Week 1 at Detroit Lions
After a MVP-caliber 2015, Carson Palmer came back to earth last year, throwing for 4,233 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. Palmer is still a steady option, but at 37 years old, he’s unlikely to return to form, and a continuous regression is more likely. Palmer has always been a gunslinger who takes risks—that won’t change in his old age.
This week, Palmer is a QB2 option against the Lions. Detroit struggled against the pass last year, giving up 33 touchdown passes—more than any team other than the Browns—but they made some upgrades to their front-seven and Palmer’s newfound inconsistency makes him difficult to trust. Unless you’re a Winston or Luck owner and you already need a replacement, Palmer should remain on your bench in most league formats.