We looked at household names who are struggling, and if you look at the top of the stat leaders through three weeks, another handful of quarterbacks assumed to be — below replacement level — have had incredible starts to the season.
Is it time to add Alex Smith, Jared Goff or Case Keenum to your fantasy squad? Will the following five QBs actually keep up their stellar play?
Here’s an outlook for fantasy team owners in need of QB help:
Alex Smith (QB rating 132.7): Smith opened with a mega-season opening performance against New England (now the worst defense in the NFL) with four touchdowns and 368 passing yards. He’s since thrown for less (251, 155 yards in Weeks 2 and 3) and become more of a game manager. He’ll fall to the middle of the pack.
Jared Goff (118.2): Last year’s No. 1 overall pick on the other hand could be for real. He has weapons like Sammy Watkins, Cooper Cupp and Robert Woods and seems to be comfortable in new head coach Sean McVay’s scheme. Dare we say, grab Goff if he’s available and hang on — he could be a valuable keeper in 2018.
Case Keenum (101.8): Against the Buccaneers last week — a team many expected to have a solid defense — Keenum threw for 369 yards, three touchdowns and completed more than 75 percent of his passes. He’s helped make Stefan Diggs and Adam Theilen one of the top receiving duos in football. Monitor Sam Bradford’s health closely, but he may be worth another start against the Lions in Week 4.
Blake Bortles (93.8): If Bortles home field was London he’d be an all-time great quarterback. He’s shown the Jaguars are actually a potential playoff team after throwing for four touchdowns against the Ravens last week. But the Bortles shoe always drops. Still — if you’re desperate… Jacksonville plays the Jets next week…
Josh McCown (91.3): McCown really has no weapons as the Jets have emptied their arsenal for a chance at the No. 1 overall pick. McCown shouldn’t be on anyone’s radar, and his above average QB rating should take a dive as the season progresses and the Jets decide to take a look at a younger player under center.
