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The Shot Caller's Report - Wk 1 Quarterbacks



By Colby Cavaliere | 9/10/20 |
Bye Weeks: N/A
QBs | RBs | WRs


Josh Allen

Grab a Helmet

Josh Allen vs NYJ:

There aren’t too many things I’m sure of to start the 2020 season, but one thing I am fairly confident in is the Jets being a bad team. Through trade and opt-out, their defense lost their only two real playmakers and Gregg Williams will again have to overcompensate for the lack of natural pass rush by being overly aggressive. I know Allen still can be erratic as a passer, but the addition of Stefon Diggs and Zack Moss really bolster the talent and versatility of the offense and he has piled up 17 rushing touchdowns in his first two seasons. NY has no shut down corner, so they will have to rely on schemes to mask their lack of talent. I think Diggs or Brown sneak by the defense for a long touchdown and Allen makes enough plays with his arms and legs to be a good Week 1 bet at quarterback.

Cam Newton vs MIA:

Injuries, hubris, or maybe just his choice of hats caused Newton to languish on the scrap heap for much of the early off-season. The former MVP was of course scooped up by the Pats, and he’s proven so far to be back to form, earning the starting job out of camp. Signed for a mere pittance, Newton has bet on his talent, and as long as he stays healthy, he’s primed for a big return. New England’s talent on the offense doesn’t wow on paper, but frankly that isn’t new. There is a mix of experienced vets (Edelman, White) and hungry young guys (Harry, Michel) looking to prove themselves. I trust that Josh McDaniels will be able to tailor an offense to fit the immense talents of Newton and put him into position to make plays. Miami is an improving team, but their defense gave up the 2nd most fantasy points to receivers last year and although they added Byron Jones, they haven’t improved the talent level enough to lower that number significantly. Newton is healthy, humble, and more than ready to stick it to the haters. Channel that into a start for Newton Week 1.

Russell Wilson @ ATL:

Allen and Newton might be a bit risky Week 1 calls, so I have to hedge my bets with good ole’ Russ. Wilson was again a deadly efficient fantasy quarterback last year, finishing in the top 5 at his position despite attempting the 13th most passes in the league. Wilson and his receivers are on familiar ground and worked out extensively despite the disrupted offseason. Lockett and Metcalf are a deadly duo out wide, and the addition of Greg Olsen gives the team a reliable outlet and seam threat. I think this game offers some shoot-out potential, as both teams have some defensive liabilities and the over/under for the game is currently a strong 49.

Grab a Headset

Aaron Rodgers @ MIN:

Rodgers has seen an incredible fall from fantasy grace in the last 12 months. In my drafts this season he’s going in QB2 territory every time, and with good reason. The team has failed to bring in reliable receiver talent to complement Davante Adams, as the rest of the receivers are ripe with potential, but short on actual production. The lack of crowd noise is certainly going to help the Packer offense, but the recent acquisition of Yannick Ngakoue give the Vikings a deadly pass rush. Yes, Minnesota’s secondary is depleted due to free agent flights, but until the supporting cast on the Green Bay offense puts up numbers, Rodgers has a severely limited weekly ceiling.

Jimmy Garoppolo vs ARI:

The numbers from last season against the Cards do not justify this spot for Jimmy G. as he gouged this defense for over 700 yards and 8 touchdowns in their two games. So what gives? The health of this team that’s what. The Niners receiving corps was decimated like no others this offseason, as Deebo Samuel and 1st round rookie Brandon Aiyuk have missed significant practice time with injuries, and Jalen Hurd and several free agents were lost for the season. Both Samuel and Aiyuk will be in a rush to get ready for Week 1, so it’s likely that this offense could be relying on guys like Trent Taylor, Kendrick Bourne, and Dante Pettis to play a bevy of snaps against the Cardinals. On the flip side, the 49er defense has seen their share of minor injuries, as Bosa and Dee Ford could be on a snap count because of missed practice time. This feels to me like a game where the Niners use all of their backs to rush about 50 times, and throw it to Kittle a dozen. The lack of continuity causes me to fade Jimmy G. in Week 1.

Joe Burrow vs LAC:

In a normal season I probably wouldn’t have Burrow in this slot, but in the year of Covid, trusting a rookie quarterback who has seen less than half the reps of a typical offseason is a dangerous call. The first snap he takes against the Chargers will be the first work he’s seen against another team since the NCAA title game in January! Los Angekes will give him a much stiffer test than the looks he’s gotten from his own team in scrimmages. With Bosa and Ingram rushing off the edge, I think Joe will be forced into a few mistakes. Although his rushing numbers could help his floor, I want to take a wait-and-see approach to the 1st overall pick.

Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receivers