RADIO
Dan Fornek's fantasy football quarterback waiver wire pickups before Week 4 of the 2021 NFL season. His free agent QBs to add, stream and stash off waivers.
Another week of NFL football is almost in the books and once again scoring was held relatively in check. Only six teams were able to able to surpass 30 points scored across the league despite several matchups that should have had shootout conditions. Through three weeks, it would seem that defenses benefitted from the return of training camps in the offseason as many teams have struggled to move the ball.
There were statistical extremes given the blend of veteran quarterbacks who are established in the league and rookie quarterbacks getting used to the NFL speed. On the veteran side, there was one 400-yard passing performance (Tom Brady) and only seven 300-yard games across the NFL in Week 3. Three quarterbacks had four passing touchdowns (Josh Allen, Matthew Stafford, and Justin Herbert) and only eight other quarterbacks were able to throw for multiple touchdowns. The rookie class once again struggled this week: Zach Wilson and Trevor Lawrence continued to throw numerous interceptions while failing to surpass 250 passing yards. Justin Fields made his debut against the Cleveland Browns and was sacked nine times while completing just six of 20 passes for 68 yards. Hopefully, these young players can bounce back next week and start delivering on the promise that made them first-round picks.
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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Top QB Streamers and Adds
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Yahoo: 61% rostered ESPN: 54.5% rostered
Trevor Lawrence has been a turnover machine through his first three starts, throwing seven interceptions compared to five touchdowns for Jacksonville. Lawrence hasn’t looked like the can’t miss prospect he was billed as, but Urban Meyer and the Jacksonville staff keep dialing up passes for him (it also helps that their defense is awful). Lawrence has attempted at least 34 passes in all three of his games thanks to negative game scripts. He’s also added at least 21 yards on the ground each of his last two weeks.
Weeks 2 and 3 featured very difficult defensive matchups against the Broncos and Cardinals. Lawrence has games against weaker secondaries in Cincinnati and Tennessee the next two weeks, followed by a tougher matchup against the Dolphins. If he can cut down on the interceptions, then he can be a fantasy asset given the sheer volume of throws he makes each week.
Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders
Yahoo: 53% rostered ESPN: 49.2% rostered
The Raiders are a surprising undefeated team in the NFL at the moment and it is thanks to Derek Carr throwing up ridiculous numbers week in and week out. Carr has attempted at least 37 passes in each of the Raiders’ wins. In that time, he’s surpassed 380 passing yards each week and thrown at least two touchdowns per game. Carr doesn’t offer much up in the way of rushing upside, however, it's irrelevant when he is airing the ball out early and often. The Raiders have a stud tight end in Darren Waller, but the second-year combination of Bryan Edwards and Henry Ruggs III has taken a developmental step and add more downfield weaponry for Carr.
Carr doesn’t have the easiest slate of matchups coming up with games against the Chargers, Bears, and Broncos, but he has gone up against three strong secondaries so far this season and scored at least 21 fantasy points regardless. As long as Carr stays hot he needs to be rostered in all league formats.
Sam Darnold, Carolina Panthers
Yahoo: 21% rostered ESPN: 9% rostered
It looks like Carolina’s Sam Darnold reclamation project is a raging success so far. Darnold has at least 275 passing yards in all three of his games with the Panthers. He’s also got three passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns, and just one interception in a new offense with an array of explosive weapons. The loss of Christian McCaffrey for a few weeks will put more pressure on Darnold to throw the ball, which means more opportunities to rack up some stats in a quarterback-friendly offense.
Making matters better, Darnold is about to enter a part of the schedule with a murder’s row of bad secondaries and defensive fronts. In the next five weeks, Darnold will face off against Dallas, Philadelphia, Minnesota, the Giants, and the Falcons. Four of those teams are allowing at least 20 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season. Atlanta and Minnesota are in the bottom five of defenses against quarterbacks this season. Add Darnold and take advantage of his easy matchups.
2QB Options and Stashes
Zach Wilson, New York Jets
Yahoo: 11% rostered ESPN: 9% rostered
It has been ugly through three games for Zach Wilson and the Jets offense. New York hasn’t scored a touchdown in two weeks. During that time, Wilson is rocking a rough zero touchdowns and six interceptions. Things look disjointed on offense and Wilson might be in over his head. However, you couldn’t have imagined a worse slate of defenses for the rookie to face on an undermanned offense to start his career. Wilson started with a matchup at Carolina, which has been a top defense in the NFL so far this year (and he played solid!). Then he drew a matchup against rookie quarterback killer Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. Last week he got attacked by a Denver pass rush quickly and had few options against a stellar secondary.
Wilson is worth a speculative add thanks to his upcoming matchups against the Titans and Falcons. The Titans were able to keep a hobbled Carson Wentz in check (194 passing yards with zero touchdowns or interceptions) but had been giving up 28.4 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks before that. Atlanta is allowing 29.2 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season and has yet to generate an interception. If Wilson can’t get it going these two games, it's going to be a frustrating season for him both in real life and fantasy.
Taylor Heinicke, Washington Football Team
Yahoo: 6% rostered ESPN: 3.5% rostered
Taylor Heinicke has put together consecutive solid passing performances which firmly puts him on the radar of players to add at the quarterback position. Heinicke’s first start against the Giants' disappointing defense was one thing (336 yards and two touchdowns and one interception), but to put up strong numbers (albeit mostly in garbage time and a negative game script) against Buffalo is another thing entirely. The Washington starter threw for 212 yards and two touchdowns and two interceptions while adding eight carries for 21 yards and a touchdown. Washington’s defense has struggled this season, leading to game scripts that force Heinicke to air it out to keep up.
Heinicke has a dream matchup against the Falcons next week before games against New Orleans, Kansas City, and Green Bay. Atlanta doesn’t have enough in the secondary to slow down Heinicke and the following three games come against high-octane offenses that will force Washington to air it out. Heinicke is worth a speculative add and could be a strong streamer or QB2 option given the volume of throws he could be making the next four weeks.
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