Roundtable Week 2: Early Quarterback Panic?

Photo: USA Today Sports

Welcome to Week 2 of the 2023 Footballguys Roundtable. Our intrepid panel of fantasy pundits discusses and debates four topics every week. We split the conversation into separate features.

This week's roundtable features these four topics:

• Week 1 Surprises
• Navigating Utilization Data
• The Jets Offense, Now What?
• Questionable Quarterback Waiver Decisions (See below)

Let's get after it.

Quarterback Panic: Questionable QB Waiver Decisions

Matt Waldman: Here are two lists of quarterbacks from Sigmund Bloom's Upgrades/Downgrades feature, a must-read during the season. I've taken the liberty to paraphrase who Bloom is recommending to add or drop if there's a need.

Add

• Mac Jones
• Jordan Love
• Sam Howell

Drop

• Daniel Jones
• Geno Smith
• Russell Wilson

Most fantasy leagues have already selected their waivers by the time this feature is posted, but I'm curious about the following:

• Would you drop any of the three players on the second list for a player on the first list? Which ones and why?
• Is there a player on the list who you believe the drop recommendation is too hasty?
• Is there a player on the add list you believe is too hasty?

Thoughts?

Jason Wood: We have to be very careful not to overreact to Week 1, particularly at the quarterback position. Last year, Tom Brady (QB28), Trevor Lawrence (QB24), Justin Fields (QB23), Jared Goff (QB19), Daniel Jones (QB18), and Geno Smith (QB17) all looked like also-rans or busts.

They all ended the year as top-12 fantasy quarterbacks. Meanwhile, Carson Wentz (QB3), Marcus Mariota (QB6), Jameis Winston (QB8), and Ryan Tannehill (QB9) were studs only to end the season as non-factors.

Russell Wilson can easily be dropped for any of the Jones/Love/Howell trio, but the only one I would absolutely swap is for Jordan Love. He was the league's top-rated passer in Week 1 and seemed completely at ease in LaFleur's offense. His performance was made all the more impressive considering his alpha -- Christian Watson -- missed the game, and Romeo Doubs was playing on an iffy hamstring.

I'm as big a Daniel Jones skeptic as you'll find, but I think dropping him is hasty. It was a perfect storm in Week 1, but we know Jones' rushing ability and Brian Daboll's play-calling will lead to plenty of fringe QB1 weeks. I don't think Jones has an upside beyond QB8-10, but that's not a quarterback you cast off for a waiver roll of the dice. Geno Smith is probably fine, too, but the loss of both young offensive tackles makes holding onto him a riskier endeavor.

As to the potential additions, I wouldn't buy into Mac Jones just yet. He's not going to give you much as a runner, and the offense -- while far more disciplined than last year's debacle -- still has a bunch of slow, plodding weapons and will remain run-heavy in most game scripts.