pickett).
| QB | Matchup | % Rostered (Yahoo!) | Projected Fantasy Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marcus Mariota, Falcons | ATL vs. LAC | 31% | 20.01 |
| Justin Fields, Bears | CHI vs. MIA | 63% | 19.88 |
| Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars | JAX vs. LV | 66% | 21.37 |
“Nothing Was About To Happen Until Something Happened”
Marcus Mariota, Falcons vs. Chargers
Arthur Smith‘s genius has moulded Marcus Mariota into a top-15 fantasy quarterback so far in 2022. The former first-round pick has found a home in Atlanta and his pure dual threat fantasy prowess is something everyone should be keeping an eye on through the bye weeks. Mariota’s 30.42 fantasy points in Week 8 came off the back of a season-best 253 yards and three passing touchdowns. He added 43 yards on six carries too to take his season’s rushing total to 280 on 55 carries. We can’t ignore that kind of production.
The Chargers defense have been hopeless against the run so far this season, allowing the second-most fantasy points to rushers. If Mariota is given the license to move the chains with his legs a little more than usual, he should improve upon the average 15.9 fantasy points the Chargers all allowing at the position per game. And with Justin Herbert hurling on the other side, the chance for another shootout is promising.
BYRDMAN
📺 FOX || NFL+ pic.twitter.com/PKeiAkPsel
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) October 30, 2022
“Stretching With Fields”
Justin Fields, Bears vs. Dolphins
The emergence of Justin Fields as a game-winning quarterback has been the most enjoyable development at the position in the league this season. The Bears signal caller has put up back-to-back weeks of 20+ fantasy points and has looked explosive as a passer on the move and effective on the ground thanks to creatively-designed quarterback runs from Luke Getsy. Alongside a burgeoning chemistry with Darnell Mooney and Cole Kmet, add newly-acquired receiver Chase Claypool into the mix and Fields suddenly has a promising group of offensive weapons to utilize. After putting up 30 fantasy points against the Cowboys, Fields is defense-proof so you don’t need to worry about the matchup.
Saying that, the Dolphins are giving up the seventh-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season and every week seems to produce a shootout. Fields and the Bears were ready to fire away.
.@justnfields ➡️ @ColeKmet for 6!
📺: #CHIvsDAL on FOX pic.twitter.com/KypoGuKyYc
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 30, 2022
“Lay Down The Law”
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars vs. Raiders
Second year Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is amid a five-game losing streak that has been defined by his Jekyll and Hyde-type performances on the field. Lawrence has shown progression in year two but it hasn’t been the kind of jump we would have hoped for. Turnovers continue to be an issue, however he has double-digit fantasy scores in every game this season and has a 10:6 TD:INT ratio. There is a pattern of a bounce back in fantasy after a poor showing, so this should be the week we see him respond.
A Las Vegas Raiders defense that is at best ragged awaits Lawrence in Jacksonville this weekend, and after a 24-0 loss against a mediocre Saints offense in Week 8, the Raiders are ripe for the picking. Trust in Trevor…I think!
.@Trevorlawrencee and @eazyengram playing pitch and catch.#DENvsJAX on ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/XdNfwFWxrM
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) October 30, 2022
Feature image by Michael Packard (@CollectingPack on Twitter) / Photography by David Rosenblum / Icon Sportswire