Starts Worth Trusting

Kirk Cousins of the Las Vegas Raiders sits at QB8 with an 18.0-point projection from News Hub Fantasy, the highest mark in this group, at a $5,400 salary. He faces the Buffalo Bills, who rank 26th of 32 against quarterbacks, making him a confident top-12 start.

Aaron Rodgers of the Pittsburgh Steelers is projected for the same 18.0 points at QB9, priced at $5,500. His matchup at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who rank 12th of 32 against the position, is middling, but the projection still clears the starting bar.

Tyler Shough of the New Orleans Saints checks in at QB10 with a 17.0-point projection and a $5,600 salary. He travels to face the New York Giants, who rank 19th of 32 against quarterbacks, an average matchup that still keeps him inside the starting range.

Jacoby Brissett of the Arizona Cardinals is projected for 16.5 points at QB11, priced at $5,800. He draws the Los Angeles Rams, who rank 24th of 32 against the position, a favorable setup that supports the start call.

Jameis Winston of the New York Giants rounds out the starting tier at QB12 with a 16.0-point projection and the lowest salary of the group at $5,100. His matchup against the New Orleans Saints, who rank 8th of 32 against quarterbacks, is the toughest of the starts, but the projection still lands him inside the top 12.

Sit These QBs This Week

Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles is projected for 15.5 points at QB13, just outside the starting line, despite a favorable matchup against the Carolina Panthers, who rank 25th of 32 against quarterbacks. At a $6,100 salary, he is a pricier sit than the cheaper options ranked ahead of him.

Deshaun Watson of the Cleveland Browns projects for 15.0 points at QB14 against the Baltimore Ravens, who rank 16th of 32 against the position. The matchup is not a strong enough reason to push him into a starting lineup this week.

Michael Penix Jr. of the Atlanta Falcons is listed as Questionable and projects for 15.0 points at QB15 against the Chicago Bears, who rank 18th of 32 against quarterbacks. The injury designation adds uncertainty on top of an already outside-the-top-12 projection.

Geno Smith of the New York Jets projects for 14.0 points at QB16 as he travels to face the New England Patriots, who rank 5th of 32 against quarterbacks, one of the tougher matchups on the board.

Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers has the lowest projection in this group at 12.5 points, ranked QB17, as he faces the Kansas City Chiefs, who rank 4th of 32 against quarterbacks. That combination makes him the clearest sit of the week.

Bottom Line

The gap between Jameis Winston at QB12 and Jalen Hurts at QB13 is only half a point, but the matchup and salary data favor sticking with the starts listed above in 12-team leagues. Kirk Cousins and Aaron Rodgers offer the highest point ceilings in this stretch, while Justin Herbert and Geno Smith face the toughest defenses and belong on benches this week.

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This article was drafted with AI from Pro Football News Hub data (News Hub Fantasy projections, injury reports, depth charts and the schedule) and published automatically. Read how we use AI in our editorial standards.