After a devastating Week 16 QB2 streaming recommendation week, I’m hoping to end this series off with a bang for the final week of the 2014 NFL regular season. Last week’s recommendations included Alex Smith, Robert Griffin III, and Andy Dalton. Here’s how they fared:
Andy Dalton – 14.34 fantasy points/QB16
Alex Smith – 13.84 fantasy points/QB18
Robert Griffin – 7.94 fantasy points/QB27
Let’s get Week 16 out of our rearview mirror and focus on this week’s QB2 streaming options…
Week 17 QB2 Circle of Trust
Eli Manning vs. PHI
According to Jeff Miller over at Sportable, Eli Manning has had a career year in 2014, posting highs in the following categories: QBR, completion percentage, and TD:INT ratio. He’s also had a strong finish to his 2014 fantasy season, putting up back-to-back Top-5 fantasy QB weeks, and he was the QB2 in Week 15.
There’s a chance he makes it three straight weeks, with a matchup versus the Philadelphia Eagles this week. Prior to Robert Griffin’s Week 16 outing of under 10 fantasy points vs. the Eagles, Philadelphia had given up two straight 20+ fantasy performances to quarterbacks, with four signal callers putting up similar numbers in four of their previous five games from Week 11 to Week 15.
A strong outing by Eli could also see him post a career high in passing touchdowns, as he currently sits with 29, and his high is 31. The Eagles have given up three passing touchdowns in a game five times this year.
Ryan Tannehill vs. NYJ
Coming off a Week 16 outing that saw him throw four touchdowns (a career first) vs. the Vikings, and finish the week as the fantasy QB2, Tannehill faces a Jets defense that has allowed 30 passing touchdowns on the year.
This recommendation may seem like deja vu, as Tannehill faced the Jets in Week 13, and had a poor outing that week, scoring no touchdowns and scoring under 10 fantasy points. The Jets defense has held Tannehill, Charlie Whitehurst, and Tom Brady to under 12 fantasy points the past five weeks, but gave up over 18 to Kyle Orton and 20+ to Teddy Bridgewater.
There’s a boom/bust feeling with Tannehill this week, but hopefully he goes boom.
Teddy Bridgewater vs. CHI
In his last five games, Teddy Bridgewater is the QB11 in fantasy, according to Pro Football Focus. During that span he has thrown for 1,232 yards, nine touchdowns, five interceptions, and added 94 yards on the ground.
He has also scored at least 14 fantasy points in each of those five games, and could make it six against a Chicago Bears defense that has allowed a league worst 33 passing touchdowns (tied with Washington). Three of the past four quarterbacks to face the Bears have scored 20 or more fantasy points, but they did hold Bridgewater to under 10 in their previous Week 11 meeting.
Chicago is allowing 269 passing yards/game (second-worst in the NFL) and a completion percentage of 66.7 (third-worst in the NFL). The Bears have also allowed four quarterbacks to run for 19 yards or more in a game, with a high of 64 by Colin Kaepernick. On the year, Bridgewater has run for 20 or more yards in a game five times, so there’s potential for some extra #KonamiCode points.
*This could potentially be the last 2-QB article from me on XN for the season, and if it is, I would like to thank all of you for reading and supporting me during my second season here at XN. It’s been great to spew virtual ink on the 2-QB format, and I appreciate the opportunity. Thank you.
**Stats used in this article from PFF, FantasyData, Yahoo!, Sportable, and ESPN
