Gardner Minshew (QB, JAX) - Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 2QB Leagues

OWNED IN: 15% of Leagues

ANALYSIS: I might be a homer writing this little article, but I have believed in Gardner Minshew since the very first moment he took the field all the way back in Week 1 and he hasn’t disappointed just one bit. Sure, he’s had his bad moments mostly in Week 6 and the last two (13 and 14) prior to the last one, but that was that. Remember, Minshew is a sixth-round rookie! Facing a putrid Raiders Defense on Sunday he went back to throwing for more than 200 yards and scoring a couple of touchdowns in just 17 completions without being intercepted, adding 27 yards on the ground.

Minshew was averaging 21 FP during the first nine weeks of the season until Jacksonville opted to go with Nick Foles after coming back from their bye week. Wrong decision. I know, I know Minshew put on two duds in weeks 13 and 14 (147 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; and 162 yards, 1 TD respectively), but he was back to his average this last weekend. I truly believe Minshew is as good as his average indicates, and that he has a floor as high as those 20 points. He’s scored more or fewer than two points over/under that mark only four times this season, and he’s one of the least volatile players in the league.

If you want a safe play this weekend at your quarterback (better as a secondary option in 2QB leagues, though), Minshew should be your man. He’s barely rostered but not many players offer as high a floor as he does, and he has the upside to reach 25-plus points if everything works, plus he has that rushing edge other quarterbacks lack. The Falcons have the 28th-best defense against QBs in the league and their season is already done. I’d go after Minshew myself in any deep/2QB league and start him without much hesitation as a QB2 came championship weekend.