Week 1 of the NFL season had a number of close matchups, giving football-deprived fans a taste of what they love so much. The afternoon slate of games had a number of intriguing and exciting games, and produced all three of Sunday’s quarterbacks who threw three touchdowns.
The QBs that tossed for three scores aren’t ones that are typically atop that kind of list, with Tua Tagovailoa, Jordan Love and Mac Jones being the ones who achieved it. Several of you might own two of those quarterbacks, and I’m here to help you figure out who the best play is going forward.
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Tua Tagovailoa Fantasy Outlook
Tagovailoa was the league’s leader in passing yards in week 1, racking up 466 in a wild 36-34 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. He completed 28 of his 45 attempts and was intercepted just once.
Tagovailoa led the Dolphins back from several deficits and tossed the game-winning touchdown with 1 minute, 45 seconds remaining in the contest. He threw the touchdown to receiver Tyreek Hill, who erupted for 11 receptions, 215 yards and two touchdowns.
Tagovailoa completed four passes to Jaylen Waddle for 78 yards and found River Cracraft for the other score.
In a game that featured 969 total yards on offense, Miami only ran 20 times for 70 yards. The Phins were much more comfortable passing the ball, and that might remain the case most of the season, unless Miami upgrades its running back room. With a receiving room of Hill and Waddle, this could be Tagovailoa’s biggest year yet if he can remain healthy. A positive in the opener, aside from the incredible stat line, was that Tagovailoa was not sacked.
The Dolphins will stay on the road to battle the New England Patriots in week 2. New England limited the Philadelphia Eagles to 154 net passing yards in week 1, although it’s well-known that Philly is a run-first team. After the Pats, the Dolphins have more tough matchups looming with the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills.
Jordan Love Fantasy Outlook
The Love era began in Chicago, where the Packers dismantled the Bears 38-20. While Love only completed 15 of his 27 attempts, his completions went for 245 yards. The first-year full starter did not throw an interception and also ran for 12 yards on three carries.
Love and the Pack’s offense didn’t hit their stride until the second half, with two touchdown passes coming then. Love hit receiver Romeo Doubs for two scores and hit running back Aaron Jones in stride for a huge 35-yard touchdown on a fourth-down play.
The new He might end up being the most-added quarterback heading into week 2, and his start percentage should also skyrocket. His stock could be boosted by the return of No. 1 receiver Christian Watson, who missed the opener.
Green Bay also sticks on the road for week 2, heading to Atlanta to battle the Falcons. Atlanta held rookie quarterback Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers’ offense to just 127 net passing yards in week 1. The Packers take on the New Orleans Saints, Detroit Lions and Las Vegas Raiders in the weeks to follow.
Mac Jones Fantasy Outlook
Jones and the Patriots got down 16-0 early on against the Philadelphia Eagles, with seven of those points coming on a 70-yard pick-6 thrown by Jones.
The New England quarterback bounced back with two second quarter touchdown passes to get his team back in the ballgame and also threw for a score in the fourth. He ended up slinging 54 passes in the contest, completing 35 for 316 yards. Jones ran twice for 15 yards.
Jones spread his targets around pretty well, with Kendrick Bourne at 11, Ezekiel Elliott, Demario Douglas and Juju Smith-Schuster at seven and Rhamondre Stevenson and Hunter Henry at six each. No receiver had over 64 yards.
The early deficit dictated a more pass-happy offense than expected, and with Philly bottling up Stevenson and Elliott in the run game, things were put on the back of Jones. He performed pretty well for a guy going up against a talented Eagles’ defense.
It’s pretty unlikely Jones averages over 50 passing attempts a game in 2023. What the opener showed is that once the team gets the run game established, Jones has the tools around him to be a solid fantasy asset.
When Jones and the Pats take on the Dolphins in week 2, they’ll face a defense that allowed 199 net passing yards. Miami struggled against the run, surrendering 234 yards. Looking forward, games against the New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints lurk.
Who Can I Start?
Tagovailoa is owned in just about every fantasy league. If he’s available in your league, I hope you have the top waiver wire priority, because he won’t be there heading into week 3. Of these three quarterbacks we’re discussing, Tagovailoa should be your starter if you’re trying to set your lineups. You probably aren’t going to get his week 1 performance every week, but with that receiver duo he has to throw to and a lackluster running back room, 200+ yard, 2+ touchdown showings are definitely possible every week.
Love and Jones are intriguing quarterback options that are available in a lot of leagues and rarely starters. If you have doubts about your top option at the position, now would be the time to add them to your roster.
If you roster either one of them and are thinking of selling, you probably have a guy like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen or Jalen Hurts that you’re going to start each week. Now would be a good time to sell Jones given he’s already had a couple years in the league and rarely puts up a stat line like week 1. I’d personally hang on to Love for now, as a couple more solid showings could drive his price up even more.
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