Showing just how important the backup position can be in the NFL, we might be seeing two retread quarterbacks reclaim their former starting gigs.
In Houston, Ryan Mallett is out for the season, leaving Ryan Fitzpatrick to handle the starting quarterback duties again.
Michael Vick was benched Monday night vs. the Bills, with Geno Smith coming in for clean up duty. There has been no official word from Jets headquarters, as to who will be starting this week vs. Miami, so Smith could be in play again. Or maybe Matt Simms. Or even Tim Tebow.
Anything could really happen when the Jets are involved. *Update: it seems Rex Ryan is sticking with Vick for now, but read the reports later in the week to see if that’s actually what happens.*
With the playoffs quickly approaching, now’s the time to clean up your roster if you’re in contention to only keep useful players going forward. In 2-QB leagues, that could mean dropping a WR5 or RB4 in order to handcuff your starting quarterback.
With three Thanksgiving games on the docket this week, I’ve split up my weekly rankings into two: Thursday and Rest of Week. Following the rankings is my usual stock watch report…
Week 13 Quarterback Rankings for Thursday:
1. Tony Romo vs. PHI
2. Russell Wilson @ SF
3. Mark Sanchez @ DAL
4. Jay Cutler vs. DET
5. Matthew Stafford @ CHI
6. Colin Kaepernick vs. SEA
Rest of Week 13 Quarterback Rankings:
1. Andrew Luck vs. WAS
2. Aaron Rodgers vs. NE
3. Tom Brady @ GB
4. Peyton Manning @ KC
5. Ryan Tannehill @ NYJ
6. Drew Brees @ PIT
7. Philip Rivers @ BAL
8. Eli Manning @ JAC
9. Alex Smith vs. DEN
10. Shaun Hill @ OAK
11. Ben Roethlisberger vs. NO
12 . Zach Mettenberger @ HOU
13. Josh McCown @ CIN
14. Brian Hoyer @ BUF
15. Andy Dalton @ TB
16. Cam Newton @ MIN
17. Matt Ryan vs. ARI
18. Kyle Orton vs. CLE
19. Derek Carr @ STL
20. Robert Griffin III @ IND
21. Joe Flacco vs. SD
22. Michael Vick vs. MIA
23. Teddy Bridgewater vs. CAR
24. Drew Stanton @ ATL
25. Blake Bortles vs. NYG
26. Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. TEN
Week 13 Quarterbacks on the Rise:
Undrafted quarterback cover boy Austin Davis came, conquered, and was eventually conquered himself, as the Rams went back to Shaun Hill. Fantasy wise, his stock isn’t that high, having scored a combined 18.72 fantasy points in his two starts.
What really helps Hill’s cause is a 1-1 record, with a victory over the Denver Broncos in his first start back. If it wasn’t for a red zone interception with less than one minute left, Hill and the Rams might have won two straight.
Also helping out Hill’s immediate fantasy fortunes is two back-to-back games versus Oakland and Washington. Hill could help fantasy owners in need of a QB2 spot starter in 2-QB leagues.
Ryan Tannehill has produced as a fantasy QB1 five times this season, and he’s currently the fantasy QB8.
For someone who was routinely drafted in the QB2 tier this offseason, Tannehill has returned a nice investment on his original draft cost. Not too mention he still has two game left to play vs. the Jets (one is in Week 17 though).
Week 13 Quarterbacks on the Slide:
Robert Griffin III
109 passing yards and 3.34 fantasy points. That was Robert Griffin III’s fantasy production in Week 12. Washington coach Jay Gruden will play RG3 until he doesn’t. That seems to be about the highest level of job security RG3 has, and that might be a tad generous.
Watching RG3 play and starting him in fantasy are both painful. Especially if you’re expecting him to magically return to his 2012 ways, as it seems the RG3 of old won’t be returning any time soon, if at all.
Ryan Mallett had finally received an opportunity to show off his skill set in the NFL, and it was a strong debut, completing 70 percent of his passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns (and one interception) on his way to winning his starting debut in Week 11 vs. Cleveland.
Now he’s out for the season, and his future in Texas is in limbo. With only two career starts to his name, it’s hard to figure out what kind of contract Mallett could fetch. With Tom Savage and Ryan Fitzpatrick (Update: Thad Lewis just signed, too) the two other quarterbacks on the team, there’s a good chance Houston will want to retain him and give him a shot in 2015.
*Stats used in this article from FantasyData
