RADIO
Week 12 finally delivered a strong scoring output that fantasy managers have been craving. 12 teams scored at least four touchdowns on offense, including high-powered shootouts between the Raiders and Cowboys, Buccaneers and Colts, Vikings and 49ers, and the Packers and Rams. After several weeks of low-scoring outputs, offenses finally started to liven up and provide good fantasy production. That also translated to the quarterback position.
Seven quarterbacks were able to eclipse the 300-yard passing mark, including the duo of Dak Prescott (375 passing yards) and Derek Carr (373 passing yards). Fantasy managers got expected passing performances from Aaron Rodgers (307 yards), Justin Herbert (303 yards), and Matthew Stafford (302). There were also some unexpected big passing games from Andy Dalton (317 yards), Mac Jones (310 yards), and Carson Wentz (306 yards). Additionally, there was one quarterback with four passing touchdowns (Josh Allen), two quarterbacks with three passing touchdowns (Wentz and Stafford), and seven quarterbacks with two passing touchdowns. Looking ahead to Week 13, we will once again have four teams on bye. Fantasy teams featuring the Browns, Packers, Titans, and Panthers will be looking for quarterback options as they prepare for the fantasy playoffs.
In this article, I will be focusing on players who are under 65% rostered in fantasy leagues while adding a couple of deep sleepers for two-quarterback leagues (less than 20% rostered).
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Carson Wentz (QB, IND)
Yahoo: 58% rostered
Carson Wentz delivered once again in a game he was forced to throw the ball. Wentz completed 61% of his passes for 306 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions against a depleted Buccaneers secondary. Wentz also added three carries for 21 yards. After two bad games, Wentz was able to continue his positive growth as a passer in Indianapolis after a disastrous 2020 in Philadelphia. The Colts’ quarterback now has eight games with multiple passing touchdowns and seven games with at least 18 fantasy points.
Indianapolis won’t have to air it out to win next week’s game against Houston, but every pass will have a chance to find the red zone against one of the worst secondaries in football. In their last matchup, Wentz completed 11 of 20 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns. Indianapolis will have a bye in Week 14, so Wentz is just a Band-Aid to push for playoff seeding. Given the way Wentz has played this season, it is a short-term decision worth making.
Taylor Heinicke (QB, WFT)
Yahoo 35% rostered
The Washington Football Team won’t kick off until tonight, but Heinicke has shown flashes of being a viable fantasy quarterback numerous times throughout the 2021 season. Heinicke has put together a stretch of four double-digit fantasy performances. Heinicke has back-to-back games with zero interceptions and has four games with multiple passing touchdowns. Heinicke also has understated rushing upside, registering at least 10 rushing yards in eight of nine games played this season. With Ryan Fitzpatrick still on the injured reserve, Heinicke is all but assured of his starting spot in Washington.
Heinicke will have a solid stretch of games to push fantasy managers over the hump and into the playoffs (or a higher seeding). After Week 12’s game against Seattle, Heinicke will have matchups against the Raiders and Cowboys in Weeks 13 and 14. The Washington offense is starting to get healthy again with Logan Thomas set to make his return. Heinicke is poised to have some big games and could be just the push needed with numerous teams on bye coming up.
Tua Tagovailoa (QB, MIA)
Yahoo: 33% rostered
Tua Tagovailoa continues to produce solid fantasy numbers in Miami even with his mysterious “injuries” and benchings. Tua completed 27 of 31 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown in a huge win against Carolina in Week 12. He also added four carries but didn’t register any yards. Despite the lack of touchdowns, Tua had his sixth straight game with double-digit fantasy points. Miami’s passing attack has been sustained by the continued growth of Jaylen Waddle and his continued rapport with Tagovailoa from their days at Alabama. The Dolphins are on a four-game winning streak thanks to Tua’s consistent play from the quarterback position.
Like Wentz, Tua is just a Band-Aid situation with the Dolphins’ bye coming up during Week 14. The Giants have been solid this season and are fresh off shutting down Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ offense. However, if your team is going to make the playoffs, then Tua has an intriguing stretch of games post-bye against the Jets, Saints, and Titans secondaries.
2QB Options and Stashes
Tyrod Taylor (QB, HOU)
Yahoo: 11% rostered
Tyrod Taylor isn’t a fantastic quarterback, but his rushing upside makes him a consistent QB2 with a solid floor. Taylor has double-digit scoring performances in four of his five games as Houston’s starting quarterback. Taylor had his best passing game since Week 1 (158 yards and two touchdowns with one interception), leading to a 17 point fantasy performance. Taylor also has the coveted rushing ability at the quarterback position, logging at least 20 rushing yards in four games this season. He’s also added three scores on the ground in five starts. Houston’s offense is terrible, but Taylor can extend plays and has a top-tier wide receiver in Brandin Cooks.
Taylor has a stretch of great matchups coming up over the next three weeks. In Week 13, he will face off against an Indianapolis team that hasn’t been able to stop passing attacks all season. Houston will play Seattle in Week 14 (during the final push for fantasy playoffs) before getting Jacksonville in Week 15. Taylor is locked in as the starter in Houston and can provide high-floor performances weekly.
Taysom Hill (QB, NO)
Yahoo: 5% rostered
Trevor Siemian has put together solid fantasy performances at quarterback except for his Thanksgiving game against the Bills. Siemian completed 17 of 29 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown with an interception in the primetime blowout against Buffalo. The Saints have now lost four straight games with Siemian as the starter and are starting to fade in the NFC playoff picture. Given that, it seems very likely that New Orleans will turn to Taysom Hill to try and salvage their season. Hill has been out with a foot injury in recent weeks, but the Saints' offense may turn to him down the stretch to try and put together some wins. In four games as a starter last year, Hill completed 71% of his passes for 834 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions while adding 39 carries for 209 yards and four scores. If he gets inserted as the starter, he instantly becomes a top-15 quarterback purely based on his rushing ability.
Whichever quarterback is in control of the Saints' offense (Trevor Siemian is also 5% rostered on Yahoo) will have a great stretch of fantasy matchups on the horizon. New Orleans will face Dallas in Week 13, the Jets in Week 14, and Tampa Bay in Week 15. Both Hill and Siemian are in a quarterback-friendly system with a stretch of easy secondaries coming up.
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