Fantasy Football: 3 Replacements for Andrew Luck and Deshaun Waston
By Nafisa H
With Andrew Luck and Deshaun Watson out for the season, here are three replacement options for your fantasy football team.
The first half of the 2017 NFL season has been absolutely brutal for multiple quarterbacks. Playing in what’s arguably the “safest” position on the field, we’ve seen Baltimore Ravens’ Joe Flacco suffer a concussion and bloody ear following a vicious hit that knocked his helmet off. And we’ve also seen Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers sustain a broken collarbone, requiring surgery that has him on IR and out of action until (at least) Week 15.
Joining Rodgers on IR are Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback Andrew Luck (shoulder) and Houston Texans’ Deshaun Watson (torn ACL). So, with both Luck and Watson out for the rest of the season, here are three replacement options for your fantasy football team.
1. Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams
Jared Goff’s fluctuating performance season far has made him a questionable fantasy football option this season. After a strong 3-1 start to the season, during which he averaged 268 passing yards per game and threw seven touchdowns to only one interception, Goff fell into a bit of a slump. During Weeks 5 and 6, he averaged 175 points per game and threw two interceptions to just one touchdown. He also had a fumble lost in Week 5 against the Seattle Seahawks. However, Goff bounced back in Week 7 against the Arizona Cardinals with 235 passing yards, one passing touchdown, one rushing touchdown, and one interception.
It’s plausible to worry about Goff falling into a post-bye week slump. However, with a favorable matchup this week against a New York Giants defense that’s surrendering an average of 258.7 passing yards per game and is without their top cornerback, Janoris “Jack Rabbit” Jenkins; and with a home game against the Houston Texans struggling defense next week, expect Jared Goff to build up and sustain momentum that’ll give your fantasy team a boost.
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2. Jacoby Brissett, Indianapolis Colts
If you’re one of the many fantasy football team owners that we’re hoping and waiting for Andrew Luck’s return this season, then you’re also one of the many upset that he’ll be finishing the season on IR. The extended loss of Luck is certainly a disappointment but don’t take the Indianapolis Colts current starting quarterback, Jacoby Brissett, for granted. Sure, he’s no Andrew Luck but Brissett is improving on a weekly basis and has proven capable of putting points up on the scoreboard, even with a subpar offense and against top defenses.
Last week, Brissett threw for 233 yards with two touchdowns and one interception on the road against a top-ranking Cincinnati Bengals defense. And it’s important to note that Brissett did this by really just connecting with one receiving target, Jack Doyle, who had a career-best game with 121 receiving yards and a touchdown. With the Colts set to play the Texans, whose defense is struggling without JJ Watt and ranks 22nd in pass defense, Brissett should be able to build off of last week’s performance. He should also be able to avoid getting sacked four times like he did against the Bengals defense.
3. Tom Savage, Houston Texans
There’s no replacing Deshaun Watson with his phenomenal play; record-breaking season which included, among others, breaking Hall of Famer Kurt Warner’s record of 18 passing touchdowns through seven games (19 touchdowns). We know this and the Houston Texans do as well, including current starting quarterback Tom Savage who says it best via ESPN’s Sarah Barshop:
"“You can’t really replace Deshaun Watson. You know what I mean? The kid’s been playing absolutely lights out. But that’s not my job. My job is to go out there and help this team win and do whatever I can to help.”"
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Facts. Savage will not play at the elite level that we’ve seen Watson play (nor is he expected to) and he certainly isn’t as fast or mobile as Watson is but he is the next man up. And he is healthy. Furthermore, with the Houston Texans’ improving offensive line; receiving dynamic duo of DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller (tied for the NFL lead with seven touchdown catches each), and Tom Savage’s arm strength, he’s a quarterback worth considering if you had either Deshaun Watson or Andrew Luck on your fantasy football team.