5 fantasy football options to replace Carson Palmer

2. Josh McCown, New York Jets

A common fantasy mistake is gauging potential options based on team success, but the Jets’ current losing streak is of zero concern. What matters is that McCown is getting better in multiple areas.

Over three consecutive weeks, he has thrown for multiple touchdowns and topped the 200-yard aerial mark in four out of seven games. He’s doing that without standout receivers and a lot of chemistry with tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins.

After bouncing around the league, he‘s not only fighting for a long-term spot — McCown is fighting for a home.

The Jets came into this year with the world accusing them of tanking the season before it really got started.  Largely, thanks to McCown’s grit, they picked up some victories and have played respectably in all but one loss this season.

This x-factor signals that McCown is gunning to make the most out of this opportunity. He’s playing on a one-year “prove it” deal, so his appeal to the Jets and other teams relies solely on the stats that make him an attractive fantasy stopgap.

Sticking to the numbers, he has yet to dip below a 63 percent completion rate, and already has three games topping 70 percent.  If nothing else, McCown is efficient.

Another key stat about McCown is that he’s averaging over 30 pass attempts per game. This spells plenty of opportunities, even in the face of the fact that he’s known to throw a pick or two in his day.

His production won’t always be sexy but it will be solid with the opportunity for breakthroughs if he gets hot.