C.J. Beathard (QB, SF) - Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 3% of Leagues

ANALYSIS: While ultimately outdueled by Philip Rivers, San Francisco 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard played admirably in his season debut last week against the Chargers. He was 23-for-37 passing with 298 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions. It wasn’t a masterful performance by any means, but better than you might think. That’s the mantra those relying on Beathard should repeat to themselves, “Better than you might think.” Last year he had a couple of decent performances, including a 25-point game against the Giants in Week 10. The weapons in San Francisco aren’t terrible either, with Matt Breida, Marquise Goodwin, George Kittle, and Pierre Garcon. Beathard even chips in with his legs at times, rushing 26 times for 136 yards and three touchdowns last year and seven times for 19 yards in this game. In two-quarterback leagues or super-flex leagues Beathard should be owned. There will almost certainly be some stinkers from him, but for deep leagues he can used against a bad secondary.

San Francisco faces a soft schedule in terms of opposing defenses up until their Week 11 bye. Only the Rams are a truly tough matchup, and the Giants are a borderline tough matchup right now. The Giants have mostly been good, but it’s too early to be sure they are legitimate. After the bye week he’d face the best matchup in the universe against Tampa Bay as well. For owners desperate for a warm body you could do worse than Beathard.