Matthew Stafford, Top QB Waiver-Wire Options After Joe Burrow's Season-Ending Injury
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is out for the remainder of the season with a torn right wrist ligament suffered during his team's 34-20 loss to the Baltimore Ravens last Thursday.
It's a devastating blow for the player and team, which enjoyed two tremendous seasons under Burrow's watch in 2021 (AFC title) and 2022 (AFC Championship Game appearance).
This year was a tougher one for Burrow, who gamely gutted through a calf strain suffered in late July that kept him out for nearly all of the preseason.
He and the team started slow through four games, but Burrow impressively rallied back over his team's last five full contests, completing 74.1 percent of his passes for 1,480 yards and 12 touchdowns (four interceptions). Cincinnati won four of them and lost a fifth on a last-second field goal to the Houston Texans, 30-27.
Hopefully Burrow is able to return healthy in 2024 and regain the form that makes him one of the top quarterbacks in football. Until then, the Bengals will roll with backup Jake Browning at quarterback.
From a fantasy football perspective, players who rostered Burrow need to find a backup plan. Here's a look at three players worth considering if you're in that situation. All options are available in more than 50 percent of Yahoo fantasy football leagues.
Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford appears well past an injured right thumb suffered during his team's 43-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 29.
He did miss his team's following game (a 20-3 defeat to the Green Bay Packers), but Stafford benefitted from a Week 10 bye and practiced in full leading up to the Rams' Week 11 contest against the Seattle Seahawks.
Despite missing wide receiver Cooper Kupp (hamstring) for the first four games of the year, Stafford threw for 279.5 yards per game through Weeks 1-6. Despite his hefty pass yardage total, Stafford somehow had just six touchdown passes during that span.
If Stafford is able to return to his previous form upon return, then you figure touchdown variance will roll his way. The Kupp-Puka Nacua combo can spring to life again with Stafford back as well, leading to more fantasy production from the 15-year signal-caller.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield
Over his last three games, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has completed 64-of-101 passes for six touchdowns (just one interception) and 780 yards. He's also established a tremendous rapport with No. 1 wideout Mike Evans, who is coming off a six-catch, 143-yard, one-touchdown outing.
Mayfield isn't the sexiest option, admittedly. He doesn't have any rushing upside. He also isn't the type of player bound to explode for 300- or 400-yard games. But he's been reliable and consistent and just so happens to be playing his best ball right now.
A tough matchup with a formidable San Francisco 49ers defense looms Sunday, but the rest of the season's schedule isn't bad at all, with just one game (Jacksonville Jaguars) against a team with a winning record. The time may be now to pick up Mayfield.
Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love
Love admittedly hasn't enjoyed a great season, throwing for 10 picks and managing 182 pass yards or fewer on three separate occasions. However, he'll be a decent enough fantasy replacement if you're in a pinch following the Burrow injury.
He's coming off a career-high 289 passing yards against a formidable and dangerous Pittsburgh Steelers defense. The game before was an efficient effort (20-of-26, 228 yards, one score) versus the Los Angeles Rams. So he's looking better in some respects.
Plus, the upcoming schedule may lead to more pass attempts against presumptive heavy favorite (e.g. the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs). He also has some great matchups against bad teams (e.g. the 2-8 New York Giants and the 1-8 Carolina Panthers). Ultimately, Love is a candidate for a second-half surge.