Fantasy football offers weekly opportunities for managers to make critical start and sit decisions that can make or break their matchups. Navigating the unpredictability of NFL performances, savvy fantasy players look for trends and favorable situations to gain an edge.
Every week brings fresh scenarios and unique challenges, requiring careful analysis and strategic forecasting. Read on for a breakdown designed to spark curiosity about this week’s key quarterback options in fantasy football
Start ‘Em: Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (vs. NYG)
If there’s one positive we can take away from Jared Goff’s Sunday night disaster against the Philadelphia Eagles last week, it’s that he threw a touchdown pass. That extends his streak that dates back to Week 13 of last season. The rest of it, though…not good.
Goff attempted 37 passes, just two off his season high. Yet, he completed a mere 14 of them, his season low. Under pressure all night, Goff looked uncomfortable and rattled. Fantasy managers are right to not view the Detroit Lions quarterback as an every-week fantasy starter. That’s where matchups come in.
The Lions have been very good at bouncing back this season. They have yet to lose two in a row, and each time they have a bad loss, they return with a vengeance. Waiting for them in Week 12 are the hapless New York Giants.
Two weeks ago, the Lions rebounded from a bad loss to the Minnesota Vikings by dropping 44 points on the Washington Commanders. I fear the Giants may suffer a similar fate.
New York is allowing the third-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. While we should see plenty of Jahmyr Gibbs dominating on the ground in this one, the Lions are probably scoring 4-5 touchdowns. That means there should be enough for Goff to at least get to 250 and 2 in this one.
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (vs. TB)
What Matthew Stafford is doing at age 37 with a bad back is genuinely incredible. But it’s wild that anyone he thinks he’s somehow a high-end QB1. In the modern NFL, pure pocket passers are way too unreliable because their production rests exclusively on how their team happens to score touchdowns.
Impressively, Stafford does have five elite QB1 performances. He also has four games with below 15 fantasy points. He is still matchup dependent.
This week, Stafford is in a great spot at home, coming off what was easily his worst game of the season, throwing for 130 yards and two touchdowns against a great Seahawks defense.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers allow the seventh-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. They just gave up the overall QB1 performance of the season to Josh Allen.
Of course, Stafford is not Allen. But the Rams’ offense should get back on track against a much easier foe. Plus, Baker Mayfield should, in theory, be able to push this offense to need to score a bit more than Sam Darnold did last week. Stafford is firmly in the QB1 ranks this week.
Sit ‘Em: Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at LAR)
It’s a bit counterintuitive for me to think Baker Mayfield can push the Rams offense, while simultaneously being a sit. But hear me out.
Mayfield has been pretty disappointing this season, at least compared to what he did last year. Last week marked his third game of the season with below 200 passing yards. It was the fourth time he threw for a maximum of one touchdown.
As potent as the Bucs offense can be, this is a tough spot against a Rams defense allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. They just forced Sam Darnold into four interceptions.
Mayfield probably won’t completely dud because he is usually good enough to avoid it. Just don’t expect him to push 20 fantasy points in this one.
Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts (at KC)
Fresh off the bye, Daniel Jones and the Indianapolis Colts have their toughest test of the season thus far. The Kansas City Chiefs absolutely need this win or they risk missing the playoffs for the first time since they drafted Patrick Mahomes.
Before their Week 11 bye, Jones posted two of his weakest efforts of the season. He still managed 17.1 and 16.5 fantasy points, but he threw four interceptions across those two games.
The Colts will undoubtedly try to lean on Jonathan Taylor. Of course, the Chiefs know that, and they will plan to make Jones beat them. I’m not sure he’s up to the task.
The nature of this game might lead to increased rushing from Jones, salvaging his fantasy outing. The matchup is slightly below average against a defense allowing the 13th-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, and the Chiefs need the game. Look for them to pull out all the stops to stymie this offense, leading to an underwhelming effort from Mr. Dimes.
