Fantasy Football: 5 bold predictions for Week 3
By Nick Villano
4. Rookie QBs will put up surprising stats
Rookie quarterbacks have been very, very bad this season. Just last week, of the eight lowest-scoring quarterbacks who actually got into games, five of them were rookies. Zach Wilson had a dreadful four-interception performance against the Patriots. Mac Jones was on the other side, and he only scored seven fantasy points despite getting the field position from said interceptions. Justin Fields came in for an injured Andy Dalton, and let’s just say he didn’t exactly impress. Trevor Lawrence continues to be just a major disappointment for fantasy owners and Jaguars fans alike.
This week will be different.
Wilson literally can’t be worse. The Patriots are known as a team that destroys the psyche of young quarterbacks. The Broncos are only allowing 13 points per game and made Lawrence look bad, but with the Jets defense going up against Denver’s offense, Wilson will at least have some comeback opportunities.
Lawrence is facing a Cardinals defense that has been crushing the QB. This looks like a terrible matchup for a team with a questionable offensive line, but this is a make-or-break game for Urban Meyer. He’s going to throw the kitchen sink at Kliff Kingsbury. He wants this game, and the patience is wearing thin. If he really is all in on the NFL, this is his time to prove it, and he has to put together a game plan that helps Lawrence dominate (or at least play respectively).
Mac Jones hasn’t been asked to do much yet in his first two weeks, but against a banged-up Saints secondary, he could make a few positive moves. Sam Darnold just put up 300 yards and two touchdowns, so Jones can do the same thing. Same thing goes for Fields, who could be up for his first start this week. Between his footwork and his throwing ability and a good receiving core, Fields should put up a good stat line.
Heck, even Davis Mills might put up a positive performance on Thursday night. He doesn’t have time to think too far into the fact he’s the starter, and he’ll be in overdrive for most of the matchup against the Panthers. You shouldn’t start him, but there’s at least something to watch.