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Matt Bowen
When going through my weekly process of watching the game tape, I focused more on the quarterback position. But I didn’t spend a ton of time on Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, etc. From a fantasy perspective, we already know those players pretty well, right? Regular difference-makers in the lineup.
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Instead, I watched a group of signal-callers who have been very productive over the past four to five weeks, but these are old-school guys: pocket throwers with limited rushing upside. And despite how I personally target quarterbacks in fantasy, leaning toward those with dual-threat traits, I can’t argue with the rising numbers these passers are putting up or what I’m seeing on the tape.
Let’s look at four veteran QBs who are throwing touchdowns at a high rate, while providing both stability and upside for fantasy lineups. And I’ll tell you what action to take next in multiple league formats.
Action: Trade for him
Stafford is on a heater. We can all see it. And you can win your league with an old-school pocket thrower in Sean McVay’s offense.
Stafford has thrown nine touchdowns over his past two games, with multiple TD passes in six of his past seven. And he has only two interceptions on the season. Plus, he is averaging 23.3 fantasy points over his past five games. He’s seeing it fast, driving the ball with velocity, and the red zone passing usage is up in this offense.
During this five-game stretch, Stafford has thrown 16 touchdowns, with 13 of them from inside the 20-yard line. So, when L.A. gets the ball in scoring position, the call sheet runs through Stafford and the passing game.
With the Rams already past their bye week, and an upcoming schedule of teams that rank outside the top 10 versus opposing quarterbacks (@SF, SEA, TB, @CAR), I like the path here for Stafford. And with two elite targets who can win one-on-one matchups in Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, in an offense that also features heavily defined throws, I’m looking to trade for Stafford for the stretch run to the fantasy playoffs.
Klint Kubiak. The leveled throws, the shot plays and more. Dial it up.
While Darnold isn’t running the ball at a high rate (10 carries, 41 yards on the season), despite possessing the mobility to create outside of structure, he has averaged 284.2 passing yards and 2.4 touchdown throws over his past five games. Plus, his top target, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, is uncoverable when you turn on the tape. JSN provides high-level production and consistency, and he has a very capable supporting cast, a group that was upgraded due to the deep-ball ability of newly acquired wide receiver Rashid Shaheed.
Darnold’s next four games present tougher matchups (ARI, @LAR, @TEN, MIN) before opening the fantasy playoffs in Week 14 at Atlanta. But if you’re in a 12-team league and you need some upside at the position? Darnold gives you a shot to win.
Action: Hold tight
Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins — to fill up the box score.
The upcoming schedule (@PIT, NE, @BAL, @BUF) does present challenging matchups, and I get that. But that also means the Bengals will have to throw (a lot) to compete/stay in games, and Flacco has shown he is more than capable of dropping back 40-plus times. There’s upside here depending on your league size/format.
