Fantasy Football 2018: The New York Jets Quarterback Controversy

The Jets currently have three quarterbacks on their roster who could start at various points throughout the season in Josh McCown, Teddy Bridgwater, and Sam Darnold. How did they fare in the first preseason game of the year and is there a clear-cut answer as to who should start Week 1?

The Jets kicked off their preseason with a 17-0 shutout of the Atlanta Falcons. All three quarterbacks got some playing time, with rookie Sam Darnold getting the bulk of the snaps. They combined to go 21/27 for 185 yards with two passing touchdowns, so it was a pretty solid showing overall. Josh McCown only played during the Jets’ opening drive, so let’s compare Bridgwater and Darnold for now.

Teddy Bridgewater has gone through a lot in the past few years. After leading the Vikings to the playoffs during the 2015 season, he suffered a torn ACL just before the start of the 2016 season, and by the team he returned in 2017, he had lost his starting role to Case Keenum. He signed a one-year deal with the Jets back in March after his fifth-year option was declined by Minnesota. He looked sharp against Atlanta, going 7/8 with 85 yards and a TD. He didn’t attempt much via the ground, as he only had one rushing attempt for three yards.There have been reports that the Jets are willing to trade Bridgewater, so these preseason games are also opportunities for him to show teams that he has fully recovered from his ACL tear. I don’t see him having a ton of fantasy impact if he stays on the Jets, but could be an interesting deep-league pickup if he becomes the starter on another team.

More from FanSided

• USWNT vs. Vietnam: Key takeaways before they take on the Dutch
• NFL rumors: 49ers trending toward contract drama with defensive star
• Steelers avoid any camp drama with latest roster move
• MLB Rumors: Potential Braves reunion, Lance Lynn no-trade clause and Orioles deadline intentions
• Caesars, BetMGM and PointsBet Promo Codes Give $1,850 Bonus for ANY World Cup or MLB Game!

While Bridgewater had a nice game, the main draw for Jets fans was Sam Darnold. The former USC Trojan entered the game in the second quarter, and was allowed to play the rest of the game by coach Todd Bowles. He had a solid showing, going 13/18 with 96 yards and a touchdown. There was a lot to like about Darnold’s performance other than the plain stats. He seemed poised and calm the entire time, whether he was in the huddle, at the line of scrimmage, or executing a play. He showed accuracy and the ability to throw on the run, including a nice pass rolling to his left in the fourth quarter.

Another nice attribute that Darnold exhibited was his resilience. In the second quarter, Jets WR Charles Johnson blew two opportunities to score a touchdown, first by dropping a pass from Darnold near the goal line, and then by getting called for offensive pass interference. On the third attempt, Darnold went right back to Johnson, and was able to put six on the board. Obviously, this is a pre-season game, so I’m not going to proclaim him AFC Rookie of the Year. However, he showed a number of positive traits that I think will translate into the regular season and the rest of his career. Even if he doesn’t start Week One, he still has a lot of upside fantasy-wise, as he will most likely replace McCown or possibly Bridgewater as the permanent starter for the New York Jets. I see him as a late round draft option for fantasy owners, as well as a valuable waiver-wire pickup whenever he earns the starting job.

The Jets will have some important decisions to make throughout the preseason. Right now, it seems as though Josh McCown will be the starter Week One at Detroit. However, if Darnold continues to play like he did against Atlanta, there’s a very good chance he’ll win the job. Bridgewater’s status is a little more uncertain, as he could be traded, but could also stick around if the Jets want some insurance in case either McCown or Darnold get hurt. Hopefully we’ll know more after the next preseason game next Thursday when the Jets take on Washington.

Stay tuned to Fantasy CPR for all the latest DFS news and Fantasy Football analysis each and every day!