Fantasy Football 2018: Top 10 waiver wire Week 9 pickups

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CINCINNATI, OH – OCTOBER 28: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) throws a pass during the NFL football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Cincinnati Bengals on October 28, 2018, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

5. Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jameis Winston just might be more interception-prone than Ryan Fitzpatrick, and he hasn’t been nearly as effective at off-setting his risky plays with point on the board. Fitzpatrick was a revelation at the beginning of the 2018 season before Dirk Koetter opted to go with Winston, who was always favored to start if Fitzpatrick ever faltered for even one half.

This benching casts some doubt on whether or not Winston is this team’s franchise quarterback, and the Buccaneers clearly don’t owe him anything, especially since Fitzpatrick has outplayed him this season.

After coming onto the field in Week 8 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Fitzpatrick nearly willed the Buccaneers to victory by averaging 12.9 yards per pass attempt with two touchdowns and no interceptions. On the season, Fitzpatrick had 13 touchdowns to 5 interceptions, which would go down as the best ratio of his career.

Fitzpatrick has looked like the quarterback who put up 31 touchdowns and 3,905 passing yards in 2015 for the New York Jets, except he’s been statistically superior to that season. Armed with O.J. Howard, Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson, Chris Godwin, and Adam Humphries, Fitzpatrick has a loaded offense and the hot hand. He’s averaging 10.8 yards per pass attempt on the year with a whopping 310 passing yards per game.

As the starting quarterback in the Bucs offense, Fitzpatrick is a “must-own” due to his sheer fantasy brilliance when under center.

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