Streaming Quarterbacks: Week 6 Targets

Oct 12, 2021

Rob Carr/Getty Images

We’re through a quarter of the season and we’re learning more each week. Quarterbacks have been put in new situations. Injuries have shuffled personnel groupings. Plus, as always, the defensive matchups have shaped game flow in real-time. The byes have started so our pool of viable options is a bit smaller. Regardless, let’s look at what I got right and what I need to work on before diving into Week 6.

More Week 6 Streaming: TE | K | DST

Week 5 Results

I missed on Jameis Winston last week. I had intended to write him up as a “Guy I’m Considering” but left him off. Taysom Hill’s overall usage (and especially in the red zone) was a concern. But the matchup against Washington was favorable. It was an oversight on my part and I should’ve at least covered my concerns. Plus, selfishly, it would’ve made the recap a bit more palatable.

Week 5 Results
Type	Player	FPTS	Rank
Top Play	Sam Darnold	6.1	33
	Mac Jones	11.5	24
Deep	Daniel Jones*	4.8	-
	Trey Lance	14.6	20
K.I.T.	Trevor Lawrence	21.7	10
	Matt Ryan	21.6	11

Disastrous.

Sam Darnold wipes away four weeks of progress in four quarters. His -4.7% CPOE was sixth-worst in the league without any demonstrable change in his depth of target (73.0% short or intermediate). Their passing rate remained relatively close compared to the last few weeks. The Eagles just came in with a better defensive plan.

I did mention Darnold’s inability to adjust under pressure and Philadelphia capitalized on it with a 47.5% pressure rate. It was somewhat surprising as they had a 28.6% pressure rate heading into Week 5 but Carolina’s offensive line had been suspect. Darnold falls into the “matchup-based starter” category until we see progress.

Trey Lance was fine as a rusher but is still progressing as a passer. George Kittle’s absence didn’t help, but Lance’s inaccuracy is a problem. He’ll continue to develop but he’s not the smash play we originally thought of so early in the season.

The same goes for Mac Jones. His top-5 PROE has been positive and he’s still throwing in the red zone. Jones has a 2.6% touchdown rate through five games so a positive regression towards the league average should happen given the Patriots’ passing volume. Regardless, he’ll be a viable deep option in future weeks.