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Week 15 will go down as a fantasy football bloodbath in the first week of the playoffs. Just two games finished with a game total above 60. Only five teams were able to surpass 30 points on offense. Worst of all, the offenses that got players to the fantasy playoffs (Arizona, Tampa Bay, Dallas, and Cincinnati) combined to score just 48 points. These poor results are directly reflected in the quarterback position this week.
The only quarterback that surpassed 300 passing yards in Week 15 was Patrick Mahomes on Thursday night (410 passing yards). Additionally, only Mac Jones (on Saturday) was over 275 passing yards. Aaron Rodgers (268 passing yards) and Kyler Murray (257 passing yards) were the only other quarterbacks to throw for over 250 yards during the first week of the fantasy playoffs. Four quarterbacks (Mahomes, Rodgers, Jared Goff, and Josh Allen) were able to throw for three passing touchdowns and only nine quarterbacks in total had multiple passing scores. The quarterback position was abysmal for the first round of the playoffs and hopefully, a lot of players fantasy gamers rely on can bounce back in Week 16. Thankfully, there are still plenty of options on the waiver wire for players looking to try and maximize their upside in their quest for a championship.
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: 50% rostered
The Colts raced out to a big lead against the New England Patriots in Week 15, which meant Carson Wentz was essentially removed from the game plan. Wentz completed just five of 12 passes for 57 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Wentz didn’t look particularly good on a majority of his passing attempts, but that isn’t exactly rare against the Patriots’ secondary. Even with the quiet passing game, Wentz has 3,005 passing yards and 23 touchdowns with just six interceptions in his first season with Indianapolis. He’s also been relatively reliable as a fantasy option this season, with nine games of at least 15 fantasy points.
Wentz will have a chance to factor in the passing game once again as the Colts prepare to play Arizona in Week 16. Arizona’s offense didn’t get much momentum in a shocking loss to Detroit in Week 15, so they could open up the playbook to try and prove they are one of the best teams in the NFC despite the hiccup. Arizona allows just 15.2 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks but got picked apart by Jared Goff (216 yards and three touchdowns) just one week ago.
Jimmy Garoppolo (QB, SF)
Yahoo: 41% rostered
Jimmy Garoppolo didn’t have the best fantasy day in Week 15, but he was once again highly efficient running the 49ers' offense. Jimmy G. completed 78% of his passes for 235 yards and a touchdown in a 31-13 beat down of the Atlanta Falcons. Garoppolo has been a steady fantasy quarterback this season, averaging 16 fantasy points per week. Since Week 7, the San Francisco quarterback has scored double-digit fantasy points every week and has five two-touchdown games. The 49ers have some of the best yards after catch weapons in the NFL and a strong offensive line, which gives Garoppolo a solid floor every week.
Garoppolo is set up well for the fantasy playoffs with a matchup against the Titans in Week 16 and the Texans in Week 17. Both teams have struggled at times against quarterbacks and lack the cornerbacks to match up well with San Francisco’s array of perimeter weapons. Garoppolo isn’t a top-12 fixture at quarterback, but he provides a consistent enough level of play to be a reliable QB2.
Justin Fields (QB, CHI)
Yahoo: 26% rostered
Like a majority of the rookie quarterbacks, Justin Fields' first season in the NFL has been a roller coaster. However, the rookie quarterback has started to string together high-level fantasy performances. In the last three games Fields has started and finished (San Francisco, Pittsburgh, and Green Bay), he has had at least 18 fantasy points. The rookie finished those games with a combined 690 passing yards and four touchdowns with four interceptions. However, he has started to flash his immense athleticism, carrying the ball 27 times for 222 yards and a touchdown. Despite a slow start in Week 15, Fields once again finished the week with 16 fantasy points thanks to 285 passing yards, one touchdown, and 35 rushing yards.
The Bears have a very quarterback-friendly string of games coming up during the fantasy playoffs. Chicago gets a game against Seattle (17.1 fantasy points per game) in Week 16, the New York Giants (17.2 fantasy points) in Week 17, and another matchup against Minnesota in Week 18. Fields will have weekly QB1 upside in the fantasy playoffs thanks to a run of soft matchups and his dual-threat ability.
2QB Options and Stashes
Zach Wilson (QB, NYJ)
Yahoo: 7% rostered
Zach Wilson’s rookie season has been an absolute disaster for the Jets. Wilson has started 10 games this year, throwing for 1,911 yards and six touchdowns with 11 interceptions. The Jets' offense has been destroyed by injuries, especially at the wide receiver position. However, that doesn’t excuse Wilson, who has been slow in processing defenses and inaccurate even when the team was fully healthy. Despite the underwhelming statistics, Wilson is currently in the midst of four straight games with double-digit fantasy points scored. Despite the lengthy amount of negatives, Wilson does have an intriguing matchup next week against a defense that has struggled to generate turnovers all season.
The Jets will host the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16. Jacksonville has struggled all season to stop opposing quarterbacks, surrendering 17.3 fantasy points per game. As a bonus, Jacksonville has generated just six interceptions this season, which is the best thing a quarterback like Zach Wilson could hear. Wilson isn’t a firm QB2, but in a time with massive injuries and COVID outbreaks across the NFL, he is a starting quarterback in a positive matchup. You can’t ask for much more than that.
Drew Lock (QB, DEN)
Yahoo: 0% rostered
Teddy Bridgewater suffered an ugly-looking concussion against the Bengals in Week 15, giving way to Drew Lock at quarterback. As he has throughout his career, Lock showed flashes of competent play mixed with head-scratching throws and decisions. Lock completed six of 12 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown against Cincinnati, struggling to move the Denver offense in a five-point loss. Bridgewater will likely be out in Week 16, meaning for at least one week, Drew Lock has fantasy relevance. Like Zach Wilson, that shouldn’t make fantasy managers feel good, but he has a good enough matchup on the horizon to make him a desperate play.
The Broncos will face off against the Raiders in Week 16, giving Lock a fantastic matchup against a porous secondary. The Raiders came into a Week 15 matchup against the Browns (starting practice squad quarterback Nick Mullens) allowing 18.3 fantasy points per game. Las Vegas has given up 24 passing touchdowns while generating just five interceptions on the season. Lock isn’t a good quarterback, but with a slew of passing weapons and two strong running backs, he is capable of having a big day against a bad secondary.
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