We obtained dangerous information Sunday evening on Joe Burrow when the NFL Community reported that the Cincinnati quarterback “is feared to have suffered a Grade 3 turf toe damage” in Sunday’s 31-27 victory in opposition to Jacksonville. The report stated Burrow “would require surgical procedure and put him out not less than three months.” This damage not solely impacts Burrow, but additionally Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Chase Brown.
Based mostly on the timeline, if he wants surgical procedure, Burrow could possibly be out till December, with a Week 15 return on Dec. 14 in opposition to Baltimore a risk. That’s, if the Bengals (2-0) stay in playoff rivalry at the moment.
Fantasy managers will hopefully be capable of stash Burrow, however that could be tough with out an IR spot. You will be in search of a quarterback, and there are some respectable choices on the waiver wire.
The highest quarterbacks after Sunday embrace Daniel Jones (44 p.c rostered on CBS Sports activities), Bryce Younger (30 p.c), Aaron Rodgers (46 p.c), Tua Tagovailoa (48 p.c), Matthew Stafford (48 p.c), Sam Darnold (21 p.c) and Jake Browning (2 p.c), who will begin for the Bengals with Burrow out. Extra on Browning beneath.
Geno Smith (34 p.c) could possibly be price a glance relying on what occurs Monday evening in opposition to the Chargers. He scored 19.5 Fantasy factors at New England in Week 1.
And also you might need curiosity in Russell Wilson (13 p.c) after he had a monster recreation in opposition to Dallas in Week 2 with 450 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, together with 23 speeding yards. I am skeptical to belief Wilson, and he could possibly be benched sooner or later sooner quite than later for Jaxson Dart.
Mac Jones (11 p.c) can be a risk after he stepped in for Brock Purdy (toe) in Week 2 at New Orleans with 279 passing yards and three touchdowns, together with 6 speeding yards. However Purdy might return quickly, and never many Fantasy managers might be able to belief Jones.
Daniel Jones is my prime quarterback so as to add this week. In two begins for the Colts, he has scored not less than 24 Fantasy factors in every outing, and he seems to be good to this point. Hopefully, this is not a fluke, and I really like the weapons in Indianapolis to assist Jones proceed enjoying at a excessive degree.
Younger struggled in Week 1 at Jacksonville with 10.2 Fantasy factors, however he rebounded in Week 2 in opposition to Arizona with 328 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception and a couple of speeding yards. Now, he tried 55 passes in opposition to the Cardinals, however he has a positive upcoming schedule in opposition to Atlanta, New England, Miami and Dallas in his subsequent 4 video games.
Rodgers scored 33.7 Fantasy factors in Week 1 on the Jets, however he struggled in Week 2 in opposition to Seattle with 203 passing yards, one landing and two interceptions. He will get New England and Minnesota in his subsequent two video games, and that could possibly be favorable for Rodgers within the quick time period.
I am unsure you wish to belief Tagovailoa in Week 3 at Buffalo, however he will get the Jets and Carolina after that. Tagovailoa bounced again from his Week 1 catastrophe on the Colts (7.3 Fantasy factors) with a powerful outing in opposition to the Patriots in Week 2 with 315 passing yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Stafford might be powerful to belief in Week 3 at Philadelphia, however he did play effectively in Week 2 at Tennessee with 298 passing yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He scored 15.6 Fantasy factors in Week 1 in opposition to Houston, which wasn’t a straightforward matchup both, however Stafford has standout weapons in Puka Nacua and Davante Adams on his facet.
Darnold was dangerous in Week 1 in opposition to San Francisco with 5.4 Fantasy factors, however he rebounded in Week 2 at Pittsburgh with 295 passing yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Darnold’s upcoming schedule is nice with New Orleans, Arizona, Tampa Bay and Jacksonville in his subsequent 4 video games, so he could possibly be helpful in deeper leagues.
After which there’s Browning, who stepped up for Burrow on Sunday in opposition to Jacksonville with 241 passing yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions, together with a 1-yard speeding landing. Browning began seven video games for the Bengals in 2023 when Burrow was out with a wrist damage and averaged 22.2 Fantasy factors per recreation. Browning went 4-3 over that span.
He may not be horrible, particularly when throwing to Chase and Higgins. And each receivers did effectively with Browning in opposition to the Jaguars. Chase had 14 catches for 165 yards and a landing on 16 targets, and Higgins had three catches for 56 yards and a landing on eight targets.
I will downgrade each receivers with out Burrow, however not a lot. Each stay must-start Fantasy choices within the majority of leagues heading into Week 3 at Minnesota. Nonetheless, Chase and Higgins had blended outcomes with Browning in 2023.
Chase performed six video games with Browning in 2023, however he solely averaged 12.2 PPR factors per recreation. And Higgins performed 4 full video games with Browning in 2023, and he averaged 15.7 PPR factors per recreation over that span.
As for Brown, he additionally stays a must-start operating again with out Burrow, however Brown has been disappointing via two video games with a mixed 37 carries for 90 yards and a landing and 4 catches for 26 yards on six targets. However once more, taking a look at what occurred with Browning in 2023, Joe Mixon averaged 18.1 PPR factors per recreation, and hopefully the identical factor will occur for Brown.
