Week 2 came and went quickly. We are starting to see actionable trends in defensive fronts and whichever of the quarterbacks the fantasy gods felt merciful enough to spare us. Injuries accrued at an unseemly pace throughout the course of games. Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Jaxson Dart all left their respective contests. Thankfully, none of them were mentioned in last week’s Tight End Sleepers and Streamers article.
In the interest of transparency, here is how our picks from last week fared.
- Kirk Cousins threw for 253 yards and three touchdowns, netting him 21.4 fantasy points. Landing him just inside the QB10 range for the week.
- Bryce Young finished strong yet again, tossing three more touchdowns and accruing 287 passing yards. He finished with 24.1 fantasy points.
- Carson Wentz disappointed, along with most of the fantasy assets in that slog of a game. Wentz managed only 143 yards on 20 pass attempts. He did not score a touchdown; in fact…no one did in this particular game.
With that under our belt, let’s move on to this week’s group of sleepers and streamers.
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Week 3 Quarterback Sleepers and Streamers
Jameis Winston, NYG vs. TEN – Deep Sleeper
Jaxson Dart left Monday night’s game with a knee injury. Early reports indicate an MCL sprain; further testing will be done to determine the severity. At the time of this writing, no further information is available. However, it is enough to expect Dart to be sidelined for at least this week’s game, if not longer.
Jameis Winston did not look particularly sharp in relief duties. He appeared rusty and seemed to struggle with the timing, making some errant throws. He ended the evening 11 of 27 for 111 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception.
Through his career, Winston averages 229.5 passing yards, 1.4 passing touchdowns, 0.9 interceptions, and 15.1 fantasy points on a per-game basis.
As stated, he did not enter the game polished and ready to execute. He will have the week to take starter reps in preparation for the Titans. The Titans are currently allowing the fourth-lowest fantasy points to the quarterback position. Through two games, it looks like a stiff matchup on paper, but there are some facts worth mentioning. The first game was against Geno Smith and the Jets. Smith threw for 215 yards and no touchdowns. The second game was against Jalen Hurts, who threw for 264 yards and two scores. He also threw two interceptions, but still had a usable fantasy line. It is too early to crown that defense as stiff as it appears on paper.
Jameis Winston should be on the fantasy radar, pending the news of Dart’s injury and recovery timeline. Whether it be for waiver wire stashing or trying to fill in for one of the multiple injured quarterbacks out there. Winston is volatile at times, but he can also throw a customary interception (or two) and still have a decent fantasy outing.
Bryce Young, CAR @ CLE – High Upside
When one finds a well with fresh water, one continues to drink from it until it is no longer good, or runs dry. Two weeks into the season and Bryce Young is currently the overall QB2 in fantasy football. With a history that lacks consistency, many fantasy managers are hesitant to trust him, which is fair and understandable. Even after those two games, he is still only rostered in 33% of Yahoo! leagues.
Young is averaging 324 passing yards, 3.0 touchdowns, and 0.5 interceptions per game. Small sample size, but an impressive start for a young quarterback looking for an extension.
This week gives Young a chance to build on the season he is having. The Panthers travel to Cleveland to face the Browns and an as-yet-unnamed starter. The Browns are currently surrendering the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. They have allowed five passing touchdowns to only one interception thus far.
I typically do not like mentioning the same player in consecutive weeks, but Young is building on his strong finish from last season, and it is not reflected in how he is being rostered. Managers in any type of two-quarterback or super flex league should be paying attention. Likewise, managers of any of the currently injured quarterbacks should be paying attention.
Young remains a strong upside play this week for the quarterback-needy.
Geno Smith, NYJ @ DET – Value Streamer
Geno Smith has played unremarkable football up to this point, so it may appear strange to mentioned in consideration of a streamer this week.
Through two games, Smith is averaging 231 passing yards per contest and has only thrown one touchdown. This may not seem encouraging, but the matchup certainly has an appeal.
The Lions are down their two starting safeties, which has allowed opposing quarterbacks to throw for 658 yards and six touchdowns in that span. The Lions are going to score, putting Smith and company into a more aerial approach to the offense. This game features a 48.5 over/under, and games where the Lions play always seem to be sniffing the over.
This is not a super confident pick for this week, but it has merit for either the brave or the desperate. Thus far, Geno has displayed a floor. This matchup could introduce something closer to a ceiling for this season.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 3 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!
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