Week 16 vs. Cincinnati
Once Brock Osweiler was benched in the second quarter last week, Tom Savage led the Texans to a come-from-behind, much-needed win versus the Jags. He went 23-of-36 for 260 yards, including resurrecting DeAndre Hopkins, who had eight total catches. Savage will be Houston’s QB on Saturday against a Bengals defense the yields 241 passing yards per game. However, he should not be in your starting lineup.
Fantasy Upside
The Texans drafted Tom Savage at No. 135, their fourth-round compensatory pick. New HC Bill O'Brien, who worked out Savage during his March 3 Pro Day, liked what he saw in the quarterback with a big, accurate arm who showed he was smart and articulate in the interview process. "What stood out to us was during the process, when we watched his tape, obviously we felt like he was a guy that was an accurate passer," O'Brien said. "We felt like he was a guy that stood in the pocket and took some hits and delivered the football." Savage started 13 games last season, finishing with the fifth-best passing performance (2,958 yards) in Pitt history. As the season progressed, Savage's understanding of the game improved and he threw just three interceptions in the final nine games.
Fantasy Downside
New coaching staff on a rebuilding team -- not the ideal situation for a rookie to be thrust into action if the circumstances dictate such a move.
Bottom Line
In Houston, Savage will benefit from working with a seasoned veteran in Ryan Fitzpatrick, the likely starter this season. But with Fitzpatrick's past inconsistencies (and with Case Keenum a far from proven commodity), Savage could be in line for some rookie starts.
Update
The Texans acquired QB Ryan Mallett from New England on 8/31 and released Case Keenum. Mallett, who is familar with HC Bill O'Brien and his scheme, will almost certainly move into the No. 2 role behind Ryan Fitzpatrick and ahead of Savage -- at least early on.
