Fantasy football managers are navigating a tricky stretch with several teams on bye and key injuries piling up. Quarterback decisions are becoming more critical as unexpected names emerge in the weekly lineup conversation. Matchups and team situations are shifting fast, opening opportunities some didn’t see coming. This week’s choices could make or break playoff positioning.
Start ‘Em: Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
There is no denying the noticeable strides Caleb Williams has taken in his sophomore season. With even better weapons and a competent coaching staff, Williams is in a much better position to succeed. He is still far from a complete quarterback, but the abilities that made him the No. 1 overall pick last year are showing.
This has translated into fantasy success, as Williams entered Week 7 averaging 20.8 fantasy points per game, firmly inside the top 12 quarterbacks. Obviously, that average took a hit after his dismal 5.7-point outing against the New Orleans Saints. Fortunately, the sophomore QB is poised to bounce back this week.
Adam Sandler, what are you doing here? pic.twitter.com/QpuCZXJK2N
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 21, 2025
The Baltimore Ravens are coming off a much-needed bye week. Invariably, the defense will get healthier. However, this is not suddenly going to become a stifling unit. The Ravens have allowed the most points per game to opponents. They allow the 10th-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
With Lamar Jackson returning, this goes back to being an offense that will force opponents to keep up on the scoreboard. Expect a lot of points in this one, which is excellent news for Williams’ fantasy managers.
Tyrod Taylor, New York Jets
For about two weeks, the writing has been on the wall. Justin Fields’ time as the New York Jets’ starting quarterback was not going to last. At halftime of their loss to the Carolina Panthers, the inevitable finally happened. Tyrod Taylor replaced Fields and finished out the game.
At 36 years old, Taylor is very clearly not the future. There is actually no benefit to the Jets starting him. As bad as Fields has been, he is still only 26 years old. He’s probably not an NFL-caliber starting quarterback, but there is absolutely no chance Taylor is this team’s Week 1 starter next season.
Of course, the NFL doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Even though the Jets are already playing out a lost season, everyone has a job to do, particularly Aaron Glenn. He needs to show the front office something, or he may very well be one and done. They are still trying to win games, and Taylor gives them the best chance to win.
Assuming Taylor displaces Fields as the starter this week, the matchup could not be much better. The Cincinnati Bengals allow the eighth-most fantasy points per game, consistently finding themselves in shootouts.
With Joe Flacco at the helm, the Bengals are now capable of scoring points, forcing opposing offenses to keep up. We’ve already seen Taylor make one spot start. He posted a very respectable 17.7 fantasy points against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3.
Six teams are on bye this week, and several fantasy quarterback starters are injured. Amazingly, Taylor is a high QB2 option with QB1 upside.
Sit ‘Em: Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
It is challenging to find quarterbacks to recommend sitting that aren’t obvious. Perhaps fantasy managers are enticed by Aaron Rodgers’ throwback performance against the Bengals on Thursday night.
The oldest starter in the league threw 249 yards and four touchdowns against the Bengals. It was his second four-touchdown game of the season and his fourth multi-TD game this year. Rodgers has not been bad at all.
Aaron Rodgers just revealed a plan that could shake up Packers-Steelers week.https://t.co/yycrsMcKNv
— Steelers Nation (@SteelerNationCP) October 21, 2025
As fun as the revenge game narrative is against his former team, Rodgers may be running for his life against the Green Bay Packers’ pass rush.
Surprisingly, the Packers are allowing the 12th-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. However, a lot of that concerns Dak Prescott dropping 31 on them. Otherwise, they’ve been a formidable opponent for quarterbacks. You can do better than Rodgers this week.
Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons
This is perhaps the most counterintuitive set of the week. Granted, Michael Penix Jr. isn’t precisely a weekly fantasy starter. But there’s no denying he is likely on the streaming radar in a week where six teams are on bye and several more quarterbacks are injured.
The Miami Dolphins allow the sixth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. Penix should have no trouble moving the ball against them…and he won’t. So, why sit him?
Two weeks ago, the Atlanta Falcons upset the Buffalo Bills. In that game, they ran the ball 30 times compared to 32 pass attempts from Penix.
Last week, the Falcons got away from what they do best. They went extremely pass-heavy with Penix tossing it up 38 times, while Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier combined for a mere 18 carries. And you can’t blame the game script. It was a one-score game for most of the contest.
The Dolphins are one of the three worst teams in football. They have the worst defense in football. No team is allowing more rushing yards per game than the staggering 159.3 allowed by Miami. Robinson might break Adrian Peterson’s single-game rushing record. I kid (kind of).
Expect the Falcons to go very run-heavy at home in a game they should control. Perhaps Penix happens to throw two touchdowns and salvage his fantasy outing. But even if he does, if the sophomore quarterback throws for only 150 yards, what is that really doing for fantasy managers? As great as the matchup is, don’t stream Penix this week.
