The Week 3 matchup between the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals features not only winless clubs led by No. 1 overall draft pick quarterbacks. In both cases, those QBs have disappointed fantasy football managers so far, and panic appears to be the reaction of choice.
It is not hard to see why Cam Newton (first pick in 2011) and Kyler Murray (the 2019 No. 1 pick) might have started slowly. The former suffered a midfoot sprain in the preseason, and his coach questioned his conditioning, while the latter is a rookie who probably needs time to thrive in this league.
Then again, are things that bad? These fellows each surpassed 300 passing yards in Week 2, though neither contributed a touchdown through the air or on the ground.
It is not merely the lack of passing touchdowns -- the ground work is also a problem. Newton, through two games, boasts fewer rushing yards than you or me (minus-2 yards on five attempts), after rushing for 488 yards and four touchdowns last season. He has averaged 601 rushing yards per season and 39.1 rushing yards per game in his career, with loads of touchdowns. He is hardly the most accurate passer, but a fantasy star thanks to his legs.
Murray electrified the college football world a season ago with his 4,361 passing yards and 42 touchdown throws, and he secured top-pick status because, in addition, he rushed for more than 1,000 yards with 12 touchdowns, offering promise of multifaceted success in the NFL. In two games in which his passing numbers caught up in the second half of games his team trailed, he has eclipsed 300 passing yards in each, but totaled 17 rushing yards on six attempts. Jacksonville Jaguars rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew rushed for more yards on one play Sunday!
Since Newton, a top-five fantasy quarterback five times in his career, was a top-10 quarterback in the fantasy world on draft day and the intriguing Murray was close -- and certainly valued more than most rookie passers in recent memory -- they are regarded as disappointments, and fantasy managers might be considering moving on for this week. I maintain this is not a wise move, and if you remain patient, you will see many touchdown passes to come. As for the rushing yards ... perhaps we have indeed judged the situations incorrectly.
After all, Newton is 30 years old and possesses so many proverbial miles on those tires, and a shoulder injury that hampered his 2018 season could still be an issue. Perhaps he no longer wants to run the football. Running back Christian McCaffrey is a statistical machine, and the Panthers leaned on him near the goal line in Thursday night's frustrating loss to the more-flawed Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Murray, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, wants recognition as a standout pocket passer, but neglecting the multipurpose threat of his legs seems unwise, making things easier for defenses.
Anyway, I remain confident in each and I would keep them rostered in all formats, even if one chooses to sit them in Week 3, which is fair. Newton has certainly defied odds in the past, and even last season he earned top-10 quarterback status despite the shoulder handicap that cost him a pair of games. Murray seems stubbornly intent on remaining in the pocket, perhaps by coach's decree, but the Cardinals could be more likely to expand the playbook in future weeks. I'm eager to see whether these talented quarterbacks adjust their games in Week 3.
Here are more fantasy themes to watch in Week 3:
Are you ready for Jackson vs. Mahomes?
After rushing for just 6 yards while throwing five touchdown passes in Week 1, then running for 120 yards in Week 2, precocious Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson has become a must-play option, especially against a questionable Chiefs defense. We know Patrick Mahomes can produce numbers regardless of the opposing defense and his own weaponry; he embarrassed Oakland in the second quarter Sunday after a quiet opening stanza. Jackson's emergence into fantasy stalwart status has been fun to watch, and he certainly looked for rookie receiver Marquise Brown more in Week 2 than in the opener, albeit with less success. In addition, we shall watch how the Chiefs treat their runners and receivers in Week 3, with Damien Williams suffering a knee injury whose severity is uncertain at the moment -- potentially good news for LeSean McCoy -- and Demarcus Robinson and rookie Mecole Hardman stealing the spotlight from Sammy Watkins versus the Raiders.
The future of the Saints' offense
I labeled Saints quarterback Drew Brees as a less-than-desirable fantasy option for Week 2 because it was a road game against a strong Rams defense. I did not expect Brees, one of the most durable passers in league history, to have his future status in question because of a thumb injury suffered when the hand of Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald interrupted Brees' follow through. Brees barely played Sunday, and we should fear some bad news on the injury front is pending Monday. Suffice to say, if Teddy Bridgewater starts, fantasy managers will feel differently about Saints players, and playing on the road in Seattle is not so easy anyway.
Big Ben was to be avoided in San Francisco, even before injury
Speaking of home/road quarterbacks, Ben Roethlisberger sure seems iffy for Week 3 after leaving Sunday's loss with an elbow injury. Monday could be a rough day for his investors as well, as a decision about whether he'll undergo surgery will be made then. I often cite the splits for Brees and Roethlisberger to remind fantasy managers they must remain open-minded about activating these two veterans, specifically in certain road contests. Roethlisberger, since the start of the 2014 season: 94 touchdown passes versus 31 interceptions at home; 50 touchdown passes and 37 interceptions on the road. Even if Roethlisberger does play in Week 3 against the 2-0 Niners, looking elsewhere is the right play. He just left a game early. It could happen again, and this is on the road.
Breida and Mostert and Wilson ... oh my!
As for those 49ers, I eagerly await more clarity on their running backs, after Matt Breida, Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. -- off the practice squad! -- combined for 53.6 PPR points, but you know that seems unlikely. Tevin Coleman, we hardly knew ya.
What has changed for the Patriots' offense with AB in the mix?
Sunday morning concerns from fantasy managers about new Patriots wide receiver Antonio Brown soon proved unfounded when Tom Brady kept looking for his new teammate in the end zone of a blowout win at Miami, almost to the avoidance of others. Brown caught half his eight targets for a team-leading 56 yards and one of Brady's two touchdown passes, and there appears to be little to worry about ... unless Brown is suspended. Meanwhile, among other Patriots, running back Sony Michel bounced back from a rough Week 1 to rush for 85 yards and a score, but his 12.5 PPR points -- he caught nary a pass -- hardly excites. This is why James White remains underrated, and with a safe statistical floor, unlike Michel.