We finally got some good production out of the quarterback position in Week 3. Four quarterbacks (Dak Prescott, Caleb Williams, Andy Dalton, and Jalen Hurts) surpassed 300 passing yards. Three different quarterbacks had three or more passing touchdowns.
Scoring is still down across the league, but there are signs that quarterbacks are starting to figure out how to efficiently move the ball against the two high safety looks they are getting this season.
In this article, I will focus on players under 65% rostered in fantasy leagues while adding a few deep sleepers for two-quarterback leagues (less than 25% rostered).
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Single-QB Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers
Justin Fields, Pittsburgh Steelers
Yahoo: 16% rostered
Justin Fields keeps winning, so it is hard to imagine Russell Wilson coming in to take his job. In Week 3, Fields flashed the fantasy upside to make him a priority add in all formats.
Fields completed 25-of-32 passes for 245 yards, a touchdown, and an interception against a stout Chargers defense. He also added six carries for six yards and a touchdown.
Will yall finally believe me about Justin Fields. It’s always been there. He works too hard & is too humble not to succeed.
Maybe he finally found a franchise that believes in him pic.twitter.com/3CJeZ6RVFT
— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) September 22, 2024
The Steelers have a nice schedule over the next few weeks for quarterbacks with Indianapolis, Dallas, and Las Vegas on deck. Fields has scored at least 11.0 fantasy points in every game this season (including a season-high 20.4 fantasy points in Week 3).
Pittsburgh has been able to sustain a run-heavy approach to start the season, but Fields can go nuclear if the Steelers find themselves in a shootout scenario. There is some risk in rostering Fields given his lack of passing attempts, but his weekly upside is just too good to ignore.
Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings
Yahoo: 29% rostered
If you haven’t been taking Sam Darnold seriously in fantasy, it is time to reconsider. Darnold has at least 14.0 fantasy points in each of his first three games. He’s gone over 22.0 points in his last two games as well.
Darnold was once again highly efficient against the Texans' strong defense. He completed 17-of-28 passes for 181 yards and four passing touchdowns. The collective numbers aren’t extremely impressive (657 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions), but Darnold is still reliable in fantasy.
Three touchdown passes for Sam Darnold 🔥
📺: #HOUvsMIN on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/BMIjnHKWOp— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024
The veteran quarterback looks revitalized in Minnesota and has Justin Jefferson as a safety valve. He should continue to provide a solid weekly floor but is always good for a questionable decision (or week) in fantasy if history proves correct.
Two-QB Waiver Wire Pickups and Stashes
Daniel Jones, New York Giants
Yahoo: 6% rostered
Daniel Jones is getting more comfortable in the passing attack thanks to the explosive playmaking ability of rookie Malik Nabers.
This angle of the Malik Nabers touchdown is insane. His body control is unreal.
SUPERSTAR. pic.twitter.com/a2lByA6tNW https://t.co/yKDNnFO2Ui
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 22, 2024
Jones was excellent against a tough Cleveland defense, completing 24-of-34 passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns with zero interceptions. He also had a season-high eight carries, but only accrued 20 yards rushing.
Jones now has consecutive games with at least 18.0 fantasy points. We can be a bit dismissive of the first one (Carolina), but he’s now put up an equally impressive performance against a much better defense.
The veteran quarterback now has two straight games with at least two passing touchdowns and zero interceptions. He’s had at least five rushing attempts in all three games this season as well.
It would be foolish to assume that Jones is a consistent quarterback given his career, but he is looking healthy and has an excellent big-play threat in Malik Nabers. He should be rostered in all two-quarterback leagues.
Andy Dalton, Carolina Panthers
Yahoo: 4% rostered
Bryce Young seems to be the first quarterback that Dave Canales couldn’t magically fix. Thankfully, Andy Dalton can seemingly execute the offense at a high level.
My goodness. Ludicrous throw from Andy Dalton pic.twitter.com/yjgp4bEqp9
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) September 22, 2024
Dalton completed 26-of-37 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns in his first start since Week 3 of the 2023 season. He was able to take full advantage of Diontae Johnson (eight receptions for 122 yards and a touchdown) in the passing attack.
Reports indicate that Carolina believes Bryce Young will make another start for the team this season, but it will be hard for the team to bench Dalton if he keeps moving the offense and recording wins.
The veteran quarterback should be a safe option in fantasy, but there will be the looming threat of Bryce Young taking the offense back over throughout the season.
Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Yahoo: 3% rostered
That was a yikes game from Jacoby Brissett on Thursday against the Jets. The veteran quarterback completed just 12-of-18 passes for 98 yards. Brissett has yet to throw for over 150 yards in a game and has just one passing touchdown in the season.
More importantly, the Patriots dropped their second consecutive game. The more the team loses, the sooner we will see Drake Maye under center so the team can evaluate its future.
The rookie quarterback has an excellent arm and provides an interesting rushing upside as well. New England has some uncertain pieces in the passing attack, but Maye was efficient as a passer through the preseason.
New England could opt to keep Maye on the bench until its awful offensive line figures it out, but the risk of Maye under center behind a bad offensive line will certainly outweigh the importance of watching Jacoby Brissett check down three times into punting situations. If you have a bench space, Maye is already worth a speculative add in two-quarterback leagues.
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