Fantasy Football: Week 6 QB rankings

Checking in on the 'other' 2017 first-round QBs, Watson and Trubisky's fantasy prospects

By ARTHUR ARKUSH

Oct. 11, 2018

Thanks to Patrick Mahomes mania, Deshaun Watson and Mitch Trubisky quickly have become the other 2017 first-round quarterbacks. At least for Watson fantasy owners, it shouldn't feel that way.

The Houston Texans' sophomore dual threat is coming off his fourth consecutive 300-yard passing game, and third in a row going over 375 yards. Yes, the Houston Texans have been awful in the red zone, but anyone who watched Watson selling out at the goal line Sunday night vs. Jaylon Smith's Dallas Cowboys knows the fault doesn't lie with him.

Anyone who's been watching Watson closely also sees that he's making outstanding plays with his arm and legs and managing to overcome Houston's porous offensive line. How long he can hold up under these conditions is debatable — only Josh Allen, Watson's Sunday foe, has absorbed more sacks, and Watson is still less than a year removed from ACL reconstruction.

But over the past four weeks, Watson is QB3 overall, trailing QB2 Mahomes by less than three points. Reduce that sample size to the past two weeks, and in addition to Watson, Trubisky has outgunned Mahomes ... despite having the bye last week.

We're not ready to start endorsing Trubisky as anything more than a potential streaming option, but that could change soon. He's averaging 33.2 rushing yards per game — bested only by Watson, Cam Newton, Blake Bortles and Josh Allen — and his confidence is soaring after his epic destruction of Tampa Bay heading into the bye.

For now, though, enjoy the view of Mahomes' mastery, but don't let it obscure what Watson has is doing and, who knows, what could soon be coming down the pipeline from Trubisky, who has the most manageable remaining slate of the three and an offense whose best is yet to come.

1. Aaron Rodgers, Packers vs. 49ers

2. Tom Brady, Patriots vs. Chiefs

3. Matt Ryan, Falcons vs. Buccaneers

4. Deshaun Watson, Texans vs. Bills

5. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs at Patriots

6. Cam Newton, Panthers at Washington

7. Kirk Cousins, Vikings vs. Cardinals

8. Jared Goff, Rams at Broncos

9. Jameis Winston, Bucs at Falcons

10. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers at Bengals

11. Philip Rivers, Chargers at Browns

12. Russell Wilson, Seahawks at Raiders