Can Andy Dalton sneak back into the QB1 mix in Week 2?
Well, that went exactly the way we all drew it up…
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Week 1 Recap
Here were the top 12 QBs in order of standard scoring from Week 1:
- Tom Brady – NE
- Carson Palmer – ARZ
- Marcus Mariota – TEN
- Tony Romo – DAL
- Alex Smith – KC
- Aaron Rodgers – GB
- Philip Rivers – SD
- Andrew Luck – IND
- Ben Roethlisberger – PIT
- Nick Foles – STL
- Andy Dalton – CIN
- Matt Ryan – ATL
After scouring the world-wide web, I found not one expert online who seriously considered Mariota as anything higher than a QB2 in two-QB leagues. Nick Foles was nowhere to be found on any QB1 list. Week 1 goes to show you that streaming quarterbacks is the way to go.
Week 2 QB1 Predictions
In our second weekly installment of The QB1 Primer, we look at the varying tiers of quarterbacks, assessing risk, home/away matchups, and ultimately realizing each week will have a bit of spontaneity. Remember this isn’t predicting order, simply identifying who is likely to be among the top 12.
“Four”-Sures
- Ryan Tannehill (@ JAX) – Tannehill had a rough week in Washington against a rugged front. If OC Bill Lazor can call a game plan that resembles what the Dolphins flashed in the preseason, there’s no reason Tannehill can’t have a safe floor as a QB1. Jacksonville is a quarterback’s dream to get back on the right track.
- Carson Palmer (@ CHI) – Palmer was solid last week, showing chemistry with lightning-quick John Brown and Larry Fitzgerald and even making TE David Fells a one-week fantasy wonder. The Bears’ secondary was picked apart by Aaron Rodgers in the second half last week and I expect the same from Palmer. Feel confident in his ability to consistently hit 250 yards and two TDs.
- Drew Brees (vs. TB) – Brees might be the most obvious play of the week at home versus a Buccaneers defense that was completely exposed by rookie QB Marcus Mariota. Moving forward, any QB that plays Tampa Bay seems like a worthy option. And Brees at home is always something worth banking on in the fantasy world.
- Ben Roethlisberger (vs. SF) – Roethlisberger threw for 351 yards last week and kept the offense moving all night despite being depleted with his offensive weapons. At home against the 49ers, expect Big Ben to turn in the same type of performance he had against New England, only with two to three TDs instead of one and a couple of giant drops (Markus Wheaton and Darrius Heyward-Bey).
Com-Four-table
- Aaron Rodgers (vs. SEA) – Rodgers started out slow last week but showed why he’s as consistent as they get at the QB position. And although Green Bay has had a rough recent history with Seattle, playing at home in a tough game will force Rodgers to pepper Randall Cobb and Davante Adams with targets. We can’t expect anything but greatness from Rodgers…the definition of a QB1.
- Andrew Luck (vs. NYJ) – Luck barely scraped QB1 status last week as the Colts looked out-of-sync and sluggish against the Bills. Playing at home on Monday Night Football, Luck could be without T.Y. Hilton. However, with Gang Green able to stuff the run with their monstrous defensive tackles, expect Luck to chuck it 50 times in this game to keep Indianapolis in it. Although this could be a struggle against Darrell Revis and co., Luck’s quantity is what will get him over the QB1 threshold.
- Sam Bradford (@ DAL) – Bradford looked unstoppable in the second half in Atlanta and it seemed that the last drive of the game was going to be his shining moment. Nevertheless, Bradford at home against the Cowboys seems like a rivalry game busting with valuable fantasy points. Vegas has given this game the highest point total and if Bradford throws for over 300 yards again, expect an increase in his TD totals.
- Matt Ryan (@ NYG) – After leading the Falcons to victory on MNF this week, Ryan gets a tasty matchup against the Giants, a team whom he has averaged 280+ yards and two TDs a game. He looked in control of Kyle Shanahan’s new offense and the Falcons were respectable in the run game with Tevin Coleman. As long as the offensive line keeps Ryan off his back, expect great numbers from the Falcons QB this weekend.
Last Four In
- Colin Kaepernick (@ PIT) – This is one of my under the radar picks of the week. Although the 49ers were in control most of the game against the Vikings, “Kap” settled for many underneath routes and did not target a receiver deep. Expect a couple deep shots to Torrey Smith as the Steelers secondary got burned last week against New England. Kaepernick also provides 40+ yards rushing to help boost his numbers into QB1 territory.
- Jay Cutler (vs. ARI) – Cutler is definitely one of the hardest QBs to get behind each week. He is a notorious gunslinger and I like this matchup at home against Carson Palmer and the Cardinals. I think the Bears will not have as much success running the ball with Matt Forte as they had last week and Cutler will have to get upwards of 300 yards to find a way to win.
- Andy Dalton (vs. SD) – Dalton is the perfect streaming option this week and someone who flies under the radar in terms of producing QB1 weeks. He dismantled the Raiders last week with Tyler Eifert exploding for two TDs and A.J. Green looking like his old self. Dalton, if he avoids logic-defying turnovers, should sneak in the bottom half of the QB1 list.
- Russell Wilson (@ GB) – Wilson’s matchup against the Packers on the road screams “stay away!” However, he has faced this team in the playoffs and has the red zone weapon in Jimmy Graham to captilize. The Rams demolished the running lanes last week and I think Wilson cashes in with 65 rushing yards and a TD with 225 yards passing.
Four-Get About It
- Matthew Stafford (@ MIN) – Stafford’s arm injury he sustained this past weekend against the Chargers has now been dismissed. However, I’d prefer waiting for the Lions to show some consistency in their WR core as Golden Tate is nursing a quad injury and Calvin Johnson has not looked like himself. The Vikings possess an underrated defense and this game smells like a Stafford turnover fest waiting to happen.
- Marcus Mariota (@ CLE) – Call me a party pooper, but I am not planning on drinking the Kool-Aid this early in the season when Mariota looked flawless against a hapless Bucs defense. The Browns on the road is a different story and we can expect a clear regression from tossing four touchdowns.
- Peyton Manning (@ KC) – Manning looked like he was leading a middle school flag-football offense last Sunday against the Ravens. He did not complete a pass over 20 yards and the Broncos finished without an offensive touchdown. On the road against aggressive pass-rushers like the Chiefs is a recipe for disaster.
- Tony Romo (@ PHI) – After Romo loses his greatest asset in Dez Bryant, we can do nothing but bump him further down the list. This matchup on the road simply is not appetizing given the circumstances. Romo is rock solid, but other than throwing to Hall of Fame TE Jason Witten, the menu of Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley, and Gavin Escobar make me want to write him off quickly, at least this week.
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Last Week’s QB1 Predictions: 6/12
2015 Season: 50%
Kyle Borgognoni is an MLB and NFL correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Kyle, check out his archive and follow him @kyle_borg.
