Drew Brees Out 6+ Weeks, Where do Fantasy Owners Turn?

Drew Brees' injury will obviously impact all the surrounding players. But the most immediate issue is replacing him for his impending 6+ week absence.

Saints QB Drew Brees will be out six weeks after undergoing thumb surgery, and the fantasy implications are massive. Obviously, downgrading from a future HOFer to Teddy Bridgewater will trickle down to all other offensive pieces: fantasy stars Mike Thomas and Alvin Kamara lose their elite shine (for now). Jared Cook will struggle even more to find his Saints footing. Streamers like Tre’Quan Smith and Ted Ginn are no longer viable. 

And, of course, Drew Brees owners must find a six-week replacement plan. So who should they turn to?

The ideal replacement would be Josh Allen, though his ownership has spiked from ~40% to close to 70%. Still, check here first with a juicy matchup against the Bengals looming.

If gone, Matthew Stafford is still available in 50% of leagues. He has a tasty date with the atrocious Eagles secondary, and is just a week removed from a 385, 3 TD Week One gem. Stafford also gets the Chiefs in Week 4 before a Week 5 Bye, making him a viable two-week rental.

Shockingly, the QB who ranks second in passing yards and fifth in fantasy points remains only 32% owned. His name is Andy Dalton, and he’s thriving in Zac Taylor‘s version of the McVay scheme.

Right below him in fantasy scoring is Case Keenum (15%). He has a tough date versus Chicago in Week 3, but a delicious date versus the Giants looms in Week 4. He’s a viable two-week piece of the Brees replacement puzzle.

Perhaps the highest upside waiver option, though, is new Giants starter Daniel Jones (13%). He exceeded all expectations in the Preseason, completing 29/34 throws (85%) for 416 yards and 2 TDs. He consistently pushed the ball downfield, threaded needles, and just flashed the “it” factor. Jones enters the NFL fray against a soft Buccaneers defense, and is well-worth a speculative stab.

Ultimately, Brees’ six-week timetable aligns perfectly with their Week 9 Bye. Owners can tentatively expect him back for a Week 10 shootout against Atlanta.  Until then, expect all other New Orleans ships to sink a bit, which might create intriguing Buy Low options on Kamara and Thomas down the long haul.

Author

  • Founder of Roto Street Journal. Lover of workhorse backs, target hog wideouts, and Game of Thrones. Aspiring to be the "Brady" and "Leo" of the fantasy universe.

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