Quarterback
Sam Darnold, Vikings (29%)
Darnold’s breakout is as legit as it gets. Before MNF, he ranks eighth in EPA per play, sixth in completion percent over expected, and fourth in PFF passing grade. His eight touchdowns and 10.3 percent touchdown rate both lead the NFL. Kevin O’Connell also trusts Darnold enough to let him sling it.
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The Vikings have a +3% pass rate over expected this year. Their defense has held two-of-three opponents to single-digit points. Had they played in more competitive games, Darnold’s numbers would be through the roof.
Andy Dalton, Panthers (4%)
It took exactly one drive for Dalton to prove that he’s still got it and Dave Canales’s system works. Dalton threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions and just two sacks last week. Diontae Johnson set a career-high in receiving yards (122), Chuba Hubbard came two yards shy of his career-best of 57 yards, and rookie Xavier Legette went for 42 yards, seven more than his previous high set in Week 1. Most importantly, the Panthers went from hiding their quarterback under Bryce Young to making him the focal point of the offense with Dalton. Carolina went from a -10% pass rate over expected in Weeks 1 and 2 to +6% in Week 3.
Justin Fields, Steelers (16%)
Fields has been transformed from the high-variance QB1 he was in Chicago into a low-ceiling QB2 with Pittsburgh, but that has value too. The young quarterback’s sack rate has fallen from 12.4 percent in three seasons with the Bears to 7.4 percent this year. He threw his first pick of the year in Week 3 and his interception rate of 1.3 percent is still well below his career average. Fields’ rushing output is down, but it’s still strong for a quarterback. He is averaging 9.3 attempts for 27 yards and .3 touchdowns on the ground.
Fields has the third-most carries among quarterbacks but neither the passing output nor the long runs have shown up. He qualifies as a best-of-the-rest option at QB. I…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy-football-waiver-wire-week-183257759.html
Author : NBC Sports
Publish date : 2024-09-23 18:32:57
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